71. MC by a handfull. At least it was my first round under par in Korea. Pleased with that, but dissapointed as I was -5 through 12 holes. I used a 4 iron off a lot of tees which worked a charm. I had it going but the wide ones caught up again.

Overall I’m pleased to bounce back from yesterday and I think my game is starting to evolve from “hit it and find it”. My caddie Richard is going to pound sense into me over the next couple of weeks and help me learn how to manage my game. “YOUR hitting 4 iron buddy.”

Have you ever seen a caddie throw a club at a player?….. don’t worry, it hasn’t happen…… yet 🙂

82. Made up of 10 shots in penalties. What’s killing me is I’ve got no go-to tee shot at the moment. My new 3 wood cracked last week after 1 day and the 2 iron just isn’t working.

My good shots are really good, but my bad ones are just shocking. No in between. My form and the Korean courses are really starting to get to me.

Yet another spectacular scenic golf course has greeted us on Jeju Island. Lake Hills is a hilly flowing course, more of a links style. Again I am faced with the challenge of developing a game plan to weigh up risk/reward off the tee.

The greens are severely undulating, tricky hitting into from the typical unmowned fairways. You need good touch to score well on these greens this week.

Missed out. Not a good day in the end. Turned up with my caddy Richard Talsma to find out he was not allowed to caddy and I was forced to pay for and use the house caddy for our group. It started raining on the third hole while I was about 100m away from the buggy, my clubs got wet on the back of the buggy and the caddy had left my towel in the rain……. meanwhile Richard is standing down near the green getting shelter under a tree, just watching.

The KPGA recently informed us that the KGA (Korean Golf Association), which run the Korean Open, have allowed the international players to compete in the Korean Open pre-qualifier. This is good news for us as it is the biggest event in Korea.

So I will be attending the pre-qualifier which takes place on Aug 27.

Phoenix AZ was quite enjoyable. The style of courses were very much like QLD with the exception of the desert stones and cacti surrounding each fairway. So it’s very easy to feel at home (heat and humidity included).

I had the pleasure of enjoying the hospitality of one of Phoenix’s residents for a few days, Gary Baitz. Thanks Gary for your hospitality. It ensures I have good memories from my first trip to the US. Keep swinging pure mate!

On Sunday morning I left Greensboro and flew into Pittsburg, Pennsylvania for the Pete Dye Classic Monday pre-qual held at Bridgeport CC, West Virginia. I shot 72 (even) which will probably miss by 3. The afternoon field have not completed their round yet as storms have suspended play until tomorrow.

It was great to catch up with some of the Aussie boys, at night, as there were quite a few attending the pre-qual. Marc Leishman, Steven Dartnall, David Lutterus (whom I was paired with) and Aaron Pike all played in the morning as well. The guys had 70, 71, no score, 74 respectively.

Many of you would like to know that this was Aaron’s first event/pre-qual as a professional. He made the decision to turn a few days ago. Congrats to Aaron. All the best mate!

For the Apple City Open a few weeks ago on the Korean tour we were in, Yantai, China. Not the nicest place in China. Renovations probably make the Hotel look worse than it is:

Now, the fun part and the reason this post exists. I know Chinese speak Chinese, not English. But this effort at writing English is Gold. The hotel outlines some rules and advice by putting together a “Notice to the Guests” . Gee, the Chinese can sure be brutally honest. No beating around the bush in this document. Also, if you don’t know what a “perfect instrument” or “toilet soup” is, you won’t find out here…… THIS IS A MUST SEE!

Reading this was the only thing I found entertaining in Yantai…… appart from the plastic BB guns. They were pretty fun.

I shot 72 (even) to finish 24th. A 67 was needed to get into a playoff for the fourth spot. I needed a hot one, but not to be. Results are here.

I will spend a few more days in Greensboro and go and watch some of the Wyndham Championship. As much as I’d rather be playing, it will be my first time I’ve gone to a PGA Tour event. So I’m keen to see some of the big names as well as say g’day to some of the Aussie’s out there. I’ve become a fan of K.J. Choi so it will be good to watch him get the ball around.

Today I played in the pre-qualifying for the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship at Pinewood CC, just south of Greensboro, NC.

The PGA Tour now has a Thursday pre-qual for the Monday pre-qual. 50 players plus ties get through Thursday to advance to Monday qualifying, where 4 spots are available for the Wyndham Championship. I was successful getting through to Monday, shooting 70 for T12. Teed off the 10th, threw in two eagles and four birdies.

The Monday qualifying will be held at the same course which makes the preparation for it a lot easier. Even though there is only 4 spots available, a hot round will open up an opportunity to play on the PGA Tour.