Provo Open Round 1

I've had some success at the Provo Open and East Bay GC in the past. T2nd my only year as a pro, won the amateur trophy the year before that. My game hasn't been good the last few weeks, so I've been looking forward to having a good tournament at a familiar site. A little confidence boost would be nice.

I got off to a bad start. A bad tee shot left me a long iron into the green, which I put in the front bunker. My par putt went over the edge, early bogey.

I played pretty solid for the next 11-12 holes, and I was at -4 going into my 13th. I drove it into the hazard, had to re-tee, and made 7. Tsk, tsk. One of the strengths of my game has always been keeping big numbers off the scorecard, but the last couple months I've been making a lot of them. It's not from getting too aggressive, or any change in strategy. I just have one or two loose (really loose) swings that cause a lot of trouble. I haven't dealt with this in a while, so I'm going to have to work hard to fix it. I think that somewhere in my swing/setup I'm getting sloppy, causing these terrible one-off shots. I also think I've gotten sloppy in picking a good target every shot. I've played a lot of golf the last couple of months without much of a break. When I have these long stretches, I need to pay attention to this tendency, make sure it doesn't cause any lasting problems.

Anyways, I let a decent round get away. I ended up with a -1 71. OK, but I'll need to go pretty low to have a chance. I'm happy with the work I've gotten in the last few days, and figuring out the cause of these mistakes should help me correct them.

Going low tomorrow.

Luke Swilor

Some Needed Time At Home

The Saltwater Classic didn't go very well. I started to hit the ball so badly, and I couldn't get it straightened out. 74-72-75 to miss the money. Not acceptable.

So I'm very glad to have two weeks home to work on my game. I need it. The good thing is that back on quick greens my putter is coming alive. When I start to hit it more like I have been, I see some low scores on the way.

So I'm home, and I get to play in two tournaments while I'm home. The Provo Open starts Thursday, and next weekend I'll play the Gladstan Open. I'll be hitting a lot of balls the next couple days, and I'm very excited to get to work.

Luke Swilor

I Made It

Back to the States. Couldn't be more happy to be home. A nice place to visit and all that. Plus I haven't made a trip home in over 6 weeks, so it feels good.

I got off to a terrible start Sunday. I was three over after two holes, made a couple birdies, then went bogey, double to end the front. Another bogie on 11 and I was 5 over with 6 to play. Made some birdies to end up +2 for the day, +1 for the week.

I've been struggling early this year, but it is coming around. I'm finally making birdies again, which will always keep you in it.

Three weeks to go until we start back up on the Canadian Tour. I'll be hanging out fairly close to home the next two weeks. This weekend is the Saltwater Classic in Riverton, WY. Next weekend is the Provo Open. It's been a long time since I've had a home game, so it will be fun.

I'll work on getting pictures of Mexico up soon. In the meantime, my buddy the Armchair Golfer has a new gig at mvn.com (Most Valuable Network). He'll be writing the golf page, and he even has an interview with me up there. Check that out at http://mvn.com/golf.

Luke Swilor

Better

I played good today. A few bad breaks on the back cost me a really good one, but that comes with the gig. 69 moved me up a bit.

I really squeaked inside the cut, so the rest of the week is a bonus. But...

The hotel has royally messed up my reservation, so I have nowhere to stay tomorrow night. I saw the mistake when I checked in, told them about it, but I guess it wasn't fixed (although they told me it was). I had a full week to look at other options, but they wait 'til the last day to let me in on it. This place might be great to visit, but I'm very ready to get back home. I might be staying on the beach tomorrow night :).

That's been the big headache of this trip. Travel has so many more bumps along the way down here than anywhwere I've been. No matter what you do to insure a smooth trip, there are problems. The tournaments are great, but peripherally there are challenges. Canada calls, and I'm looking forward to their hospitality.

I'm playing good, and on the course things are moving in the right direction. This week I made a few tweaks to my swing that seem to be paying off. It's a long year, so the little victories add up.

Almost home

Luke Swilor

No...

I've been such a bubble boy the last six months. Always on the wrong side. Well, maybe today will change that. I made two good birdies on my last three to make the cut on the number. T60th.

I need to start scoring. I'm playing much better than the scores would lead you to believe, but this might be the small (very small) break to get me over the hump.

So two more days before I get to come home (it's been six weeks). Not a bad place to spend them.

Luke Swilor

Looking Forward

One last try on the Mexico Swing. I haven't played close to my best golf, but I'm ready to do just that. It is pretty much paradise this week in Cancun, so I will make sure to stop and smell the roses along the way. Maybe see some Mayan ruins. I just know that I'm going to have a good time, learn a lot, and try to shoot a good score. Should be fun.

Luke Swilor

Errrr

Well, I felt good about this week. Unfortunately, I didn't play good. It was a major struggle. I hit it in the water enough to use up my quota for an entire year. I didn't feel like the course was that tough, but I hit the ball so bad it didn't matter.

I started to get into a better mindset towards the end of the second day. I started to get a bit cocky again. It felt good, and I played a lot better. So that's the plan for next week. Act like I know I'll be in contention all week, and it will happen.

I'm ready to get back to the states, but I'm also really looking forward to the last tournament of the swing.

Luke Swilor

A Little Bit of Relief

I had a tough morning. I managed to get an earlier flight today, selling my spot on the charter plane the tour set up. The flights were close to the same price, so it seemed great. Well...

I got to the airport at 5 for my 7 am flight, but the counters didn't open 'til 6. Okay, no biggie. Not as much security (hardly any) to go through down here.

I check in, and my baggage comes up to 35 kilograms. Now I know you sometimes have to pay more in the states if one of your bags is over 50 lbs. My clubs are about 45, my clothes about 30, so I've never had a problem. Down here, you get 55 lbs (25 kg) TOTAL. I took 4 dozen balls out of my golf bag, but that only brought me down to 33 kg. 8 over. My bags don't fly if I don't pay $125.

So I go to pay the silly fee, and my bank put the old fraud alert on. Nice timing. I didn't have time to sit on the phone for a half hour, so I had to put the rest on a card I haven't used in quite some time. Cross your fingers. I was lucky to have that card go through.

So I fly to Mexico city, nice flight. The planes I took today (airbus?) took off almost vertically. I mean the kind of straight up that makes you come close to passing out. But coming down we had a great view of the city, and it is one of the neatest cities I've ever seen. It is BIG.

We touch down a few minutes early, but we had to take a bus from the plane to the terminal. Now I have to run a good par 5 (with backpack and computer bag) to just make my connection. It was close. I would not have been happy with a 7 hour layover.

As for now: I took care of the credit card, got my phone's email working, and checked in to an awesome resort. The NASCAR race and golf are both on. Sweet. After an aggravating day, I'm comfortable for the first time this trip. This place is GREAT. Let's hope that adds up to low scores.

Luke Swilor

Culiacan Mexico Recap

I hit the ball pretty good for two days, but I struggled around the greens.  68-74, and I missed the cut by a shot for the second time in three weeks.

I blew it today.  I was grinding all the way, but I wasn't able to keep it together.  Missing the cut is terrible, missing by a shot is worse, having two days with nothing to do in Culiacan is just not how you want to do things.

I'm looking for a flight out a day early.  I already paid for a charter flight Sunday night, but that flight would be an extra day's wait, and we wouldn't get our luggage until later that night (they're busing it down).  Not the best option.  So hopefully I'll figure something out in the meantime. 

My game isn't that bad, but a few loose shots are killing me each week.  The mid-season consistency just isn't there, so I'm working hard to get it back.  Frustrating. 

More from down the road.

Luke Swilor

Mexico Update

I'm sorry I haven't been keeping up here.  Internet access just isn't very good, and I don't expect that to improve a whole lot.

So Far:

I played decent in Mazatlan.  I got off to another bad start, but I played good in the middle rounds.  Ended up tied for 34th.

Mazatlan is a resort town, so it was all that much of a shock for a guy who's never left the states.  This week is completely different.  Very few people speak any English at all, so it has been much tougher to adapt.  This is definitely more of a real Mexico experience this week.  Luckily, all of the players are at the same hotel, so we can lean on each other.

We start the second tournament tomorrow, so I have to get to bed.  If in-room internet improves I will post more, but it will be hit or miss until I get home.

Thanks to those who've been following along by going to cantour.com. 

Luke Swilor