Flying to Vegas on Monday...

[tsdnorton]

Have my Monday Q coming up here in a few weeks for the Something Fresh tourney. So I talked to Bob May and told him what was going on and what not with my game. He told me to come out and practice / play with him this week in Vegas. So I'm going out to play Painted Desert, TPC Summerlin (his home course), and TPC L.V. and practice with him for a few days. Trying to work out some shots with my short game and what not. But just thought it would be fun, get to go play with him and a few of his buddies (I think Bill Lunde may be joining us depending on what happens with him this weekend) and then train with him a little.

Pretty excited about the trip. Can't wait to see what I can learn practicing with some great golfers.

[Harmonious]

Now that would be fun.  Report back after your trip and fill us in with all the new knowledge you will have gained from Bob.  And tell him that I always thought that someone threw Tiger's ball back into play out of the woods at the PGA!

[tsdnorton]

Haha it's funny you say that. I've talked to him about the whole PGA Championship thing and he really is pretty calm about it. I even said the same thing, someone HAD to throw his ball back out. But he really just takes it as a "it happens" thing. Takes it really well. With all his back surgeries lately I'm surprised he can still bomb is like he does. He's a small guy, but oh my... Tossing it out 300+ every drive like it's nothing. He uses his pings well lol.

I'll take some pix and stuff and post when I get back.

[tsdnorton]

Got back earlier this afternoon and boy was that a blast. The weather was BEAUTIFUL for both days and the conditions were fare. The greens are incredibly quick compared to my local courses. But it was nice to play some courses that were in great condition. Shot a 70 at TPC Summerlin and 69 at Painted Desert. It was so much fun. I found painted desert to not be NEARLY as hard as Summerlin or LV. Everyone told me it was incredibly tight and a great course management challenge (I know they used to have the Nevada open there) but I found it to not play as bad as everyone said. I had a rough couple starting holes getting used to my approach shots into the greens. Went Par/Par/Boge/Bird/Par for my first 5. Then I got a great feeling for the course and has some fun. Summerlin was great but oh man if you barely push OB hitting off desert isn't fun at all.

All in all it was an outstanding trip and got some great advice and teaching from May while playing with him. (He did say he had to knock me down a few pegs for playing Mizunos haha.. but once he realized I went to school in GA he forgave me knowing how big Mizzys are in the south) I hit his raptures and i15's a bit though and they felt pretty comparable to my 910/mizzys. I had one hole where I SERIOUSLY got ahold of a few of my drives and blasted it about 30 yrds past him though. He played with Matt Ryan a few days before playing with me and had some funny stories about him.

That guy is a character. I also got to meet and see Daniel Negranu and Phil Ivey playing at Summerlin a hole behind us. They were betting something crazy like 10k a hole and 15k on par 3's.. those dudes are insane haha.

He's heading to some Monday Q's for the next couple Nationwide tournys to try and win some cash before they reshuffle the players and he can get into some more tournys. He said they reshuffle after 5 tournys so he has a few chances. I think I'll be competing against him and the field for the Monday Q and the something fresh tourny. But the oncourse experience and teaching is beyond invaluable. I learned a lot from him and some of the players I played with these last few days. It truly shows how great these players are. He ended up shooting I think 66 at Summerling and 68 at Painted Desert. He said his back has been getting better (funny enough from cycling, he does 20 miles every morning through the upper LV mountains.)

Great trip, great experience, TONS of advice, and a great tune-up to help me out.