Mark’s Kaddy Korner

Match play is a different breed, takes a special character to survive five days of head-to-head competition, just take a look at who won last year, Ian Poulter one of the game’s obtuse characters. Stroke play is a steady grind, match play is constantly ebbing never flowing and your emotions take a beating. A steady tee to green game can be destroyed by a swashbuckler who throws around as many bogeys as pars. One well placed birdie or two can win a match play event while you’re on the way to shooting 75 and your opponent is grinding out a smooth 70.

It’s been a long while since I was able to warm up in Florida before the season started. Luckily we escaped the Midwest before the storm of the century hit and landed in Bonita Springs Monday night. Mom and Dad put up with me for the week, the Happy Valley pool was exactly what the doctor ordered to rehab the new hip plus the relaxing week gave me time to tie up all the loose ends before heading out on tour.