Well, to quote the old song..."mama said there would be days like this, there would be days like this my mama said! The Sunbelt event at Deer Island was every bit as bad as the previous week was good! I was well rested and ready to continue my confident play last week, and I stunk the course up. I had nothing, never broke 75 and did everything poorly. I was never comfortable on a course where there was tons of water, and greens that I never could get the feeling that I could make anything.

You just have to chalk it up to a bad week, and move on. I came home and have been hitting it great, and plan on playing well when I return to Florida in mid-March. I did discover an alignment problem with my putting, and have been working on that. I really am ahead of last year at this point, and I have never been totally comfortable on old, grainy bermuda greens. Davenport had bremuda as well but they were new and had little grain. Thankfully only 2 more tournaments in Florida, and then on to bent greens and better things! More as I approach the next events...

Well, 2008 got off to a fairly good start with my first Sunbelt Senior event in Florida. We played at Providence CC in Davenport, a new course that is really pretty good. I played fairly well in my 2 practice rounds, and was putting well. I have switched to a longer putter (a 46" belly putter actually) and am using it as a long putter would be used.

Anyway, the first day was really windy and spotty rain and I shot 74 with a double on 2 and only one birdie. Scores were high due to the conditions so 74 was not that bad. I followed it up with 69 on the second day that could have been much lower. The final day I shot even par 72 which was disappointing because I had it 4 under through 13 and was cruising. I may have lost my focus a little after a bad drive in 14, so I learned a lesson there.

Those scores (-1) were good enough for a tie for 6th and a little over $900. The important thing was I came out of the gate strong, played in the next to last group the final day, and didn't back up. (although I did have a tough 3 hole stretch the back 9!!) I will learn from this and be better when the same situation presents itself.

I am spending the weekend in Boca Raton with Pete Larkworthy, a classmate from Babcock that I have not seen in several years. I will head back up to Orlando Sunday ,and Deer Island begins Tuesday.

Today I leave for Florida and the start of my third season as a professional golfer. This is the year I turn 50, so all of the effort I have put forth the past 2 years to get tough and competitive needs to shine through if I have any hope of reaching my goals.

I have been home since early December, and the weather has been mild so I have been able to practice. I did go to Florida in January for a fun competition between some Wake Forest Alums and a similar group from Vanderbilt. (Deacs won of course!)

My practice this winter has been productive. I am using a long belly putter and using it like a long putter. It seems that I make more quality strokes this way, and that certainly is a good thing. I have shot some good scores this winter, with a 67 at Forsyth as well as a career best 61 from the white tees in the Wednesday game last month. I shot 28 on the back by making eagle on 13 and birdies on out from there! Need to do that in competetion! Sure does give confidence though!

Anyway, my game and mind are ready for the biggest year of my golfing life, so lets bring it on.