U.S. Open Homecoming for Pat Perez

WHEW. HE MADE IT.

Last month Pat Perez told ARMCHAIR GOLF, “This year it’s all about the U.S. Open. I have to get in there. That’s the biggest of the bigs for me. Back home in San Diego, that’s my main goal in life right now.”

When I asked him what it would mean to play the U.S. Open in his hometown, he replied, “Everything. Seriously.”

There was a catch. Then ranked No. 58 in the world, Double P needed to climb to No. 50 to avoid the perils of sectional qualifying. Despite a strong Colonial and Memorial, Pat only got halfway there, to No. 54.

On Monday Perez teed it up with 140 or so players in the Columbus, Ohio, sectional qualifier to vie for 23 spots. Pat's 71-67-138 made it by a shot.

Now that’s pressure, especially for someone who said he’d rather qualify to play in the U.S. Open in his hometown than win his first tournament.

Also in through the Columbus qualifier are PGA Tour players Carl Pettersson (medalist), Davis Love, Bart Bryant, Ben Crane, Jesper Parnevik, Rocco Mediate, Chad Campbell, Nick Watney, Dean Wilson, Joe Ogilvie, Robert Garrigus, Steve Marino and Fredrik Jacobson.

Alas, Fred Couples didn’t make it.

-The Armchair Golfer

Armchair Q&A: Pat Perez

(Pat Perez Golf)

I welcome back Pat Perez to ARMCHAIR GOLF. Currently ranked 58th in the world and 50th in FedEx Cup points, Double P is having another solid year on tour that includes two top tens and about $800,000 in earnings after 13 events.

That said, Pat is looking to kick it up a notch or two. Following is what he told me about his off-season, health, game and life on tour.

ARMCHAIR GOLF: What was the takeaway from 2007, your sixth season on tour?

PAT PEREZ: I got more comfortable being in the hunt, after six years. I actually learned to enjoy the thrill of the hunt when I was near the lead. Taking advantage of my opportunities. Closing things out. It’s a lot more fun that way instead of overthinking shots and letting everything get to you.

ARMCHAIR GOLF: Any highlights from the off-season?

PAT PEREZ: It was a while back now, but no real highlights. Just gearing up for another season. The time flies by so quickly. Family and friends come out to Scottsdale to visit. It’s just time to decompress and catch up with the people I don’t get to see all year when I’m on the road.

Installed a new gym set up in my house as I was starting to work out with Joey Diovisalvi and I knew he was going to kick my ass. Had a small set up, but needed to revamp things so I took over one of my spare rooms and made it a full-on gym this time around.

ARMCHAIR GOLF: How’s the elbow?

PAT PEREZ: Elbow is better. Haven’t had any issue in a long time, thankfully.

ARMCHAIR GOLF: How’s your physical conditioning, in general?

PAT PEREZ: Better than it’s ever been. Seriously. Joey beats the hell out of me, in a good way. The guy is as intense as they come and is 1000% committed. He wants me in better shape than I even want myself, I’m sure. A lot of focus on stretching and staying limber –- but with the same intensity every time. Doesn't matter if I have to go early and we’re working at 4 a.m. or if it’s early evening after playing 18.

He’ll kill me if I get this wrong, but it’s sort of a “power training workout,”something like that. He designed a program for me to get the most out of my game. Building up strength to produce the best shots. A lot of bandwork, rotation, a lot of chest/back stuff, squats, quads and hamstrings, core training. He really focuses on the “fast twitch” muscles and building extra speed.

ARMCHAIR GOLF: This is the second straight year you’ve started strong at the Sony Open. Is it the course, the start of a new season, both?

PAT PEREZ: I’ve always liked the Sony, and after being home for a month in December I get cabin fever and am ready to get back out there and compete again. I like the course, but I also think it’s just a great way to kick off the season –- winter in Hawaii and back on tour competing again.

ARMCHAIR GOLF: How many events do you plan to play in 2008? Any favorites on the schedule?

PAT PEREZ: I’m going to play a ton. I played something like 27 last year and that should be the case again in 2008. I definitely dig the Buick (Torrey Pines), the British, PGA Championship and the Colonial. This year it’s all about the U.S. Open. I have to get in there. That’s the biggest of the bigs for me. Back home in San Diego, that’s my main goal in life right now.

I need to be top 50 by the Memorial and I’ll be in. I need to pull that off. Every week counts between now and then and I can’t imagine not playing that one. I’m also busting my ass to make the Ryder Cup team. That’s another long-time dream of mine and could be a reality if I get some things done. I need to play well in the majors this year, get higher in the points standings. A win would solidify it, but even without that I need to keep busting my ass out here every week. Every round counts.

ARMCHAIR GOLF: What would it mean to you to play the U.S. Open in your hometown (Torrey Pines)?

PAT PEREZ: Everything. Seriously.

ARMCHAIR GOLF: What are your working on?

PAT PEREZ: Trying to hit it straight, always.

ARMCHAIR GOLF: You’re a veteran who has now gone around the circuit several times, put in the practice and travel time, learned the courses, signed the autographs. What keeps you excited about the tour and the game?

PAT PEREZ: Being in the hunt. Playing in the big events. Trying to climb in the World Rankings and in the FedEx Cup points. I’m competitive in everything I do, so to get to “compete” at something for a living is intense. Being on the tour itself is exciting. I love the lifestyle, the doors it opens and the people you come across. I’m still amazed how many people love golf. Aside from the average fans, the actors, rock stars, pro athletes –- it’s crazy.

More Pat Perez here:
2007 interview, part 1
2007 interview, part 2

-The Armchair Golfer

(Special thanks to Chris Bello at Pat Perez Golf for coordinating this interview.)

Pat Perez Interview After The Players

A PAST GUEST of Armchair Golf, six-year PGA Tour player Pat Perez stops by early next week for a Q&A. The world No. 55 golfer is two over heading into the weekend at The Players Championship.

Next week Double P talks about why he has to get into the U.S. Open, his physical conditioning, what he’s working on, what keeps him revved up about playing the tour and more.

−The Armchair Golfer

Armchair Golf Year in Review

I didn't wear a jumpsuit like these pro caddies when I looped for Orville Moody this year. (Glasson/Flickr)






Not too bad a year for this golf blogger. I made many new golf connections, including other golf bloggers and writers and several Tour pros -- men, women and a handful of legends.

I was invited to cover golf for MVN (Most Valuable Network) in the spring and started Down the Middle.

At the time, I didn’t know how I’d write for the ARMCHAIR GOLF BLOG and Down the Middle (plus a book, plus my clients). Seven months later, I still wonder.

Legendary Connections

My colleague Walter introduced me to his family friend John Derr, who happens to be a legendary golf broadcaster. John shared some great stories about Sam Snead and Ben Hogan that I published here. That led to other new golf connections, including my friend and Ben Hogan aficionado George who passed me along to Jack Fleck, the famous underdog who beat Hogan in an 18-hole playoff to win the 1955 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Jack and I now talk often, and I enjoyed getting out on the Champions Tour this year to meet him and many other golf legends such as Dow Finsterwald, Bobby Nichols, Billy Casper, Doug Sanders, Fred Hawkins, Gene Littler, Don January, Lee Elder, Charlie Sifford, Howie Johnson, Orville Moody, Bob Goalby, Gay Brewer and Doug Ford.

Voices of the Game

I was fortunate to interview some PGA Tour and LPGA Tour pros, including Pat Perez (twice), U.S. Women’s Open champion Cristie Kerr, U.S. Solheim Cup team member Paula Creamer, Jack Fleck and Fred Hawkins. I also interviewed two authors, Chris Lewis (The Scorecard Always Lies) and John Coyne (The Caddie Who Knew Ben Hogan).

Plus, I did a Q&A with Rand Jerris of the USGA, who, along with other USGA staff, was quite helpful when I spent a couple of days in May at USGA headquarters in Far Hills, New Jersey.

Augusta and Ryder Cup Bound

I won two lotteries for dream golf tickets. I am the proud recipient of four Monday practice round tickets for the 2008 Masters. Stepping onto Augusta National for the first time will be a life highlight. I also was awarded a pair of practice round tickets to the Ryder Cup in Louisville. I better go to that, too.

I did play some golf this year, mostly in the summer, mostly on my home course, Great Oaks Country Club. Worst round: 86. Best round: 75.

Many thanks to you for reading the ARMCHAIR GOLF BLOG. I started this blog on a lark a couple of years ago. It’s been more fun and surprising then I ever could have imagined. I’m going to stick around a while longer and see what happens next.

The Armchair Golfer

Pat Perez Interview at Down the Middle

I just completed a Q&A with Pat Perez of the PGA Tour. Take a look at Down the Middle.

Here's a taste, especially of interest to amateur golfers (basically all of us):

Me: You play in a lot of pro-ams. What general advice would you give to amateur golfers?

Pat Perez: Have fun with it. If you’re not doing it for a living or to earn a check, don’t kill yourself out there. Some Wednesdays I’m out there playing with the suits and some of these guys are really trying to beat me. It can be pretty funny at times. But seriously, people just need to get out there and enjoy the experience of playing on a tournament-ready course and playing with Tour pros. Don’t worry about your score. Enjoy the day.

Read the entire Q&A here.

The Armchair Golfer

Armchair Golf Interview with Pat Perez, Part 2

This is the second and final part of my interview with PGA Tour player Pat Perez, who returns to action this week at the Verizon Heritage at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head, S.C. Pat answered my questions during his recent break in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Armchair Golf: You and John Daly have the same coach. How did that come about?

Pat Perez: JD’s been a bud since my rookie year and I’ve been working with my coach since high school. They got to know each other over the years and in the off-season he decided to bring O aboard this season to work on some things.

Armchair Golf: What's it like hanging with JD?

Pat Perez: A lot of work.

Armchair Golf: With multiple top tens, you've played well in the majors. Do you think your game is particularly well suited for the majors? Do you do any special prep for them?

Pat Perez: You just have to be ready for hard conditions and you have to be much more patient in majors. A lot of times par is a good score. I get more frustrated in events like the Hope because something like 35 under wins and I’m somewhere around 2 under. I don’t get why everyone else is getting it done and I’m not.

I like it when 10 under wins instead of 30 under.

Armchair Golf: There are a bunch of new young guns on Tour. Who have you played with lately that looks like a rising star?

Pat Perez: Camilo (Villegas). I haven’t really played with many others. He has a good knowledge about the game and how to play, even though he went to Florida.

Armchair Golf: How do you like living in Scottsdale?

Pat Perez: I love it. The weather is great. Lots of young people around here. A great social setting. Great riding town (motorcycle).

Armchair Golf: Talk about your motorcycle. Been riding lately?

Pat Perez: Yeah. That’s pretty much what I do if I’m at home a few weeks. Especially when the weather is perfect. Once a week we get a small group out here and we roll out to Cave Creek, the Hideaway, Harold’s, the Road House, Dirty Dog. Take off around 3 p.m., and bar hop. Thing is you don’t even really drink, you just hang out front, chew the fat and check out everyone else’s bikes.

It’s fun to be on something going 60 mph and feeling free as a bird. A good way to unwind, decompress and think about nothing. Just take it all in.

Armchair Golf: What's the hot item at the Double P online store?

Pat Perez: Right now we’re just selling shirts. We have them in black or white. Up front is my ball/flames/clubs logo and on the back, “PatPerezGolf.com.” They’ve been selling pretty well this past year. Part golf and part bikes with the fire and whatnot. There’s enough golf stuff out there. I wanted to do something different.

We’re going to roll out some other stuff in the coming year. I just really want to focus on playing right now. Once I get that first win, we’ll worry more about stuff like this.

Double P's Faves

Favorite Tour stops: San Diego. It’s always great to go back home. I also love Dallas. Vegas is fun, but that’s a tough place to stay focused.

Favorite course: Bay Hill is up there. Hilton Head is fun and I also love the Players at Sawgrass.

Favorite bands: The Cult. Iron Maiden. Godsmack. Metallica. Cinderella. Madonna.

Favorite food: Carne Asada burrito. Throw in three rolled with cheese and a gross of hot sauce and we’re in business.

(Special thanks to Chris Bello at Pat Perez Golf for coordinating this interview.)

The Armchair Golfer

More Double P here:
Pat Perez Golf
Pat Perez Blog
Pat Perez Online Store
Pat Perez at MySpace

(Photo: Sportsline.com)

Armchair Golf Interview with Pat Perez, Part 1

After taking a few weeks off, PGA Tour player Pat Perez returns to action this week at the Verizon Heritage in Hilton Head, S.C. Double P has made six cuts in nine events, with a couple of top 10 finishes. Pat answered my questions during his recent break in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Armchair Golf: Coming off a disappointing year with injuries, how did you prepare for this season?

Pat Perez: I tried to get the elbow solid, for sure. Working it, strength conditioning, stretching, all that. I spent the better part of last year with it only at 50 percent. When you sit around on the sidelines as long as I did, you have a ton of time to think.

I spent a lot of my off-season thinking about how I’d attack upcoming courses. I thought a lot about the strategy of certain courses. What kind of shots I wanted to play.

Since the Sony was first, I thought a lot about the winds in Hawaii. This was my sixth time playing out there, so I know the course and the conditions. I’ve seen that wind blow from all angles. I really thought a lot about what shots I’d hit and how I’d play the course after so much time off. Thankfully it paid off (finished 10th) and set the tone early on.

Armchair Golf: Last year you said you kept Advil in business. Are your elbows pain-free and 100 percent?

Pat Perez: I was feeling solid at the beginning of the season, but I’m sore now after eight straight weeks out there. It’s a tolerable pain, though. Not like last year. The pain is in a different area. It’s not as sharp.

I’ve rested a few weeks, will play at the Verizon and just warm up the engine each week. Once it gets going, I don’t feel anything out there. By then I’m focused on the course and my game.

Armchair Golf: You have two top 10 finishes at the Sony Open and Nissan Open and currently sit at No. 50 on the money list. Talk about your goal to finish in the top 30 this year and how you think you're doing.

Pat Perez: I need to keep doing what I’m doing. Top 30 is huge because it gets you into all the big events -- big money and more FedEx Cup points.

Your number one goal always goes back to winning. That first win gets me top 50 in the world. Secure the majors, get in all the smaller field stuff like the World Golf events.

Armchair Golf: How many events do you plan to play this year?

Pat Perez: At least 30. Might slow it down at some point, but who knows. Once you get that win, then you reassess your goals. You want to get into the top 30, then the top 10, top 5. For me, I think it’ll be harder to slow down once the first win comes.

Armchair Golf: The last couple of years you've had good success at the Honda Classic and TPC. What do you like about playing the Florida swing?

Pat Perez: I like the Bermuda grass. Those are great greens. Some of the best out there. That shaved Bermuda, it’s a perfect surface. It’s bent grass out here in Scottsdale. I’m used to that kind of stuff after living in the desert since 2002. The Florida courses, the desert courses -- I seem to putt well there.

Look at the other guys who live or train in Arizona -- Calc, Timmy Clark, Aaron Baddeley, they all putt well here and in Florida.

Editor’s note: Perez was the Q-School medalist in 2001 and shot a course record 60 in the opening round of last year’s Bob Hope.

Armchair Golf: How's your ball striking? What are you working on?

Pat Perez: Good. My coach (Michael Owen) and I are working on getting me to hit more on the inside of the ball.

Armchair Golf: How's your short game? What are you working on?

Pat Perez: Pretty good. We’re working on speed and line of my putting.

(To be continued. Tomorrow Double P talks about John Daly, the majors, riding time and more.)

The Armchair Golfer

More Double P here:
Pat Perez Golf
Pat Perez Blog
Pat Perez Online Store
Pat Perez at MySpace

Tomorrow: Pat Perez Interview, Part 2

Next Week: Pat Perez Interview

Ward off the post-Masters blues right here next week. Pat Perez speaks up in a two-part interview on Tuesday and Wednesday. Stop by for my Q&A with the enemy of dull -- Double P.

The Armchair Golfer