Final day. Final round. Final hole!
I qualified, but a mistake almost lead to me missing it by one shot. Throughout the week, I never looked at the scoreboard. This course was playing very difficult and I felt it was best for me to stay focused on my own game - not looking to see if other guys were shooting 66 or 67. I believed that if I played well for 4 days, I would be high enough on the leaderboard to advance.
I nearly looked at the scoreboard after the 3rd round, but decided against it. Despite not looking, I had a feeling that I was very close to the number. However, I thought I was on the number when I was actually 1 ahead of the number. This is what caused my mistake in the final round. After making a bogey on the very difficult 17th hole, I thought I was 1 shot back.
Walking to the 18th tee, I told myself I needed birdie and I felt the best way to get that was to go for the green in two and either two putt or get up and down from around the green. After a perfect drive * - probably the best hit drive of the week - I had 250 yards to the middle of the green. I had mud on my ball and a slight side hill lie, but I was 100% convinced I needed birdie and therefore had to go for the green. I pulled my second shot in the water and made a bogey.
* If I hadn't hit the best drive of the week, I would've have 260 or more to the green and probably wouldn't have been able to reach the green. That would've forced me to lay up and make an easy par, which would've prevented all the post-round stress.
After signing my scorecard, I walked to my car and called my coach. I left a message that was very somber, explaining how I might have made a huge mistake - that cost me advancing to 2nd stage of Q-school. When I reached my hotel room - after a 20 minute drive - my coach called me back and I told him the story. Moments later, the scoreboard was updated and I was T-20th. The conversation quickly turned from depressing to upbeat - also some relief that my mistake didn't end my 2009 season.
2nd Stage of Q-School will be in three weeks - Nov. 18-21. Not sure where I'll be sent, but I think my first 2 choices were in Texas.
Neil
3 comments:
Congrats Neil! Way to hang in there. That's a crazy way to make it on the number. Next time do you check the board as your finishing up?
Nice job, Neil. Care to inform me how many of these things you have to qualify for until you're playing on the PGA Tour?
Nice job Neil! I've been watching but was hesitant to ask details of qualifying rounds etc. Now I see there are 3 rounds. Keep playing well!
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