Well I am back after a 12 day golf fest that took me all along the south.  If there was a golf vacation package that toured the south/southeast part of North America I just bought the VIP package.  Well to sum up the two weeks I sandwiched a mediocre Hooters performance between two futile Monday Qualifier efforts.  The trip started in New Orleans for the Zurich Classic Qualifier.  I played okay in the pre qualifier to advance, but on Monday I had nothing from the first tee on.  So off I went on to Hampton, Georgia for a Hooters event.  I played fair the first day and posted a one under 71.  The second day I had it rolling and was 5 under with 5 to play.  4 bogeys later I posted a pathetic one under 71 again and gave up all the momentum I had going.  The third round got rained out Saturday and on Sunday I went for the gusto to try and make a surge up the board and backpedaled a shot to finish one under for the tournament.  The following day (yesterday for those interested) I played in the Nationwide Monday Qualifier up the road in Gainesville, Georgia.  It was a windy day, but the greens were smooth enough to make putts and very receptive.  I managed my ball well off the tee, but didn't hit my irons close enough to give myself enough realistic chances.  I fired an even par 72 and missed the playoff by 5 shots.  I feel like my mental frame of mind is really good right now.  I think the thing I am struggling the most with right now is adapting to the changes I have made in my pitching and chipping.  I have made some great strides in that department, it is time for me to just trust it.  I am moving my things back to St. Louis this week out of Orlando and my next event falls in the middle of May back in St. Louis with the Hooters Tour.  It is the traveling tour professional's dream to be able to sleep in his bed and that is exactly what I get to do.  The next couple weeks will be really good for me to recharge and really dial it in with the areas of my game I need to.  It should present a great opportunity for me to put my best foot forward in St. Louis in a couple weeks.  I couldn't be more excited.

Here was my rental car for the week, The Toyota Yaris.  What a beauty.  She came fully equipped with manual locks and crank windows.  "Hi, welcome to McDonalds.  May I Take your order?"  "Yea, hold on I gotta roll this window down."  I will say all kidding aside, I filled her up at the gas station for like twenty bucks.  However, I will never be caught dead in this model again.  On to the golf.  I took a nice step forward this week in Chattahoochee, Georgia.  I finished the week tied for 16th place with a six under par total.  I did alot of things really well this week.  What I think I did best was I kept the ball in front of me all 4 rounds and kept a solid head on my shoulders all week.  My mental game was as strong as its ever been for a complete tournament.  What prevented me from finishing better was inconsistent wedge play and a few poor pitch shots.  I am making strides in both those departments thought.  As I mentioned earlier, you can get away with certain parts of your game performing poorly as long as everything else is working efficiently.  My week consisted of all 4 rounds under par.  This is a very positive sign that my consistency is pointed in the right direction.  I have been struggling mightly to keep the double bogeys off the card, and I had only one this week which came in the final round.  In the final round I birdied three of my final 4 holes to battle  back from a really poor start and I think that is what I am most proud of for the whole week was finishing off the tournament like a true professional.  I have a couple of weeks off which are much needed.  My laundry pile is so high I need a ladder to get to the top.  I have taken the day off today to recharge the batteries and enjoy the strides I am starting to make.  16th place isn't perfect, but I'll take it and keep moving forward.  My next event is the Zurich Classic Monday Qualifier two week from now.  I certainly have to believe I stand as good a chance as any of getting one of the 4 spots available April 19th.  Watching the opening day of baseball today got me thinking.  My spring training is over too.  Now its on to a great regular season wherever it may take me.  Play ball!