June 2003

Monday June 2 - Washington DC
I have a busy week ahead of me! I arrived last night in DC for the FBR Open (the new name for the Kemper). In addition to that I will be playing in the US Open qualifier on Tuesday in Rockville, Maryland. It's 36 holes out there, so on Monday I will practice on both courses, before playing Tuesday. Then on Wednesday, I will practice at TPC Avenel before the event starting on Thursday. I hope to see some of you out at Woodmont or Avenel. Catch up later, Per

Tuesday June 3 - US Open Qualifier, Woodmont Country Club 71 (-1)
A long and wet day here in Maryland. The plan for today was 36 holes over the North and South courses at Woodmont. The leading 34 players would be through to the US Open next week, but unfortunately that one didn't get resolved today. I teed off from the 10th tee on the North course and played steady golf for most of the day, eventually finishing with a great tap in birdie at the last for a 1 under, 71. On the back nine the rain started coming down and didn't stop for the rest of the day. After a quick lunch we headed out on the South course and managed 4 holes before the hooter went, signalling a return to the clubhouse. We now plan on playing the remainder of the holes tomorrow at around midday, subject to the weather clearing up. This will mean no practice for the FBR Open for me and many of the other players in the qualifying field. Still, I have played TPC Avenel before, so I know what to expect - it will be one wet golf course after the wettest May in the DC area for years. Catch up with you all after the completion of the round at Woodmont, Per

Wednesday June 4 - US Open Qualifier - 69 (-1)
Unfortunately, my 69 today proved to be one too many. The mark looked like being 139 when we left. There may well be a play off for the last few spots, but I wasn't in, so it was time to leave! I plan on having an early dinner with Jesper tonight and then a good nights sleep. I actually played really well today, but couldn't get the ball in the hole. Let's hope I'm saving some putts for the FBR Open, which starts on Thursday. I'm off at 1209, so I hope to see some of you out there. Bring some waterproof shoes - it hasn't stopped raining here for days! Bye for now, Per

Thursday June 5 - FBR Capital Open, 1st Round 73 (+2)
My first time playing the course this week and a reasonable score on a tough and windy day. Finally the sun shone, which was great! I started at the 10th and misjudged my second shot in at the shortish par four and ended up a few inches away from the creek and scrambled a bogey. Par golf followed until a poor tee shot on 18 left me in a tough spot and I tried for too much and wound up with a double. I played better on the back nine and came back in 1 under with an irratating dropped shot at the short ninth (my 18th). I plan on having an early dinner with Jesper, as I will need to be up at around 4.30am to make my 7.09am tee time from the first. The cut mark is around par, so a score in the 60s will move me up the board. I'm playing well and just need a couple of putts to get me going. Catch up later or see you at Avenel, Per

Friday June 6 - FBR Capital Open, 2nd Round 70 (-1)
A quick update tonight as I am running out of the door for drinks with my manager, Nick and his wife, Barbra at a great Georgetown institution, J Pauls. A good solid day on the course in tough, and windy weather again (my side of the draw got the worst of it - that's the way it goes sometimes!) The day started well with a holed bunker shot at the first for birdie, steady golf followed until a 3 putt bogey on 15, birdie 2 on 17 and bogey 5 on 18. Another early start tomorrow because the weather may close in. Off at 8.10am, See you out there, Per

Saturday June 7 - Sitting around in the rain!
No play today due to awful weather. We arrived at the club for our tee time only to see the start delayed and then eventually called off for the day at 11am. So I spent the day at the hotel, had a massage and went for dinner with Nick and Barbra at a good Italian, Paolos, in Georgetown. The plan for the next 2 days, subject to the weather is to play 18 on Sunday and then 18 on Monday. I am still in touch with the leaders and need a score in the 60s to move it forward tomorrow. Catch up after the round, Per

Monday June 9 - FBR Capital Open, 3rd Round 73 (+3), 4th Round 73 (+3)
Sorry I wasn't able to get the scores on line earlier. I made a dash for the airport after my disappointing 73 on Mondays extra day. It was kind of a blah weekend really with a pair of 73s. I did make a cheque however and it all helps towards the Money List. I actually moved up one spot on the list, which was a bonus. I now have a week off and am enjoying the weather in West Palm and doing some practice prior to heading up to New York for the Buick next week. Catch up later and enjoy the US Open, Per

Tuesday June 17 - Buick Classic, New York
Back in New York! Actually Jill and I were in New York yesterday for a day's fun. She has been in Sweden for three weeks so it was great to be back in the same city.... and what a great city to visit! Today we moved out to White Plains for the Buick event. I have an early/ late over Thursday and Friday playing with Donnie Hammond and Mike Springer. My game feels good and let's hope the weather is better than Washington DC! (the forecast says it isn't!). On Wednesday I am playing at Winged Foot with friends, before heading to the range in the afternoon. I hope to see some of you out at the event this week, Per

Wednesday June 18 - Buick Classic, New York
The rain came and didn't stop until the afternoon. Despite that we played 9 holes on the magnificent West course at Winged Foot. It rained throughout, but this didn't diminish the fun we had on the course or the quality of the golf course. I can see why the US Open is going back there in 2006. If you ever have the opportunity to play it ...run there! We had a great lunch after golf and then I headed back to Westchester to practice. I'm feeling good and ready to play first thing in the morning. With all the rain we may well have a weather delay..let's hope not. See you out there, Per

Thursday June 19 - Buick Classic, 1st Round 71 (Level)
A great finish to a slow start to the day. The rain didn't come as we thought and the day actually turned out well. I teed off at the 10th and on the par 3 14th I hit a reasonable tee shot that flew the green and ended up in the horrible lie. A quick shank and chip and chip and I was on the way to a triple bogey! Another bogey at the next and I was behind the 8 ball at 4 over. I continued playing steady golf and had some birdie chances at 1 and 2. Eventually I made a good couple of putts on 3 and 4 to get back in the game until coming to the par 5 fifth where something extraordinary happened. I laid up in 2 and had 60 yards top the pin. I put a good swing on a sand iron which actually disappeared into the hole on the fly and then amazingly popped back out and screwed down the hill to 30 feet! In and out! - how annoying is that when it looked like an eagle. Another birdie followed at 9 from the bunker and I had completed a good comeback. This puts me in the middle of the pack. I hope to see some of you out there later in the week, Per

Friday June 20 - Buick Classic, 2nd Round, 70 (-1)
I played reasonable well again today and kept the ball on the fairway well until the last few holes. I made three great par putts in a row on 15, 16 and 17 to help keep me the right side of the cut line. All of them were about 15 feet. Unfortunately, I missed my birdie putt on the par 5, 18th. The poor weather didn't materialise and it was a great day to play. When I came in I learned that the tee times for Saturday will be in 3 balls and we are starting early because the threatening storm is still hanging about. My bounce back stat today was 100% with each bogey I made being followed up with a birdie. I made bogey and then birdie on 4 and 5 and then 8 and 9! Jill and I went to an Indian restaurant for dinner with Rickard Johnson and his girlfriend Linda. Hope the weather stays good and some of you can make it out there, Per

Friday June 27, FedEx St Jude Classic, 1st Round 71 (-1)
Sorry we had some technical difficulties this morning with the site and lost the past few days. I can assure you all is well now! We've had a bit of bad weather come through late yesterday, which has pushed back tee times today. Best to check pgatour.com for scoring updates. I'll check in later on with today's update. Bye for now, Per.

Friday 27 June, FedEx St Jude Classic, 2nd Round, 74 (+3)
A tough day today and if my putting hadn't been good I would have shot a lot more. That said it is very disappointing to miss the cut by dropping 3 shots in the last 4 holes. Starting at 10, I dropped one, but picked it back at 12 with birdie. I birdied 16 before making a mess of 18 ( which I birdied yesterday) and making double. I recovered one shot at the first and then the last four holes were ugly. A bogey on 6 after making par fives on the two front nine par 5s was not good and then approaching the last and needing a par I managed to hit my second shot in the water and make a double! I was really hoping to be playing this weekend and working on my game and as it is I am on a plane back to West Palm. The plan now is to work with David Leadbetter in Chicago early in the week before the Western Open. I need to get my long game back on track for this big week. The leading 8 players qualify for the British Open and so I am looking for a great week. I hope the technicalities of the site are sorted now. It was a shock for me to come to the site and see no diary entries - all of my daily columns gone! I'll try and find them on my hard drive and repost them in the archive section. Apologies for the gremlins. Catch up from Chicago, Per

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