The Amateur Championship, Royal Troon Golf Club,  June 18-23

If there is one tournament you want to win as an amateur, it’s the Amateur Championship.  The structure is as follows: 288 players at the start.  We play 2 rounds of stroke play and then the top 64 make the cut and are placed into a matchplay bracket, which we then play down to 32, 16… etc.  Pretty tight as 224 of 288 players will be flying home after only two rounds.  I have again arranged to practice with the German team for this event, which is great as I won’t be in Scotland for 10 days on my own.  7 others and myself will be sharing two swing coaches, a mental coach and a physical therapist for the week.  It’s good to be German… not even the American’s have this much service with their squad. 

The three days of practice were absolutely miserable.  Damn you Scotland.  Each day we had sub 50* weather, 30+ mph winds and of course rain, rain, rain.  As if Royal Troon wasn’t difficult enough.  We played one practice round in Western Gailes and not one player broke 80.    However, by some miracle, the heavens cleared just in time for round one.  Even though the wind continued, it was refreshing to wear fewer than 5 layers.

Round one: Royal Troon

Cheers to Martin Shaw for hooking me up with Andy Wright on my bag.  You are the man Andy!  

I began a bit nervy.   Believe me when I say, Troon heartlessly punishes the slightest imperfection… like a championship links course should.  I began bogey, bogey, par … and then something just clicked.  I stood over a 25 footer on the 4th and knew I would make it.  I followed with another birdie on the 225 yard par 3, 5^th and went on to birdie 8, 9, 10.  I’m -2 through 10 and rather pumped.  All the practice and time in the rain was paying off.  We walked to the nasty 11^th, where two groups were stalled at the tee because only “one of each two tee-balls have been put in play” today.  This is one of the most ridiculous golf holes I have ever come across. 

Royal Troon Hole 11:  Par 4, 490 yards Hcp 1.  The tee shot is blind as we must drive it over a giant bush.  It is important to trust your caddy here and pick a target in the distance while weighing in the prevailing winds.  You must carry it minimum 220 just to clear the shrubs, left are impenetrable thorn bushes and right you’ll find the railroad tracks (OB).  100 meters dead left is a hill with a spotter standing on top, holding a red and green flag .  You can guess what each represents. 

Link to ----> Royal Troon Hole 11

I hit my driver and Andy’s silence brings me an immediate chill.  I look over to the hill and the spotter lifts the red flag.  I was just a few yards left of my target and it wasn’t even a draw.  I re-tee and hit a similar shot and again look over to the hill; green flag.  Like I said, ridiculous.  Then I have a hybrid into a green where the o.b. posts are literally on the right edge and left looks just as ugly.  I make triple bogey and go back to +1, still a great score through 11 at Troon.  I gather myself with a clutch up and down par on 12 and refreshingly make two more birdies on 15 and 16.  An opening round of (-1) 70 at Troon with 7 birdies.  Sweeeeet.

Link to ----> Stroke Play Scorecard

The scores were surprisingly good, but then again these are the top amateurs in the world.  I’m in T-12 out of 288 and looking at the leaderboard, I estimated tomorrow’s cut to be +2… if not even +1. 

I did however make the day 1 leaderboard :)

Round Two: Gailes Glasgow links

I have an afternoon time and the wind is howling.  Gusts of 50mph… what is this, hurricane Andrew?  I grind my pars for a while but find a pot bunker on 7 and 10, both resulting in double bogeys.  I’m +5 thru 16, +4 for the tournament and expect the cut to be +1/+2.  I need to birdie 17 and 18 to have a chance at matchplay.  I have a 50 footer on 17 and leave it 8 feet short… great.  I guess that’s it.  I make the 8-footer despite being adrenaline deficient and hit a solid drive into the wind on the long 18^th.  I walk up to my ball to find it in a divot, the nasty kind of divot.  Andy gives me a rye smile and says, at least you didn’t make the 50-footer on 17, making positive of my bad luck.  I pull 4-iron from 208 and bang out a low stinger, which rolls more than flies.  It then keeps rolling… and rolling… somehow missing the greenside pot bunkers (cool), and ends 20 feet above the hole.  Walking to the green, some of Andy’s friends shout over to us “the scores today are silly high in this wind”.  Immediate adrenaline.  I spend a good 3 minutes reading and discussing my putt with Andy.  Downhill, 2.5 paces right to left… don’t leave it short.  It goes right in the heart.  (+4) 75… in the poker world we would call this “running good”.  And yes, I truly “ran good”, as I then waited 4 hours and watched the scores, only to find out +3 for the tournament put me in T62 because the last 3 groups could not bring in a round under 75.  Matchplay, here we go!!!

Matchplay round one opponent: Peter Valasek (Slovakia)

We are the very first match of the day.  7:00 am.   Once again I made the wonderful decision to visit the Red Lion last night with some locals for the England vs. Sweden match.  How much do the Scots dislike the English? … Let’s just say you wouldn’t make it very far down the street in a Three Lions jersey. Ibra had a game but the Limeys take it 3-2.

To golf.  I begin par bogey par and am 2-down thru 3.  I already see where this is heading… I bounce back by birdieing 8 and am gifted number 11; All Square.  Peter counters with birdies on 12 and pars 13; I’m 2 down, 3 to go.  I get lucky and drop a long one on 16 for birdie and we tie 17.  I feel like I’m playing a tour event with the all the advertisement and spectators lining the closing holes.  I go to 18 one down.  In the end, I have a 6-footer for par to win the hole… and it goes.  We both fire 73’s.  Extra holes.

I can tell Peter is nervous after losing his 2 up lead, so I play a conservative “fairways and greens” approach and will await his mistake.  We tie 19 and 20 with pars and on 21 Peter cannot up and down from a green bunker, leaving me with a comfortable 2 putt to win the match.  Round two – here we go.

Matchplay round two opponent: Daniel Young (England)

I have about an hour downtime for a quick lunch before we head out for the afternoon round two.  The wind has picked up a touch, but definitely mild conditions for Scotland.  Apparently two of the favorites: Daan Huizing and a French phenom (forgot his name) went busto in the first round.  Welcome to matchplay…

This match versus Daniel Young is one I won’t ever forget.  I was later quoted in the German paper saying, “This was the best golf I have ever played”.  Maybe a bit over-zealous, and I was definitely teased for this back home… but hey, not sure how else to describe it… we’re playing Troon here, not some neighborhood park course!!

I start by making back-to-back 20 footers for birdie on 1 and 2.  2-up.  We tie 3 with pars and tie 4 with birdie.  I birdie 5, 7, 8 and to add insult to injury, I hole a 75 footer from 10 yards off the green on 9.  I shoot 29 on the front and poor Daniel, with a solid -1, is 5 down.  He walks to the 10^th shaking his head, knowing the match is essentially over.  Had he played his -1 versus me in the morning, he would have been 3 up.  Daniel concedes my 5 footer on 10, which to me signals the white flag.  In the end I give a few back but take the match 3&2 after 16 holes.  What a day.  I’ve made round 3 of the British.  32 players remain, 20 of which are from the UK.  My friend Stephan Jaeger is the only other German to make it to the round of 32.  Booya!  Time to extend my hotel stay and rebook my flight.

I try to express my emotions of tournament golf best I can through this blog, and these last days I have had a few things on my mind, that in retrospect are the real reason I was still in this tournament; one thing wonderful, and something tragic.  Some emotions simply offset nervousness by providing perspective, as was the case this week.  Before I continue, I want to recognize my dear friend Helen, who I had on my mind nearly every shot today.  We talked last night after she unexpectedly lost her father.  Helen, I know you read this, so I’m going to add this photo for you.       

Round 3 opponent: Eduoard Espana (France)

Eduoard had a very intimidating image.  Sponsored out the wazoo and accompanied by a large following… but as I mentioned, not much can shake me today.  I come out of the gate hot again, birdieing 1, 3 and winning 4 with a par.  I’m 3 up through 4.  My confidence is sky high. 

The par 3, 5^th.  Playing into the wind, it’s 218 to the pin.  No less than a wood gets us there today, and I hit a bullet to the middle of the green.  A par here has a good chance to win the hole, and I could go 4 up… on a normal day.  Eduoard crushes my first theory by pulling a 4-iron and hits the shot of the tournament.  Never left the line of the pin.  His ball took one hop and he freaking jars it.  Hole in one.  Touché.  2-up.

We flipped a few holes and Eduoard then goes on to birdie the par 3, 8^th, and par 3, 14^th to square the match.  He played the par 3’s in 1, 2, 2.  My mind races “Well at least I can say I lost to a hole in one… nope, get that thought out of your head, stat… stay in perspective, enjoy the moment.”

We both have 6 footers on 17.  I make, Eduoard misses.  I'm 1-up going to 18.  I then put my second shot 5-iron to 10 feet on the last, and Eduoard can’t find the green in 3.  I didn’t even have to pull a putter.  The match is conceded 2-up thru 18.  All of a sudden I’m the last German standing and am into the 4^th round, with only 4 players remaining between Augusta and me. 

Round 4 opponent: Jacobo Pastor (Spain)

The sweet 16 of the British Am… how exciting.  Jacobo was also the last Spaniard standing and had his entire national team along for the ride today.  Surprisingly, the Spanish possy applauded and cheered my shots as much as his, emitting a warm atmosphere in a rather important match.  This match could not have been more even.  We drove the ball identical distances and made absolutely zero course-management mistakes.  Once in a while he would hole a putt, and vice versa.  I was 1-dn through 5, 1-up through 9, 1-dn through 13, and again 1-up through 16.  I miss a 10 footer on 17 to tie the hole and we go to 18, fairly, all square.  We are left with tricky 5 footers on 18 for par, but both take care of business.  Extra holes again.

 The round of 16 matches have been broadcasted on the UK sports network Sky, and us going extra holes had the camera crews all up in a tizzy, frantically relocating from 18 to catch us on hole one.  Very enjoyable. 

On 19, we both hit the green.  I’m about 4 meters out and Jaco is about 6.  He misses his and I have a chance to win the match.  I hit a really good putt that loses speed and grazes the hole on the low side.  I look over at Andy and he gives me a silent “Wow”.  Yes, it was one of those putts.  On 20, again we both hit fairway and green.  I’m about 10 meters and Jaco is out 5 meters.  I put it close for a conceded par and with camera’s rolling, Jacobo throws a big fist pump as he holes for birdie.  Good game. 

Honestly, I wasn’t the least bit upset.  I smiled and congratulated Jacobo, who, very simply put, beat me today.  In the end I took T9 for losing in the round of 16.  No Augusta this year, but a lasting memory and a plethora of world ranking points.  My 6 am flight is booked and I’m SO ready to get home to my friends in Munich.

My next event isn’t until July 19-22, where I will play the German International Championship.  See you then!      

  

The Bavarian Championship.  June 1-3, 2012

I apologize for the hiatus, it’s been a busy couple of weeks over here in Europa.  I did play the Bavarian Championship… that was a sour lemon.  Despite a first round 71 having me in a tie for 3^rd of 90, I managed to follow it up with a solid 74, and a 75.  Tie for 17^th?  Whatever, I’m over it.  I'm happy to see my boy David Gersztein take the title though!!  I'm coming for the trophy next year, buddy.

BM Leaderboard

     It’s normal to have slumps in a season, and this is hopefully my short-lived depression.  I have a good chance to rebound in 2 weeks at the British Amateur Championship, the second most prestigious amateur event in the world.  The winner takes home history and a spot in The Masters, US Open and British Open.  Not too shabby.  Should be no problem… only the 288 best in the world are making the trip over to Scotland.  I’m happy to have gotten in!

The International Italian Championship, May 12-15, 2012

Buongiorno, Lago di Como!!

Despite being on the road 4 weeks straight, and now in one of the most iconic and beautiful locations on Earth, my focus is still clear.  I'm here to win the Italian... if I can get my mind off the amazing food everywhere.

  

We are playing the beautiful and famous Villa D'este Golf Club, bordering Lake Como.  Rated one of the best courses in Europe.  The last time I was here I was in my mother's womb, as she played here carrying me.  Truly magical.  The rough is grown so thick, that for every missed fairway, we are instructed to play a provisional.  One of my round 1 group mates hit the green on the par 3, 13th and his ball rolled through.  We searched for 5 minutes and could not find it within a 3 meter radius.  I love it, as I am  generally a tee to green player, but now hedged through the new addition of my "up and down from anywhere" 64* wedge.  

The structure of this tournament is a sort of Lytham and Frankfurt amalgamation.  This probably makes no sense, so let me explain.  132 men are at the start and we first play 2 rounds of stroke play.  The top 32 make the cut and proceed in a matchplay bracket, where rank 1 plays 32, 2 plays 31, etc.  Each match goes over 18 holes and the final is played over 36 holes.  Actually the same exact format as the US Amateur and British Amateur.  You could potentially play 8 rounds of golf if you make the final, yet 100 players will be leaving after 2 rounds.

On the drive over to Italy, I had a short chat with my Mom who reminded me that the "Italians steal like the ravens", so lock your cars.  Yes yes, we will.  Fate, it seems, is not without a sense of irony.  After our practice round, I walked from the putting green to get us sandwiches from the club restaurant.  Literally 90 seconds.  I return, my bag is in a different position and my 64* wedge is missing.  No way.  Please take any club, just not my 64.  My get out of jail free club.  My Seve-stick.  Europe is not like America where you can just drive to the nearest PGA superstore.  Not to mention I custom grind my wedges.  I will be playing this tournament without my weapon.  Time to improv.

My plan wasn't to win the tournament in the first 2 days.  The goal was to simply make the cut and qualify for matchplay.   And then win the tournament.  

I'm not playing very stress-free golf.  In fact, it's awful, but I execute proper course management and scratched my way by.  I played my two rounds in 71 and 72 and finished T19.

Round one of matchplay I play the Italian Francesco Laporta who shot 69 73 to qualify.  I'm still playing poorly but I par the first 6 holes and am 2 up.  Should be an easy match...  Francesco finally shows some fervor and birdies the 8th... and the 10th, 11th, 12th.  I subsequently do not, and am 3 down with 6 to go.  I birdie the par 3, 14 and 16 to go one down with 2 to go.  Francesco is clearly nervous, as he is now only shoving his ball forward, hoping that pars will win him the match.  I miss a chance on 17 and aggressively pull driver on the last (we started on 10), so now the 9th.  OB left, but that is the shortest way to the green, and I take the risk.  I pull my ball slightly into the trees and my gut says 50/50 chance I just threw the match. 

I am enlightened to find my ball, but I'm stymied in front of a fat timber on a rock-hard dirt path, 115 yards from the green.  Pin is short left and the green slopes massively from back to front.  Francesco is first to play and hits the green, easily in for par.  I have no choice but to try a Bubba Watson miracle.  I can't even see the green.  I take my borrowed 60*, aim right of the tree, close my eyes and hit the hardest hook I can.  I run out of the trees like Sergio in Medinah and watch as my ball shapes.  It lands on the right edge of the green, barely escaping the right-side bunker.  She kicks forwards and the aggressive hook spin takes over, and my balls moves 20 meters dead left across the entire green.  It ends up 5 meters LEFT of the pin.  Francesco is bug eyed and the patrons are applauding.  I high-five my caddy and strut to the green, putter in hand.

Francesco's par is conceded, and I spend a good minute discussing my putt with my friend/caddy Julian.  It's uphill, so just ram it in.  And that is exactly what we did.  Center cup, way too much speed, but it goes in anyway.  I rarely throw a fist pump, but given the situation and with cameras rolling, I couldn't help it.  We are going extra holes.

The first extra hole, Francesco is left with a 2 meter par put and I still have a birdie chance.  I leave my 6 meter putt short 2 inches, dead on line.  Francesco makes.

I'm just blasting it by Francesco, who continues to tenderly advance his ball.  In my mind, I'm free-rolling - I shouldn't even be here, so I'm giving 110% on every shot.  Next hole, again I have a chance to put it away and miss a 3 meter birdie putt.

Third extra hole, I make a mistake and short-side the green left, in the rough.  I attempt to play a delicate flop and land it on the fringe, as Francesco has a good chance for par.  I take my borrowed 60* and my flop lands too short, eaten by the rough.  I make bogey and Francesco makes his par.  Game over.  

I finish the Italian in 17th place, in bitter fashion.  Yes, missing my 64* was a big hurt, but I should have made the putt on the 20th hole.  No excuses.

Unfortunately no silverware in Como, but these consistent finishes earn me valuable ranking points.  I move to #70 in the European golf rankings and have the #2 scoring average (71.00) of the top 100 players in Europe.

Link to --->  European Golf Rankings  

I am now definitely over golfed and am looking forward to a week off to focus on work and surprise my cousin Sophie with tickets to the Champions League final on May 19th.  I have yet to see my apartment in Munich and I've been in Europe for more than a month!  

With this I will say Adieu for 10 days.  Next up I play the Bavarian Championship, where I plan to defend my title.  June 1-3.

  

Lytham Trophy - May 3 - 6, 2012

This week I am in Lytham St. Anne's, England, playing the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham Golfclub.  144 best amateurs in the world are invited, and only 40 will make the cut on Sunday and play the final 36. This is one of the four “majors” in amateur golf worldwide. Winner receives an invitation to the British Open. Tino Schuster is the only non-national to have lifted the trophy, in 1999. 

Conditions are everything but pleasing, and my luggage looks like that of visitor who’s morbidly terrified of his first encounter with snow. Expected forecast: -1*C to 9*C, light rain with winds constantly shifting from 10-30 mph. “Quite nice” as said by my taxi. Wonderful. 

I arrived early Wednesday, planning to spend the day adjusting to links style golf, play an official practice round Thursday, and then the first tournament round Friday. A big cheers goes to my friend Terry Byca for organizing my hotel and helping me get settled. 

I pull into Royal Lytham surprised to see an empty range and hardly another competitor about. Bullocks - we aren’t allowed to practice until Thursday 6:30 am. I assume everyone must be arriving later tonight and head back to town to explore the city. Turns out 100+ players were 2km down the road practicing at St. Anne’s GC – I found this out one day later. Thanks buddies! 

After a few hours in town I’m legitimately glacial and begin back to the hotel. I take an alley and as I walk aside a bar I hear thumping on the glass window. I’m the only one in the street, so I walk over and awkwardly put my hands up to the glass, peering in to see who wants my attention. I see multiple hands flailing but cannot make faces. Must be some players who recognize me. I walk around into the bar and approach a table of 10…none of whom I had ever seen before.

“Hey lad, come have a drink. You’re not from around here, are you?” I think my full body Nike golf attire gave me away.

Long story short, a few locals felt inclined to grab me off the street to come drink with them. I really had no intention, but before I could say my name, the first pint was in my hand. “We” were celebrating Kate’s 25th birthday. I can’t be rude… plus, she’s rather darling. How do I always end up in these situations! 3 hours later and x number of pints deep, I have made a handful of English friends who will now be coming to Royal Lytham to watch me “win” the Lytham Trophy.

Round one – the grind.

7:30 am. I am on the range in 5 layers, trying hard to stay warm. Hand warmers, facemask, the whole set. The high winds don’t bother me, as I have always played an extremely low-spin game, but the cold affects my short game. My hands are numb and I am +4 thru 2, +6 thru 6, but fight back and end the day +7, 77. Royal Lytham, without a doubt, is the toughest course I have ever played. To my surprise, 4 players, out of 144, brought in sub-par rounds. I believed no one would.




Round two – forever a memory.

In Royal Lytham, you have to fight for pars. Make a birdie, that is a bonus. My putter is going strong and I’m making crucial up and downs. After 13 holes, the wind is howling, and I’m -1. I’ve made 2 birdies and only one bogey. I feel like I’m -8. I par 14, 15, 16, 17. I miss my first fairway on 18, but I’m not in a pot bunker – just off to the side in the rough. Normally, if you miss a fairway, you need to accept your bogey and carry on. But I want this under par round in Lytham so badly. I know I can’t hold the green, so I play long left – the only spot without a pot bunker. As we approach my ball, Nigel, my caddy who has been at Lytham his entire life, looks at me and says: Daniel, a lot of famous players have gotten up and down from here to win the Open. You can too. We play a great pitch to 2 meters and make the putt. Yesssss. 69 in Lytham. I played the third best round of the day and jumped from T94th to T21st.

**Scorecard**

I’m one of 4 German’s to make the cut and play the final 36 on Sunday. I finish with a 73 and another 77 and am completely exhausted. I have tried my best to put the difficulty of this tournament to words, but it still doesn’t do it justice. The 2012 British open will be played here in July. If faced with the same conditions, I predict less than 10 players will be under par for the tournament.

**Lytham Trophy Results**

The grandstands are already set up on the 18th green.

I'm off to Lake Como, Italy tomorrow, to play the International Italian.  I'm beyond excited to spend a full week in Como.  Our tournament venue is the amazing Villa d'este Golf Course.  

April 25-29 - DGV Matchplay Trophy

This week keeps me in Germany, circa 4 hours NE of home in Frankfurt.  We are playing the German Matchplay Trophy, where the top 32 ranked players in Germany are invited to partake in a matchplay duel, leaving one man standing on Sunday.    

Here are some shots of inside Frankfurt.  Amazing city, but a bit too aphotic for me.  Hardly a comparison to Munich :)

Festivities started April 24th at the cocktail drawings party, where the top 8 players were given seeds, and the rest were drawn out in style to complete the bracket of 32.  I was given the 3 seed and immediately my mind raced to possible play-outs... If I win, I'll likely have #1 seed Staben in the semi-finals and my friend S. Still in the finals.  Probably not the right approach, but that's just how my mind runs.  

DGV Bracket pre tournament

Round 1.

My first round opponent is D. Pietsch, also from Bavaria.  He made me look like a pawn from the Tee by averaging a good 15 past me.  I'm not going to get into too much detail, but I won the first hole, he wins with birdies on the 5th and 6th, and I steal hole 7 with an unexpected birdie.  We are All Square through 8.  I take 9 with a par, and my putter heats up and I one-putt the next 4, winning 10, 11, 12, 13.  I was -4 after 14, and the match was over 6 & 4. 

The #1 seed B. Staben unexpectedly lost in the first round, stomping my plans of a colossal semi-final.

Day 2 - round of 16.    

My next opponent is young-phenom Dominic Foos.  He is 16 years old and plays off of +3.1.  Great 2nd round opponent, I thought to myself as I looked him up the night before.  He's 16, and we are playing matchplay.  Perfect.

Well google immediately spit out some numbers were I did a double take.  He just returned from Dubai after shooting a 62 in a pro-am and played for the German National Men's team last year at European Nations where he had the lowest stroke play round of the Germans.  Our match is the "featured match" of Day 2.

Hole 1 starts off like a peach, where I put my 6 iron to 6 feet.  Domi's par is conceded and I miss my short putt to win the first hole.  Not the best way to put him under pressure, which was my planned strategy.  This is reaffirmed as he drains long birdies on 2 and 4, where I was proximity to the hole, yet missed.  I'm 2 down through 4. 

I finally get something going on 8, making a difficult downhill birdie to go back to 1 down.  This is only reversed on 9, where Domi nearly holes out in two from 170.  His birdie is conceded, I miss my long put.  I win 11, he wins 12 and I cannot birdie the par 5-15th, which he of course does.  I'm not playing terrible, 2 under par and dormie 3 down!  But my desire to win hasn't faded and I fight to win 16 and nearly make a 2 on the par 5 17th, to also win that hole.  I'm 1-dn going to 18.

18 is a beautiful par 4 with an elevated tee box.  I give 100% and hit my best drive all day, finally putting some pressure on this kid.  He stands tall, nods at his caddy and splits the fairway.  He has 184 and I have 168 to pin. 

After some discussion, Domi finally hits his shot and it's absolutely perfect.  Tour-fade 5 iron.  A tap in birdie.  Standing ovation.  Great - I need to hole out to extend the match.  My 7 iron is right on line and carries to pin by 2 meters.  Good game.

I'm out in the round of 16, ironically, to a 16 year old.      

  

I played 3 more successful consolation matches for placement and finished 12th.  

Remember the name, Dominic Foos.  He went on the win the entire matchplay tournament, fighting back from 4 down in the finals.  He is the youngest ever National Matchplay Champion.  

I'm off the Lytham St. Anne's, England Wednesday morning to play the Lytham Trophy at Royal Lytham GC.  This is also the site of the 2012 British Open.  I'm very excited.  Half of my suitcase is backed with sweaters, long underwear and rain gear.  This is far from home for Florida boy.  

Ticino Championship of Switzerland 2012 – April 20-22

After a long hiatus from tournament golf, I have decided to start my 2012 season in beautiful Ascona, Switzerland by playing in the Ticino Championship.  If a more scenic place exists in Europe, please, enlighten me J.  

The first photo is from the car, only 40 kilometers from the town.  It wasn't looking like very good golf weather...

But then...

I am staying with a friend Luka Naretto, whom I met last year during the Swiss International.  Then, a few glasses of wine and a proficiency in networking have landed me, now, in a beautiful home directly on the piazza on the Lago Magiorre, one kilometer from the tournament course.  Check out this view from his rooftop overlooking the town –

To golf.  Rounds one and two are through.  It has been very cold and rainy, making conditions quite difficult to go low.  For two days, I was the ultimate grinder, if I may dub myself such.  I had to be one of the worst players tee to green in the field of 92.  I missed the first 7 fairways & greens and found myself +4.  Well, there goes the season opener… or wait.  Despite being 50 degrees out, my new putter goes into Vesuvius mode and I finish the day with 6 birdies, firing a 70, right back in contention.  Day one ended with two tied leaders at 69, and 12 others between 70-73.

Round two.  I birdie the first, which never seems to pan out for me.  Alas I put on a nerve wrecking display of magic and tragic.  I double bogeyed the par 3 10^th like a monkey, and followed it up with 3 straight birdies, only to follow that with two straight bogeys and another double bogey on the par 3 17^th.  But a consolation birdie on the difficult 18^th put me back in the red with a 71.  Two-day total of 141 (70, 71) has me in a third place tie, and a spot in the final group on Sunday.  Only a few shots behind the leaders - right where I want to be.    

Sunday Funday (not the college version).

I bogey the first.  Good sign?  I think yes. 

Despite having 10 players within 4 shots of the lead, it soon became clear to me that I had to deal only with on man: Edouard Amacher, the #1 player in Switzerland.  He lead after day one, he lead after day two, and now after my opening bogey he leads me by 3 shots.  I birdie 4, 6, 7, 8 while Eduoard plays these holes in +1, and he bogeys number 9.  Can you say 6 shot swing?  I’m -3 on the front and lead the Ticino Championship by 3.

Let the Sunday shootout begin…  I’m going to jump ahead and say, this is the most fun I have EVER had in a golf tournament.  Hope you’re ready for me to share this battle.

The back nine.

Hole 10: Ed holes a 15 meter bomb for birdie, I par.

Hole 11: Ed holes another 6 meter putt for birdie, I par.  My 1 shot lead.

Hole 12: Par 5.  I attacked in two and short-sided myself to a downhill green, with a hill between the pin and myself.  I pull out my 64* wedge, take a deep breath, and play a massive swing flop shot.  The pure sound of silence echoes as my ball elevates and lands like a feather on the fringe, only cm past the rough line.  Seemingly in slow motion, my ball trickles towards the pin, only a few paces on.   With minimal life left, the ball drops into the hole, Eagle.  I stood in confusion for a second as to what just happened, but a rioting crowd brought me back to reality.  Ed misses his birdie putt.  Too much drama for him.  My 3 shot lead returns.

Hole 13.  Long par 3.  Ed drains a birdie put.  I three putt from 25 meters.

Hole 14.  Redundant I know, Ed holes another bomb for birdie and the crowd, doting their local Swiss player in his own country, loves it. I make a good bogey after being behind a tree right of the green.  I am now one back.

Hole 15.  My turn.  I drain a downhill breaking putt for birdie.  Ed Pars. Tie game.

Holes 16. My turn, again.  I’m 2 meters off the green and 10 meters from the hole. I select the putter.  I was thinking two putt and the thing goes in. I’m one up with two to go.  Can you see why this is so much fun?

Holes 13-18 are supposed to be the toughest on the course, and Ed and I are putting on a show.  At this point, he gave me a glance as to say, touché.  We were both living and loving the moment.  Birdies and eagles in front of a crowd.  Neck and neck.  One of us is going to win.

17.  Par 3, 210 into the wind, water short and left.  Pin tucked in the Sunday corner.  I hit a hard 4-iron into the heart of the green and Ed puts it to 3 meters… are you kidding me?

I make a good 2 putt par and Ed… misses his birdie. 

18.  OB left, forest right.  I played 3-wood all week but pulled driver today as the wind was hard in our face.  A spin-less bullet down the middle.  Eduoard repeats.  I’m away.  I hit a good 5 iron and it carries the giant green bunker, but ends up just short in the bit of grass behind the trap, front of the green.  Ed stripes a shot from 185, into the cold wind, and nearly holes out.  He has a tap in.  I leave my next shot about 2 meters short and… lip-out the putt, high-side.

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We both shot 67 and I came in 2^nd by one shot.  (70, 71, 67)  Bitter sweet, as it was an incredible duel with a very formidable player, which I would love to have won.  None the less, I played my heart out and so did he, and I am walking away loving the encounter.  If Ed and I had played a bestball format, we would have shot a 57 (26 on the back).

Here is a shot with Luca (right) and another compadre, Arthur (left).  

I'm off to Frankfurt tomorrow to play the DGV Matchplay Trophy, Thursday-Sunday.  Top 32 German players are invited to play in this matchplay bracket, leaving one man standing on Sunday.