US Amateur gets started today!
Good luck to my little bro, RJ Wood as he plays in the first round of the United States Amateur Championship. The winner of the event gains exemptions into next years Masters, US Open and British Open. 
RJ is looking to cap off a hot summer where you captured 4 wins through tournaments sponsored by the Arizona Golf Association. Here is a look of some of his impressive play:
Falcon Amateur, 69-66
Pacific Coast Amateur Qualifying, 65-65
Pacific Coast Amateur, 72-71-69-66
US Amateur Qualifying, 69-66
Here are my key thoughts on what he needs to do to play well:
- Manage the emotions. The USGA sets up golf courses way tougher than any course you have ever played. You are not going to go out there and shoot 65. It is about managing your misses, and taking what the course gives you. If you hit it in the 4 inch deep rough, you take your medicine and chip out. You can not get angry, because a USGA set up will drive you crazy.
- Par is a good score. You have to play your game and realize par is a good score. This is major championship golf – if you shoot around par, you will be in contention
- Play your game. When I competed in the US Amateur at Olympic Club in 2007, I thought I had to do something special because it was the US Amateur. I was over par quickly. By trying to hit too much club out of the thick rough or going at pins that are tucked on the edges of greens, you can compound you mistakes that would normal just be a bogey, into making double and triple bogeys.
Tune into the Golf Channel on Wednesday at 4pm eastern for their coverage of the US Amateur! Good luck bubz!