What a strange day on the course today. I hit the ball very well during my warm up. I was happy with the swing and with my rhythm. My first shot on the first tee went right and from then on and the first 10 holes I struggled like I haven't done this year.
A wind shift of 180 degrees to the west today made a big change to the course. The wind was strong and made the course pretty difficult. It was not easy down wind or in to the wind.
We got away with much better weather than anticipated. That made for good scores again on day 2. I shot 69 and is happy with the number. I have been practicing my putting from 8 feet and in over a long period of time and it has really become consistenly better. Moving forward I will have to focus on 10 to 25 feet putts. I had many chances again today, but did not make one putt outside 8 feet. I don't really know why, because I am feeling good over the putter and my sense of speed is spot on. I two putt from long range a lot and have very few three putts.
I have moved from hot Florida to cold Scotland this week. It was some hurdle getting here because my flight out of Orlando to Copenhagen was delayed 25 hours. When I got to Copenhagen I missed my connection to Edinburgh and had to buy a new ticket. Got to Edinburgh late Wednesday night and had Thursday to do my practice.
We couldn't ask for a better day in Scotland. We had ideal scoring conditions all day with light winds and warm temperatures. I didn't get under par at the beginning of the round, so I was on the cutline all day. I never hit the ball close for birdies, so it was difficult to make many birdies.
It was hard work all day, especially with the start I had. I got stock on a steep bank in the deep rough close to the green on my second shot on the first hole. Made a double bogey from there and had to fight hard to get back. Played well the next 13 holes and stayed at 2 over par. I didn't hit a fairway the last 5 holes and got caught in difficult lies in two bunkers. Sadly, I finished with 3 bogeys and shot 5 over for the day. Carnoustie will punish you and it certainly had my number today.
Well, that was some rollercoaster today ☺.
I was 3 over par after 4 holes and also after 8 holes. I was playing pretty well, but burned the lip of the hole 4 times in the first 10 holes. I got punished hard when I hit a bad shot and also three putted three times the first four holes ☹….
I kept hitting good shots and made no mistakes on the back nine shooting 32 to get home in two under par for the day and a happy recovery.
Turned in two under on the front nine today and really played well. I had great chances to go 4 or 5 under on the front nine, but the putts just slipped by. Never got it going on the back nine, it was a real let down. I three putted from 15 feet on 14 after two really good shots and then hit a great drive down the middle on 15 and it kicked in to a fairway bunker and made another bogey. Not much fun to make bogeys off good shots, but that is the issue at the moment. I am not able to turn my good game in to a good score. It is hugely frustrating, but the harder I try the worse it gets.
It was a good day on the course today. I shot even par 72, but moreover played very well and had great chances to shoot a score in the 60’s.
My morning didn’t start great. I got the first back spasm getting up from the breakfast table and I thought it would be impossible to play. After putting heating lotion on my back and adding some pills, I managed to do a short warm up and get ready. I struggled to find my swing because I was protecting against spasms, it was a matter of getting to the finish line today.