Ink Blot

First off, Tour School. Yeah, I didn't make it, but look at the positives. I got to feel real pressure, and I could handle it. That's a big step. You don't know if you can handle it until you go through it. I shot 8 straight par or better rounds at Tour School, very positive. I learned a lot about the tournament, and, most importantly, I know I can make it through. A lot of very good players have already fallen in this year's tournament, that doesn't mean our chance is gone.

So it took a couple days to get over. I could be down in the dumps for a lot longer, but I'm ready to get back at it and continue to improve. Time, for now, is definitely on my side. More than ever I am ready to make it, and more than ever I believe I can.

I've got a little tournament in Mesquite, NV in a couple of weeks. The rest of the schedule is up in the air, but I've got some ideas.

Luke Swilor

And...check out my ink. Just got it finished.

Okay, so maybe I'm not the guy to get a full sleeve, and maybe its not real, but admit it, I fooled you.

Happy Halloween. Send that 8 car to the front.

Heartbreak

I needed a good one yesterday, but I came up one short. I wasn't able to convert enough putts. My 69 left me -4, one shot short of the qualifying number. More specifically one man short. I was T28th, top 27 and ties made it.

I just didn't play good enough in the early rounds.

It's hard to explain the depth of my frustration, but I've always got next year.

Luke Swilor

Need a Good One

Up and down round today. Lots of birdies, lots of bogies. 72. Still -1. The number will be -5 or -6, so I need to get a bit hot.

Luke

Round 2

Ready for bed. 71 today. I thought the course played easier, but scores were higher. I am -1 and the number is at -3. I didn't hit it as good, but I made more putts. Towards the end of the round I started to make solid contact again. I feel like my bad rounds are behind me, so hopefully I'll go low tomorrow.

Conservatively aggressive, that's the plan. Let it happen, eh?

Luke

1st Stage Round 1

The nerves were definitely there on the first tee. I got off to a pretty good start, solid shots all around, and I was one under after three. After that I just hung around par all day. I hit the ball pretty darn good, but a few mistakes hurt my score. I had four birdies (the par 5s), and four bogies (all par 4s), even-par 72. All of the bogies were because of mis-clubs. My fault, hopefully I learned something. A few more putts could have gone in, but what are you gonna do?

I feel good. The jitters should be gone for a few days, and I'm hitting it good. The number would have been -2 today. If the weather stays the same I see the final number coming between -5 and -8, so I'm in there. The course has gotten more firm everyday, so I don't see it getting any easier. I haven't played on a course this firm in a long time, and I think that it will help me in the long run. I grew up on some hard (firm) courses, so I have a pretty good idea of what I need to do.

Got a good one in me for tomorrow.

Luke

Dayton Practice Round

Got in a practice round this afternoon. The course (Dayton Valley GC) is good. Last year (good weather) it took -8 to get through. The weather is supposed to be good again this year, but I'm not sure the scores are going to be so low. The greens were pretty hard, and I can't see them getting any softer. Hard greens mean it will be hard to get it close to the hole. We'll see. The par fives are all very reachable, so that will push the scores down, but they're not gimmes.

I drove the ball good today. My iron play wasn't great, but I think I can work it out. I'm going to put a lot of work in tomorrow. The weather, elevation, and course design are very much like Utah courses, so that should help me feel more comfortable here.

I got to play with a couple of college teammates today (one was on the bag). It was some good fun. Hope we all end up playing for the big bucks next year. It's not inconceivable for three or four buddies to finish in the top 30 at the end of this thing.

One more practice round tomorrow. Info at pgatour.com/qschool.

Luke Swilor

Final Preparation

Everything seems to be in good shape as I get ready to leave for 1st stage. I haven't been working on anything major in my swing, just trying to hit it solid. I seem to have a good idea where the ball is going, and that is always nice. The short game has been a bit sketchy in the last couple tournaments, so I've been spending a lot of time around the greens. Had to put some new tires on the ol' car (they only last a little over a year, playing the minis puts on the miles). Laundry tonight. On to Dayton Saturday morning.

More when I get to see the course. Tournament starts Tuesday, the 24.

Luke

Back to Work

We had a fun day yesterday. It was great playing with my pops again. We hit some good shots, we hit some bad shots, we shot a respectable score, then we came home. I don't know if we won anything (if we didn't win, we shouldn't be allowed back on the golf course). No long drives or closest to the holes, though.

So it's back to a week of hard work. 1st stage (my second) of tour school starts on the 24 in Dayton Valley, Nevada. It should be a good spot for me, as the elevation and weather are similar to Salt Lake. I shouldn't have to make as much of an adjustment as some players. Four good rounds and I'll be moving on.

Keep you posted.

Luke

SCRAMBLE!

In the last year or so, my dad hasn't played a lot of golf. He's been working a lot, and he really doesn't have the desire. After playing for a living for 20 years, he's played maybe 5 times in the last 16 months. So I am pumped that I get to join him on the "Company Tournament Circuit" tomorrow in Wendover. I've only gotten to play 3 holes with him in that stretch, so we should have a good time.

I'm ready to win some awards. Maybe they'll have a nice knock-off putter for the long drive. I could use one of those.

Luke

Sierra Vista Crash and Burn

Weird round. Wind blew, drove it AWESOME, irons were okay, short game okay, putted okay, scored TERRIBLY. I couldn't get my good putts to go in. I made a big mistake hitting it over a green early which led to triple. I didn't hit any awful shots, but I was still four over after 14. I birdied three of my last four to miss the cut by one. HUGE bummer. 73 today. I hate shooting over par.

Anyways, the game feels very good. I hit the ball as solid as I have all year, but lack of course knowledge and a few little mistakes really hurt me (along with the small number of players making the cut). Even after some mediocre rounds, I truly feel like I am playing good golf.

Tour school gets back in action late this month, and I am going to make sure course knowledge is not an issue. I'll get there early. Most of the time, I am able to figure a course out by looking at a scorecard. It seems easy to me to figure out the best play, even without playing a practice round. I seem to have a knack, but not this week at Pueblo del Sol. This course was different because of the severe greens (much like Augusta to tour players, I suspect). I didn't make good reads, and I missed in a couple of places where you can't miss. One shot. I can definitely think of one (or ten) shots I could have saved with a little more experience on this course.

Tomorrow we have a "second chance" tournament for a little money. I'm going into the course blind, but it shouldn't be a problem. I really don't (normally) have a problem figuring a course out the first time I play it. After I win (confidence, people), I have a little 13 hour drive to Salt Lake for a nice break (nice, but I will be working hard) before 1st stage.

Right now I would pay some bucks for a par on 2 today (especially after hitting a good drive; make three from there, you bum), but oh well.

--Luke Swilor

06 Sierra Vista Open

After a few days back home after Houston, I made the trek to the border (almost) for the Sierra Vista Open. The course is very fun, with QUICK greens. Scores are generally low, but when the wind blows it becomes hard to get the ball close (and the greens get even more treacherous).

Today was the first round. I was in the first group, which is always nice. We had some heavy wind this morning, and I got off to a rough start. Three putt on ten (started on the back), lost a ball in a spot where we should have found it, and another bogey left me at +3 after 8. I eagled my 9th hole with a chip in. Then I hit a great 3-iron into the par 3 3rd for a birdie. Getting hot, right? Maybe, but the thunderstorm put an end to that.

After a delay of about an hour, I bogeyed the easy 4th hole. I made a great birdie save on the easy par 5 5th, but then bogeyed the next hole the par 5 (ugh) 6th. As I've said before, my goal every round is to shoot par or better. It is very important to me. So I needed a birdie on the last three. I got it early. #7 is a tough driving hole. I hit a very aggressive tee shot to a narrow strip of fairway, and made a solid 3. I had chances on 8 & 9, but my putts came up short. 72, E.

So I played okay. The afternoon guys might have an advantage, but a good score tomorrow should leave me in decent shape. A few less mistakes and I can see a low one coming.

Luke Swilor