I met DJ for breakfast and got some really good news. He said his back was feeling really good. He told me that he called his mother (a Registered Nurse) Saturday night and she recommended that he put ice on his back instead of heat. Doing so he said it felt a lot better.
He also informed me he was not going to the trailer and get stretched out because he felt that on Saturday, after the workout and stretching, was when his back really tightened up on him. So he said he was going to pass on that and I agreed with him.
We went out to the putting green and as DJ was doing some warm up putting, I was standing there and David Pelz walked up. He had just flown in from Texas to meet Phil. We were talking about things and Phil came walk up the driving range to us. He gave Pelz a good handshake great hello and then looked at me and said, “Hello, Mr. Trahan, how are things going?” So we had a nice conversation with Phil. David Pelz told me that he had come in because he and Mickelson were heading up to Augusta National for a few days this week to check the golf course out in preparation for The Masters.
DJ putted for a while, then went over to the driving range to loosen up and start hitting some balls. He worked his way from wedges all the way up to the driver. Everything looked good, he felt pretty good, and had no tightness in his back so hopefully, we're looking for a good day.
Well, off to the first tee for his 9:48 tee time, playing with Steve Marino and J.P. Hayes, which is a really good pairing.
The wind was already blowing and kicking up pretty good by the time they teed of. Wind was steady, about 10 mph, and gusting up to 20 mph and more. It was swirling around quite a bit so it was really making club selection difficult. I saw guys hitting shots up in the air, especially with irons. The wind would hit them in the face and just knock the ball down. They'd hit shots where cross winds would push the ball right or left.
The greens were fairly firm. They were still hitting a lot of shots on the greens, especially down wind. You'd hit a nice shot on the green and the ball would just bounce and trickle all the way over the green. The wind was really drying them up.
If you were watching you saw there were really a lot of really high scores and not too many low ones. So DJ and a pretty good day. He had four bogies and six birdies and it really could have been a lot better, as everybody says all the time. But I was really pleased with him and he was pleased with the fact he played 14 through 18 really well. The last three finishing holes at Bay Hill can be brutal.
He parred number 14, a par 3, which is a tough one to hit because it was in a cross wind with a narrow green with more depth. He hit the green, just passed the hole and got a nice two putt.
On 15, a par 4 down hill, he pulled it a little bit but had a good shot on the green. But the pin was dead back and he was only on the front third. He must have had at least a 50 foot putt. He putted that right up to a tap in of less than a foot.
On 16, a par 5, he hit a great shot in the fairway and knocked it on the green, but this time he was backwards. This time he was on the back of the green and the pin was way down in the front. He had a putt longer than he had on 15. It must have been at least 70 feet down a slope to the front level. He hit it about six or seven feet by and made it for a good birdie, which got him to 6 under, which really helped him climb the ladder there.
On 17, the pin was in its usual Sunday position, on the right side, probably no more than 10 feet on the green. So he had to carry the lake and that whole big sand trap that goes into the lake. He hit it up there about 12 feet left off the hole and left it dead in the center, about an inch or two short. The would have been sweet because that would really have jumped him up.
On 18, he hit a nice drive down the middle. Had an iron shot about 20 feet left and a little past the hole. He had a good two putt. He finished off really good to finish off a good week. Right now he's tied for 8th. I don't see that he could fall any farther if the course plays tough again today. They got a bunch of rain, they predicted 3 inches. They're not going to be able to play lift, clean and place because of the number of people already finished. There could be problems with mud ball out there. Unfortunately, it could be playing tougher for them, even if the wind dies down.
When we got back to his car and we were loading up, he said his back was feeling really good. His caddy, Todd Sunderland, was throwing his gear in the car and he and DJ were driving back to Mt. Pleasant. Deej told me with out a doubt, the way he's feeling, he and Todd will be flying out to Houston. He'll be playing next week. That was good news.
He's got one more shot at winning to get into The Masters. So that's on the calendar right now hopefully he can pull it off. If not, our next outing will be at Harbour Town Golf Links at the Heritage, which basically is our second home. There where I was director of instruction for nine years and DJ grew up there. That's where his real competitive golfing career started.
Quick Update;
So many of your fellow subscribers have been writing and thanking me for the videos I sent you… that I'm having a hard time keeping up with them all.
So I'd like to publicly take the time to tell everyone…
YOU'RE WELCOME
I'm always happy to share new golf teachings and tips with you… and besides, I'm sure you'd do the same for me.
(With all the chicanery going on, us golfers need to stick together, don't we?)
SURGE NEEDS YOUR HELP!
Don't worry, everything is OK. This is actually going to be fun.
Here's the scoop:
I've just made some updates to my upcoming Peak Performance Putting system and I'd like your feedback on it before I release it to the rest of the world.
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP:
I'm going to give you a risk free, instant online access to Peak Performance Putting… and all I ask in return is you give me your honest feedback about updates.
For example, what (if anything) would you change?
Do you think it's too “cutting edge” for most people?
Really, it could be anything. I just value your input and would love to know what you think.
You can pick up your advance preview copy here:
http://putting.peakperformancegolfswing.com/specialoffer/risk-free-trial
Thanks so much for doing this… and I'll talk to you soon.
The Surge!
P.S. As soon as we get enough feedback, I'm going to take this “risk free preview” offer down. So if you want one, you should get it here today:
http://putting.peakperformancegolfswing.com/specialoffer/risk-free-trial
(Note for Golf School. Look for details soon on our California PPGS schools at Talega Golf Club in beautiful San Clemente, May 17 – 19 and 20 – 22. It's going to be one heck of an experience. Call: 1-888-84SWING(79464) or 1-864-525-7336.)