Golf In A Parallel Universe

by Jimmy Bloodworth

  The place is a buzz, and it is only Monday. Television News trucks from all over the US and the news staff from all over the world are here. Security is tight and there is a definite party atmosphere here. This tournament is a real big event for the local community. The US open is at a different place each year. Often the US Open is at course that regularly host professional tournaments. But other times the US open courses may not have much history of hosting a professional tournament. So this is a big deal for the community.

  I am at ah on how big this is. I am glad I got here Monday so I will give myself time to adjust. Just getting to the course is a big deal. The professionals have pre-defined protocols. But this week it is not easy just getting checked in and getting through security and getting to the clubhouse like normal tournaments. Security is tight and you can tell that this is a different ball game. It is all first class and professionally done here. Finally I get all checked in and I meet up with Zack. “Wow!” Can you believe this place I said to Zack, laughing. “It's going to be fun” he said happily. Let's get to work” I told him. “I am ready he said."

  Today, we had it pre planned. Hit the range for a while and then chip and putt. As we make our way to the range, it is crazy. So much more media here hanging around the range. And all the golf club manufacturing reps are out here in full force. I have only played in a few majors in my ten year career and I have never seen anything like this. It is fun, but I need to get focused. We hit quite a few balls. Zack measures my distance and watches me closely. “I see you have continued to work on your tempo. It really looks good," he told me. “I guess that little pendulum toy is really working for you," he said laughing. “Yep, every day," I said smiling. And I have used it everyday. It helps me stay focused on what Gus taught me. We hit balls for a while and I felt good. We take break get something to eat. Then worked on chipping and putting for a while. “It is scary that I know your game so well," Zack said. “But I can tell you have been working on your chipping and putting." “A lot” I said. “Just doing what the boss told me I said” laughing. By about 4:00pm we have pretty much stuck with our plan. But I wanted to play nine holes. Ever since I worked with Gus he always recommends playing a few holes after the driving range. It gives you a chance to work on what you have been practicing on.

  “I want to play nine holes! Are you up for it?," I asked. “Done deal," replied Zack. Usually the first couple days of the week, you can casually get out on the course and play some practice rounds without having to go through setting up tee times and all. Often it is impromptu, and just hook up with another player or group of players. There were a few players putting on the practice green. I asked if anyone is up for nine holes. Two of the guys were interested, even though it was late in the day. One of the pros was Alex Henderson, whom I have known over the years and played with him a few times. The other guy was new to the tour. His name was Dafford Hilton. I have never met him before. He was polite, but very quiet. He pretty much did not say anything unless someone talked to him first. He was a good golfer, he just seemed a little strange.

  We played a good practice round and had a good time. Alex and I talked some as we played the round. It was casual, but all three of us were working on our game. This is the US Open and there is no time to waste on chit chat. Zack had his notebook out and he made lots of notes. We discussed strategies on the different holes. I was working on my swing and my tempo. I am glad we went out and played even though it was not planned. It gave us a chance to get away from the circus at the club house. The other guys felt the same way. As we finished our nine and heading back to the clubhouse we were discussing how crazy it is out here today. We were thinking by the time Thursday is here, this place will be insane.

  As we finished up. Zack and I started discussing our strategy for this week. I explained that at the Memorial Tournament few days ago, that was really interesting. I only concentrated on my tempo and I was pretty much oblivious to everything else. And before we knew it we finished strong and was in the money. That was the first competitive event with my new swing. I would like to incorporate some of that same mentality here. But I think I need to be more involved mentally and emotionally. “Zack” I said as I looked him in the eye and spoke in a serious tone. “I got the game down now. I want to make a run at this thing," I said in a confident tone. “Let's do it!” he replied enthusiastically.

  We discussed our plans. Zack felt strongly that he should make the club selection for me. He made a good point that I do not really have the grasp of my club distance yet. He has the ability to step back and see the big picture. And he has all the yardage down on the course. And he knows what my distances is for each club. We agreed that I would not override his recommendations unless I had a very strong feeling about it. This will be good because it will just be one less brain cell that I will have to use. Sure he may not be 100% correct on all club selections, but he has a knack for making good decisions at critical times and I trust him. We came to a similar agreement on shot placements. For example. On an approach shot to the green if he feels like I should target the left side of the green, instead what I might be thinking such as he the center, then we will go with his recommendations unless I feel really strongly otherwise. So that will be good for me. Just point and shoot. I do not have to think a lot. So these two things will free me up to think about my swing. But it also will allow me to give my attention to everything else, such as my strategy for that day, the leaderboard, the players I am playing etc. I want to get that competitive fire and that competitive edge. I want to know everything that is going on. There may be situations where I need to gamble and be aggressive. Or times I need to play it safe. I want to know all of that. Not like the last tournament where I was oblivious to everything. I want to attack this course and destroy the competition.That's the attitude that I am going to take. Just like I did when I beat the number one player in the world at World Golf Championship Match Play a few weeks ago.

  Zack agreed. But then joked because I was getting all hyped up. “Calm down there big fellow, we got a few days to go." We just laughed. But I feel like this is a good strategy. Let him be the boss on the club selections and a lot of the shot placements and I will handle the rest.

  We wrapped it up for the day and I went the hotel to relax. My room had a great view of the city. I did not feel like drinking my usual beer like I usually do at the end of the day. I just grabbed some ice water and looked out at the view and thought about this week. It seems like a long time since I played. I had last week off. The Week before last, I played at Memorial Tournament. And that did not really seem like competition because I was working on my swing. Then the prior two weeks I was working with Gus and my swing. The last real competition was the TPC at Sawgrass. That was the time when I realized that my game was not really up to par as far as a top tier professional golfer. I had a lot of gaps in my game. But now it is different. I got the golf game and the swing that should get me to the next level. I know it may take awhile to develop or fine tune my new swing. And it may truly be awhile before I start to see real results. But at the same time. I feel that I have a chance and making a run for this tournament.

  The next two days are more of the same. I worked on my tempo on the range and worked a lot on my chipping and putting. We played 18 hole practice round Tuesday and just nine holes Wednesday. I am focused and intense. But I decided to give myself time to enjoy this crazy fun atmosphere. Since I won the Masters I get recognition that I never have had before. Interviews from the media, fans wanting autographs and lots of greeting from other pro’s and retired pros and other people in the business. I am really enjoying the new attention.

  “Sure I am getting some attention now, since I won the Masters. But if I make a fool out of myself in this tournament, everyone will just think I am a One Hit Wonder," I tell myself. However, I feel like something special is about to happen. I feel like not only have I have improved my game, but I think that I have matured with my golf game and I can see the big pictu
re now. And I am ready.

  I ran into Jerry Churchill Wednesday afternoon. I was happy to see him. He is solely responsible for getting me setup with Gus and transforming my game. Jerry is a sincere person. He really cares about people.

  “How’s it going Jim,." he says as he shakes my hand. “Are you ready?,” he asked. “Absolutely!” I responded. I went over what Zack and I discussed about the club selections and all and he agreed with me that is a good plan. “Your last tournament your were on training wheels," He said. “But now is big time, no time to practice. It is very difficult to go through a major swing change in the middle of the season like you just did. But sometimes you have to. You just have to trust your new swing and not think about it. I guarantee you that by the end of this week your new swing will feel natural. Just make sure you stick with fundamentals that you have learned,," he told me. “Got it," I replied confidently.

  “I can think of three times in my career that I made major swing changes in the middle of the season like you have, he told me. “Really, what happened?” I asked. "Well one year it was a disaster. However the other two years, I won a major the same year after my swing change, so there is always hope," he said smiling. “Wow!” I blurted out. “Yeah, and one of those years that I won a major was when I was working with Gus." “My Gosh” I said just shaking my head.

  “Speaking of Gus. I talked to him a few days ago. He told me that he was really impressed on how you have stuck with his plan. He thinks you are on the verge of really developing your game," he told me. “Wow, that means a lot to me," I replied. “It should. And believe me, Gus does not pass out compliments very easily” Jerry told me. We talked a little more, and we laughed when I told him, he sent me a postcard. I have not seen one of those since I was a little kid. “I told you he is stuck in the 70’s” he said laughing.

  As we wound down and shook hands goodbye, I had the same feeling as the past when talking to Jerry. It just seem that he wants to talk to me about something else. “Oh well. I got bigger things to worry about now," I tell myself. I go back to the hotel and eat a good dinner and go to bed. Tomorrow is Thursday, the first round of the US Open.

  Thursday Morning. This is the day. The US Open at Pinehurst. I have a 10:00 am tee time and I am at the course at 7:30am. The place is buzzing. I am feeling good however I feel nervous. I meet up with Zack. “Game Time!," I tell him. He smiles. “I am ready," he replied. Zack has been here since daybreak. He has already walked the course. Checked all the pin placements and made notes of every little detail. “Gosh, he works hard," I tell myself.”

  “Guess you you are playing with today?, asked Zack. “Who?," I replied. “Alex Spears and Cory McCullough," he said smiling. “You're kidding me? I bet he is not too happy to see me.” We just laughed. Then I started thinking. I am playing with the number one player in the world again. And I bet he is not too happy after I defeated him in the match play tournament at The World Golf Championship a few weeks ago. But that was different. That was pure match play which is head-to-head competition, which I have always been pretty good at. And it was just me against him. And of course that was with my old swing. I just wonder if he will notice any difference in my game.

  I start thinking about how I will in this tournament. In the past I would just hope to make the cut. But I feel different now. I feel like I can make a run for this tournament if I play well. But then I start to think. But then a little doubt creeps in. I wonder if this new swing and new game I have for real? One way or another, this tournament will be a pivotal turning point on where I am going with my career. This is Pinehurst and the US Open. The US Open is not like a normal tournament. The course is tough and you will not see many low scores. The winner may be just barely be around par. This will be a challenge. But I feel like I am up for this challenge.

  We hit some balls for a while. Then I work on chipping and putting. Then we take a break for a few minutes get a snack. Then by 9:30am we are back warming up. Time is almost here. About 9:50am we go to the clubhouse staging area to get ready to go to the first Tee. While waiting, I feel like I'm a football player before the Super Bowl with nervous jitters in the locker room. But I feel good.

  Finally they call our names and we go out of the clubhouse and walk to the tee. “Wow this place is rocking” I tell myself. So many people lined up on both sides as we are walking to the first Tee. And the TV crew is right behind us. And of course all the attention is on Cory, the number one player in the world. Also there is a lot of attention for Alex Spears which looks like the will be the next young superstar. He is going to be a force to reckon with the next couple of years. I am just a sideshow. They just paired me up with them because I won the masters. These guys go through this every week. Big crowds, TV crews and all that goes along with being rich and famous. I think it is fun seeing all of this. I feel like more of a spectator walking through the crowds on our way to the tee.

  We get to the tee and we meet the starters. I notice how Cory and Jason handle all the attention gracefully. They are truly super stars. I feel relaxed because seems all the attention is on them not me. I guess I might have looked like I was enjoying this too much. I looked up at Zack. He gave me a look that said “Get Focused." Not sure if that was intentional on his part. But that’s what I felt. I worked on getting my mind back to the task at hand. And I really felt good. I was not nervous anymore. I feel like I got the killer attitude. I am going for it today. Finally the starter gets us ready. “Ladies and Gentlemen, first to tee off at 10:00 am. From Edinburgh Scotland Cory McCullough." The galley gives a big applause, and he tips his cap. He sets up confidently and crushes one right down the middle about 325 yard. And the gallery cheers very loudly. People screaming “That a Boy Cory! I am just amazed at his power. He crushed that drive. Then start speaks again. “Ladies and Gentlemen, from Dallas Texas, Alex Spears." He also receives a big applause from the Gallery. And Alex smacks one down the middle about 290 yards and the crowd cheers. He is not one of the longest hitters on the tour, but he is deadly accurate. And he has every shot in the bag. He has a great game and a bright future on the tour. Then they call my name. I am thinking this is Big time. “Ladies and Gentlemen, next on the tee from Orlando Florida, Jim Galloway.” The crowd cheers but I do not believe as loud as it was for Cory and Alex. I feel good. I am not really nervous. As I get setup, I just think Tempo, Tempo, Tempo. I make great swing and crush it right down the middle past Alex and right behind Cory.

  As we are walking off the Tee. Cory smiles and squeezes my biceps and said out loud so the crowd could hear. “Man, you been working out Jim?” The gallery laughed and so did Cory and I walking down to the fairway. I know he thinks I am just pumped up. He knows how far I used the hit the ball. When I was playing him at the World Golf Championship, I was always 30 to 50 yards behind him.

  We all parred the first hole. As we played the next few holes, I was playing great. My tempo was great and my accuracy and distance was money. Cory was not paying much attention the first few holes. But then he started to realize that I was right with him on my drives. He seemed a little confused at first about that. But he did not say anything. He was in competitive mode, so he did not seem to care too much. He was not playing against me. He was playing against the course, just like all of us. I was hitting the ball well. And I was scoring ok. I was even after nine holes. Not bad for this course on the big stage. I could really tell that my caddie Zack was dead on with his club selections. There were times that he would recommend a club that I had my doubts. But I did not say anything. And he was right on. I was surprised on how he knew the correct club. I suppose caddies go by logic by calculating the distances and knowing the player. Whereas the players often go by feel and by emotions. So it was good to have him in charge of club selection. This course is so hard.

  No one is shooting lights out today. I found myself in a jam a few times around the green. If you do not hit the greens in regulation on this course, then you better bring your blue collar lunch pail with you.
Because you are going to be working hard. The chipping and putting that I had worked so hard on recently per Zack’s advice really paid off. I missed six greens today in regulation, which is about average. I saved par on all but one. And some were not easy shots. And I even got up and down for a birdie from 40 yards out on a par 5. So my short game really paid off.

  Going down the stretch I was even par. I had made a couple of bogeys and a couple of birdies. The course was playing very tough. But I felt good. As I was walking down the 16th hole I was amazed on how many people were following us. It was crazy. I guess this is what Cory and Alex go through all the time. I bogeyed the 16th hole even though I hit a good drive. My second shot was hit well, but I was on the very back of the green and the pin was on the front. I hit a poor put on my long putt about 10 feet from the hole. On my par putt, I hit it like I wanted, but misread the putt and I missed it. I three putted. “Welcome to the US Open” I told myself. The US open is famous for difficult fast greens that will ruin your day. The 17th hole is long par three, 208 yards into the wind. I hit a smooth 3 iron into the trap on the left side. The pin placement was on the left side so not much green to work with. I hit a good shot out, but I was not able to get up and down. So now I have had two bogeys in a row and now two over. One hole to go. Number 18 which par 4 which 453 yards. Not partially long hole but a good finishing hole. It is a dog leg right. I hit a good drive. I placed it right where I wanted, left center of the fairway and a good shot to the green. Now in the past I would be hitting a driver and a six iron or more. But with my new distance I was about 150 out and I hit a smooth 9 iron about 5 feet from the hole. That felt great. I made my putt and ended up with one over for the day. I was happy. One over at the US open is right in the mix. Cory shot one under, he had a good round.