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September 2001
Saturday September 1, Air Canada Championship - 76 (+5)
What a tough day! It started well, with a birdie on the 4th,
a par 5. But at the 5th hole the day started to go wrong!.
I hit my tee shot over the green and amazingly no one saw
it or could find it. I hit a second tee shot and this went
in the right bunker. So I ended up making a triple bogey.
It was hard going after that disappointing triple. However,
I actually struck the ball well and I gave myself birdie chances
on many holes. I finally birdied the14th and 17th, but got
wet on the last hole for a very disappointing finish. I hit
a perfect driver but missed the green by 2 feet on his second
shot. To sign off for a 76 having started at -8 was so annoying.
I haven't been this disappointed for a while after completing
a round. Well, that unfortunately is the world of professional
golf it can be very hard sometimes and I have to get up again
Sunday and try and work my way back into the top 10. Jill
is cooking my favourite pasta tonight and Mia bought some
really good wine for us. Let's hope that helps! I'll have
better news for you Sunday night and will be trying 100% as
always....Bye for now...Per
Sunday September 2, Air Canada Championship - 75 (+4)
Another poor day to report unfortunately. Starting from the
10th I played reasonably on the opening few holes before having
a horrible run and ended up making bogeys on 13, 17 (actually
a double), 18, 2 and 3. I kept plodding away and fought back
with birdies on 4 and 7 to keep a little respectability in
the score. But after the start I made on Thursday and Friday
there is no real excuse and I have to pick myself up and get
ready for the next Canadian PGA TOUR event. My game is clearly
there ( well in rounds 1 and 2!) and I need to remember that
I have a real talent. I want to prove it to myself as much
as everyone else. I finished in tied 62 and the small cheque
moves me up to 115th in the money list. Straight after play
Jill and I got our bags together and headed to the airport
with Jesper and Mia to catch a flight to Montreal for the
Canadian Open. It should be fun talking with Jesper on the
flight about the forthcoming Ryder Cup. I'm sure you heard
by now that Jesper was Sam Torrance's pick ( with Sergio).
Congratulations to Jesper - he deserves it. Thats all for
now. I'll try to keep it going for 4 rounds this week - Thanks
for all the encouraging emails...Per Oh, one more thing....the
new September competition with a Ryder Cup theme has now started,
so go on have a go - you never know you're luck. Donna from
Maryland won last month...well done!
Tuesday September 4, Bell Canadian Open, Montreal
Mr Woods is back to defend his title and there is a strong
field this week at the Royal Montreal Golf Club. We arrived
safely very late on Sunday night/Monday morning and slept
well! I went out and practiced and played the course yesterday.
It is shorter than most TOUR venues but it's tight and the
rough is long. So it's a good week to drive the ball straight.
The course measures 6737 yards long and is one of the oldest
in North America. The inaugeral Canadian Open was here in
1904 and I'm still trying to get to the bottom of the facts,
because some people are saying it is THE oldest course in
the country, but others are staking there claim elsewhere.
If someone out there knows the real story please let me know.
There are 45 holes here which comprise the red, the blue and
the black, a 9 hole juniors and beginners course - now that
is a good idea! We are playing the blue course this week.
I plan on being at the course today and will let you know
the tee times once they are out. We have new colours in the
p-uj shop - Go and take a look for early Christmas presents!!...Thats
all for now...Per
Wednesday September 5 - Bell Canadian Open, Montreal
Although it is about 45 minutes from the golf course we have
decided to stay downtown this week. It's a beautiful city
and the hotel is near all the good restaurants. I forgot to
tell you all that on Monday I played golf with Jesper and
Renee, Celine Dion's husband at their own golf course, Le
Mirage. It certainly brings a whole new meaning to come and
play at my club…they own it!!. While Jesper and I played golf
Jill and Mia took the kids to Celine's studio and got to see
and hear her recording her new album. Jill says she has a
fantastic voice live. The girls also ran around the whole
city to find Mia a dress for one of the Gala dinners at the
Ryder Cup! It a tough job and all that. I'm out early on Thursday
with Grant Waite form New Zealand and Doug Dunakey from the
US. I tee off at 0729am from the 1st tee. Friday is an afternoon
tee time at 1219pm from the 10th. You can follow the scores
on PGATOUR.com…Bye
for now…I'm off to practice..Per
Thursday September 6 - Bell Canadian Open, 1st Round 68
(-2)
A solid start, but a disappointing finish! After making birdies
on 2 and 3 and then making a terrific eagle at the 13 I stalled
in the last few holes and made bogeys on 16 and 18. Jill and
I got up at 4.30am to give me sufficient time to practice
and I guess that's the bad thing about staying downtown. It
was only 10'C (50'F) this morning and I felt really cold on
the range trying to warm up! As a result of that I didn't
hit it too well on the range but as soon as I got on the course
it started coming together. The round got of to a bizarre
start because one of my playing partners, Grant Waite was
not on the tee when we teed off and ended up missing his time
by 7 minutes (we found out later) - ouch, that has to hurt.
Coming back to my round, I was going along nicely until 16
where I hit it in the rough and ended up with a 5. At the
last hole I was right in the middle of the fairway but hit
my second shot in the left bunker and didn't get it up and
down. A disappointing finish , but once again I am right in
the thick of it and was tied 17th when I left the course.
Last night we went to an excellent fish restaurant with Jesper
and Mia, but after our early start today I think it could
be downstairs in the hotel for dinner...Speak to you tomorrow...Per
Friday September 7 - Bell Canadian Open, 2nd Round, 72
(+2)
I hit the ball reasonably well today and with birdies on 13,
1 and 7 should have had a better day. My real undoing was
the 6th, a par 5 and good birdie chance. I started from the
10th today so this was my 15th. I hit my tee shot in the left
rough, my second shot in the right rough, third shot on the
fairway, fourth on the green and then 3 putted!! A possible
birdie hole ended up being a double bogey. It was a long day
today and wasn't made any easy as it took us one and a half
hours to get back to the hotel from the course. For dinner
we went out to eat at a very good restaurant near Celine and
Renee's house. It will be an early start Saturday for round
three and I will make my best efforts to move up the leaderboard....Thats
all for now....Per
Saturday September 8 - Bell Canadian Open, 3rd Round, 67
(-3)
I had my best round of the week, shooting 67 and as a result
moved up around 20 spots to the top 30. I really hit the ball
so well today but missed loads of birdie putts. I made four
birdies during the round at 3, 4, 13 and 14 and could have
made quite a few more if the putter had warmed up. Once again
I made a bogey on the 16th, I hate that hole!…that’s three
in three days. I'll try and get my revenge with a birdie in
the final round. My drive went in the right rough again, my
second shot didn't reach the green and went in the front rough
and then I didn't get it up and down. I was playing with John
Daly today who is very pleasant to play with. We had a huge
gallery following us all day. John shot 64 and up close you
can really see what a great touch he has with the short shots
and well as the ability to hit those booming drives. We may
go to dinner with Jesper and Mia tonight, but Jesper had a
bad day so he might feel like room-service…. I'm playing with
Bob Tway on Sunday -You can watch my progress on pgatour.com…that’s
all for now…Per
Sunday September 9 - Bell Canadian Open, 4th Round, 69
(-1)
I exacted my revenge on the 16th with a birdie! Unfortunately,
I gave it back on the 17th but still managed to shoot 69 and
finish in a tie for 23rd position. This was good enough to
win $32,028 and move me up 5 spots in the Money List to 110th.
The day started with a bogey on one and then birdies on 3,
6, 10, 13 and 16. The counterpoint to this were bogeys on
1, 4, 8 and 17. All in all a good solid weeks golf and my
confidence continues to be high. After the event, Jill and
I fly back to West Palm, where we will relax for a day before
heading across the state of Florida to Tampa for the Tampa
Bay Classic at Innisbrook. So it's goodbye after two up and
down (but fun) weeks in lovely Canada. See you in Florida...Bye
for now...Off to the airport...Per
Wednesday September 12 - Tampa
I usually give you tee time news on Wednesdays, but as you
have no doubt heard the event has been altered so that we
plan on playing 18 holes on Thursday and Friday and then after
the cut, 36 holes on Sunday. As you can imagine following
the awful scenes in New York the mood here is very sombre
and no one feels much like playing golf...including me. I
am here on my own, having driven from West Palm and Jill was
due to fly today to join me. Like millions of others our plans
have been altered and we will just have to go with the flow.
But we are safe and well and our thoughts and prayers are
for all of the victims and families of this terrible crime.
Golf is of secondary importance... Per
Thursday September 13 - Tampa
So the decision has, quite rightly in my opinion, been taken
to cancel the Tampa Bay Classic. Along with all PGA TOUR venets
this week there will be no golf as a mark of respect for those
that lost their lives. I found out in the afternoon from the
TOUR and after checking out of the hotel headed back to West
Palm Beach in my rental car. Jill had not yet made the trip
so I will spend a few days at home. I have copied the official
release from the TOUR below for you.
"The PGA TOUR and its members on all three TOURs, out of respect
for the victims and their families of Tuesday's terrorist
actions and in recognition of a national day of mourning to
occur later this week, have determined that the best course
of action is to refrain from playing our normal PGA TOUR schedule
this week"
I will catch up with you from West Palm later in the week.
Jesper was in New York at The Plaza hotel in a meeting on
the 11th and said people were literally running for their
lives all across the city...what a terrible week it has been...Bye
for now...Per
Monday September 17 - Pennsylvania
We arrived for the Marconi Pennsylvania Classic and the sombre
mood continues. It is hard to think about golf after last
weeks tragedy, but normal life is slowly beginning to return
on the PGA TOUR. With the event being held in Penn. state
it will be a particularly moving week. As I am sure you all
know this state is where the fourth aircraft went down. I
agree with the Ryder Cup being postponed and the next weeks
will see many announcements regarding just how this will impact
the Presidents Cup and the planned 2003 Ryder Cup. For now
I will try and focus on the week in hand and try to complete
my job of keeping my card for 2002. I am only one good finish
away and my game feels good. The weather last week in Florida
was awful so practice was limited, but I am ready to play...I'll
let you know about the course and tee times later..Bye for
now...Per
Tuesday September 18 - Marconi Pennsylvania Classic
Laurel Valley is a great golf course! Undoubtedly one of the
top three of the year. I played a practice round this afternoon
after arriving at around 10ish. We made it safely and with
no problems to Pennsylvania. Jill and I flew privately with
Dudley Hart. This may have to become a regular option in light
of the security issues on commercial aircraft and I need to
post some good numbers so that I can do it more often. After
golf we headed back to the hotel, which shall remain unnamed.
It was old and filthy and we immediately checked out and drove
down the road and checked in at another Inn. It is less expensive,
only a few years old and perfectly adequate for a week. After
all that I headed out to meet Rick, my trainer and worked
out for and hour or so. I'm happy to back on the course and
looking forward to the week on the great Laurel Valley course…I'll
post the Tee times later…We're off exploring to find somewhere
to eat dinner…Per
Wednesday September 19 - Marconi Pennsylvania Classic
The tee times are out and I have a great draw with Steve Flesch
and Brandt Jobe. I am of the 10th tee early Thursday morning
(around 730) and then off the 1st on Friday at around 1230.
Remember if you want to watch the live scoring you can do
that at PGATOUR.com.
I had my typical Wednesday with no play on the course, just
a good practice session on the range and putting green. We
have certainly been eating well this week. We just back to
the hotel after a great Mexican meal with Gabe. Last night
it was Italian, a place called Vallozzi's. Who knew that there
were such good restaurants in the area. It makes a pleasant
change from certain weeks! An early night because we plan
on being up at 5am in the morning…Bye for now…Per
Thursday September 20 - Marconi Pennsylvania Classic, 1st
Round, 67 (-5)
We have just returned from dinner with Gabe and Eric,the PGA
TOUR travel guy. We went to an Italian restaurant in Greensburg,
which is nearby. I had a an excellent day today and shot 67
which puts me in great shape and in the top 5, with a number
of guys still with their round to finish. We had a four hour
rain delay and I was one of the lucky ones out early and able
to finish. I only missed one green today at the third hole.
The third is a par 5 and I had a go at the green in two and
managed to hit it in the water and make a double. I was so
mad after that, but got my mind together quickly and hit straight
back with birdies on 4 and 5. Another couple followed on the
7th and 9th and coming back in 33 to add to my 2 under 34
on the way out was a good days work. I had so many birdie
opportunities today and the final tally was 8! Steve Flesch
and I played together for the first time since the Accenture
Matchplay in Melbourne earlier in the year. (I was -10 after
15 holes and Steve -6.) He shot -3 today and played really
well. It seems as if we always play well together. Lets hope
for more of the same on Friday. With the rain delay I expect
to tee off at around 2.30 tomorrow. That’s all for now..Per
Friday September 21- Marconi Pennsylvania Classic, 2nd
Round (+3 after 10)
Unfortunately, I didn't get finished today due to the rain
delay from Thursday. Jill and I arrived at the course for
lunch and it seemed that there was also a short delay this
morning. I finally teed off at 4pm and completed only 10 holes.
I put a tee peg in the ground half way down eleven which is
where I will resume very early on Saturday morning. I really
didn't play too badly but dropped 3 shots to par and am now
back to -2 with a fight on my hands to get back up the leaderboard.
Perhaps it was a good thing that I came off because it will
give me time to regroup and finish in style over the last
7 holes. We are racing out the door to the Mexican restaurant
because they serve so quickly there and we need to be up at
5am. I hope to report some good news to you later. I guess
that once we have finished the 2nd round there will be a draw
for 3 balls and straight back out there for round three...Off
to eat..Bye for now...Per
Saturday September 22 - Marconi Pennsylvania Classic, 2nd
Round 73 (+1), 3rd Round 71 (-1)
Saturday was a long day and we are both so tired, having woken
up at 5.00am this morning to finish my second round. I played
better today and after starting again on the 11th managed
a couple of birdies on the way in to get back to 4 under after
the second round. My second round score was 73. We had about
2 hours to kill and then back out on to the course. The third
round started well and I was putting for birdies on every
hole. I was out in three under and made a terrific eagle on
the first par 5 (where I made 7 on the opening day). However,
on the back nine the wheels wobbled a little and I dropped
a couple. On 11, the par 5, I went for the green and miss
hit it. The ball went way right, almost out of bounds. After
that it was a struggle and I was happy to get in at -5. My
third round score was 71, which should have been better. This
puts me in or near the top 20 and challenging for a good cheque
on Sunday. We are off for dinner and then looking forward
to the first full nights sleep in a few days...Speak to you
soon...Per
Sunday September 23 - Marconi Pennsylvania Classic, 4th
Round 73, (+1)
A disappointing end to a week that had promised so much at
the start. After an opening 67 I really thought this would
be a week to make a big cheque or even win. I shot a 1 over
73 today on a day when not a great deal happened. A couple
of early bogeys on 2 and 5 didn't help and with only two birdies
on the 6th and 15th it was a struggle. Despite that I have
moved up a few spots on the money list and my cheque this
week of $17,820 moves my total up to $385,978 and 107th position
(from 110th last week). Jill and I headed straight back to
Florida after the game and will then head east to San Antonio
in Texas for the Texas Open, probably on Tuesday morning.
Thanks for all the emails this week...keep them coming..See
you in the Lone Star State...Per
Tuesday September 25 - San Antonio, Texas
We arrived safely via Dallas on Monday night and first thing
this morning I headed out to the LaCantera Golf Club. The
golf course is at the resort where we are staying and what
a great place it is! It has excellent rooms, a gym, several
swimming pool's, good food. If you are looking for a fun place
to come for a few days this should be on your list. I could
go on but I am beginning to sound like their PR person! I
enjoyed the course and will give you more news on that during
the week. We played 18 holes before heading out to the Rally
.This was the big news today. The PGA TOUR organised a "Patriotic
Rally" for the September 11th Tragedy in New York today. It
was a very moving event with over 5000 people in attendance.
Very power full!!! Jesper made a speech as did the Ryder cup
captain, Curtis Strange. President Bush, via satellite, was
also linked into the event and spoke with his new found confidence
and clarity. Whilst I was practicing and playing Jill went
with some friends down town to the River Walk. She took a
boat tour on the river and did all the tourist stuff. I think
she will go back tomorrow. Well, it's that or watch me hit
balls. I know, it’s a tough choice!….Catch up with you later…Per
Wednesday September 26 - San Antonio, Texas
A long day's practice today. I arrived at the club at about
11am and left at 6pm. I continue to work hard on my short
game which somehow seems more important over here than in
Europe. The quality of the putting is also amazing and I know
I need to keep working on that...like all of you out there.
Putting accounts for 30-50% of golf and I really urge you
to take some time each weekend to focus on this critical scoring
part of the game. The tee times are out and I am playing with
a good couple of Americans, Ed Fryatt and Brian Gay. I am
off at 8.29am on Thursday from the 10th and then 1.09pm on
Friday from the first. The course is good and I am ready for
a strong week... Lots of emails and hat orders this week..many
thanks...Per
Thursday September 27 - Texas Open at La Cantera, 1st Round,
70 (-1)
What a work out this golf course is! If you managed to catch
any of the coverage you will have seen how the course is so
hilly. Starting from the 10th today I played really well on
my front nine. Only dropping one shot on the way out at the
18th alongside birdies on the 10th, 12th, 13th, and 14th I
was out in -3. I almost made an eagle on the 1st hole, par
5 but made an easy birdie and got back to 4 under. After bogey
on the 11th I never really got my game going again and faltered
with bogies on 2,3 and 4. An exchange of bogey and birdie
on 7 and 8 gave me a 70 , which is one under the card. I'll
need to do better than that tomorrow and need to particularly
play the front nine much. After the golf, we worked out and
than had a great massage. We are going out for dinner with
the Parnevik's tonight...Catch up with you Friday night ..late,
because I tee off after lunch...Per
Friday September 28 - Texas Open at La Cantera, 2nd Round,
68 (-3)
Starting from the first today I had an interesting front nine
which consisted of 3 birdies, 3 pars and 3 bogies! I was out
in level par and in need of something good on the back nine
to make the weekend play. Fortunately I got the putter going
and came back in 3 under to shoot a 68 ands comfortably make
the cut which fell at -2. I made a birdie on the 10th and
an eagle on the 14th didn't hurt ! I chipped it in from 30
feet. No plans yet for dinner but we will probably end up
eating downstairs again. After teeing off in the afternoon
it's getting late and we are both hungry. Tim Herron and his
wife Annie joined us last night for dinner - they are very
great company. So another opportunity to make a good move
up the board and continue the march up the Money List....Speak
to you later...Bye for now...Per
Saturday September 29 - Texas Open at La Cantera, 3rd Round,
70 (-1)
I played very well today and produced an average score on
a day when I needed to shoot in the mid 60s to make a move.
It was very frustrating not to score better. The Bermuda rough
is really tough and if you do hit it the ball is very hard
to control. Starting from the 10th I really played well and
with birdies on the 10th, 14th and 15th was out in -3 and
looking good. Once again the actual front nine (my back nine)
proved to be my undoing. For the 3rd day in a row I bogied
the second hole( I hate that hole!!) and Sunday I am going
to really try to make at least a par. A bogey at the last
was also very disappointing. From the middle of the fairway
I missed the green and got in the bermuda, chipped short and
missed the putt....ouch, what a way to finish. It has been
a real test of my patience this week and I continue to try
and find the key to unlock my solid striking and turn it into
great scores. As we all know patience is so important in this
game. After the round I worked off some aggression with Jill
at the gym! I'm first off the 10th tee tomorrow with Tom Byrum
and Joe Ogilvie. I need a good day to move up the board. How
about 65??...I'll update you all after the round..Bye for
now..Per
Sunday September 30 - Texas Open at La Cantera, 4th Round,
72 (-1)
A disappointing finish to the week with a closing round 72,
one over par. For the third day in a row I started at the
10th, but this time I made a bogey six on the par five (the
previous 3 days I made birdie) to get off to a poor start.
I got this shot back at the 12th, before an ugly double at
16. Around the turn I birdied the 18th and the 1st before
making bogey on my nemisis, the 2nd hole. Parring in from
there for a 72 and a position down the field was not what
I had in mind. There were a lot of moves from behind me in
the money list and I slipped back to 114th and in need of
a good cheque this week in Virginia. I am now on $392,998
and best guesses are that $425,000 will secure playing privileges
next year. After the round Jill and I headed for the airport
back for a quick days turnaround in Florida before heading
North to Kingsmill for the Michelob Championship....Thanks
for the emails of support this week...See you in Virginia...Per
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