December 2003

Monday 1 December - Orlando - Q School
I arrived here in Orlando last night at Orange County National for the PGA TOUR Qualifying School, otherwise known as Q School (and also some unprintable things!). I'm feeling good and today I had another look at the course. It was really slow out there so I only played 11 holes before heading to the range. I drove up here a couple of weeks ago when it was quiet to play both courses because I knew it would be crazy busy here this week. Everyone is checking out every position their ball could land and that takes time. I will be up early on Tuesday and play at least 18 holes before my 9am start on Wednesday. This is the ultimate week to stay patient and utilise all the experience I have of competition. I'll keep you updated and also check out PGA TOUR.com for the scoring. The week comprises 108 holes and there are alot of nerves out on the 2 courses. I will as always be trying my hardest and I look forward to giving you the news each day. Bye for now, Per

Monday 1 December - Orlando - Q School
A quick entry to let you know the tee times for the next couple of days. I am off the 10th tee at 9.12am on Panther Lake on Wednesday and then at 8.09am from the first tee at Crooked Cat.

Wednesday 3 December - PGA Tour School, 1st Round 70 (-2)
A game of 2 halves today around the Crooked Cat golf course. I started from the 10th and was off to a fast start with a birdie on one. The rest of the nine was not so good and I dropped 3 shots to be out in 38. On a windy day I really pulled it together on the back nine and came back in 32 to shoot 70. This will put me in the top 30 with 5 rounds to go! It's a good solid start and something to build on. I have an early tee time on Thursday, so it will be an early dinner and bed tonight. Catch up later, Per

Thursday 4 December - PGA Tour School, 2nd Round 74 (+2)
A really up and down day today on the strangely named Panther Lakes. I was off to a shocker of a start with 5 bogeys on the front nine putting me out in a 3 over 39. I managed to pull myself together on the back nine and birdies at 17 and 18 really helped keep me in the game. Despite these a 74 pushed me back down the field into a tie for 71st. I need to do better than that in order to earn a top 30 spot and a full card for next year. There was not too much wrong with my game - it was simple one of those days when inspiration was lacking and I could do nothing to kick start the round. Following the round, which was played on a tough, windy day, I focussed on my putting. They have a series of 2 inch holes on the putting green and its a great drill to practice to those. When you do start putting to a regulation sized hole it looks huge! My manager, Nick, is here in Orlando for a couple of days and after the round we ordered pizza and watched some bad sitcoms on TV - what a glamorous life! It's back to the Crooked Cat on Friday and a round in the 60s is needed to move forward. I'll report back after my early start, Per

Friday 5 December - PGA Tour School, 3rd Round 68 (-4)
Back to the Crooked Cat and a very solid day shooting 68 to move up 31 spots to tied 42nd. I'm really not focussed on the position, but I thought you would like to know! The key this week is to play 6 solid rounds of golf and see where the chips fall. I birdied all the par 5s today and with only a single bogey when I missed a short putt on 10 it all added up to 68. The courses here are both long, but the PGA TOUR has wisely moved some of the tees up to make things a little more playable. With the walk between greens and tees we guess that each day is a 9000 yard walk! This is a course in the modern tradition designed for carts. That said both are good courses and ideally suited for this kind of event. After play I chipped and putted and then hit one bucket of balls, whilst Nick tried to make his new video camera work with yours truly as the first subject matter. It's a good job I was there or he would still be trying to switch it on! So, onward we go and back to Panther (as everyone calls it) I need to play well there to keep this momentum. To help that I have the luxury of a lie in - my tee time isn't until 0930. Catch up after round 4, Per

Saturday 6 December - PGA Tour School, 4th Round 78 (+6) - My Birthday!
A really bad day today with a score of 78. This has pushed me down the list and in need of 2 great scores over the closing days. It was a cold day out on the Panther Lake course and most of the players struggled in 40 degree temperatures. After a birdie on my first hole I dropped shots at 11, 16 and 17 before a disastrous quad at the par 5 18th. I was in all sorts of trouble down the hole with water all down the left side and this one hole has really put me behind the 8 ball going into Sunday. I did manage to pull it together on the back nine and an eagle on the 2nd gave me some hope. However, a double at the last hole resulted in 78 and not the Birthday score I was looking for. Tomorrow is another day and I need to attack to have any chance of making the top 30. I'll keep you posted after the round. I'm playing with Thomas Levet and Steve Alker on the Crooked Cat at 1040. If ever there was a time to go low - this is it! Bye for now, Per

Sunday 7 December - PGA Tour School, 5th Round 73 (+1)
Not too much to report today. I really needed a much better score than this and after 9 holes I was looking reasonable at -2 and on the way to a high 60s score. However, with 4 holes to go I made a double on the long par 3, 15th and then followed it up with a bogey on the 454 yard par 4 16th. It was very depressing stuff after an ok start to the round. The result was a one over 73 and my position is too far back to make the top 30. I will go out tomorrow and play the best I can and aim for top 80 and a small cheque to cover my expenses for the week. Following that round I will hang up the clubs for a couple of weeks. I need a break! I'll report back after round 6. Bye for now, Per

Monday 8 December -PGA Tour School, 6th Round 71 (-1)
I am back in West Palm after a disappointing final day at Q School. A final round one under par 71 put me just outside of the top 80. It sure was an up and down day with 6 birdies, 3 bogeys and a dreaded double. I started on the back nine and played reasonably well. On the back nine I somehow managed to make 3 sixes - two on the par 5s and one at the last to complete my last competitive round of the year. What a way to finish! It's been a tough year on the course with some great golf mixed in with some poor stuff. You all know being golfers that you have to maintain your perspective and this year we have been blessed with Stella, which at the end of the day is more important than a three foot putt! I'll have one more update before the year end with my "best of" list and if you are looking to purchase a PU hat you have a few more days left to ensure it makes it for the Holiday season. Bye for now and thanks for all the support through the year, Per

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