As soon as I woke him up he was dressed and studying his yardage book and practice round scorecard.  Brian and I are gathering waters and breakfast food.  Same order as yesterday at the Pine Scone Cafe because we are big fans now.  Jake is too nervous to eat.We arrive at Pinehurst 8 and it truly is beautiful and so is Brian’s caddie bib!  ha! This is the first time I’ve seen him in a bib and it’s quite lovely.  He’s really looking the part today.

I missed a little bit of the first bit but here’s some of the tee off on #1.  I really need to get with the program if I’m going to be good at documenting! 

He started out with a perfect drive and he’s playing with a kid from Sarasota FL and one from Charlotte NC.  Brian has already warned me that one of them either has a swing coach or some sort of professional coach watching and have discussed every hole for 30 min.  We might be in over our heads here or just annoyed, I’m not sure which.  It’s boiling hot and water is unavailable on the course due to COVID so better pack your back packs full!I was doing my best to keep the scorecard, not pass out from heat and dehydration, and check out all beautiful pine cones along the way.  I do love the exercise and the beauty of the course and these kids are impressive!! 

This is a very difficult course and his opponents are rock solid golfers.  For whatever reason, Jake is just not in the zone he was in yesterday for his practice round.  Maybe it’s nerves, maybe it’s the pressure, and maybe it’s just not his day today.By hole 14, the struggle bus had arrived and Jake had a front row seat.  As much as I hate to see my guy agonizing, he’s pushing through this and his competitors are fantastic.  He’s learning and playing with the best.

He isn’t meeting his own expectations and having some mental struggles but he’s persevering and I love watching him play regardless.  Nothing is breaking my spirit here folks, I’m here for the long haul and if I have to carry him to the end kicking and screaming, I will (which would never happen because he’s way to composed for that and I might be keeled over by then).The round finished in pretty good time and no weather factors other than heat.  He shot an 88 which was 13 shots worse than his practice round yesterday.  His opponets were even and +2. He is very disappointed and this is undeniably one of the worst rounds he’s had this season.  This is the cruelty of the game of golf.  One day you are on and another day you are off.

We head straight back to the hotel and he’s not even in the mood to practice or go to eat.  I guess it’s a good thing because a storm blew in and players are all pulled off the course and play is suspended.  Brian and I went to eat Lisi Italian by ourselves!  How sad is that!?  Don’t worry, he’s not deprived, we brought him a large pizza back.

Jake, you are one heck of a competitor, you have so much talent and I love you endlessly. Thank you for having me here this week!  There’s more golf to play and we are here to experience ALL of it.  The good and the bad.  Let’s do this.

Love, Mom