It has taken me a couple of days to cool down from my 2nd round in the Salt Lake City Am. I came into the final round tied for 3rd place and played in the final grouping of my flight with the #1, #2, and the player I was tied for 3rd with.
Bonneville 12th Green
I started out well, with a birdie on the first but by the 3rd hole I’d made my first major error. I missed the green to the right, with a right pin. I was in deep rough and the green ran severely away from me. My chip was as good as I could hope for and landed in the fringe. But the physics of the shot were impossible, except for perhaps Phil Mickelson. The chip ended up 40 feet away. First double of the day. The next hole I did nearly the exact same thing. My 3rd shot on the par-4 missed the pin to the right, where the green falls off. The ball ran off into deep rough. I gouged it out, up the hill, and it came back to me. 2nd double in a row.
I could go on, but that’s how it went. I struggled to a 39 on the front, still in the mix. On the back I continued to gag with a double on the 10th. On the 12th tee I went to grab my driver out of my bag and I had a sharp pain in my forearm. I could not even pull my driver out of the bag. From that point on this “injury,” combined with a complete confidence meltdown, destroyed my round. I found myself dreading every shot and just wishing the round would end. I’ve never felt that way before.
I dropped from 3rd to 8th, still in the money, but completely embarrassed and disappointed.
When I got home I wanted to have a snack, so I grabbed some chips and dip. I dipped a chip in and tried to lift it up to my mouth. It was a no go. My arm hurt so bad I couldn’t lift a damn chip into my mouth.
I’ve been icing it for a couple of days, and taking some anti-inflammatories. But I’m afraid I’ve completely aggravated the old golfer’s elbow. I’ve worked very hard this spring to prepare for this event, which is the most important tournament of the year in my mind. I hit the range and practiced short game far more this spring than I have any spring in the last 10-15 years. I must have overdone it.
So here I am with piles of golf equipment in the office to review, and worried I’ll be able to swing a club.
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