YEAH!!! He did it. It is about 1 something in the morning right now and I am running totally on adrenaline to stay awake and pick Parker up from the airport at 2am! I wanted to thank everyone for their e-mails, text messages, and phone calls this week. We truly appreciate all of the support. I know that all of your positive thoughts were with him throughout the tournament. We couldn't be more excited about looking at his 2008 schedule with Full PGA Tour Status!
I could finally breathe for the first time in a week when I got the first text message today the he did it! I hadn't looked at the scores on the internet or TV so I could remain calm and neutral each time I talked to Parker on the phone. We decided that I was going to stay home this year and Parker was going to go and just be in his "game time" mode! And it worked. Each time we chatted on the phone there was very little golf talk...more about Christmas shopping, Christmas cards, etc... I knew his approach to Q-School from being with him for the last 2 years and I wanted to stay as consistent to that as possible on my end. I know that I could have looked at the scores today, but my nerves were racing and I thought that I would just rather know when it was all done! Each day I got the vibes from him that he was playing well, so going into the last day I knew he had a great chance. I am just so proud of him for finishing strong and securing full status for next year. I really feel that his game is so ready to take on the PGA Tour again in January.
Thank you all for all of your support and encouragement this year. It has been a crazy journey and we are so thankful for the opportunity to do it all again! Wishing everyone a wonderful Holiday Season!
Kristy
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
2007 Commonly Asked Questions
This being my first year out on tour, I have been asked some very original and unique questions by curious spectators. Now that the 2007 Season has ended I thought it might be fun to share some of the more frequently asked questions with all of you. As you will see, some might be more appropriately answered by Parker... but since I am the one outside the ropes, they get the answers from my perspective :-). Here are some that I thought you might enjoy.
-Kristy
What was your favorite tournament?
We have definitely had a few favorite tournaments of the year, but if I had to pick one, I would say Turning Stone. It was a great event and the tournament thought of everything to make our stay so enjoyable. Plus Parker had his best finish there! :-)
Does Parker usually hit the ball that low?
Normally I would not be able to answer this one, but since I have been asked this question a few times throughout the year... I am going to go ahead and say "Yes!"
How far does he hit the ball?
Honestly... I wouldn't be much help here either. I am not so sure about yardages...I tend to focus more on ... is it in the fairway :-)
Do you travel with him full time?
Yes, this year is my first year traveling with Parker. It has been so great to be on the road together. The alternative is not seeing each other very much, so we chose to do it now because we felt like this was a great time in our lives to take advantage of this opportunity.
Do you hang out with the other wives, are they nice?
Yes, all of the wives/significant others have been so amazingly welcoming and supportive. Usually a group of us will get together early in the week to do something fun in the area. I am also a member of the PGA Tour Wives Association - it is a not-for-profit organization that fundraises to give back to the community that is hosting the tournament. You can look out for our projects on the golf course too... like the "Chip In for Recycling" initiative.
Have you met Tiger's wife?
No I have not meet Tiger's wife. There have only been a few tournaments where Parker and Tiger have been in the same field, and I would imagine she tries to lay low with all of the craziness that surrounds him.
What was your favorite city that you visited?
We absolutely loved our time in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. It was such a special week. We stayed with family friends and really got experience the city from a local's perspective.
Where does Parker practice?
All over the USA! But when we are at home, he mainly practices at TPC Scottsdale.
Do you guys have a jet?
Um... no, not quite yet. Parker and I travel on commercial airlines... in coach...trying our hardest to not sit by the bathroom or in front of the exit row where the seats don't recline! We usually frequent Southwest or US Airways because they have the most flights out of Phoenix. We are always looking for the cheapest direct flight that we can find!
Is that Parker's regular caddy?
Parker's regular caddy is Rusty Uresti (Omar Uresti's brother). Everyone calls him "Hoss." He has also had a few other great caddies this year including Cubby (who used to caddy for Davis Love).
Can I caddy for him?
Sure! But that bag is even heavier than it looks!
Who does Parker hang out with on tour?
Parker hangs out with lots of the guys from his rookie class as well as some of the guys who have been on tour before like Matt Kutchar, Rich Barcelo, and Notah Begay. I know that Parker also tries to get out and play practice rounds with as many different guys as possible so that he can continue to learn from some of the more seasoned players.
So how close was that alligator...?
We have heard this one a lot lately, those of you who saw it on TV know what I am talking about. The funny thing is, Parker didn't even look to see what was behind him! Thankfully it was just a little creative editing from the Golf Channel.
-Kristy
What was your favorite tournament?
We have definitely had a few favorite tournaments of the year, but if I had to pick one, I would say Turning Stone. It was a great event and the tournament thought of everything to make our stay so enjoyable. Plus Parker had his best finish there! :-)
Does Parker usually hit the ball that low?
Normally I would not be able to answer this one, but since I have been asked this question a few times throughout the year... I am going to go ahead and say "Yes!"
How far does he hit the ball?
Honestly... I wouldn't be much help here either. I am not so sure about yardages...I tend to focus more on ... is it in the fairway :-)
Do you travel with him full time?
Yes, this year is my first year traveling with Parker. It has been so great to be on the road together. The alternative is not seeing each other very much, so we chose to do it now because we felt like this was a great time in our lives to take advantage of this opportunity.
Do you hang out with the other wives, are they nice?
Yes, all of the wives/significant others have been so amazingly welcoming and supportive. Usually a group of us will get together early in the week to do something fun in the area. I am also a member of the PGA Tour Wives Association - it is a not-for-profit organization that fundraises to give back to the community that is hosting the tournament. You can look out for our projects on the golf course too... like the "Chip In for Recycling" initiative.
Have you met Tiger's wife?
No I have not meet Tiger's wife. There have only been a few tournaments where Parker and Tiger have been in the same field, and I would imagine she tries to lay low with all of the craziness that surrounds him.
What was your favorite city that you visited?
We absolutely loved our time in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. It was such a special week. We stayed with family friends and really got experience the city from a local's perspective.
Where does Parker practice?
All over the USA! But when we are at home, he mainly practices at TPC Scottsdale.
Do you guys have a jet?
Um... no, not quite yet. Parker and I travel on commercial airlines... in coach...trying our hardest to not sit by the bathroom or in front of the exit row where the seats don't recline! We usually frequent Southwest or US Airways because they have the most flights out of Phoenix. We are always looking for the cheapest direct flight that we can find!
Is that Parker's regular caddy?
Parker's regular caddy is Rusty Uresti (Omar Uresti's brother). Everyone calls him "Hoss." He has also had a few other great caddies this year including Cubby (who used to caddy for Davis Love).
Can I caddy for him?
Sure! But that bag is even heavier than it looks!
Who does Parker hang out with on tour?
Parker hangs out with lots of the guys from his rookie class as well as some of the guys who have been on tour before like Matt Kutchar, Rich Barcelo, and Notah Begay. I know that Parker also tries to get out and play practice rounds with as many different guys as possible so that he can continue to learn from some of the more seasoned players.
So how close was that alligator...?
We have heard this one a lot lately, those of you who saw it on TV know what I am talking about. The funny thing is, Parker didn't even look to see what was behind him! Thankfully it was just a little creative editing from the Golf Channel.
Monday, November 5, 2007
The Florida Finish
Parker and I just arrived home in Scottsdale last night. We are so excited to be back and reflect on our adventures on the 2007 PGA Tour. As you may have seen, Parker finished 137 on this year's money list. Most of you might think that he missed getting his card by just a few, and well that may be true, another way to see it is that he finished inside the top 150 which means he is still a member of the PGA Tour next year and he is exempt to the 3rd Stage of Q-School where if successful, he can improve his status for 2008. It sounds complicated, but in summary, we are so thrilled with his accomplishments in his rookie season and by many pro's standards, finishing in the top 150 your first year is something to be very proud of.
It was great to finish off the season on a high note in Florida. After a series of missed cuts, Parker went by himself to the Ginn sur Mer Classic. We felt that it was probably best for him to get out there with no distractions and just focus on his game. He was just playing too well to continue to miss chances to compete on the weekend. Everything seemed to click and our theory proved to be correct - that week Parker played great and finished T-12 to move up the money list and give himself a little bit of cushion inside that top 150 money list number.
The next week I flew out to Orlando to meet him for the last tournament of the year. Growing up in California I had been with my family to Disneyland, but had never had the opportunity to see what Disney World was all about. I was shocked! It is practically its own city! Parker wasn't much for going to the parks that week...the crowds, lines, and roller coasters were not exactly how he wanted to prepare for the tournament. But early in the week I did get to go to Magic Kingdom (equivalent to Disneyland in CA ) with some of my girlfriends on tour. On Wednesday Parker and I made our way to another park, Epcot, for dinner. We walked around and visited all of the countries and ended up in Japan where we had a amazing teppanyaki meal!
This week was unique because it was a pro am format. Parker had the chance to play with MacKinzie Kline (15 yrs old) and Kelly Allen (14 yrs old)...definitely look out for both of these names in the future on the LPGA and PGA Tours!
Parker also had the chance to play with Tad Fujikawa as his professional pairing. It was a great opportunity for both of them, since they hadn't really had the chance to spend too much time together, though being from the same island. What fascinated me the most was that they played right behind Daniel Chopra who was the champion from the previous week's PGA tournament. Yet no one seemed to be watching him... all of the cameras and spectators were intrigued by the 16 year old from Hawaii who had just turned pro earlier this year. Everyone seemed to want to catch a glimpse of this 5'1'' kid who grabbed the golf worlds attention when he made the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January. I had the opportunity to walk with his management team and his family who were all such incredible people. It made me think, what would i have done in his situation, do you jump on the opportunity while the media is on your side, or do you take the more traditional approach and progress through the ranks of amateur and professional golf - mastering each level? I have to think that it must be hard to go home after a round and have to work on your algebra homework? I don't know that the guys on tour would be able to juggle both? But I guess when he turned pro he knew that his competition wouldn't have to spend any of their time working on school work. Well, I still don't know what I would have done in his shoes, but what I do know is that right now he is loved everywhere he goes, and I just hope that his golf comes together where he is at a level that he can be competitive on tour. Until then I am confident that he is surrounded by a great group of people, and that is definitely a solid foundation for future successes.
With Parker's T-26 finish at Disney I can't express enough how proud of him I am. You are only a rookie once, and I know that we will look back on this year with amazing memories. I realize that all of the drama is surrounding the 125 number, but the truth for us is that we both consider his rookie season a great success - it was learning year to say the least, together we learned how to live on the road, adjust to knew cities week to week, manage being at "work" together, and balancing the intensity of golf as well as the enjoyment of the travel. It was truly an adventure. I know that on the golf end, Parker considers this year as a huge learning year as well and is looking forward to tackling the tour again with a little more experience under his belt in 2008.
Now it is a little R&R before he gets into those clubs again. (I think that they are still in the travel bag right now). :-)
Kristy
It was great to finish off the season on a high note in Florida. After a series of missed cuts, Parker went by himself to the Ginn sur Mer Classic. We felt that it was probably best for him to get out there with no distractions and just focus on his game. He was just playing too well to continue to miss chances to compete on the weekend. Everything seemed to click and our theory proved to be correct - that week Parker played great and finished T-12 to move up the money list and give himself a little bit of cushion inside that top 150 money list number.
The next week I flew out to Orlando to meet him for the last tournament of the year. Growing up in California I had been with my family to Disneyland, but had never had the opportunity to see what Disney World was all about. I was shocked! It is practically its own city! Parker wasn't much for going to the parks that week...the crowds, lines, and roller coasters were not exactly how he wanted to prepare for the tournament. But early in the week I did get to go to Magic Kingdom (equivalent to Disneyland in CA ) with some of my girlfriends on tour. On Wednesday Parker and I made our way to another park, Epcot, for dinner. We walked around and visited all of the countries and ended up in Japan where we had a amazing teppanyaki meal!
At Epcot, Walt Disney World
This week was unique because it was a pro am format. Parker had the chance to play with MacKinzie Kline (15 yrs old) and Kelly Allen (14 yrs old)...definitely look out for both of these names in the future on the LPGA and PGA Tours!
Parker also had the chance to play with Tad Fujikawa as his professional pairing. It was a great opportunity for both of them, since they hadn't really had the chance to spend too much time together, though being from the same island. What fascinated me the most was that they played right behind Daniel Chopra who was the champion from the previous week's PGA tournament. Yet no one seemed to be watching him... all of the cameras and spectators were intrigued by the 16 year old from Hawaii who had just turned pro earlier this year. Everyone seemed to want to catch a glimpse of this 5'1'' kid who grabbed the golf worlds attention when he made the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii in January. I had the opportunity to walk with his management team and his family who were all such incredible people. It made me think, what would i have done in his situation, do you jump on the opportunity while the media is on your side, or do you take the more traditional approach and progress through the ranks of amateur and professional golf - mastering each level? I have to think that it must be hard to go home after a round and have to work on your algebra homework? I don't know that the guys on tour would be able to juggle both? But I guess when he turned pro he knew that his competition wouldn't have to spend any of their time working on school work. Well, I still don't know what I would have done in his shoes, but what I do know is that right now he is loved everywhere he goes, and I just hope that his golf comes together where he is at a level that he can be competitive on tour. Until then I am confident that he is surrounded by a great group of people, and that is definitely a solid foundation for future successes.
With Parker's T-26 finish at Disney I can't express enough how proud of him I am. You are only a rookie once, and I know that we will look back on this year with amazing memories. I realize that all of the drama is surrounding the 125 number, but the truth for us is that we both consider his rookie season a great success - it was learning year to say the least, together we learned how to live on the road, adjust to knew cities week to week, manage being at "work" together, and balancing the intensity of golf as well as the enjoyment of the travel. It was truly an adventure. I know that on the golf end, Parker considers this year as a huge learning year as well and is looking forward to tackling the tour again with a little more experience under his belt in 2008.
Now it is a little R&R before he gets into those clubs again. (I think that they are still in the travel bag right now). :-)
Kristy
Monday, October 8, 2007
4 Week Stretch
I feel like after these last 4 weeks there is quite a bit to sum up. It has been an adventure to say the least. After leaving on such a high note from New York, we seem to be riding the wave of golf right now. But through it all we are loving every second of this journey.
Our time at the Viking Classic in Jackson, Mississippi was very special to us. We stayed at the home where one of our best friend's grew up. It was in a beautiful neighborhood and we received nothing but the best southern hospitality from his family & friends. We are so thankful to have spent time in Andrew's hometown. Also that week, the tournament treated the wives to a trip to Greenwood to tour the Viking Headquarters! I wished that parker could have seen all of the amazing BBQ & kitchen equipment. Another highlight was seeing Paula Deen's (from the Food Network) sons do a cooking demonstration at the course - i think that women is hilarious - she fries everything! I skipped watching a few holes to try the lamb & grits that they demonstrated -it was awesome.
Riverwalk
The next week brought us to San Antonio where off the golf course we enjoyed the sites of the San Antonio Riverwalk and the Alamo. I probably got the most exercise on this course than any other course this year! There were steep hills and the course spread over such a vast area. The highlight of this trip was the annual caddy dinner that is hosted by Parker's caddy's family every year. The Uresti family made an incredible fajita and enchilada meal that fed hundreds on the driving range!
The following week we started to make our way further west. We arrived in Las Vegas and decided to break up the trip a bit by staying down on the Las Vegas strip Sunday - Tuesday and the moving out to the golf course in Summerilin Wed - the weekend.
Parker taught me how to play blackjack at the tables and we even hit up the casino war table and walked away winners. One of the best parts of this week was the Beach Boys concert at the Mandalay Bay. Parker's Dad was there to enjoy it with us and loved every second. Even though golfing on the weekend didn't work out we were so thankful to have spent time with all of our family and friends that made the trip out.
Parker & His Dad at the Concert
Last week we were finally HOME! It was such a treat to have a tournament in our backyard (that makes 2 this year!) The second we got back we unpacked our suitcases and were determined to live out of our closet for the week. We had dinner at home every night... which we loved after 4 weeks on the road. After just missing the cut we decided to bring our spirits up and enjoy some music in old town Scottsdale where Josh Kelley was performing. We are huge fans and listen to his music all of the time when we are home.
The last 4 weeks took us from the south... back out west... and now it is all the way out to Florida for the last two. I am excited for Parker to get back out the road with 2 events left to make his move. Even though on paper he has missed the last few cuts, in my opinion he has been playing amazing golf and it will all come together before we know it.
Our time at the Viking Classic in Jackson, Mississippi was very special to us. We stayed at the home where one of our best friend's grew up. It was in a beautiful neighborhood and we received nothing but the best southern hospitality from his family & friends. We are so thankful to have spent time in Andrew's hometown. Also that week, the tournament treated the wives to a trip to Greenwood to tour the Viking Headquarters! I wished that parker could have seen all of the amazing BBQ & kitchen equipment. Another highlight was seeing Paula Deen's (from the Food Network) sons do a cooking demonstration at the course - i think that women is hilarious - she fries everything! I skipped watching a few holes to try the lamb & grits that they demonstrated -it was awesome.
Riverwalk
The Alamo
The next week brought us to San Antonio where off the golf course we enjoyed the sites of the San Antonio Riverwalk and the Alamo. I probably got the most exercise on this course than any other course this year! There were steep hills and the course spread over such a vast area. The highlight of this trip was the annual caddy dinner that is hosted by Parker's caddy's family every year. The Uresti family made an incredible fajita and enchilada meal that fed hundreds on the driving range! Parker & Caddy, Rusty Uresti
The following week we started to make our way further west. We arrived in Las Vegas and decided to break up the trip a bit by staying down on the Las Vegas strip Sunday - Tuesday and the moving out to the golf course in Summerilin Wed - the weekend.
Parker taught me how to play blackjack at the tables and we even hit up the casino war table and walked away winners. One of the best parts of this week was the Beach Boys concert at the Mandalay Bay. Parker's Dad was there to enjoy it with us and loved every second. Even though golfing on the weekend didn't work out we were so thankful to have spent time with all of our family and friends that made the trip out. Parker & His Dad at the Concert
Last week we were finally HOME! It was such a treat to have a tournament in our backyard (that makes 2 this year!) The second we got back we unpacked our suitcases and were determined to live out of our closet for the week. We had dinner at home every night... which we loved after 4 weeks on the road. After just missing the cut we decided to bring our spirits up and enjoy some music in old town Scottsdale where Josh Kelley was performing. We are huge fans and listen to his music all of the time when we are home.
The last 4 weeks took us from the south... back out west... and now it is all the way out to Florida for the last two. I am excited for Parker to get back out the road with 2 events left to make his move. Even though on paper he has missed the last few cuts, in my opinion he has been playing amazing golf and it will all come together before we know it.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Turning Stone
Well, as many of you may have seen, last week was a pretty good week for "team parker." For the first two days I was a bit rusty after the 3 week layoff. I made a lot of birdies... and a lot of bogeys, but on Saturday I found something in my swing and it sparked me to make 7 birdies and no bogeys - the low round of the day. Although at the end of the day I was still 6 shots behind the leader, I was only 2 shots behind 2nd and in great position to have my best PGA Tour finish ever. I know that a lot of you sympathized with me when I lost the 7 shot lead in West Virgina in my last competitive outing, but in retrospect that 77 on sunday in the Nationwide Tour event really helped me to keep it together and shoot under par this sunday in contention. It was a great experience to be playing in the second to last group on sunday in a PGA Tour event. It is one of those feelings as a competitor that you wish you could have on a weekly basis and hopefully I will be able to have this feeling a few more times in the next 6 events. I am here in Mississippi now getting ready for the Viking Classic. I am still intending to play the last 6 events...unless I can get a victory before the year is out!
-Parker
Overlooking Lake Oneida, NY
I know that Parker and I will definitely consider New York as one of our favorite tournaments of the year. Not only because of his great finish but the whole week was so special. The Turning Stone Resort was beautiful, the weather couldn't have been better, and everyone was going out of their way to make this inaugural event something that all of the players would remember.
After a solid first 2 days I knew that parker was getting back into his groove. On Saturday he started the round with a few quick birdies which was so much fun to watch. He and his playing partner were hitting solid shots one after another and then the putts just started dropping. To be honest, I didn't even look at the score board. I just knew that he was making birdies.... so that had to be a good thing. It is just so easy to get so caught up in the score ...where that would put him on the money list...etc. So i just decided not to look. That night I knew that he must have been up toward the top of the leaderboard when he said that he was teeing of at 1:45! We ended up watching 3 different movies to get our minds off things. That next day I continued to keep my eyes off the board. Actually I didn't even realize until the 3rd hole that we were the second to last group! He played great, making critical putts for par and keeping his focus the entire round with the growing crowds and tv cameras present. It was so great to watch him birdie the last hole and finally look up at the leaderboard seeing his name in the top 5!
-Kristy
-Parker
Overlooking Lake Oneida, NY
I know that Parker and I will definitely consider New York as one of our favorite tournaments of the year. Not only because of his great finish but the whole week was so special. The Turning Stone Resort was beautiful, the weather couldn't have been better, and everyone was going out of their way to make this inaugural event something that all of the players would remember.
After a solid first 2 days I knew that parker was getting back into his groove. On Saturday he started the round with a few quick birdies which was so much fun to watch. He and his playing partner were hitting solid shots one after another and then the putts just started dropping. To be honest, I didn't even look at the score board. I just knew that he was making birdies.... so that had to be a good thing. It is just so easy to get so caught up in the score ...where that would put him on the money list...etc. So i just decided not to look. That night I knew that he must have been up toward the top of the leaderboard when he said that he was teeing of at 1:45! We ended up watching 3 different movies to get our minds off things. That next day I continued to keep my eyes off the board. Actually I didn't even realize until the 3rd hole that we were the second to last group! He played great, making critical putts for par and keeping his focus the entire round with the growing crowds and tv cameras present. It was so great to watch him birdie the last hole and finally look up at the leaderboard seeing his name in the top 5!
-Kristy
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
Back on the Road
I just arrived in Syracuse joining Parker at the Turning Stone Resort Championship in Verona, NY. It is beautiful up here, a nice cool change of temperature too!
Although I am sure that it would have been fun to experience the first year of the fedex playoffs, we had such a great couple weeks off and enjoyed some much needed r&r to get ready for this "Fall Finish." We had a wonderful vacation with my family on the Big Island of Hawaii and had a chance to see Parker's family too! Parker was able to practice out at the Waikoloa courses and kept his competitive edge with some intense matches on the tennis court.
We are looking forward to our upcoming 7 week adventure, especially the Las Vegas and Scottsdale events where we hope to connect with lots of family & friends.
Here are some of our favorite sunset moments from our trip...
-Kristy
Although I am sure that it would have been fun to experience the first year of the fedex playoffs, we had such a great couple weeks off and enjoyed some much needed r&r to get ready for this "Fall Finish." We had a wonderful vacation with my family on the Big Island of Hawaii and had a chance to see Parker's family too! Parker was able to practice out at the Waikoloa courses and kept his competitive edge with some intense matches on the tennis court.
We are looking forward to our upcoming 7 week adventure, especially the Las Vegas and Scottsdale events where we hope to connect with lots of family & friends.
Here are some of our favorite sunset moments from our trip...
-Kristy
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
The Week From My Perspective
I wanted to first thank everyone for their great phone calls and e-mails this past weekend! Unfortunately I can't say that I was there watching in person but I was glued to the TV and internet for 4 days straight.
The week before Parker called me after missing the cut in Greensboro, NC. He said that even though he missed the cut, he was just playing too well to come home and wanted to see what my thoughts were on playing in the Nationwide Tour event instead. We decided that he should of course keep playing if he was feeling on top of his game - so he drove out to West Virginia to catch up with the Nationwide Tour. He also told me before the tournament started that he was going to "play to win" this week...instead of playing just to make the cut, as he had felt he had been doing recently on the PGA Tour. I loved hearing that passion in his voice and was eagerly anticipating the week to come.
Thursday was amazing - I have seen the potential for this round, but to actually see it come to life on a scorecard was such an incredible feeling. I got the chance to see that last 30 ft. put drop on the 18th hole on the golf channel, and knew that it was going to be a special tournament. Since I am always watching the leaderboards on the internet, i know that statistically it is soooo difficult and rarely occurs to follow up a 9 under par with another solid round of golf. I can't tell you how many times I have seen the 1st round leader end up down the learderboard the very next day. So when parker ended with a solid 4 under par on Friday, I personally felt that this was one of the biggest accomplishments of the week.
Another 4 under par on Saturday was so much fun to watch. He made so many up and downs to save par - which I know are often more important than a putt for birdie. I have never had the opportunity to see him this much on TV before... what a treat. Afterwards, I was joking with him saying that I could really get used to this. Having the camera following each hole... each shot even ...all from the comfort of our living room! :-)
Sunday obviously was not what I was hoping for... I was in such shock that I even had to giggle a few times when things weren't going his way. How could this tournament have turned out this way???? At times I was wondering if it was harder to watch on TV than if I had been there walking with him...? It is funny how a rough day of work for most people can go relatively under the radar, but a rough day at work when its on TV seems so magnified.
However as Sunday progressed I realized that each round and each tournament are building blocks helping you learn how to succeed. Winning on Sunday may have earned him the trophy, but not winning on Sunday may have taught him things about himself and his golf game that could contribute to even greater successes down the road.
He called me after his round and was surprisingly in really great spirits! We realized what an amazing accomplishment it had been to lead a tournament for 3 days straight... and finally play to win!
-Kristy
The week before Parker called me after missing the cut in Greensboro, NC. He said that even though he missed the cut, he was just playing too well to come home and wanted to see what my thoughts were on playing in the Nationwide Tour event instead. We decided that he should of course keep playing if he was feeling on top of his game - so he drove out to West Virginia to catch up with the Nationwide Tour. He also told me before the tournament started that he was going to "play to win" this week...instead of playing just to make the cut, as he had felt he had been doing recently on the PGA Tour. I loved hearing that passion in his voice and was eagerly anticipating the week to come.
Thursday was amazing - I have seen the potential for this round, but to actually see it come to life on a scorecard was such an incredible feeling. I got the chance to see that last 30 ft. put drop on the 18th hole on the golf channel, and knew that it was going to be a special tournament. Since I am always watching the leaderboards on the internet, i know that statistically it is soooo difficult and rarely occurs to follow up a 9 under par with another solid round of golf. I can't tell you how many times I have seen the 1st round leader end up down the learderboard the very next day. So when parker ended with a solid 4 under par on Friday, I personally felt that this was one of the biggest accomplishments of the week.
Another 4 under par on Saturday was so much fun to watch. He made so many up and downs to save par - which I know are often more important than a putt for birdie. I have never had the opportunity to see him this much on TV before... what a treat. Afterwards, I was joking with him saying that I could really get used to this. Having the camera following each hole... each shot even ...all from the comfort of our living room! :-)
Sunday obviously was not what I was hoping for... I was in such shock that I even had to giggle a few times when things weren't going his way. How could this tournament have turned out this way???? At times I was wondering if it was harder to watch on TV than if I had been there walking with him...? It is funny how a rough day of work for most people can go relatively under the radar, but a rough day at work when its on TV seems so magnified.
However as Sunday progressed I realized that each round and each tournament are building blocks helping you learn how to succeed. Winning on Sunday may have earned him the trophy, but not winning on Sunday may have taught him things about himself and his golf game that could contribute to even greater successes down the road.
He called me after his round and was surprisingly in really great spirits! We realized what an amazing accomplishment it had been to lead a tournament for 3 days straight... and finally play to win!
-Kristy
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
Week Off
Growing up, I lived in a neighborhood with a handful of extremely talented musicians who were constantly on tour. They would come home and then we wouldn't see them for days or even weeks at a time. I have since come to realize why they liked to be so secluded when they first came back. It hit me the other day when Parker came home after a 7 week stretch. The windows were closed, the house was dark and he didn't have any obligations to go anywhere or to do anything... he was just enjoying his moment of "hibernation."
After laying low for the first few days, we had a great week at home, relaxing, cooking, and catching up on the odds and ends that are left when we are gone for such a long period of time.
We had the chance to go to the Arizona Diamond Backs game, courtesy of my younger sister who is an intern for the team this summer. Later in the week we also went to see Paul Thorn in concert. He and his band are managed by a long time friend of ours who first introduced us to Paul's music earlier this year. He is such a great live entertainer - funny, witty, and a gifted artist. (he is the one in the Dbacks jersey)
I am hopeful that the relaxing week off gave Parker the opportunity to recharge and regain his strength and energy for the upcoming event in North Carolina!
-Kristy
After laying low for the first few days, we had a great week at home, relaxing, cooking, and catching up on the odds and ends that are left when we are gone for such a long period of time.
We had the chance to go to the Arizona Diamond Backs game, courtesy of my younger sister who is an intern for the team this summer. Later in the week we also went to see Paul Thorn in concert. He and his band are managed by a long time friend of ours who first introduced us to Paul's music earlier this year. He is such a great live entertainer - funny, witty, and a gifted artist. (he is the one in the Dbacks jersey)
I am hopeful that the relaxing week off gave Parker the opportunity to recharge and regain his strength and energy for the upcoming event in North Carolina!
-Kristy
Wednesday, August 8, 2007
Change of Plans
Last week's Reno Tahoe Open was a very memorable week for us. It was extra special because we had about 20 family members and friends to share it with.
The week started out with a crazy flight experience on Sunday night before the tournament. After leaving Toronto 3 hrs late, missing our next connection at about midnight, then having to spend the night in Denver, and flying standby the next morning... Parker finally made it to the 12:00pm shot gun pro am on Monday at 11:50 am. He changed in the parking lot and then hopped in a golf cart and was off!
We are very thankful to have made it on the morning flight because this Monday pro am was a particularly special one. Parker was paired with a junior golfer who has become a close family friend of ours. They had such a fun time together and the whole family came out to watch them.
On Thursday Parker started the day, accumulating 4 quick bogeys which honestly just came out of no where. He was playing well and then you looked and he was 4 over? But he had such a great come back and played extremely solid the rest of the round to finish at even par.
The next day started out great and looked like the round was going to have potential to finish well under par. Then as the last 3 holes approached a few shots here and there resulted in bogeying 2 out of those last 3...deflating hopes of having a weekend of golf to look forward to. At that time we thought that the cut was going to be -2. (Parker at Even).
We took a while to leave the golf course, he packed up his locker then sadly said goodbye to everyone who had been out there cheering him on. Parker and I drove back to our friends home, talking about the day, when we were going to change our flight, etc. Then as we were driving we noticed it was quite windy outside and Parker and I jokingly said...keep blowing wind :-)?
When we got back to the house Parker took all of his frustration out on the family's poor Pacman machine for about an hr. Then we decided to look at the scores, just in case the wind was doing anything to the cut line. To our surprise, when we pulled up the tournament on the computer, the cut was EVEN! We were shocked. We couldn't believe that it had changed so much since we left. We had to wait quite a bit longer to see what the final result was going to be and then at the end of the day...the cut was officially Even par! We called all of our family and told them that there was more golf to be played on the weekend! It was amazing turn of events that gave Parker a whole new look at his week.
He had a great Sunday and moved up the leaderboard 23 spots to finish T37!
It was an amazing week to lead into his week off after 7 on the road.
-Kristy
The week started out with a crazy flight experience on Sunday night before the tournament. After leaving Toronto 3 hrs late, missing our next connection at about midnight, then having to spend the night in Denver, and flying standby the next morning... Parker finally made it to the 12:00pm shot gun pro am on Monday at 11:50 am. He changed in the parking lot and then hopped in a golf cart and was off!
We are very thankful to have made it on the morning flight because this Monday pro am was a particularly special one. Parker was paired with a junior golfer who has become a close family friend of ours. They had such a fun time together and the whole family came out to watch them.
On Thursday Parker started the day, accumulating 4 quick bogeys which honestly just came out of no where. He was playing well and then you looked and he was 4 over? But he had such a great come back and played extremely solid the rest of the round to finish at even par.
The next day started out great and looked like the round was going to have potential to finish well under par. Then as the last 3 holes approached a few shots here and there resulted in bogeying 2 out of those last 3...deflating hopes of having a weekend of golf to look forward to. At that time we thought that the cut was going to be -2. (Parker at Even).
We took a while to leave the golf course, he packed up his locker then sadly said goodbye to everyone who had been out there cheering him on. Parker and I drove back to our friends home, talking about the day, when we were going to change our flight, etc. Then as we were driving we noticed it was quite windy outside and Parker and I jokingly said...keep blowing wind :-)?
When we got back to the house Parker took all of his frustration out on the family's poor Pacman machine for about an hr. Then we decided to look at the scores, just in case the wind was doing anything to the cut line. To our surprise, when we pulled up the tournament on the computer, the cut was EVEN! We were shocked. We couldn't believe that it had changed so much since we left. We had to wait quite a bit longer to see what the final result was going to be and then at the end of the day...the cut was officially Even par! We called all of our family and told them that there was more golf to be played on the weekend! It was amazing turn of events that gave Parker a whole new look at his week.
He had a great Sunday and moved up the leaderboard 23 spots to finish T37!
It was an amazing week to lead into his week off after 7 on the road.
-Kristy
Monday, July 9, 2007
Plan B
As a rookie on tour many times we are faced with an "alternate situation" for some of the smaller field tour events. So far Parker has been fortunate to get in as the last alternate in both the Wachovia Championship and the Hilton Head event. It is a bit of a gamble because you just never know how many players, if any, are going to back out on the days leading up to the tournament. This week Parker was 7th alternate, however because it was 4th of July, I think that the other alternates in front of him decided not take the risk of being at the tournament and missing 4th of July with their families. It turned out that only Parker and one other player ahead of him to decided to come to the course and be "on call" in case a player from the field had to withdraw at the last minute. This week it didn't work out for us, but thankfully we were in a great city and realized the importance of having a "Plan B" just in case.
Our Plan B turned out to be a blast. Parker's parents had come into Washington DC to spend 4th of July with us. Instead of playing in the tournament the 4 of us toured around Washington DC - It was Parker's first time there. There is just so much to see and learn about in the city. On Friday we took a tour of the capital that Parker's Dad arranged with one of his former students who is now a staff member for Hawaii Senator Dan Inouye. Later that day we visited the Spy Museum and learned about the CIA and the history of international spying! We also went to go see the white house from afar.
The next day we took a tour of the city and saw all of the major monuments and visited museums. We also visited Georgetown and enjoyed dinner overlooking the Potomac River. It turned out to be a great 4th of July weekend and we look forward to coming back next year!
Funny Moment of the Week: The houses next to the course were charging people $40 to park cars in their front lawns... And people were actually parking there!
-Kristy
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Memphis Memories
Hi Ya'll, as they say here in Memphis. Parker and I arrived in Memphis after taking a 10 hr. all night flight from Hawaii to Atlanta and then had an additional flight from Atlanta to Memphis. It was quite a whirlwind and I had no clue what time it was for about 2 days. It was definitely worth the crazy time change because before coming here to Memphis we had a wonderful two weeks in Hawaii where we were able to see Parker's younger brother Spencer graduate from high school and also be a part of his dad's retirement celebration after 37 years at Punahou.
Our time here in Memphis has been wonderful thus far. Earlier this week Parker and I attended the annual BBQ at the Target House. This amazing facility supports the children and families that are undergoing long term treatment at St. Jude Children's Hospital. We met some wonderful children and were truly inspired by by their strength and courage. I think they even gave Parker some pointers on his golf game.
Another highlight off the golf course was our experience with the Fed Ex Flight Simulator! All I can say is "buckle up"! It felt so real. Parker and I were able to get into the simulators where they train the Fed Ex pilots. Parker and I both had the opportunity to fly the plane. I felt confident in my take off but had a very rough landing, I believe that my plane ended up off the runway in the grass. Parker was much better at the landing. We were able to program the simulator to take off and land in Paris and Honolulu! It was so much fun.
Our memories from Memphis would not be complete without including a little bit of BBQ! During our stay we tried two amazing BBQ spots including Corky's and Rendezvous. Both were outstanding, each with their own twist on the BBQ.
-Kristy
Our time here in Memphis has been wonderful thus far. Earlier this week Parker and I attended the annual BBQ at the Target House. This amazing facility supports the children and families that are undergoing long term treatment at St. Jude Children's Hospital. We met some wonderful children and were truly inspired by by their strength and courage. I think they even gave Parker some pointers on his golf game.
Another highlight off the golf course was our experience with the Fed Ex Flight Simulator! All I can say is "buckle up"! It felt so real. Parker and I were able to get into the simulators where they train the Fed Ex pilots. Parker and I both had the opportunity to fly the plane. I felt confident in my take off but had a very rough landing, I believe that my plane ended up off the runway in the grass. Parker was much better at the landing. We were able to program the simulator to take off and land in Paris and Honolulu! It was so much fun. Our memories from Memphis would not be complete without including a little bit of BBQ! During our stay we tried two amazing BBQ spots including Corky's and Rendezvous. Both were outstanding, each with their own twist on the BBQ.
-Kristy
Monday, May 28, 2007
Junior Clinic at Waikoloa
This past weekend I did a video and photo shoot for Waikoloa Beach and Golf Resort on the Big Island of Hawaii. It was not the main event though, a junior clinic with a putting contest was the main attraction for the weekend. It was a great first, of hopefully many, visits for me to some of the junior golfers on the Big Island. I was able to meet many of these young junior golfers and hopefully share some of the things that I have learned growing up in Hawaii and how I have made it onto the PGA Tour.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
New Orleans
Hello again from New Orleans! Our time here seems to be flying by. We have enjoyed etouffee multiple nights in a row now (which we were introduced to by one of our very best friends) It is this amazing combo of crawfish, rice, and vegetables, in a yummy Cajun sauce. Honestly I was intimidated by the crawfish at first, but now I am hooked - you will have to try it! We also had the opportunity to see Hootie and the Blowfish the other night - they are so great live!Today a group of us participated in a build for the Habitat for Humanity in the upper 9th Ward. I am still in awe of all the devastation that remains but more taken back by all of the people that are joining together to bring this community back on its feet.
The other highlight of the week was one of our all time favorite meals - at Acme Oyster House. We ordered the Charbroiled oysters that were amazing, so much so that we had to get a second round ;)
Aside from the many food highlights, we have truly enjoyed our New Orleans experience and look forward to making this an annual stop.
-Kristy
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Welcome!
Hi Everyone! Thanks for visiting the site. This is our very first entry!!! Keep in touch as Parker and I share our experiences from both "inside and outside" the ropes of the PGA Tour. - Kristy
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