This tournament is one I would like to forget about for sure but I leave this event learning a lot about myself and clarity on what it is that needs to be done in order to avoid poor play into the future.

It was interesting to say the least, I felt comfortable and confident heading into the event, the goal was to focus on routine and staying present and the golf would just happen. There was only one problem, the golf didn’t happen. The swing wasn’t in tune with the mind and it seem to be very hit or miss which is never a good sign on the eve of an event. I headed to the range to make some tweaks in hopes of finding something.

Round 1 started off with a 3 putt bogey at the first, mostly due to the first hole nerves but quickly settled down with four pars in a row that were relatively routine. I approached the par 5 sixth contemplating driver or 3 wood because of the severity of the dog leg to the left. Driver almost put me out of bounds but I was able to sneak out another par.

My luck ran out quick as I hit my drive into the water on the drivable par 4 seventh leading to another bogey. I made the turn at +2 with holes on my side but there wasn’t too many signs of a way to turn this thing around. Very poor ball striking had me bogey 3 of the last 4 holes to card a +5, 76 with a lot of work left to do to have a chance to make this cut.

Round 2 started off with a pull hook that almost went OB. Another bogey start and a 3 putt bogey two holes later only digging a deeper hole for myself. I managed to find a groove with my wedges and rattled off back-to-back birdies to get it back to even for the day and momentum on my side. A near make on the 17th hole (my 8th hole of the day) still had me feeling like there’s a chance we can make a run.

As I stood on the drivable par 4 18th I contemplated. I can lay up and have another wedge in my hand or drive one on or near for an easier birdie chance, I pulled driver and gave it a crack. As I swung through and saw my ball sail left, OB and with that my chances almost vanished. Mentally I had sunk and couldn’t get it back together, a triple there sucked the wind out of the sails. I couldn’t get back into it with 9 holes left shooting a +7 78. 76-78, very uncharacteristic but either way it was a missed cut.

As I sat there signing my card knowing I was headed home all I could think was, “how can this be happening?” I’ve put in the time, I practice, I play and exercise to be ready for these events. At that moment I realized I had similar swing issues at this event last year. To which I thought “how could I have gone a whole year and end up in a similar spot with my game?”

I’ve somehow ended up in a cycle and that leads to highs and lows. I want to be a steady ascent, getting better and improving each day slowly but surely. I know I can hang with these guys and there’s nothing I haven’t seen from them that I don’t believe I can’t do. So I’ve realized I need to take action to guarantee this doesn’t happen again.

A hard reset is in order, not start from scratch but start a new way of doing things. My system needs to be shaken up, changed and altered because what’s being done now isn’t getting it done. It’s time to set a philosophy, foundation and a way of doing things that will lead to success. I’ve already started to draw up a plan, it’s time to begin the transition from old to new ways of going about my golf. Doing things the “right way” per say. I don’t know if I’ll tee it up for a other event the rest of the year but for the immediate future (2 months) the focus will be establishing my foundation and begin to walk on this new path.