I fired a second consecutive 73 to finish just outside the money today. I'm going to get my venting out first. Yesterday I had my towel stolen along with my cart before my round. This morning in the first fairway I found out we were playing the ball up in our own fairways. Unfortunately yesterday I was unaware we were doing the same thing. So to play half of the tournament with my ball as it lied as my competitors were marking, cleaning, and placing it is easy to see I was at a disadvantage. It was printed very small on the rules sheet, so I am partially to blame, but it really pissed me off that it wasn't mentioned on the first tee or written in bigger print/outlined. Anyway, that is just some of the stuff you have to put up with on the mini tour level, and it serves as motivation to perform at your best and leave the mini tours for good. I hit alot of good shots again today, so I am happy with my progress. I just need to start scoring better. I have a few weeks off before I head to the PGA Tour Qualifier in Mexico in mid February. My results obviously aren't where I want them yet, but I can take alot with me moving forward. My game is getting real close to where it needs to be. I need to realize that this is just my 4th competitive round of the year and that it's January for goodness sake. It's a long year, and it's going to be a great year. Thanks for reading.

    I apologize for not updating after Hawaii. I didn't qualify for the Sony Open after shooting a 75 on a windy day. I hit some good shots, but poor iron play left me scrambling all day. I did have one memorable par save when I holed out a wedge from 130 yards after toying around in the woods for a few shots. That shot made for a nice laugh after the trouble that I had put myself in before hand. The rest of the week I spent in Maui for a great friend's wedding. It gave me some more time to relax and think about what I want to accomplish this year. I'm currently in Houston, Texas. I just finished the 1st round of a two day Adams Winter Series event. I recorded a one over 73 and stand in 16th place, five off the lead with one round remaining tomorrow. I obviously am not thrilled with my overall result on this windy day, but I am really proud of the way I hung in there on my back nine after dealing with an adventurous opening nine of 40 that left me reeling and facing some adversity. I'm always excited when I knock adversity square in the teeth and fight back. A second nine 33 clawed my way back up the leaderboard and gives me at least a chance tomorrow with a solid day of play tomorrow to finish high on the board. I'm looking forward to the challenges tomorrow brings, and using my back nine today as a springboard into great things tomorrow. Thanks for reading and I'll update tomorrow with the final results.

    Hello from Kahuku, Hawaii.  I am here at Turtle Bay Golf Club on the North Shore of Hawaii finally getting my 2012 campaign under way.  Today was the Pre Qualifier for the Sony Open.  I managed a one under par 71 today to easily advance to tomorrow's qualifier.  I have posted a couple of pictures above from the course.  The first one is of the "Official" Towel Dip.  I thought this was hilarious.  I was wondering to myself where the "unofficial" Towel Dip might be located. Haha!  The second picture is the green and backdrop of the 17th hole.  It is very hard to concentrate on the green as you look at the vast beauty of the Pacific Ocean and the waves crashing some 50 yards from you.  Absolutely stunning.  The Hawaiian tourism industry can thank me later. 
    It was nice to be able to see a lot of positives out of my round after my long layoff from playing.  I hit alot of quality shots today and I am excited to build on that moving forward tomorrow.  I played today with two other professionals, one of which was a professional in an entirely different sport: surfing.  I enjoyed watching his laid back demeanor today.  That is definitely what I am pushing myself to be more like.  I often get uptight and it hurts me.  The surfer vibe is one of not-a-care-in-the-world, and it was nice to see first hand.  If you can have the guts to get on a board and ride a 30 foot wave knowing darn well if you fall, alot of bad things can happen, then golf must not really seem that hard.  Kidding aside, there are alot of parallels to golf and surfing.  In golf you have to see the shot you want to hit, and then get up there confidently and execute what it is you see in your mind without a fear in the world.  Same goes in surfing.  You see the wave coming, then you have to visualize what you want to do with it and flat out have no fear and do it. 
    Anyway sorry for rambling, but it is always exciting playing with different athletes and picking their brain on how they think.  I can't wait for tomorrow's opportunity to go out and have another great round at Turtle Bay.  It is such a beautiful place, and if you have never been to Hawaii I strongly recommend putting it on your bucket list.  The simplicity of just being able to be outside in a short sleeve shirt in the middle of Winter really feels great.  After bundling up in Saint Louis day after day 4 layers deep, I feel like I lost 40 pounds playing golf today with the range of motion I had in solely a collared shirt.  Another great day of 80 degrees and sun is projected for tomorrow.  Heck that is what the weather is 365 days a year out here.  I'm just going to go out and enjoy the entirety of what tomorrow brings.  Thanks for reading and I'll come back with an update soon!