2. PGA West - Stadium Course: Round 3 of Nationals - Hole #14 Par 4 - 372 yards - I hit my drive into a fairway bunker that runs the whole right side of the fairway, leaving me 200 yards to a blind green. The bunker was below green level, requiring me to walk down a flight of stairs to get to my ball. I puree'd a 4-iron to 8 feet below the hole, the ball flight was on a string and the compression was PGA tour caliber.
3. PGA West - Stadium Course: Round 3 of Nationals - Hole #18 Par 4 - 439 yards - On the tee shot, water runs the entire left side of the hole to the green. Its complete risk and reward. How much do you want to cut off? I picked out a bunker over the corner and ripped my best drive of the day, down the middle, settling 120 yards from the green. The long-drive champion only edged me by 10 yards.
4. PGA West - Nicklaus Course: Round 4 of Nationals - Hole #11 Par 5 - 490 yards - I lied two in a large greenside bunker to the rightside of the green. It was a 35 yard bunker shot with 25 yards of bunker to carry. I kept the face slightly open, much closer to square than normal and pinched it perfectly, landing 10 feet below to the hole taking two hops and stopping within 4 feet of the hole. I attribute a successful shot to practice my long bunker play in morning warm-ups.
5. La Quinta Mountain: Round 1 of Nationals - Hole #15 Par 5 - 517 yards - I lied one in the middle of the fairway, 206 yards to the pin. The green was tucked inside the mountains (literally surrounded by rocks behind and to the right as well as a bunkered on the same sides. I starched a 4-iron, starting at the left side of the green and fading to the center. It landed on the green and rolled to 25 feet for eagle.
6. La Quinta Mountain: Round 1 of Nationals - Hole #4 Par 5 - 508 yards - I blasted my driver down the left side, a very aggressive line. It stopped in the fairway, only 200 yards from the green. Ball flight was great, a soaring drive!
7. Putting - I had 27 one putts and 1 three putt throughout the tournament. I drained a number of 10-15 footers for par and rarely missed a putt inside 5 feet. The best greens were Stadium Course and my best putting change on the week was no practice strokes inside 15 feet.
8. Silverrock Resort - Final Day of Trip - Hole #18 Par 5 - 520 yards. My Dad lies two from 120 yards into a heavy breeze over water. He flushes a shot to 10 feet below the hole and drains the putt to finish the trip with a birdie!! The perfect ending and classic story that leads a golfer back for more.
9. La Quinta Mountain Course: Round 1 of Nationals - Hole #14 Par 4 - 389 yards. After hitting a drive that I thought was in the mountains (to my relief in was in the fairway, a deceiving view from tee) and blowing my approach long left (again thought in was in the mountains, but happened to be a large collection area), I was left with a delicate flop shot downhill to a narrow strip of the green. With soft hands and nice touch, I lofted a chip (w/ 60 degree wedge) up quickly and got it to stop after a few bounces to within inches of the cup. Tap in!
10. PGA West - Stadium Course: Practice Round - Hole #5 Par 5 - 514 yards - I had 235 yards left to the green on my second shot to a peninsula green. Water was protecting all up the right side on the green. There was bailout area to the left, but it was covered with large mounds and bunkers. I hit a high fade with my 20 degree hybrid that landed on the front edge of the left side of the green and rolled to the center, leaving a 25 foot eagle putt. This was all done to the amazement of the attractive cart girl, who was told by my playing partner from FL to watch this shot!
Yes yes yes to shot visualization...see it and do it,
Kurt
Odd that she didn't want to go out to dinner with you.
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