Amazing video! Looks like alot of fun and friendly competition!
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Yes! Pace of play was much better than I expected. I love me some fast pace.Martsy, water under the bridge. Like I said to you as we neared the patio, I've been there on the losing end twice on Sunday at True Blue. It can be gutting, and it can be difficult to get out of that compete mentality, but both times I would have regretted making the champions wait (looking back). Passion is raw, and so is the celebration that immediately follows.
I want to quickly step in and say that I appreciate the understanding as I reminded groups of pace throughout the day Saturday. JB liked to make the joke that I was 'eager' or 'looking forward' to rangering the field, but the reality of it was, there is no middle ground. It was either be nice or be stern, and unfortunately the job of a ranger is never done well with rainbows and butterflies. It has to be done to make sure we are keeping in pace with our scheduled second rounds (way to put CJ out last and first 441!) and celebration luncheon, as well as making sure that we are not a burden to the two courses who graciously host these events for us. I hope my stern nature when reminding of the pace of play was taken in stride, and I also hope that my insistence of offering my appreciation when you guys worked hard to return to pace was noted as well.
By the end of each round, I don't think we had a single group off pace. Based on some of the outings I've been a part of, I think that's something to be proud of as well.
Yes! Pace of play as much better than I expected. I love me some fast pace.
Martsy, water under the bridge. Like I said to you as we neared the patio, I've been there on the losing end twice on Sunday at True Blue. It can be gutting, and it can be difficult to get out of that compete mentality, but both times I would have regretted making the champions wait (looking back). Passion is raw, and so is the celebration that immediately follows.
I want to quickly step in and say that I appreciate the understanding as I reminded groups of pace throughout the day Saturday. JB liked to make the joke that I was 'eager' or 'looking forward' to rangering the field, but the reality of it was, there is no middle ground. It was either be nice or be stern, and unfortunately the job of a ranger is never done well with rainbows and butterflies. It has to be done to make sure we are keeping in pace with our scheduled second rounds (way to put CJ out last and first 441!) and celebration luncheon, as well as making sure that we are not a burden to the two courses who graciously host these events for us. I hope my stern nature when reminding of the pace of play was taken in stride, and I also hope that my insistence of offering my appreciation when you guys worked hard to return to pace was noted as well.
By the end of each round, I don't think we had a single group off pace. Based on some of the outings I've been a part of, I think that's something to be proud of as well.
Damnit Geoff. Why? Why? Why? I'm glad I am sitting alone right now. Thank you for the kind words but you owe me no apologies. No one does. This was about you guys. You played for yourself and for your teammates. At the end of the day you can look yourself in the mirror and be proud of what you accomplished. That's all I wanted for all of you guys.part deux...
As far as my round…what a back and forth. I think the lead changed 6 times over 12 holes. It wasn’t until the 12[SUP]th[/SUP] until Patrick took a 2 hole lead on me with just a gut-wrenching one in a hundred 30 foot uphill putt where I thought I was going to possibly pick up a hole sitting on the green in 2, and ended up losing it. I was really trying not to follow the rounds in front of me because I want to focus on my game, and was anticipating that it would come down to our group, so I knew I was in trouble and needed to step it up. We both hit poor tee shots on the next hole, but I was in the fairway and after to leave myself a 3[SUP]rd[/SUP] shot about 30 yards short over bunkers, and Patrick made an unbelievable recovery shot from the woods leaving himself the same. I was getting pop here though and needed to execute. I pulled out my 60 degree…a club I avoided all week because I was too nervous, but this was exactly the situation I got it for, and left myself about 15 feet past the hole for a 2 putt bogey, net par. Patrick went straight for the pin because he had to due to the pop, and was about a yard short of making the perfect chip, but left himself in the bunker and I ended up taking the hole…down 1 into short par 3 14…the “Cookie hole”. I hit one of my best irons of the day, at the pin and just short on the fringe, but a slippery 15 foot downhill putt. Patrick was safely on the green but 40+feet out with lots of undulation. I was thinking 3 putt was a definite possibility…but the guy turned it up a notch on the green on the back 9, leaving himself about a 1 foot lag. I wasn’t planning on giving putts on the back 9 if the match was close…but I had to on this one, it was just such an amazing putt. I putted mine off, and while I’m not sure I could have done better, with the severe curved downhill lie…I left it about 5 feet past. At that point I probably was more nervous than any shot I’d taken all week, because I knew if I missed this and left myself down 2 with 4 to go, I was in serious trouble. Put backswing was anything but straight, but the ball found its way in for par…and onto par 5 15[SUP]th[/SUP] hole. Patrick killed his drive and put it in a better position than I’d seen anyone on that hole in any round all week. Coming off the adrenaline from that previous putt, I topped my drive and maybe got it out 50 yards. I just gave up my pop… Thankfully, my long irons were a highlight for the week and preceded to get on in 4 with 3 good irons shots, but left myself about as long a putt as I could have. Lynchburg had a little trouble after that amazing drive, and ended up leaving himself laying 4 in the sand, and frankly I thought I had this hole locked up. So of course, Patrick hits an amazing shot from the sand, hits the pin, and drops about 8 inches from the hole. In for bogey 6…If I didn’t see it, I would never have believed it. I needed to 2 putt to win, and unfortunately I probably made my worst lag of the week and left myself a 15 foot 2[SUP]nd[/SUP] putt, and ended up 3 putting for double bogey, net bogey. Still down 1 with 3 to go, but if I could just win or push 16, I had pops on 17 and 18, both holes I had played really well in our practice rounds.
It was at this point Ricky drove up and gave us the news…the match was over and we had to come in. I’m not proud of my reaction, but I was in another state and told him there was no possible way I was coming in, and I think Patrick was in the same euphoric state and we ended up putting our bags together and running to 16 par 3 by ourselves.
16[SUP]th[/SUP] tee, was playing 170ish if I recall, and will say I was a bit conflicted off the tee. Angry, yet happy, and definitely unsure what the right thing to do was. I didn’t want to ruin what was one of the best experiences of my life, and honestly I wasn’t’ sure what would ruin it. Not finishing a once in a lifetime match, or being disrespectful to the organization that sponsored the event. I wish I could say it was black and white…but it was not for me. Ricky came back to the teebox and I can’t tell you the amount of respect for this guy I have, and I asked him point blank what I should do. He understood, but he said he’d finish the hole and come in, so that’s what we did. So I tee’d off, hit a solid 6 or 5iron (a bit of a blur to me at this point) to the far right side of the green, and then Patrick continued his roll and hit his iron straight at the flag maybe 20 feet past. I hit my lag pretty well from where I was, but still left myself a 12 footer uphill for par. Patrick against hit a great putt (noticing a trend?) which I again had to give him for par. At this point Canadan was pulling up and it took every ounce of concentration I had to take this put…but put it center of the cup for par as well, down 1 with 2 to go with pops on each…and there it ended as we headed to the clubhouse.
Patrick...it was an absolute pleasure, and to be continued at New Kent!
Now some notes to people I didn’t directly mention in my recap:
Firstly the OEMs – To Bridgestone, Wilson, KBS & Lamkin - amazing representation and beyond any expectation I ever had. I LOVE every aspect of my clubs, heads, shafts and grips. I love the swag, and I truly appreciate not only the knowledge imparted, but the camaraderie provided on Friday. Whatever the ROI is on this, know you have at a minimum one lifelong evangelist for the rest of my golfing days…
Eric (Erky) – glad we got to play that additional round afterwards. You’re the second incentive I have to move down to Tampa. Maybe you and Jed can share that commission. Loved sharing the experience with you brother and can't wait to get together again in the near future.
To the rest of team heritage that I didn’t play a round with – I thought we had the monopoly on Team Tradition for great guys, but how wrong I was. Great bunch of guys, all who I’d like to call my friends and will look to play you all again at a future event.
Mike Dean – I’m glad we got a chance to meet again and interact more than we did at PGA. You clearly meant everything to you team that Ricky did to ours, and it showed. Even though I was on the other team, your encouragement and congratulations was truly appreciated.
Dan (Canadan) – It was a pleasure to meet you, and I truly apologize for snapping at you on the course. I offer no defense other than the fact I was possessed at the time, and you didn’t deserve it. You are a class act, and selflessly came down at the last minute and made this event even more special with your sizable contribution.
JB – Firstly, thank you for everything. This event was truly special, and will be something I never forget for the rest of my life. You know I’m not one to mince words, so let’s call a spade a spade, I know I’m not your favorite forum member. We’ve had our disagreement in various threads, and I sent you a drunken PM one night that was less than courteous because you pissed me off with a post in the NFL thread. Frankly, I thought my THP experience was over after that. Regardless of any personal interference, and I can attest to that to anyone who has second thoughts about the process, the entries into these events are truly fair and legit. And then to win a random pick after already getting into this event for the US Open contest, speaks incredibly to your integrity. That being said, I do disagree with the decision to not let the matches finish, and would be more than willing to give you some more private feedback if you’re interested. But what’s done is done, and ultimately you are responsible for hosting what was the best golf experience of my life. I truly do thank you from the bottom of my heart, and hope when next we meet we can have a been an maybe start over a bit. I will stay away from the NFL thread this year…
Ricky (DevRickus) – this might be the part I start getting most misty eyed…I wanted to win this for you more than anything. And when I saw your emotions on that deck afterwards, it almost brought me to tears. Not Marley and Me tears…but pretty damn close. I am SO happy we got to play that additional round and that we were grouped. It was incredibly cathartic and after we were done, everything seemed so much clearer to me about what this was all about. I will always consider you a dear friend, and thank you for being such a perfect guide along this journey. Keeping it light when it needed to be, getting me to focus when I had to, and being there when I was down. You made a better golfer and better person and that is as much my Legacy as it is yours. You are the captain now… and forever. Thanks Ricky, I love you man.
I would love for him and JB to play a round. I bet they could finish in an hour or less.Given the choice, I'm fairly confident you could have lapped the field twice.
Clear the course and put up the wager thread.I would love for him and JB to play a round. I bet they could finish in an hour or less.
There are two other things I forgot to add to my recap:
1. The weather is real. We lucked out and caught a cold front on Saturday and Sunday, so we were playing in perfect golf weather. But the practice rounds Thursday (and Wednesday for four nutters from Mike's team) showed what Myrtle Beach can do. I have to say first off, all of you who said I had no idea what I was in for were flat out wrong. 95 and humid in MB feels just like 100 and not as humid in Dallas. We were out there playing those rounds and it felt just like some of the prep rounds I put in earlier this month. But on the other hand, if you aren't lucky enough to live down south, it can be brutal to deal with the heat and perform well. I can say 100% that my first round in the heat in TX didn't go nearly as well as my practice rounds in MB after I'd gotten more acclimated.
2. The grind is super real. 99 holes in four days. NINETY-NINE HOLES IN FOUR DAYS. You'd better be in good golfing shape before an event like this. I did quite a few 54 hole weekends before Legacy and I'm really glad I did. I'd be lying if I said it was easy, but at least with the prep work I did it was doable. I got up Sunday morning feeling physically good and thanked my earlier self for putting in the work to make that possible.
It was alot of fun riding alone with you guys and watching that match play out. I tried to stay out of the way as much as possible and Apologize if I got in your way at all Curtis.Great recap Cace. You were an awesome opponent and our match was one that I'll never forget. From the moment our names were announced at dinner as Match #2 and our eyes met across the room we both knew it was going to be a battle.
Those moments and memories on the back 9 and especially on 18 are forever ours buddy, and I'm so honored to have shared them with you.
Not at all Dev! I could tell you were right into it and just wanted to see great golf.It was alot of fun riding alone with you guys and watching that match play out. I tried to stay out of the way as much as possible and Apologize if I got in your way at all Curtis.
Damnit Geoff. Why? Why? Why? I'm glad I am sitting alone right now. Thank you for the kind words but you owe me no apologies. No one does. This was about you guys. You played for yourself and for your teammates. At the end of the day you can look yourself in the mirror and be proud of what you accomplished. That's all I wanted for all of you guys.
Jed - Dude, beast mode on the back at True Blue? Just when it seemed pars would cruise us to victory, you and Kevin just start getting birdie after birdie. I really enjoyed reading Ricky’s story about your confidence Saturday night. You clearly have a great mental game, and I enjoyed playing with you.
Thanks man. If you could have seen me at my first match against #Cookie, or at the East Texas Masters, you'd know just how hard I've worked on the mental side of my game as well as the physical. I'm embarrassed to say I chucked my driver in East Texas and quit after the 9th hole on the second round.Dave Alvarado - I know I’ve said it to you, as have several other people, you should be very proud of how you played. I was not sure how your game would be, but you far exceeded my expectations. And whatever you do, never give up that calm demeanor, it helps you more than you know.