Golf In A Parallel Universe (31 page)

The links course is not so perfectly manicured like the typical PGA course back home. It is in great shape, but the feel is rustic. You really get the feeling that this is the home of golf. The back nine I struggled a bit. I had three bogeys and one birdie. So I was one over for the day. Not a great round but I was satisfied. My main goal today was to get my body back in golf shape. My ribs felt good. I am still not at 100%, but I am close. My legs were a little tired, and I was ready to call it a day after we finished. To my surprise, one over was not bad, no one really tore it up today.

Day two, I was a little tired. I can tell that I have been out of competition for a while. I was trying to shake the rust off. The weather was better today. I got into some trouble the front nine. I had three bogeys the first eight holes and was able to birdie number nine. So two over after nine. “I better get my butt in gear if I expect to make the cut” I told Zack. “Just hang in there. Only one hole at a time that’s all we can control” he replied. I struggled the back nine, I had two more bogeys, but one birdie. So one over the back nine, three over for the day. So the two day total was two over. I made the cut by one stroke. I am happy. I was happy for a couple of reasons. I did not have my A game today but managed to compete. I hit some bad shots but my short game saved me and I felt good about that.

“My legs are tired," I told Zack. “You have been off for over a month," he said. I knew that the first couple of days would be difficult for you. Tomorrow will be the deciding day to see where you are at. Tomorrow you are either going to feel like crap if you body is not ready. Or you are going to get over the hump and get back in the swing of things," he told me. “OK Dr. Zack” I replied laughing. “Trust me," he said in a serious tone. I know physiology. Tomorrow you will feel good, or you will feel like crap. Let's get back to the hotel. You need to get a good meal and get to bed early." “Done deal” I replied. I have no reason to doubt Zack. He is more than a caddie. He knows so much about the body and what the professionals golfers goes through. He is really smart. I am just hoping I am getting over the hump. I cannot go through two more days of feeling like this.

I got back to the hotel and got a bite to eat. I decided to call Emily. It should be late morning back home. I got the scoop on how to call. Basically you buy these phone cards and you can call home pretty cheap. Just use the hotel phone and enter in the numbers and presto, you are calling home. I talked to Emily for a few minutes. She asked how I was doing and how everything is going. I told her I was happy to make the cut, but I am pretty tired today. We talked for about 30 minutes but I could have talked to her for hours. As usual every time I talk to her I am happy and time flies. After we hung up, I felt great. She seems to give me so much happiness and energy. But time to go to bed. Tomorrow is another day of competing and I need to be ready.

Day three.

I wake up and lay in bed for a few minutes. I realized that I have not had any of those strange dreams lately. I wonder why they have gone away. That's fine with me, maybe I am getting back to normal with my sleeping habits. I get up and I can tell right away that I feel great. Zack’s prediction came true. I am just happy I feel good and not like crap.

Of course I did not let Zack off the hook for his prediction on how I would feel. just called him Doc the rest of the day. I hit the ball great. My legs felt strong and almost back to normal. And for the first time I did not feel any discomfort with my ribs. I shot one under for the third round. And for the first time, I feel like I am getting back to normal. Now I am starting feel like I can start being competitive again. I am not going to come close to making a run in this tournament. But if I continue to make progress I will be ready next week at the Open.

I talk to Zack after the third round. “I want to get this in gear” I said. Tomorrow I want to have a good round. I want to get ready for next week for the British Open. The last few days have just been a test for me. I think I have recovered and I want to get back into serious competing mode," I told him. “Sounds good to me” Zack replied. “However, you have to have a different mentality on a links course. You cannot not attack it like a normal course. You cannot get out there and get all hyped up and hit the big booming drives and go for the pin on every shot. The key to putting together four good rounds on a Links course is shot making, and strategy. And most important, stay in the fairway. Most of your bogeys’ this week were because you hit your drives out of the fairway. Those big booming drives and attacking the pin will only buy you trouble. I got an idea on the strategy for the links courses, which I think will pay off next week, especially on the last round.”

“I’m all ears," I replied. He went on. “The secret to these links course is not distance, but staying in the fairway, as I just mentioned. Especially with your drives. Out of the fairway buys you thick fescue grass or a sand bunker or both. Basically out of the fairway and you are dead. If you look on at the scores this week you will see players with both low and high scores. One day they will shoot lights out. Then the next day they will get in trouble and have a terrible round that puts them out of competition. The secrete to the links course is consistency. I recommend on most of these holes do not even use your driver. Just use a three wood. A 275 to 285 yard drive down the better is much better than a 320 yard drive out of the fairway. There are some goods driving holes here but if it is a tight hole or any doubt, go with a three wood. And you approach shots you have to be smart. Trying to go for the flag stick will get you in trouble. With these greens and windy conditions, there is no way to stop the ball if you hit it to the pin on some of these shots. Links course are made for bump and run shots. On a lot of these holes, just choose one club less and hit in front of the green and let it run up if there are no bunkers in front. Be conservative on the tough holes. There are plenty of birdie opportunities out there. But the tough holes here will eat you alive if you get too aggressive.

“Sound like a plan” I replied and gave him a fist bump. We called it a day. Tomorrow, we have an 11:00 am tee time. Zack is amazing. He is a deep thinker and always seems to come up with great strategies. Everything he told me I know is correct. I had it in my mind that this is the strategy that I should take on a Links Course. But to hear him lay it all out and make a plan. That is gold. I am lucky to have him as my Caddie.

Final Day Scottish Open

Finally I feel that I am back to normal. I no longer feel that I have been off for a month and working my way back. I have the competitive attitude again. As I am playing this round I really feel like I got this Link course figured out. I played the strategy that Zack and I discussed. I was conservative when I had to be and I did not get into any trouble. I was able to attack the good birdie holes and managed to put in a good solid round of five under for the day.

So I shot four under for the tournament. That put me in the top 25. This link course basically took its toll on some of the players. Especially the American players. “You were right. Consistency is the key for the links course," I told Zack. “Bingo” He replied. “If you put together four solid rounds like you did today next week and you will be in the mix."

“Sounds like beer time to me” I replied. “I’m in” Zack said smiling. We got together with some of our friends from America and our new European friends. We met at the same Scottish Bar we went to earlier in the week. It was a hopping place. My gosh these European players know how to party. It was really a fun time. The European players were buying drinks for the Americans and the American players were buying drinks for the European players. Everyone was having a blast. It just made me realize how golf is an international sport. And we were all getting ready for next week at the British Open.

We arrive at Royal Liverpool Golf Club in Merseyside, England Monday afternoon. Finally, we are here at the British Open. Or as the British Say “The Open." They do like it when it is called the “British Open." They feel like it should be called “The Open” and some feel strongly about that. This is the oldest of the majors. The Open was first played on October 17th, 1860 at Prestwick Golf Club in Scotland. I am happy and thrilled to be here. This year, The Open is being played at Royal Liverpool Golf Club. A fantastic setting. This is a classic Links course and it will be a challenge. I feel great today. I am excited to be here. Luckily I took it easy last night at that I bar in Scotland. The atmosphere is buzzing here. You really get the feel of a Major Tournament. And what a place! I am really enjoying the international atmosphere. Zack and I go to the range and hit some balls. “I am excited. I wish it was Thursday already," I tell Zack. He just laughs. We hit some balls and mingle with the players. I run into some of my new European friends that I met in Scotland. One is Hanz from Germany that I got to know last week.

“Found any good bars yet” he said smiling. “No not yet, but I think I am going to take it easy this week I said laughing. “Hey dude! Come visit me back home in October. I will take you to the Oktoberfest. It is the biggest party in the world." I will show you how to really party, he told me as he slapped me on my back. “I don’t think I can handle that” I replied. “You guys party too hard too hard for me. “However, I just may take you up on that offer. He just laughed. Zack and I prepared the next few days. Monday we just hit some balls and worked on my short game. Tuesday and Wednesday we had practice rounds and did our normal preparation at range and practice green. I seem to get quite a bit of attention from the media that I am not used to. I had a lot of interviews from media all over the world. I was reminded over and over that no one has one three majors since 1953. I felt that no one expected me to win this thing and that record will not be tied, much less broken. Some of the media asked me about the incident at the US Open. It came out public that Dafford Hilton was trying to protect his grandfather's record and that he has some psychiatric issues. I just gave a canned answer that the incident is over and I hope that Dafford Hilton will OK.

Wednesday we had a good practice round, and I got a good feel for the course now. I really like the links style course. It seems to fall right into my new game. Just make a good swing and not worry about anything else. We finish up everything Wednesday afternoon. My tee time is 11:00 am tomorrow. Zack and I make our plans that we will meet here at 8:00am tomorrow.

I go back to the hotel. As I am walking past the front desk to my room, the front desk clerk calls me. “Mr Galloway?” I stopped. “Yes sir” I replied. The desk clerk is an older distinguished english gentleman, gray headed in his 60’s, and sharply dressed in a suit and tie. “I have something for you” he said. He went to the back of the desk and there was a big wall with wooden cubby holes. He pulled out a paper and brought it to me. “Mr. Galloway, you have a Telegram," he said as handed it to me. “What!?," I replied in a confused tone. “A Telegram? Telegrams still exist? You're kidding me? He of shook his head. “Yeah, believe it or not they still do exist. But they are not used very much now. Back in the day, the Telegram was the golden standard of massaging. But since the fax and especially the Internet, they are not used much anymore. I see one come through here every once in awhile. Mostly from smaller eastern block countries. But this one is from the United States," he told me. I looked at it. And sure enough it is a Telegram from the United States. It is the first one I have ever seen. “Thanks” I replied, and I went up to my room.

I was very curious about this. Who in the world would send me a telegram. I sat down on the bed and I opened it up. It was all official looking. And in the telegram was the message. “Jim. Good Luck with the British Open. I know you have been through a lot recently. Remember, just block out everything for four to six seconds when you address the ball. Tempo, Tempo, Tempo. I wish you well. Signed, Gus." “Gus!” I shouted out loud laughing and falling back on the bed looking at the telegram. “My gosh he really is stuck in the 70’s." I really got tickled and laughed pretty hard for a couple of minutes. It’s so funny everything he does is so 1970’s retro. First a postcard and now a telegram. It was good to hear from him. And then I started thinking about all that he taught me and how he has transformed my game. And he is correct. I do need to just block out everything for a few seconds and swing with good tempo. And of course with a good pendulum swing as he taught me. And generate that “Powerful Centripetal Force” as he called it. It really made me happy to hear from him. But someday he needs to get in the twenty-first century and learn how to send a text or an email.

After that I got settled down and prepared for the big day tomorrow. As a matter of fact. I brought that pendulum gadget he gave me. I still use it when I am hanging around. I got it out and used if for a few minutes. It's weird, but it does help me focus on tempo. And it makes me think all that Gus taught me. So this is a good reinforcement tool I guess. Then I ate a good dinner and went the bed early. My mind was focused on the next day. I am determined to make a run at this tournament.

Thursday morning. This is the first round of the tournament. I get up and have a good breakfast and get ready for my day. Finally it is time to head for the course. As I am walking through the lobby I noticed the same clerk working at the front desk who gave me the telegram last night. Then I had a thought. “Good morning," I greeted him warmly. “Oh good morning Mr. Galloway, how are you today?," he said in a proper English Accent. “Very well, thank you," I replied. “I have a question. You know that telegram that you gave me last night?" “Oh yes, Mr. Galloway” he replied. “Can I send a reply back," I asked. “Oh sure you can he replied." “How do I do that?," I asked. “Just write down what you want your message to be. And who and where do you want it delivered. I will contact the telegram service and they will take care of the rest.”

“Just that easy?," I said smiling “Yep, just that easy,," he replied. “Cool, looks like this low tech is not too bad after all," I said as I was looking for a pen. He gave me a pen and paper. I thought a second, and then I wrote down. “I am winning this one for you Gus. Thanks for all you have done for me. Signed, Jim Galloway,." I gave him the name of the golf and city where Gus worked. “Ok Mr. Galloway. If it was same time zone or close, it would be hand delivered within a couple of hours. But since is night time in the States. This will be delivered in the morning to him," he told me. “Wow, that fast," I replied. “Yep, this is high tech you know," he said with a wink. We both just laughed. “Good luck today on your round at the Links," he said. I thanked him and I headed for the course.