:: March 08
7 March, Honda Classic
Sorry, guys, for the couple of days delay in getting the Honda Classic update to you, I am actually updating you from my hotel room before my second round at the PODS Championship in Tampa - I am catching up on a few things during this short weather delay! The Honda Classic is a tournament that I hadn't played for a couple of years, and the reason I put it back on my scheulde is that they moved it to PGA National which is a really good golf course that has hosted the Ryder Cup and a US PGA. Also last year the winning score was -5, which told me it was a tough track - just how I like it!
The course didn't disappoint. The fairways were narrow and the rough was fairly thick, and the par 3's were surrounded by water and the wind was blowing. Saying all this though, it is a fair golf course. You really needed to drive the ball well and that was the biggest area of improvement in my game last week. I think the stats said I was third in driving accuracy, which is a good sign. The inconsistent part of my game was the putting. I chopped and changed putters a couple of times during the week, and even gave one putter away to a delighted boy as I walked off the 18th green on Saturday, and then went into the pro shop and bought one! It's been a while since I have had to pay for a club! I ended up not using it, and going back to my old putter, which has served me well over the last year.
And on Sunday, it worked for me, as I shot 67 in some windy conditions, which equalled the low score of the day, and pulled me up from 57th to a respectable 15th. This was my first under par round of the year and it boosted my confidence and helped me feel like it got the year going. With 4 holes to play of my second round, it actually looked like I might be missing the cut - I double bogeyed my 14th hole to go to +4 but rallied straight back with two great birdies on two tough holes to make the cut by two shots. If I look back in a few months time, I've got a feeling that those two birdies could be a turning point of the season.
On Monday I played in a pro-member at Seminole Golf Club which is about as exclusive as Augusta. It's a famous golf course renowned for its fast greens where Ben Hogan used to go to prepare for the Masters. It was an amazing course and as close to links golf as you can get in Florida! I had a great four ball, my partner Seth Waugh and I played with two brothers, Alan and Michael Breed, and we had good fun and great banter, and for me, although it was a competition, it was nice to play sociable golf. I'll update you after the rest of the week here in Tampa. Thanks, Justin
14 March, PODS Championship
The week in Tampa played out very similarly to the week in West Palm. With a few holes to go during the second round, which we completed on Saturday morning, I had to play hard, just to make the cut. In really tough windy conditions I parred the last four holes to make the cut with a shot to spare. On the weekend I shot level par on Saturday.. I was playing from 7.30am when I had to finish my second round, and had played 25 holes that day until I made a birdie finally... you may have seen my ridiculous celebration of putting the club between my legs and “riding the pony” across the green on the golf channel! It's a long story, but I had to laugh at the playing conditions, and how long it took me to make a putt. I also had a dedicated group of fans who deesrved a bit of lighthearted entertainment!
My even par score on Saturday moved me up the field to about 25th position, giving me the opportunity to salvage the week's game on Sunday. I actually played really really well on Sunday, especially on the back nine, and hit some great shots, particularly into the two par 3's, where I hit punch fades into the back right pin positions. Although I shot -1 and moved up to tied 14th, it was a frustrating day and week because I felt I left over 10 shots out there with the putter alone - especially when I see that -2 finished in a tie for second - only three shots better than my +1 total. Still, it gives me confidence that even with my putter stone cold dead, I am still knocking around the leaderboard.
This week I decided not to play Bay Hill, despite it being in Orlando, as I am trying to focus hard to peak for the next couple of tournaments, and I didn't want to play six tournaments in a row. This week feels like my first legitimate week off for a long time, as prior to going on the road for the last four weeks I was practising intensely. I feel my top form is very close, and it would be great to see it arrive in time for the World Golf Chamionship at Doral, and then the Masters in April. It's about this time in the season that I start to gear my mind around Augusta - it's the one Major you really have time to prepare hard for, as after the Masters, the remaining three Majors seem to come around quickly. Speak to you from Miami. Justin
24 March, CA Championship
It was good to play in the CA Championship in Miami, as last year I had to withdraw due to my back injury. Once again, the weather was blowing on the first couple of days, but this didn't seem to affect the scoring as the guys were shooting some low numbers. I started strongly out of the blocks being -4 through 10. I let the round slip away on the back 9, and finished with a -2 (70). The following two days I scored 71 and 70 to get to -5 and make slow progress. I don't seem to have read the grainy greens well in Florida this year and feel I haven't made my fair share of putts, and when that is the case, it's tough to go low.
I feel like I am swinging the club really well and my coach, Nick, has said it's the best it's ever looked. On Saturday and Sunday we faced some bad weather and delays - I actually had to finish my third round early on Sunday morning. The forecast through Sunday was isolated thunderstorms, and I was really hoping we would get finished as the Tavistock Cup was due to start on Monday. Sunday turned out to be an incredibly frustrating day. We got called in on the 8th hole, and after a one hour wait in the club house and a 30 minute warm up on the range, we were taken back to out to start again. As we got into position to restart, they called us back in again before a shot was hit! Frustrating for players and fans! Finally, we got back out and everyone seemed to play as quickly as they could to get the round in before it got dark at 7.30pm.
I was very grateful to my playing partner, Phil Mickelson, who on 17, hit his approach to about 8 feet, elected to putt out quickly, and then rushed to the 18th tee and practically joined the group in front to hit his tee shot, just before the horn blew to stop play. As this was due to darkness, we had the option to finish the round thanks to Phil's tee shot on 18, even though Niclas Fasth and I had not finished the 17th. Niclas was even more delighted to finish as he had a belated Easter vacation planned with his family and managed to make his 9.45pm flight home! I ended up tied 15th, which seems like my result every week right now, but I feel very comfortable with my game and I am looking forward to the slick greens at Augusta to start making some putts.
27 March, Tavistock Cup
The Tavistock Cup is a fun event between Lake Nona and Isleworth Golf Clubs in Orlando. Two 10 man teams battle it out for bragging rights and a fistful of money too! The start was delayed slightly, due to the guys who weren't lucky like me to finish in Miami on Sunday and had to finish their rounds on Monday morning, jump on a plane to Orlando and tee it up again!
The first day is a better ball match and Retief Goosen and I beat Stuart Appleby and Craig Parry by 1 shot. It was a tight game all the way with only 1 shot ever in it. We were the only Lake Nona (blue) team to win a match on Isleworth territory, so it was nice as the last group to get two points for the win, and end the first day 7-3 down. Monday night there is a spectacular gala which, although we were all tired from the week, no-one wanted to miss out on!
Tuesday I was again playing in the last group with Retief, this time singles matches vs Tiger and Charles Howell. I got off to a very slow start, being +6 through 11, but was pleased with how I refocused and played for pride and was -5 for my last 6 holes. Sadly, it was too little too late to win either match, and Isleworth won the Cup convincingly with a score of 19-11. We whipped them last year round at Lake Nona, so it seems like local knowledge plays a huge part in these matches! A great couple of days, but I am glad I am not competing until Augusta now, and will be preparing hard at home.
