May 2003

Thursday May 1 - HP Classic of New Orleans 1st Round 68 (-4)
I shot 68 today, which is -4. Expect to see low scoring all week. This is really due to no rough and a pretty easy golf course. Except for my drives I played pretty well and I got away with a few because the rough was down. Starting at the 10th I had a mixed nine holes with birdies on 12, 13 and 16 and bogeys on 15 and the tough 18th. My back nine was more solid and I was back in 33 with 3 birdies. I finished with a birdie on 9, my last hole, which is always nice. My game feels a bit more solid than the last few weeks, following a session with Lead and I feel like it's on the way. New Orleans is a pretty cool city. The Jazz Festival is on now as well so there's a lot of things going on plus great food! All the players and their wives were invited to the "Acme Oyster House" on Thursday night. It was a private party for us, which was cool! I'm not that fond of oysters but they had plenty of other good things on the menu! I'm off in the morning on Friday and I'll talk to you after the round, Per

Thursday May 15 - EDS Byron Nelson Championship, Las Colinas, 66 (-4)
There are a few great ways to start a round and having missed the first green I managed one of them! I chipped in from the right side of the green which got me going early. I played well to shoot a 66 and put myself in a good position for the event. I only made a single bogey on 8 and also enjoyed a great run around the turn with birdies on 9, 10, 12 and 13. Pars the rest of the way was good on the Las Colinas course. On Friday I play early on the Cottonwood Valley course.The day started with some cardio and streching before my round. It really is worth getting to your club early before you play yo spend 10-15 minutes stretching before you play. It can make all the difference to your game. Following the round, Jill and I had room service and an early night in preparation for my morning start on Friday. Hope to see some of you there. Bye for now, Per

Friday May 16 - EDS Byron Nelson Championship, Cottonwood Valley, 69 (-1)
A very windy day out there today! I played well even though I missed alot of fairways. Still the score of 69 keeps me in touch with the leader, Vijah Singh, who is at -10. I managed four birdies today including a good run of three in four holes at 14, 16 and 17. Unfortunately, I gave one back at the 18th (missing from 10 feet for par), but overall I am happy with the score. I now need to keep it going for the weekend. I made a number of good par putts which helped keep my score going. With my approach to the 17th I hit the pin on and had a easy birdie put to go -6. After play I worked on the range for a while and then headed to the gym and then got a massage at the SPA. Not sure where we are going for dinner. We might eat downstairs at the hotel. I'm off with Briny Baird at 11.42 tomorrow and plan on keeping the good scoring going!, Catch up later, Per

Saturday May 17 - EDS Byron Nelson Championship, Las Colinas - 67 (-3)
Another windy day in Texas! I was off to a mixed start with a couple of birdies on the front nine, but made 4 bogeys to be out in 37, which is 2 over par. Although my driving wasn't good on the front nine I started hitting it straight on the back nine. I really hit some great shots and stormed back in 30, five under, to move into contention going into Sunday, with five birdies in six holes from the 11th. I almost made eagle on all the par 3s - The longest birdie put on a par 3 today was on 17th, I had a tricky 6 footer for birdie and missed it. I made the others! I'm now 3 back from the lead and in with a chance tomorrow. I really played well today and am happy with my game. I'm off at 12.19 with my good friend, Nick Price. I notice I am leading the birdie count this week - let's hope I can keep that stat going. We are off for dinner with Jason Caron and his girlfriend Gia now. Catch up after play on Sunday. Thanks for all the messages of encouragement for a good day!, Per

Sunday May 18th - EDS Byron Nelson Championship, Las Colinas - 69 (-1)
An emotionally up and down day with a final position of sixth. If you had asked me at the beginning of the week I would have taken that, but standing on 16th tee I was looking for more. At that point I was -11 and in 4th position and looking to make birdie down the par 5. Following a poor drive left, I recovered well to leave myself a 6 footer, which both Paul and I misread and a par was the result. On the 17, with a tough pin, just over the water, I came off the shot and ended up getting wet! A penalty shot and 2 putts later and I made double. If you saw the TV broadcast, you will have seen the deflation in my face after working so hard throughout the day. Even then I kept pushing and my birdie putt on 18, following a good iron shot into the green grazed the edge again. I look positively on the week, despite a couple of poor swings at the end and am excited about going to Fort Worth for the Bank America Colonial. I hit some great shots out there this week and my best result of the year and biggest cheque ever on tour has moved me up over 50 spots on the money list. Thanks for all the emails over the weekend - I really appreciate you all taking the time. I'll catch up from FW. Jill and I are off to dinner now and a good nights sleep, before the pro-am in the afternoon. Bye for now, Per

Tuesday May 20 - Bank of America Colonial, Fort Worth
Back in Ben Hogan country! Firstly let me thank all of you who have sent me an email over the last couple of days. I have received a countless number. Thank you for all of the support after a good, but not yet great weekend! I am pleased to have moved up in the ranking and have learned a little more about what it is going to take to get the job done on the PGA TOUR. It's going to be an interesting week with Annika playing and the media interest is amazing. I heard there are over 500 accredited media this week and that last year, pre-Annika there were just over 100. I obviously wish her all the best and hope the Swedish contingent have a fantastic week. Along with Annika, I also received an invitation to play this week. A huge thank you to Dennis Roberson and all at the Bank of America Colonial for giving me a spot. I will do my best to repay you in the event. The tee times are out and I have an early/late. I'm of at 7.52 and with Stewart Cink and Tim Herron from the 10th tee. On Friday we are off the first at 1237pm. I hope to see some of you from last week making the short trip from Dallas to Fort Worth. It's going to be a fascinating week. Bye for now, Per

Thursday May 22 - Bank of America Colonial, 1st Round 69 (-1)
A solid start to the week with a 69. Out in 35 on the back nine and back in 34 on the front. Actually, not too much to tell you about the round, just solid stuff. Only one bogey and 2 birdies on 17 and 3. I had a lot more chances and I hope to convert some more putts tomorrow. The course was playing nicely, probably a little easier than normal because of the rain softening the greens up. What a great round by my friend, Annika Sorenstam! To shoot 71 under the gaze of literally thousands of people was an outstanding achievement on a 7000 yard plus course. Let's hope she goes a couple better on Friday and proves many, many people wrong and she makes the cut. This isn't about men v women it's simply about Annika testing herself. She doesn't want to play out here each week and has said that from the beginning. It's just amazing how much has been made of her wanting simply to compete. What do you all think? Let me know. I am off late on Friday and I'll catch up after the round, Per Friday

Thursday May 23 - Bank of America Colonial, 2nd Round 75 (+5)
A poor day today shooting 75 and missing the cut by 3. I was off to a reasonable start too with birdies on 2 and 7 and just a single bogey on 4. Unfortunatly, the wheels then fell off with back to back doubles on 8 and 9, followed by a bogey on 10, It was almost all over then, but with bogeys on 13, 15 and 16 I made sure!! I did pull a couple back on 17 and 18, but it was a Friday afternoon trunk slam for me and back to the airport and a flight to West Palm Beach. After last weeks good result this was a disappointing week. I now have a week off before heading North to Maryland for the Kemper Open. I will now enjoy some good practice at Medalist and have some down time at the house. Keep the emails coming - I will try and get to them in the next few days. Bye for now, Per

Next Month
Back to News Archive