So the course I play on sets up 4 major style events each year. They will prep the course to play accordingly to each Major. The first one for the year was the US Open. They tipped it out and put pins in pretty hard locations. The greens are usually double cut, rolled and are a little firmer.
I knew coming into the round that I was playing really well and I had a chance to win. I lost one last year in a playoff. I started the round great with a par on the hard first hole. The next hole is usually a pretty good birdie opportunity and I was in the green side bunker in 2. I clipped my 3rd almost over the green and missed a 2 foot putt for par. Not the start I wanted. I then birdied 3, lipped out on 4, birdied 5 and three jacked on 6 for bogey. I finished the front at 36 (E). We were using a virtual leaderboard and the guy 5 groups in front of me was at -3. I knew I had my work cut out for me but the closing stretch was hard so anything could happen. I started 10 with a three putt bogey and parred 11. On 12 a 244 yard par 3 I hit a three wood to 3 feet and made the birdie. On 13 I lipped out my chip for eagle and birdied that one. I looked at the leaderboard and I was -1 and leading by one. Leaderboard watching has never done me any good as I bogey the next hole. The leader finished at E and I had 4 holes left. I made a mess of 15, a par 5, but made par. The next two holes I hit some great shots and left both birdie putts on the edge of the hole short. As I got to the 18th tee I could see everyone waiting on the patio. I hit a decent drive but it was in the drainage cut in the fairway. I tugged the approach shot and left myself with a downhill bunker shot on the short side. All I could think of was I am going to blow this while everyone was watching. My heart was racing. As I could hear the chatter of people on the patio I hit the best bunker shot of my life and it checked and finished an inch behind the hole. Playoff time.
The first hole was used for the play off and we had about 10-15 people watching. I was first and over drew my drive which I thought went into the hazard. Luckily my ball was saved by the fence and I had a free drop. My opponent was first to hit and he was coming into the green on the far right which was not a good angle. He hit he green but it bounced just off. I hit my shot to the middle of the green thinking it would release but it didn’t. I had a 50+ foot putt for birdie and he had a 20-30 foot chip. I had a similar putt earlier and I knew it was slow up the hill so I hit it hard. It barely missed and I had 2 feet left. My opponents ball was sitting a little down and it came out soft. He missed his par putt and I tapped in for the win. I haven’t been able to hold up a trophy in a long time and this felt really good. Sorry for the long winded post
