Brussels - Belgium

Brussels, Tuesday 18 February 2014

Happy come back to Europe, meeting friends after 2 months abroad,

Looking back at those 4 first tournaments, I have mixed feelings; the first is that I'm so near and yet so far and the second is that I played with the leaders in each tournament. One issue is recurrent with me: learning is always tough, and it hurts, any little mistake is so costly; one can regard this as the counterpart of my talent. But adapting is a rule of nature and we already made a lot of big moves in my career, that's where golf becomes a science, like business, like raising children, like all necessary decision. And I must admit that I'm surrounded by a strong team willing to invest with me in the future. It's really a long term investment. Long term doesn't mean lie down, rest up, long term means adapt to future requirements. What is good now will not be efficient tomorrow. When I was the first in Belgium to be a long hitter, people didn't understand the reason... Now everybody wants to be long...

Long term means to anticipate, means being vigilant, like an animal in the nature, like any farmer or workman in his business. Now it's not easy in a world with so many rankings with everything going so fast, that's why you need to be very effective, you need to be surrounded by a team with thinking and action to take the right decisions at the right time! 

That's our philosophy with all our initiatives, like the Junior Bombers, they are in for the long term and our financial partner 2PM understands that perfectly!

Northern Trust open Riviera Golf Club Los Angeles

Los Angeles, Friday 14 February 2014

That triple on Thursday killed my week, I was playing so well, cruising like we have planned but, on that 2nd shot on 7, couldn't regroup my mind on a 100% basis for that little 9 iron with a soso lie that went in the bunker...

I batlled on Friday but couldn't make the needed birdies where I had obvious chances on 3, 4, 6 and then came that awful hole 7 with too many bad shots and the 2 three putts on 9 and 12. Birdies on 3 - 4 would have definitively help!

The same hole took 5 strokes... unforgivable...

Now 2 weeks off, reload the batteries, good food, cardio, crossfit, nutritionnist, dentist, ... to be ready for my next 3 tournaments: Puerto Rico, Valspar and Bay Hill!

So far as the results could tell, but so near... I'll win this year!

Los Angeles, Thursday 13 February 2014

Play well for 15 holes and then went distracted on my 2nd on 16 by a marschall struggling with a score marker. Not a 100 % shot and I felt in the bunker in a nasty place.Tried to get out but the ball came back just where I played the previous one... Triple bogey... Doesn't reflect the quality of my game, without that severe penalization, I would have never 3 putted the 18th. it was then really dark, I was so upset... -2 or 3 was so good, right in the thick of it!

Will need my A game during 18 holes this Friday to be here during the week-end!

Los Angeles, Wednesday 12 February 2014

Great old course, with small greens, big trees everywhere and some undulations. It's so amazing to find such golf course in such big city as Los Angeles. In fact we arrived on Monday afternoon...

With Mich Vanmeerbeek since the middle of last week, we have been working a lot the striking.

Played 18 holes with Olesen, Fdez-Castano and Cicco Molinari (Francesco). Good to hear all the stories from Europe. It's the first tournament in the States for Olesen and Molinari this year...

Overall a long day with the Stockton's and the Callaway staff on the range and a photo shoot for Dunning with my new polo's... My 2014 outfit has come out and I'm looking forward to wear it!

Dinner at night with Julie Elion who gave me my homework for the week...

Wednesday was a short day but with good practice session with some extra work with Julie in early afternoon. Tomorrow late start, I like them on Thursday because I prefer to play earlier, you play faster, on a cut day.

Palm Springs Training week

Palm Springs, Wednesday, 5 February 2014

After a good rest on Monday, with Jerome we went practicing the short game and yesterday we fixed the driver. Tomorrow Mich arrives in Palm Springs and we will work the striking and the driving... I will need my A game in Riviera because it's a tough old course with very small greens  quite well defended... Precision is a must in Riviera...

Waste Management Phoenix Open

Scottsdale, Sunday 2 February 2014

The birdies didn't come early and that's what I needed today to boost my round. Anyway, a lot of good things  this week: the putting, the birdies, the management of the 16th, the crowd, my intentional concentration (not yet 18 holes but better each round),...

It must admit that the batteries were low, 3 weeks in a row with all the work (proposed by Julie Elion) I have to do on the course, is quite demanding, certainly here with the record crowd in Scottsdale!

Next week off, some training here in Scottsdale with Jerome and then from Thursday in Palm Springs with Michel Vanmeerbeek! Riviera Northern Trust is my next tournament and I really looking forward to because I feel that I'm stronger tournament after tournament ...I said twice "hello" to the leaders, I know the feeling and I'll keep knocking at that door...

Scottsdale, Saturday 1 February 2014

I's rather forgot this day... Bad mojo, bad mood, material problem, bad state of mind = bad score... The frustration is high. Arriving here, I knew that my a lot of tee shots fitted perfectly my old Razr Hawk, I know that club for 5 years now and it's certainly a trustful and successful club! So, frustration today...

Scottsdale, Friday 31 January 2014

Very frustrating to play with a damaged driver and not easy to use only your 3 wood and have to stop your momentum.

But I will remember those 6 birdies and certainly the one on 16 surrounded by 20.000 people! What a awesome moment, a great feeling. Once again I will capitalize on those and not on the bad holes (because of a bad drive). That's why I could sign a good round today, capitalizing on good shots.

Good stats today also... But I must admit I ran out of gas in the end, a bit tired...

Scottsdale, Thursday 30 January 2014

Message from Vincent B.: "What are odds of breaking 2 drivers (the N°1 and the reserve one) in the same practice session??? The reserve one 5 min before tee off. Julie Elion went to Hunter Mahan's locker to take some super glue to fix the 2^nd driver (only solution because the Callaway truck is already gone)! Hope it works for 18 holes...

The chocolates are in the Thunderbirds (the organizers) fridge and will be delivered at 11.00 at the 16^th tee.

Canal+ crew had all that fuzz on tape, good for their story"

Nicolas: How to made a disappointing 69! 6 birdies, one Triple and 1 bogey.

In fact there are two ways to see that score, one is to base your opinion only on 2 holes and the other one is to remember the 16 holes were I was cruising quite nicely... Two drives to the left today after so many drives to the right at Torrey Pines, but these two were costly, 3 strokes (the other one is one putt). The three putt on 15 was full of anger, I admit. A little distraction on the 15^th Tee appeared to be very expensive, I'll learned from that. better now than on Sunday!

My short game was once again very efficient, another satisfaction of the day. Ready for tomorrow.

The "Chocolade van Brugge" were awesome on 16, spectators adored them. I wonder how many were googling to know why Belgium is the real country of Chocolate! We are the best! Period.

I made my mind after this round: 1. I have learned today, 2. I also know that patience is my best friend, 3. I've the faith that I'm so near... And what about a good fitness session to sweat all this...Go...

Scottsdale, Wednesday 29 January 2014

Had a great practice round yesterday, Jerome was quite happy with the goals reached: reading the greens properly and choosing the right landing spots on chip shots. There will be some chipping around here and certainly at the end of the round: H15 is a reachable par 5, the 16 is the stadium hole (162 yards par 3), the 17 is a reachable par 4 (just over 300 meters) with the drive but with a very tricky short game situation with the water nearby, Hole 18 is also a risky business certainly from the tee with the water to the left and the sand to the right! Great job from Tom Weiskopf to design that par 71 i 1986, one of the first Stadium course.

Canl +, Interieur Sport program, is making a reportage here of the Waste Management, the biggest event in Sport with more than 500.000 visitors during the week. Partying is a sport environment is what the crowd have made it. The sphere is electric... Surely on the well known 16th!

Fredje, a belgian of course, from Chocolade van Brugge will get me some Belgian chocolats to distribute to the public to do some buzz around Belgium!

The french crew from "Interieur Sport" are great professionnals, they know their job, respect my intimacy and my work during my preparation...

Scottsdale, Tuesday 28 January 2014

Arrived yesterday by car through the South Californian Mountains and the Arizona Desert with Brian and Jeffrey (Gonzalo Fdez-Castano caddie).

Jerome Theunis arrived also to work with me this week, one of the most difficult week of the year spectators wise.

Farmers Insurance Torrey Pines Californa

Torrey Pines, Sunday 26 Januari 2014

Started very well, composed and attacking but could only make 1 birdie. little disapointment on 6 also where I couldn't make the birdie... The bogey on 9 was a killer of momentum, the ball did a 360° around the hole and refused to drop... After that, I struggled for par and had another painfull bogey after a good drive on 12.

Had an eagle chance on 13 that didn't drop neither and went 1 meter too long on 14 that killed my second momentum. massive drive on 15 but with a bad lie in the middle of the fairway...

Missed birdie on 16 and 18 and bogeyed the 17th...for the win this week, i needed my A game, a better striking.

After all, a lot of positives this week, I'm on my way, I need to keep the good work....

Next week, The Waste Management in Scottsdale!

Torrey Pines, Saturday 25 Januari 2014

It's like I spended 36 holes in the rough today! Torrey Pines was playing very tough today, with the firmer greens and the pin positions, but at the other hand I didn't find enough fairways, I must admit that I spend a lot of energy playing in the last game, my swing was a little tired, so were my legs...

Played with two nice guys. First time I met Jordan Spieth and he's quite cool, I like his personnality. Steward Cink had a bad day but remain quite composed, a lot of experience and cool nerves...

had dinner tonight with Gonzalo Fdez Castano, he's a great guy and I'm sure he will succeed here in the USA, he's based now in Miami with his family...

Torrey Pines, Friday 24 Januari 2014

This second day was a better one: 5 birdies no bogeys...Not too far from the lead... First cut of the year on the PGA Tour, after my first tournament last week. That South Course is one of the most demanding golf course...

Tomorrow at 9:45 (local time) with Jordan Spieth and Steward Cink...

Today was a good putting day, a lot of improvement done, very pleased....

Torrey Pines, Thursday 23 Januari 2014

-3 on the North course, the score is ok but there was more... I'm not happy, still too defensive on par 5. Putted very well today, just unlucky twice on 10 and 12. The birdie putt on 18 was sloppy after a great chip from the rough... So I'm disappointed, certainly that I could have a bigger cushion before the South course round.

Torrey Pines, Wednesday 22 January 2014

Pro-Am on the South course with 4 nice amateur. Great fun discussing a lot about golf, the birdies didn't fall as we wanted but we enjoyed the course and also the Ocean fog that played hide-and-seek with the sun, typically San Diego weather... The Amateurs didn't enjoy the rough though, deep and so difficult to play out...

Tomorrow I'll start from the North course at 9.00. To make a good score on this track that will be redesigned by Phil Mickelson in 2015, you'll need to hit a lot of fairways... Just a reminder: the North had last year on the Pga Tour the lowest stats on fairway hits !!!! And with the kind of rough we have this year, some will be surprised...

Torrey Pines, Tuesday 21 January 2014

Plays 27 holes with Victor Dubuisson and somme of them with Jason Day. 2 courses here in Torrey Pines; the North and the South. The latter is the famous one quite long and demanding. But they both on the cliffs of Torrey Pines with amazing vues. The rough is quite thick on both courses, by the way I never played the North as demanding...

Tonight we were invited by Mark Steinberg (Excel Sports) together with Gary Woodland, Justin Thomas and Chris Williams...

Wednesday: pro-am day on the South Course...

Torrey Pines, Monday 20 January 2014

Drove this morning from Palm Springs to South California Torrey Pines. The weather is gordious, all surfers were out today, it was Martin Luther King day, they could enjoy all day the big wave in front of Del Mar....

Went to the Callaway truck to finetune some new clubs (a set od reserve irons), a new Mack daddy 54° and some work on the Big bertha driver. We had dinner with Lance Young (Excel) and the Callaway crew... always nice evenings.

Tomorrow first practice day, on the North course as I will play the South course on Wednesday during the Pro-Am.

Humana Challenge Palm Springs California

PGA West, Saturday 18 januari 2014

On this Palmer Course today I could have gone much lower, 2 eagle putts missed, a lot of birdies chances missed and 3 horrible bogeys on 8, 9 and 17!

Once again I need to be much more aggressive even if it costs some bogeys... I need more birdies earlier in the round...

This cut is missed, lets prepare Torrey Pines!

PGA West, Friday 17 Januari 2014

Played the Jack Nicklaus private Course today with Bo Van Pelt and scored -5, a bogey free round even if I drove into the water hazard on the 8, my 17th hole (a par 5). 

Today the purpose was to play the par 5's much better, check... Still some drives lost to the right, a short putt missed, one or two pins played with much too much spin on the ball. But overall pleased with this round that bring me back in the tournament.

Will play tomorrow the 3rd round pro-am, once again with Bo Van Pelt, but on the Arnold Palmer private course of PGA West. Between you and me, I'm enjoying playing with Bo, great hitter of the ball and cool player.

As Bo Van Pelt has Dutch origins, everyday americans with Belgian origins are coming to see me and tell me that there parents or grandparents are coming from Brussels or Oostkamp, or Antwerp or Wavre... But none of them speaks one the Belgian languages, they totally americanized, even if some of them tell that they have a Belgian flag on their car, or that they are proud to see a Belgian on the PGA tour... Amazing, no?

Tomorrow will be the cut, after 54 holes... It's gonna be a very low one...

One thing is certain, it will be sunny, very warm under an immaculate blue sky, surrounded by beautiful mountains... and slow...

PGA West, Thursday 16 Januari 2014

I took a good start but after too many bunkers and no success on par 5, I couldn't get the momentum back and couldn't make the birdies. Tomorrow I'll need to change a litlle my strategy, I have a night to think over...

PGA West, Wednesday 15 Januari 2014

Pro-Am day today, always good fun when you have a nice team!

We saw some Big Horns today next to the 16th tee where the tee is designed in the mountain. They came to graze the good grass in the rough. It seems that's a very rare moment to have them so close...

Overall I'm ready for tomorrow's first round of the Humana Challenge...

PGA West, Tuesday 14 Januari 2014

I discovered the Jack Nicklaus course today and enjoyed meeting Dave Stockton again on the putting green. Palm Springs has a perfect weather, cold in the morning and 20° from 9 to 5, sunny and blue sky without any cloud... The light and brightness are just wonderful and the surrounding mountains are changing colors through the day... I love it...

I found a very intersting Callaway Mac Daddy 2 wedge 60°, spoke with Roger Cleveland about it and played 18 holes with it practicing around each green and he might be invited in the bag on Thursday

I worked also with Julie Elion on the course and finished the day with a workout in and around the physio truck with some "dubble unders" that made Brian jealous...

PGA West, Monday 13 Januari 2014

Arrival on Sunday in Palm Springs after a great flight shared with Gary Player. Gary is invited by former President Clinton at the Humana Challenge.

Today, Monday, we played La Quinta, one of the three courses used by the tournament, I'll play there on Thursday with Bo Van Pelt, each with an amateur, as the Humana is a big Pro-Am on 3 consecutive days before a final 18 holes on Sunday with the 70 best players having made the cut on Saturday night, this time only between pro's...

Did a few fine tuning with the Callaway engineers for my driver and 3 wood...and I'm quite happy with the tools!