As you will be aware I've been going through a lslum following a real purple patch that saw me cut from 14 to 12 in four weeks. Played like a three legged dog yesterday and so I had no real enthusiasm for the stableford today. It was awful on the practice ground as I warmed up with slices, hooks tops and a few shanks really filling me with confidence.
On the first I got it away (of sorts as it was a steered hooky ugly kind of shot) into a greenside trap and made 4 (net par for 2 points). Hit the 2nd (par 5) in regulation and three putted. I hit a great pitch from 90 yards after finding a fairway bunker and missed the putt (made net par) and then blobbed the easy (SI 16) 4th after topping a drive 50 yards and hacking my way down to be two over my handicap after only 4.
I managed to lose another shot at the par 3 6th after shortsiding myself and wanting to play a lob found the driest barest lie and had to hit a pitch and run instead. Then on 7 something strange happened. I hit a decent 3 wood!!!!! Followed it with a soaring 4 iron and made par. Parred 8 and hit a good drive and another great 4 iron and parred 9 to go out in 17. Given recent form I felt like quitting and hitting the bar early.
Chipped an putted on 10 and parred 11. Dropped a shot on 13 and then spanked a real good drive (long with draw) on the 430 yard 14th to leave 159 to the pin. Hit a majestic 5 iron that hit the green and stopped dead. Made a good par and then chipped and putted to make par at 15.
Those who know me will know that the last three holes have crippled me in competitions recently. Suffering from what I can only put down to a state of shock at actually playing several consecutive holes well I boomed my best ever drive down 16 splitting the fairway and a good ten yards past where Mike Harris won the GM Spring Meet longest drive. A six iron from 164 was too long but another chip an putt saved par.
Seventeen has been a nemesis with several shots going OB left. With the breeze blowing right to left I aimed a 5 wood right of the green and it tried to come back but found the rough pin high. Hit an OK chip and made 4 (net 3). A hooked drive down 18 left me with a difficult choice to either play a hook around the big oak, play something low and running or try and play a cut or a shot down the left. Feeling bold I went for the hook and only got a draw. It was real heart in mouth time as it was airborne as it was heading for pigmy country but came up short in the light rough. I was now faced with 155 over water. Should I lay up and make 6 (net par) or go for it. He who dares Rodders. Actually I over drew it pin high but 10 yards left. On a concrete hard and bare lie I hit a good chip to 5 foot and made par net birdie.
When we counted up it turned out I had 22 points for the back nine and had actually got 39 in total. I hadn't been trying and was focussed on just trying to kep it in play abut it just clicked. I'm on for a cut back to 12 and was leading my division when I left.
It just goes to show that sometimes without any confidence or motivation you can conjure a good score from nowhere. I'm not totally convinced I'm out of the woods swing wise but I'll bask in my brief moment of glory. Bad timing though to get cut the week before Captains Day!
On the first I got it away (of sorts as it was a steered hooky ugly kind of shot) into a greenside trap and made 4 (net par for 2 points). Hit the 2nd (par 5) in regulation and three putted. I hit a great pitch from 90 yards after finding a fairway bunker and missed the putt (made net par) and then blobbed the easy (SI 16) 4th after topping a drive 50 yards and hacking my way down to be two over my handicap after only 4.
I managed to lose another shot at the par 3 6th after shortsiding myself and wanting to play a lob found the driest barest lie and had to hit a pitch and run instead. Then on 7 something strange happened. I hit a decent 3 wood!!!!! Followed it with a soaring 4 iron and made par. Parred 8 and hit a good drive and another great 4 iron and parred 9 to go out in 17. Given recent form I felt like quitting and hitting the bar early.
Chipped an putted on 10 and parred 11. Dropped a shot on 13 and then spanked a real good drive (long with draw) on the 430 yard 14th to leave 159 to the pin. Hit a majestic 5 iron that hit the green and stopped dead. Made a good par and then chipped and putted to make par at 15.
Those who know me will know that the last three holes have crippled me in competitions recently. Suffering from what I can only put down to a state of shock at actually playing several consecutive holes well I boomed my best ever drive down 16 splitting the fairway and a good ten yards past where Mike Harris won the GM Spring Meet longest drive. A six iron from 164 was too long but another chip an putt saved par.
Seventeen has been a nemesis with several shots going OB left. With the breeze blowing right to left I aimed a 5 wood right of the green and it tried to come back but found the rough pin high. Hit an OK chip and made 4 (net 3). A hooked drive down 18 left me with a difficult choice to either play a hook around the big oak, play something low and running or try and play a cut or a shot down the left. Feeling bold I went for the hook and only got a draw. It was real heart in mouth time as it was airborne as it was heading for pigmy country but came up short in the light rough. I was now faced with 155 over water. Should I lay up and make 6 (net par) or go for it. He who dares Rodders. Actually I over drew it pin high but 10 yards left. On a concrete hard and bare lie I hit a good chip to 5 foot and made par net birdie.
When we counted up it turned out I had 22 points for the back nine and had actually got 39 in total. I hadn't been trying and was focussed on just trying to kep it in play abut it just clicked. I'm on for a cut back to 12 and was leading my division when I left.
It just goes to show that sometimes without any confidence or motivation you can conjure a good score from nowhere. I'm not totally convinced I'm out of the woods swing wise but I'll bask in my brief moment of glory. Bad timing though to get cut the week before Captains Day!
