Player Diary: John Harris

John Harris, 1993 U.S. Amateur champion, turned professional recently and is playing in his first Senior Open. In the second round he shot 2-over 73 and made the cut at 6-over 148. He shared his thoughts with www.ussenioropen.com:

Going into today I assumed based on yesterday’s scores the cut would be 7 or 8 over par, but it got easier this afternoon, I think I got the better part of the draw. So I wasn’t sure if that would make a difference.

After going even with a birdie and a bogey in the first four holes, the rains came on the fifth hole. After a one-hour rain delay I came back and had a 2-footer for bogey that I missed. The rain delay didn’t affect me; it happens all the time and you just know it and deal with it.

So I went to 2 over par for the day and 6 over for the championship. 

By the ninth hole I hit a poor drive, a poor second, a good third and a poor fourth from 6 feet for another bogey.  I went to 8 over par and really didn’t have much game going into the back nine.

I took a 3-iron off the 10th tee and hit it 35 yards right of the fairway and had absolutely no idea what was going on. I walked up there and chopped one out and made a par.

I finally hit my two first good shots on the day at the 11th hole and got it to 6 feet and made a birdie putt.

I turned around and didn’t hit a very good shot on the 12th, hit it 20 feet right of the hole and made that putt so I got back to 6 over. 

I hit two fairways on the back nine, but hit all nine greens. I just hung in there kept fighting and kept trying, but my game is pitiful. I got it going both ways, I hit it in the rough on every hole and I can’t make any putts.  Other than that it is OK.

Obviously it can get better.  I care and am glad that I made the cut, but I also don’t care. I have high standards and I am not meeting them currently, I want to play well and I have been unable to do that.

I’m glad I have the weekend to work it out, but right now I have a lot wrong with my game.  Hopefully over the next couple of days I can work it out.

When I went to the range last night and again this afternoon I was hitting the ball great, when I go to the golf course I’m pitiful. It’s a lack of confidence, lack of aggressiveness. Maybe I can freewheel over the weekend and get some of that back, but not having competed much over the last six months may be a factor.

I am proud of the last nine, 33 is a good score out here for nine holes especially the back nine.  Hitting every green was important and I hit a couple putts that could have gone in, but didn’t so I am pleased with the end.

I feel I was lucky a little bit today getting up and down when it was imperative, but you need to get a couple of breaks.

I will change my driver and putter tomorrow; these two don’t have any  secrets in them, and it can’t get any worse.