Time to Exhale

Its hard to believe that Parker's second season on the PGA TOUR has finally come to an end. As long as the year has been, it has all flown by so incredibly fast. (I know...I think I say that every year!) The end of the golf season seemed to come at perfect timing. I could tell Parker was running on fumes and I myself was ready for a break from the "golf world" for a bit. :-) We had to take a few weeks at home before we could reflect on the season and appreciate all of the special memories on the road and all of the great accomplishments Parker has made this year.

The home stretch was a memorable few weeks on the West Coast. We had a chance to see lots of family and friends as the tour moved back West for the Fall Series.

The Valero Texas Open was an extra special week for me because the PGA TOUR Wives Association http://www.pgatourwives.org/index.php partnered with the Valero Foundation to host a luncheon for the Women of Operation Homefront. Operation Homefront is an amazing organization that was started by two wives of soldiers after 9/11. http://www.operationhomefront.net/ This organization supports troops, families left behind, and the wounded soldiers and their families. Our event with Operation Homefront was a day to honor the the women and families of the wounded soldiers being treated at the Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and to thank them for all they have given to our country. I had the honor of meeting so many incredibly strong women that day, it was a truly moving and humbling experience to hear the real life stories of the families that serve this country so unselfishly.

As a follow up to our event with Operation Homefront we had the chance to put together care packages for the soldiers serving abroad. It was a great day as we packed boxes with lots of goodies, supplies, and signed photos with messages from the players.

The next tournament brought us to Las Vegas! The whole week was so much fun!!! This year the tournament had a new sponsor, Shriners Hospital for Children, and and a new host.... JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE. To be honsest, this tournament had been causing quite a buzz around the TOUR for the few months leading up to the event. Earlier in the summer we learned that Justin Timerlake's mother/manager was going to be hosting a luncheon for all of the wives during the week of the tournament... with a surprise guest at the luncheon! I think every wife begged their husband to play in the tournament, for that reason only... the chance to possibly meet Justin!!!

The luncheon was a huge success and an absolute treat. And just when we thought that there was no way we were going to get to see him, he walked in the door when we were least expecting! I wish I could say I have pictures to show, but the moment when 50 women realized that Justin Timberlake was here to see them was priceless, the place went wild!

Later in the week Justin hosted a charity concert "Justin Timberlake and Friends" at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. He and his "Friends" including The Jonas Brothers, Leona Lewis, Boyz II Men, Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Rihanna, 50 Cent, Will.i.am, and Lionel Richie played until after 1:00 am in the morning! It was one of the most memorable nights of the year!







This year Parker was able to end his season at home! It was a goal for Scottsdale to be his last tournament of the year and this year he was able to do just that. Thursday's round was a bit of an indication that he didn't have much left in him. I think that fact that he was so close to the end of his season and that he could see his finish line...started to get to him on the golf course. I would have completely understood if he would have had another similar round on Friday, but instead he came back and played one of the low rounds of the tournament to only barely miss the cut. Although it would have been nice to end on the weekend, he pushed himself and gave it everything he had left to end his season. It was an admirable ending to a great year!

Thank you to everyone who gave him so much support this year! It has meant so much to both of us! See you in 2009!

Turning Stone

A very cold Thursday morning

This week was our official introduction to Fall! Parker and I often joke that we have a full year of Summer, one because we reside in Arizona and two because the PGA Tour basically follows the warm weather. This week, however, was an exception to the rule. The Turning Stone Resort Championship fell a few weeks later than last year and if you live in New York ... apparently a few weeks can make a world of difference when it comes to weather. Instead of the normal 75+ degree golf days that we are used to, the temperature was down into the 40-50s. Everyone on the golf course was dressed more for a North Eastern football game than for a golf tournament. It was the coldest we had been in a long time.

Even though this was a week where hand warmers were an absolute must and player dinning looked more like ski lodge, I actually loved the change of pace. Last year everyone kept telling us that we were just a few days too early to see the fall colors of central New York. This year we were right on time. The colors were amazing and apparently within a few more weeks they only get better.

Enjoying the Fall colors

The cold and the rain were elements that Parker had to battle on the golf course. I know that he was so excited to get back here because we had such fond memories of this tournament from last year. Thursday and Friday were a grueling couple of days, it even hailed before his Friday tee time. Thankfully, Parker finished just before the round was called because of darkness and made a 20ft putt on #17 to make the cut on the number on Friday evening. Then on Saturday he had another cut to make, draining a 7ft putt on #9 to play again on Sunday. Needless to say he was keeping it exciting for our friends from New York who came out and toughed it out through the cold with me. They kept telling me ...this is just a typical day in Central New York!

The sun finally comes out (the geese are even flying south for the winter!)

Right now we are on the plane headed to the next tournament and the pilot just said that it is 86 degrees down in San Antonio. Even though I loved getting my first glimpse of the Fall season, it will be nice to get back to some warm weather ... San Antonio, Las Vegas, then Scottsdale. (this 4 week stretch was sure hard to pack for ... shorts, t-shirts, beanies, and gloves?!? Ahhh, life on the road!)