Player Blog: R.W. Eaks

R.W. Eaks is a Colorado Springs native who spent his teenage years working at The Broadmoor as a caddie, greenskeeper and pro shop assistant. Eaks now lives in Arizona, but he has returned to the old neighborhood to compete this week in the U. S. Senior Open.

Eaks agreed to share his thoughts with the USGA as he went through the homecoming experience. On Sunday, sore knees and all, he shot a final-round 72 to finish the championship at 6-over-par 286.

I had a nice day. In the end, I probably really shouldn't have played this week. I think I damaged my knees a little more. I was considering last night not playing, but I decided because I had so much family here, we'd give it a try ... I'm pretty hurt, but we'll find out tomorrow. I've got a doctor's appointment tomorrow morning. We'll see what happens.

It would have been great if I could have played well. Like I said, it was great seeing my family and friends. I've seen guys I haven't seen since high school, so it was worth it to me.

I felt like I hurt [the knees] worse yesterday on the last nine holes. They started really bothering me. But that goes with the territory, and I'm just going to have to play through the pain if I'm going to keep playing. Gotta love those carts, man. I can't wait to get back in carts.

My knees are pretty much bone on bone. But I had to play. Hurt or healthy, I love to play and with this being my home town and all, I was going to play. I'm just I'm pretty stubborn. You think I got bone-on-bone in my knees, you oughta see it up here (in my head), baby. It's solidified up there.

The way the knees affect my game is that I can't hit any shots when the ball is below my feet. I had a couple easy iron shots, and I just couldn't get them on the green - I actually made bogeys from those. I can't get down far enough on the ball. And it really affects my putting, too, because I can't stand long enough to really concentrate over the ball.

Probably the most notable experience I had all week is I got lost (on Saturday night). I never got off of Gold Camp Road and ended up in Cripple Creek. It was supposed to be like a 30-minute drive and it took us four hours. But it was pretty, saw some new country I haven't seen before.

This has been a great Open. I hope they get another one pretty soon. I think everybody was pleased with it. The fans were great here, and I think they deserve another one.

Look at the people here! I mean they're just starving for something like this. And The Broadmoor has (Women's Open) tournament here in three years. It'll probably be bigger than this.

I think that Colorado Springs, you know, having the Olympic Center here, it's a big town, and they're sports-minded. I think that they deserve something like this instead of having to go to Castle Pines. I think that helped not having the tournament at Castle Pines anymore. I think it brought a lot of people down here to see what's going on.

It's been a great week.

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