I had a big match today and completely laid an egg. It happens.
During warm up, I knew I could be in trouble. I was smoking the ball, but every shot was hooking more than I would like. Seeing a wedge hook 15 yards is no bueno. But it's warm up, who knows?
Started off the first hole. Driver bullet. 5 iron draw to middle of fairway. Flip wedge into a par 5 leaving 10foot birdie putt.
THEN
The wheels came off.
I didn't finish 5 of the next 6 holes...conceding in match play.
Bad lie on two. Terrible lie on three. Left sand wedge in bunker on 4...5...this was the one that broke my back. I hooked the tee shot, but in play. Lie wasn't too bad. Only 130 to back pin. Smoked it. "Be right"...it wasn't. The ball flew directly over the flag, 10 feet behind green, hit cart path and shot out of bounds.
In cards, players sometimes go on tilt...this was my tilt moment. Every bad shot was compounded by bad breaks...example, my opponent and I hit the same tree off a tee...his ball kicked so far right he ended with a clear shot. My ball came straight down...no backswing without hitting tree.
Match was over quick. On the back 9 I shot 38...but it didn't matter...
Just posting so others know...it happens. You can go from playing really well and then have a really bad round.
I leave today wondering? Did I let the pressure get to me or did I really just have a bad day? I can say this, I tried to slow things down and get back in the match but was fighting my swing every shot. Just felt like I was guiding versus swinging...
Next year, I think I am going to join an amateur tour so that I get to play competitive golf regularly.
I still have a couple events left this year, but si really hate to end a great year on such a sour note. I let bad positions get compounded by bad decisions trying to make something magic happen.
Good news, tomorrow, @Brandon Wall and I are catching up to play an Arnold Palmer course.
I want to thank @Russell Hogue, PhD for another great outing. It was a rough start for me. About hole 5 I got a groove going. Then after the turn it was a hit and miss on the shots.
Happens to all of us, @Russell Hogue, PhD - occasionally at the most inopportune times. But you're doing what needs to be done: assess, forget (well, eventually...), put it behind us, and get back at it.
Thanks for sharing your experience. Have fun out there today with @Brandon Wall!!
To be honest I’m already intimidated. I’m in the process of rebuilding my swing so I’m all over the place. Thank goodness I have @Russell Hogue, PhD there to help me, and keep me from going ballistic due to bad shots.