Mike's BlogRound 3 PGA Championship

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 01:29:27

I guess the folks at the PGA must have heard us after Friday's round because the course here at Oakland Hills today was at least playable. I thought there was a much better set up and there was also some moisture on the course too (I played before the storms hit). The greens and the fairways were watered - they were still firm, but it wasn't as crazy as the first two days.

That's not to suggest the course is easy or not playing fast. On the second hole, for example, I was over the green with a driver and an eight-iron - and that's a 529-yard par 5!

I thought heading out today, that if I could shoot something like 66 or 67, I might climb back in this thing but it just wasn't to be today.

For me, the problem on Saturday and all of this week has really been the putter. I made an eight-footer for par on the last hole today and I'd say that was about the longest putt I've made all week.

After I damaged my putter on Friday, I put a new one into play today. It was one that I had Scotty Cameron make for me earlier this week. This putter is similar in style but I was looking to try and get a little rotation into my stroke and so I worked with Scotty this week on this putter. I wasn't thinking about putting it in play this soon, but with the struggles I've had this week, I thought it couldn't hurt.

Really, that's been the story of my tournament. You aren't going to score if you're not making anything and I just wasn't making anything. It's too bad, because I feel as if I've been hitting the ball from tee to green quite well. Out here, though, the way the ball bounces and runs, and with the deep rough, a good shot isn't always rewarded. Everyone is facing the same thing and I know that for all of us, it can be frustrating.

But tomorrow is another chance to tackle this course and after all the rain on Saturday afternoon, see if it will play differently.

As always, thanks for your support.

Mike