D-League Outlaw Tour: Silverado GC, Scottsdale, AZ

• Posted on Grant
• in My Journey, Tournament Recap
• on February 8, 2019
• 2 Comments.

Overview:  It was cold and windy with a high of about 50 degrees and a 30 mph wind. Silverado is usually a pretty simple course, but it played a little tougher with a 2 to 3 club wind all day. Reminded me of a normal day in Oklahoma. :)

The greens were in great shape and were rolling smooth and pretty fast. I was pleased with my ball-striking, chipping and putting and made all my putts within 5 feet.

Highlights:

#1. Driver into the left rough. Then 7-iron just short of the green and then almost chipped it in for an easy tap-in birdie

#5. Driver onto the green to about 20 feet and just missed the eagle putt for an easy tap-in birdie.

#9. Driver down the middle and then 3-iron to 30 feet and two-putted for birdie.

#11. Driver down the left side of the fairway and then 7-iron to 30 feet and two-putted for birdie.

#12. Driver to 37 yards from the green and then lob wedge to 4 feet and made the putt for birdie.

#14. Driver into the right rough and then 3-iron to 30 yards short of the green. Then chipped to 7 feet and made the putt for birdie.

Learning Opportunities:

On #8 I three putted because I was too aggressive on my downhill birdie putt and I hit it about 7 feet past the hole. I did not pick a spot short of the hole to putt like I normally do on fast downhill putts, so that was a lack of good planning. Next time in that situation, I will just focus on my spot short of the hole and forget about the hole while I putt.

Later in the round on #13 I faced the same type of down-hill putt and was able to lag it to a few inches from the hole because I just focused on putting to a spot halfway to the hole and then gravity took the ball the rest of the way.

Positives: I never got in trouble off the tee and my chipping was solid. And my putting was solid inside of 5 feet. I’ve been practicing my putting more lately and it really showed.

Also, I hit a lot of 3/4 iron shots into the wind such as 6 iron from 160 yards on the 17th and 18th holes that led to easy pars. I normally hit a full 6-iron 205 yards, but I trusted it was the right club and made committed swings.

Areas to improve:  I missed three iron shots to the right on #3, #15 and #16 all because of my left wrist position on the downswing. My left wrist cupped on the downswing and that led to the face being open at impact. I will practice a little more on getting out of that bad habit and will make sure I focus a little more on that during my rehearsal swings at the start of my pre-shot routine.

On #15 I fanned my tee shot up into the wind and had to scramble for par and it almost cost me a shot. I fanned it about 30 yards short and right into a tough lie and then had to make a 10 footer to save par.