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I have played in 9 major championships now and I have always enjoyed the practice rounds more than anything. It is so educational to play with great players who are preparing for an event that would be huge for anyone to win. It is also a great measuring tool, as I get to see how I stack up shot for shot with the world’s best. There have been times when it was obvious that I was not in the same league as the guys I teed it up with. That list includes David Duval, John Cook, Mark O’Meara, Craig Stadler, Jay Haas, Billy Haas, Jim Furyk, Corey Pavin, Jeff Sluman, Davis Love, Steve Stricker, Fred Funk, Eduardo Romero, Constantino Rocca, Bob Estes, Loren Roberts, Tom Kite, Brad Faxon, Bobby Clampett, Curtis Strange, Scott Hoch, Dick Mast, Gary Hallberg and Adam Scott. I have always been able to accept that fact seeing that I work for a living and am not a comparable physical specimen with my history of back surgery, and when playing courses as hard as the ones chosen to host majors any flaws or weaknesses are brutally exposed. I have always, however, driven myself relentlessly to succeed, often to the point of missing out on the enjoyment of participating in such great events. This year I feel quite a bit different about my place in the field and my expectations for my play, and it is causing me a lot less stress.
So, it’s not that I care less or am less driven to succeed. It’s just that I realize that I shouldn’t really expect to hit every shot well or shoot a great score. I mean, I haven’t exactly been tearing it up even in the club pro stuff I play in, and this course is a lot harder than anything I’ve played in since my last big tournament, last year’s National Club Pro in Hershey, Pa., where I missed the cut by a bunch. However, if today’s round is any indication, I am getting back to playing better again and I have a chance to do well enough here to make the cut. Playing with Kite, Faxon and Funk was a fun experience (I have previously worked briefly with both Brad and Freddy) and I could see clearly that my ball striking has improved as of late and is now comparable to theirs in both distance and accuracy. My short game has always been very good, and my putting somewhat streaky, so it really boils down to missing in the right places and making some timely putts. My back feels as good as it has in some time, so there are no excuses there (except for the general one) and I am good to go to walk the course.
My problems with the game have never been with my desire to improve or my dedication to learning how to get better. It has always been my curse that I simply cannot practice enough to perfect the things I would like to do in order to make my swing more efficient and my game better. I have had to devote myself to making a living in order to support my family, which does limit the time I have to devote to practice, but you can bet that if more time would help me I would find a way to carve it out and fit it into my schedule. Alas, every time I start grinding on my swing and making the necessary reps to make a significant change my back and hips tell me that I am making a mistake and that I will suffer for it instead of reaping the benefits. I know plenty of talented players who are physically able to do anything they want, and they just don’t have the discipline or dedication to apply themselves and put in the necessary time. It’s almost as though they are afraid to try for fear of failing. I would love to have had that opportunity, but I never really did.
My physical issues are the only reason I became a teacher. I was a player through and through, and I pretty much would have done whatever it took to get over the hump to make it to the Tour. When I started teaching I knew that if I could figure out how to swing in an optimal fashion it would be a way to get around my infirmities and still play a high level game. And if I could ever get over my back issues I would have a chance to still play for a living. It was unfortunate that my back was never good enough for that to happen, but along the way I had a lot of fun playing tournament golf and actually carved out a decent career as a club professional. My focus on swing technique has made me a better teacher, and my respect for the difficulties of the game has made me extremely humble when it comes to touting what I know as the end all of golf information. I simply know what I know, and I can help most people with that, no matter what level they are currently on. I have always searched for my next level, and when someone comes to see me I have presupposed that they are there for the same purpose. Why else would someone bother to take instruction if not to be educated and to improve? I try to use all my experience as a player and as a teacher to help impart the best mindset toward improvement, and also to approach competition, which is where you put to the test all the theory and all the practice and hard work. Most people would say that work is not fun, but that is one of the most alluring things about golf. Sure, it is hugely frustrating and fantastically difficult, but the work is truly fun. Thus, in a round- about way, I get back to the general point here, which is that I am going to go out and enjoy battling the course the next two days and not get too bent out of shape if it doesn’t turn out the way I would like. It really is true that all you can do is aim and swing, then go after it and keep hitting it until you are done.