The FBR Open

This past weekend was The FBR Open (formerly The Phoenix Open) at The TPC Scottsdale. I went early on Friday to watch Anthony Kim, Kenny Perry, and Stewart Cink. Watching on TV on Thursday, I was so impressed with Kim's ability to laugh off his +4 start and grind out a 73. Unfortunately, I watched the opposite first hand on Friday. After lipping out an eagle on 15, his 6th hole to go -2, he 3 putted 16 in front of the infamously rowdy crowd. Kim them stomped his ball deep into the turf and marched on to 17 without acknowledging the crowd. 17 he blocked it right and missed a 10 ft putt, then on 18 he snap hoked a driver into the lake, double bogey, and a smashed driver against the desert rocks. As he made the turn he hit it into the rough on1 and topped it into the desert and his hopes of making the cut were gone. I have no doubt frustration was the catalyst to this bad stretch and it reaffirmed the importance of detaching myself from the result and focusing on the process of 1 shot at a time. Meanwhile Kenny Perry shot a 63 highlighted by an eagle on the 3rd and a chip in birdie on the first.

I went out again Saturday and Sunday, following the leaders around on Sunday. I studies their pre-shot routines, their tendencies when reading greens, and their course strategies. I learned that that don't fire at many flags, those are just the shot we see on TV. They spend a lot of time playing to the safe part of the fairway or green and making excellent up and downs and long lag putts. Kenny Perry especially stayed very calm and managed his game flawlessly, never putting himself in an unmanageable position.

The 16th holes is even rowdier in person! College students heckling and chanting in players back swings, and booing even mediocre shots. The FBR is more of a fair than a golf tournament, I was pleased though as with the distraction of The Cardinals in The Superbowl, I was able to follow the last 3 groups on Sunday with ease and get within feet of the pros!