#loablogger

[handshakesandbirdies]

PR Part 2

Patrick Reed did this to himself first and foremost. Adam Scott & Cam Smith should be ashamed of themselves for pleading to the crowds to basically get drunk and ruffle some feathers. I’ll start with “Scotty”, everyone knows you’re still anchoring that putter. Also, you will now be remembered for begging the Aussie fans to get hammered and be obnoxious. When you end up getting drummed in your singles match tomorrow, you will have yourself to blame. I would also like to let you know that the B level actor, Adam Scott pops up on Google before you. For that, you also have yourself to blame. Cam Smith, you’re a little late to the “flat bill” movement, it’s not your fault...you’re just a Darryl.

To PR’s Caddie and Brother In Law, I probably would have gotten my money’s worth if I were you. I see the USA winning 7 to 5 tomorrow to tie the event 15-15...therefore retaining the Cup.

1. Reed is a Darryl. 2. Scott is a Massive Darryl and has been forever. 3. Cam Smith is an idiot.

[handshakesandbirdies]

Patrick Reed

Patrick Reed should have either been sat down for the first four matches by Captain Tiger Woods, or as it would appear be thrown to the wolves with the weakest playing partner available. Webb Simpson is a very nice and easy to root for player, that being said, he is not really ideal in these formats(especially four ball). Now Webb may have offered to play with PR to sort of take one for the team, which is a brave thought, but PR has been nothing but a distraction. After everything that went down at Tiger’s Hero Challenge, I am absolutely shocked that Captain Woods has sent PR out to get lampooned by the largely Aussie crowds for three rounds in a row. I am “writing” this gem about three holes into the 3rd round, and barring an absolute birdie fest...I really hope PR puts on a parka and tries to blend in somewhere for afternoon foursome play.

PR needs to have his people get together with Kuchar & Thorbjorn Oleson’s people, and then after that reach out to Saturday Night Live’s Stewart Smolley for a little mirror time...”And Gosh Darnitt, People Like Me”

On a side note, those putts by Patrick Cantlay and Justin Thomas were special!

If the US team does battle back to retain the President’s Cup, I will look back to those two almost identical and beyond clutch rolls of the rock.

Go USA!

[handshakesandbirdies]

NBA game 6

Damian Jones might have to mature by like 3 years in a single game 6 right before our eyes to get the Dubs a game 7. Kevin Durant is a legend, regardless of this injury heavy postseason. KD, Klay, Looney, and Boogie I applaud you guys! Championships are never easy. The Raptors Coach(who has his own logo hat) may have called the worst timeout in NBA playoff history.

[handshakesandbirdies]

Brooks Koepka

What a display that was. Brooks Koepka won a major by two strokes with his B-/C+ game on the weekend. Pretty clear right now that he and DJ are the top 2 players in the world. Justin Rose, Rory, JT, Tiger, Frankie, Rickie, Bryson.....I’m sorry but you guys as of May 19th, 2019 aren’t playing with a full deck. It’s really too bad that Brooks and DJ weren’t paired together for the final round. We all felt that DJ was the only challenger that had the required firepower to make a move on Sunday. The cheers for DJ on the back nine were loud, luckily for Koepka they were two groups ahead.

Not very often is DJ placed into the underdog role, but that is where Brooks put him after his blistering 36 hole start. Sunday you saw and heard the New York crowd really urge DJ to entertain them, and he made a valiant effort. These Majors in the New York Metropolitan area always seem to produce some really great outcomes. Bethpage and the PGA of America should be extremely proud of the product that they put on display for all of us to enjoy! I think moving the PGA to May is going to prove to be one of the best calls they have made since adding the Black Course to the rotation! That back nine looked like the final obstacle course on one of my favorite shows ever, American Gladiator. There was risk and danger all over holes 10 through 18. The gusty and unpredictable wind added another difficult element to the long list of obstacles the guys had to navigate.     

Ok..back to Brooks, the Thursday 63 was probably a top 10 round of all time. It was a flawless display of power, discipline, confidence and precision. It was like watching John Wick coming out of retirement. Then he backed up his John Wick 63, with a John Wick 2, Friday 65. He knew what he had to do on the Weekend. Brooks basically played match play against the rest of the field and DJ was the only one that got close to forcing him to play aggressively. The way the back nine was playing, pars were effectively birdies and bogies were pars. Someone was going to have to have a Carl Spackler back nine to catch him. I have yet to take in John Wick 3 yet, but I have a feeling it will not disappoint. Sequels are risky, there is always the chance that the follow up feature will fail to deliver or even sometimes flop. I don’t think we have a case of Caddyshack or The Hangover on our hands here with Mr. Koepka. I’m very much looking forward to watching all of his upcoming sequels.

[handshakesandbirdies]

Max Homa

Dear Max Homa,

Let me simply start with a BRAVO! That was some awesome golf! Holy Cowabunga! To win, in the fashion that you did was really cool to watch. The field...the rain delays...that was quite the statement victory! You were one of the best players on one of the best NCAA teams in history. Your journey in making the transition to professional golf from collegiate golf is a great example of just how hard it is to win on tour. It took an NCAA individual champion six years to get his first win on tour. Some never go on to win at the next level, but you never gave up. The putting display you put on for all viewers to witness was really special. In Today’s game, so much importance is put into length off the tee, yet you stuck to playing to your strengths and depending on your short game to get the job done. 

Way to persevere,

As a longtime fan of of Cal Golf it was great to see!

Jess Miller Stimack

[handshakesandbirdies]

Coaching in 2019

Coaching is an art. Coaching is a science, especially in 2019. You can’t coach a team with a blanket approach anymore. You have to find a different and effective technique for each player you coach. You have to identify a way to get through to each individual. Sure, you can hammer home all of the main points like work ethic, time management, accountability, the willingness to learn and the ability to receive criticism, but you can’t rely on similar reactions. You have to adapt to each player, and how they interpret the instruction you are providing. A good friend of mine reminded of a great quote “You’re either going to be part of the solution or you’re going to be part of the problem.” I now have to instill the value of trying to get better a little bit every day.

Winning isn’t everything, but as hard as that is for me to type, it’s the truth. I was lucky to have played on teams where winning was all that mattered throughout my life. I was fortunate to be on those teams with players who had been told at a young age, either by a parent or coach that if you work hard enough and dream big enough that your goals were attainable. I now find myself really pushing the will to being dedicated to improve. Hopefully the goal of improving a little bit every day will help my players to succeed, on and off the golf course. That being said, I will never allow my players to accept mediocrity in either aspect.

[handshakesandbirdies]

Phil

The guy continues to knock on the door. He has somehow gotten longer with age, knowing that was the only way he could stay competitive. Who gets longer with age? Phil isn’t looking toward the Champions tour. The guy wants to WIN! The Guy wants to stay relevant on the grand stage. Technology? Sure. But it’s not like he is flying to Germany every month to get some super blood. Phil has Rheumatoid Arthritis. What he also has is an insatiable desire to continue to get better. He is now playing in a young man’s era, but please do not tell him.

Phil, please keep reminding us just how good you are.

Handshakes & Birdies,

Jess