Colder and windier than yesterday. Got started late and still ran into the back wall of the masses. Played 11 holes. Was freezing waiting on the group ahead and with the sun setting, knew I would only get in a few more anyway, so quit and went home. Entered only the front nine here, though went par par on the 10th and 11th, before quitting.
Worked on new tempo and rhythm on the range for awhile before teeing off and was really hitting the ball well with my irons. Out on the course, it continued.
Yanked an otherwise good drive off the first tee, 25 yards more distance than yesterday. And, wind hurt it some. Made a nice iron shot from way down low along the hazard line, up the hill, over left greenside bunker, but not quite onto green. A nice chip and 1 putt par save.
This new rhythm seems to make me go a little left with driver, but has been great with irons.
On second, another good drive against the wind, and again went too far left into fairway bunker. It was cart path only. I figured with the wind I would need 8 or 9 iron. When I got there, I realized 7i was the right club....but I didn't bring it. Too lazy to go back to the cart, tried to get there with an 8i from the bunker. Hit it on the screws, but the wind held it up and it landed in the fairway, a yard short of the green. 3-putted from there. I'm confident, with the 7i and all else being equal, would have been an easy par.
Another par on the tough 3rd. Layed up then put 58* wedge to 4 feet. Yesterday I got it to 1 ft. Not quite as perfect today. Par save.
They were mowing on 4th, felt rushed and hit my approach into the right bunker. Got out and on, but totally misread the putt. Bogey.
GIR 5th/par. On 6th, sucker pin close to left side water, playing 168. With wind, went with full 5i. Flew it 5 yards past pin. Lipped put for bird/par. Great drive on 7th, rightside of fairway, 9i out. Decided to go 8i with wind. All over pin in the air, but wind held it up more than expected and landed 4 yards short. 2-putt par. Good thing I didn't go with 9i.
Beautiful 6i up the hill off the tee on 8th to 10 feet. Tough slider putt. Read it well, but it missed and rolled 4 feet past, down the hill. Made the comebacker for par.
Another fairway on 9th and 3W 2nd shot to perfect position. Approach with 50* wedge, hit above the hole and started to trickle back down, but settled. 2 putt par.
Very happy with iron play. Something about this tempo seems to have me seeing the ball better at impact. Seems I hit it cleaner every time because I can see the contact or something. Also using a more full body swing than arms and hands. Getting straighter divots and straighter ball flight. Not over drawing the ball right now. Feels great.
Icing right shoulder now.
