Mike Report Round 1 at the PGA Championship

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 01:54:22

"A two-under 68 was a very positive start to the PGA Championship - let's say I'll take it. The foundation to my game today was my driving; I hit the ball extremely well off the tee, whether I was using a driver, three-wood or iron. In fact, I only missed two fairways all day and if you've had a chance to see the rough around here on television, I can tell you it's nasty. You have to avoid it at all costs. If you keep it in the fairway, at least you give yourself a chance.

I started my round off in good fashion with a couple of solid pars, just lipping out the putts for birdie. On the par-3 third hole, I left my tee shot just short of the green in the first cut and chipped it in. It was a basic, straightforward chip, but it was a good way to energize the round.

The next hole, I hit my second shot over the green and it was in a terrible spot. The grass was laying right over top of it and I couldn't really see much of the ball. It was really deep down in there. The only thing I could do was take a big slash at it and hope to leave myself and eight- or nine-footer. But I got lucky and the ball went in - talk about a momentum builder!

I actually did a lot of work this week around the greens, practicing a little bit of a different technique, trying to find a way to hit those type of shots out of the deep stuff and figured out a way. You're not ever expecting to make those but every once in a while you get lucky.
The first fairway I missed was at five and it cost me a stroke as I had to lay up out of the deep rough. I had another bogey on the seventh when my approach shot plugged in the bunker. But the very next hole, I rolled in a 10-footer to get the birdie back and then made another one on the 15th when I hit my tee shot on the par-3 hole to about eight feet.

I even brought it home with two solid holes - 17 and 18 - the two toughest on the golf course. I had good chances on both, although on 18, I rolled my first putt past the hole a little more than I would have liked (those ones always give Brennan heart attacks). Hopefully I can play those holes as well all week.

Coming into this week, I'll admit that my game wasn't quite as sharp as I would have liked it, so this round comes as a tiny bit of a surprise. But I've spent a lot of time working with my coach Mike Wilson this week, and Wednesday night on the range, I sort of figured out my problem. It all had to do with alignment. I was aiming too far right and obviously when you do that, it doesn't matter how well you hit the ball, it's not going to go where you want it. But I've got that straightened out, although I've been aiming right for so long that now I feel as though I'm going to hit it left. Gradually, today it started to feel a little better.

Last week I also strained my back a bit at The International and I've been getting a lot of work on it all week in the trailer. It's a pulled ligament but it's more of a nagging problem than anything and not a big factor. As long as it stays warm here - and believe me, it's warm out here - I don't think it will be a factor.

It's only one round, but I'm pleased with my play on Thursday. It really helps set up the week and I'll try to go out on Friday and keep it going.

As always, thanks for your support.

Mike Weir
"