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4
8 putt
2010-06-05
Back at the hotel after a good warm up, not so good round (+2), really good training session and a great workout.
Ok. Let's talk a little bit about this tournament!!!
- We are in Wales to start off with. Ryder Cup Twenty-Ten is the name of the course and it's one of three courses at the Celtic Manor Resort.
- The course is super long. Although, a lot of tees are moved forward to make it shorter. It feels like it's a 6-iron into every green and the pins are 3 paces (yards) on the green. It means it's very close to the edge of the green and in most cases very very very close to a deep bunker or a water hazard. It's playing tough and extremely tough if you aren't on top of your game. It feels better for me each and every day but the new swing will take a while to master.
- There is water very close to the green on holes nr. 3,5,6,11,12,13,14,15,18. It's very interesting shots and you have to be very precise to get it close to the hole.
- The fairways are fairly wide.
- The rough is pretty friendly this week compared to most weeks on tour.
- There are a lot of run-offs (little valleys around the greens where the balls easily run into) which makes it very interesting. Even wedgeshots become interesting when you have to carry the water short of the flag but not go more than 4 yards past the hole because it'll run into a run-off valley.
- I have to tell you guys about the 2nd hole. It's a long par-5, pretty straight but with a green that can piss off a lot of players.
When I came to the 2nd hole yesterday, I was one under par and after a really good drive I had 256 meters to the front and another 10 or so to the flag. There is no real danger around the green except for a really tough run-off left of the green and the pin is tucked just right of this little run-off. I took out my driver and my caddie Colin thought I should take aim just right of it since I couldn't reach and I didn't want to risk going into the horrible run-off area. Before the round I saw Graeme McDowell on TV having big problems from that area. Anyway, I absolutely smoked the driver and started dancing before it landed. It went straight for the flag and trickled up to about 5 meters from the hole. The best shot of my life I think. Far and straight. Another meter left it would have been down in that run-off bastard area. 2 putt for birdie and I was 2 under. Happy times. Not so happy times for Paul Lawrie on that hole.
Paul was 3 under for a while on the first day but finished 1 over par. Than he was 5 under for the second round heading into the 2nd hole. He hit the green on 3 and then he ran his putt just by the hole and into the run-off area. He wasn't too happy. Then he tried to putt it up from there. It didn't make it up. Left in the valley. Tried again. 3 meters past the hole. Almost made that putt, only to see it trickle down into the same run-off-mother-F:))))))-valley again. He carded an 11 on the hole after being on the green in 3. Not so happy times for him. Missed it from half a meter on the next, and missed the cut by one shot in the end. I feel for you Paul. He's got a British Open win though so it's all good.
Golf is a funny game! You never know what happens!
Back soon!
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Erik
You are really good at giving us an insight in your game of golf. Love it!reply
alex
i was following you on thursday for a few holes and looked to be playing really well!Put a bet on you as well so do well tomorrow in the final round :)
your distance off the tee was looking great! Whats your secret?
Good look tomorrow!
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Sean Fay
The best part of this is. . . . . .i was their to witness that driver of the deck shot, by far the best golf shot i have ever seen live!! I also saw paul lawrie have that 11, man how different you 2 played that hole!Your swinging good man just keep it going!!
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Paul
Alex- great info on the course and a great insight into how tough it can be.Question for you on the swing changes and playing tournament rounds. Are you able to think about shotmaking or are you still having to focus on the changes you are making while you are over the ball?
Are you thinking technique or just about the shot?
Good luck and keep up the progress!!