The Official 'Double P' Blog

Double P headed out to Little Rock, Arkansas today to take part in the festivities this weekend for good bud John Daly's 40th birthday bash.

He was originally headed to Charlotte, North Carolina from there to participate in the Wachovia Championship next week but his elbow issue has taken a turn for the worse.

Instead he will be headed to Birmingham, Alabama to have the elbow examined by a specialist in the area. By Monday, PP should know his collective fate regarding the remainder of the 2006 season.

Keep the kid in your thoughts as he's down and out about this elbow issue. He wanted nothing more than to get back to competing this week and hopes that the doc in Birmingham has the answers local doctors in Scottsdale have been unable to provide.

More to come...

Hey Everyone. PP here. Still home, still bored and itching to get back on the road. Headed to Daly's 40th birthday deal tomorrow and then to the Wachovia straight from there. Elbow is still killing me and doing what I can to keep my mind off the pain - while not getting extremely frustrated in the whole process.

Haven't swung a club since I left Hilton Head and hoping that I can shake the pain by next Thursday. As I mentioned in my Golf Channel blog this morning - the cabin fever is killing me here. I miss being on the road. If I can't get back to playing soon, I might lose my mind. I was really on a roll a few weeks back and was looking forward to the Verizon as well as the Shell Houston Open.

Is what it is, though. Just dealing with the rehab and hoping I get better by next week.

On a side note, my PPGolf team finally got my shirts done and the shopping cart is 99.9% built out. We now have the flaming golf ball tee in black AND white. As far as sizes, we're going Medium thru XXLarge. We're also working on a boxing glove head cover tee. More on that later.

For now click here to check out the tees we do have in stock. $18 a pop plus S&H, baby!

Coach Owen checking in with PatPerezGolf.com. Actually headed back from Houston to San Diego as I type. It was a slow week for me only having Fish (Todd Fischer) in the field and PP home due to injury.

Fish played with TAIII in Tuesday's practice round and we all commented on how quiet it was without PP there. Not having the kid around broke our Tuesday routine as it's always Fish, Tommy, PP and a fourth. Even though the boys would never admit it, you could tell they missed having PP out there.

III's son TA4 was visiting from Cincinnati for a few days and was caddying for The King in Tuesday's practice round. PP loved to bust TA4's chops and bully him like a big brother, so I know he'll be sad to hear he missed that opportunity -- though I'm sure TA4 was breathing a sigh of relief.

Double P's popularity on the Tour was never more apparant to me than this week. I couldn't even count the amount of people who came up to me to ask how the elbow was feeling and to wish him well. All athletes have compassion when one of their own is down and out due to injury. Outside of the other golfers folks from the PGA as well as fans outside the ropes all sent their 'get well' wishes to Scottsdale. It was pretty cool.

The Shell Houston Open has moved to a new course at Redstone - which would really have suited PP's game, but it wasn't to be. 20+ more tournaments for the kid this year. Ample opportunity to get that first 'W' in 2006.

With PP on the bench until the Wachovia, let's all root for Fishy to swim to the top this week.

Go Low. Coach MO.

Double P's second column with TheGolfChannel.com was posted this morning. For those who missed it, we're reprinting here at PatPerezGolf.com:

Hey Everyone. Double P checking in from Scottsdale right now. I am unexpectedly back home instead of at the Shell Houston Open, where I’d hoped to be in contention this week.

As I'm sure you've read by now, I pulled out of last week's Verizon Heritage in Hilton Head due to an injury. I was 3-under at the turn and feeling pretty good about my game, but a nagging elbow injury progressively got worse each hole I played. By the time I wrapped up hole 14, I told my caddy Mike Hartford we had to withdraw.

Fans have written my website this past week asking how hard it is to withdraw, being such a competitor. In one sense, it's really hard. I never want to quit anything - be it a PGA TOUR event or a game of 'H-O-R-S-E.' I play everything to win, but in this particular case I had to think about the long term.

I have already played 10 events this year and at the time was No. 35 on the money list. Had I been No. 135, I might've pushed to grind it out. I know I have at least 20 more tournaments left in 2006. There's a ton of golf left to be played. It quickly dawned on me that it wasn't worth risking all of that for one tournament.

According to my doctor, had I overdone it I'd have been out a lot longer than three weeks. I pulled a tendon in the top of my left forearm. My coach (Michael Owen) and I have been working on changing a particular aspect of my swing. Doing so also entails working out different muscles I don't often use and all of that combined definitely aggravated something. The only way to fix what went wrong was to set the clubs down a few weeks and rest. Thankfully it's only my left elbow, so I'm not totally incapacitated.

I've been doing what I can to rest and rehab. It hurts to lift anything right now. I'm on some meds to help with the inflammation - as well as three trips to the therapist every week. They're doing stem work - shooting impulses into the arm to get the muscle to retract, spasm - whatever. The movement helps it heal quicker. Then I just have to keep it iced and play the waiting game.

Those around me know I get cabin fever pretty quickly - so I won't necessarily be laid up on the couch for three weeks. My brother Mike is gearing up for some Nationwide events around the time I head out to the Wachovia Championship so I got us both signed up at the Village Racquet & Health Club here in Scottsdale. I want to do what I can to help him get geared up health and stamina-wise for his time on the road.

I can't lift weights right now, but with a good right arm I can still take Mike and my other buds out here to school on the racquetball court. Definitely a good cardio workout since I can't lift and do my full workout this week.

You know, it's actually kind of fun right now to be able to do nothing and not feel bad about it. It's the perfect scenario. Usually there's no excuse to just kick back like this, so I need to play this up as much as I can. "Sorry, can't lift - this elbow thing" or "Man, would love to help you move this weekend, but Doc said to not move the elbow."

All kidding aside, I'm already looking forward to the Wachovia and getting back out on the road. I am hopefully gearing up to do seven tourneys in a row – with the seventh being the U.S. Open. As it stands right now, I'd have to Monday qualify but there are six events before that which can help dictate my fate.

Until then it's rest, rehab, getting little bro ready for his Nationwide events and hopefully some time on the new chopper. I'm definitely going to write more about that next week - as well as a shameless plug for my new t-shirt line which will finally be available on my website April 24th.

PatPerezGolf.com will also have a Q&A with me later this week so make sure to email all your questions to cb@patperezgolf.com so we can get them answered and posted on the site. Like I said, it's a slow week.

Thanks for stopping by, but mostly - stay classy. - Double P

Local writer Tod Leonard included a blurb on the PatPerezGolf.com and GolfChannel.com partnership on page two of the San Diego Union Tribune's Sports section on Friday. For those who missed it:

Golfer Pat Perez tees up a blog
UNION-TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICES
April 14, 2006

It's not the reality TV series his buddy John Daly has, but Torrey Pines High alum Pat Perez has snagged a piece of Web culture: the celebrity blog.

Begun this week, "Spikes Up" will appear each Wednesday on The Golf Channel's Web site, and, according to TGC, the blog will be reflective of Perez's "style of golf and his approach to life. He is known for his fiery competitiveness - which sometimes leads to antics during tournament play - and his close relationship with John Daly."

In the first installment, "Hanging with Hootie and Daly," Perez recounts hooking up with the Daly gang in Myrtle Beach, S.C., this week for the "Monday After the Masters" tournament thrown by Hootie and the Blowfish to benefit South Carolina junior golf.

Perez said he watched the final round of the Masters with Daly, who missed the cut, and Scotty Phillips (drummer for Alter Bridge, formerly of Creed) and country singer Steve Azar. "I want to be in the thick of that next year," Perez said of the Masters, "not watching on the tube."

At the Hootie benefit, Daly played his version of "Knockin' on Heaven's Door." Quipped Perez: "I think it's the only song he knows all the way through, but the fans definitely eat it up."

Perez also reported he just got his second motorcycle. A friend in Oregon custom-built it to look like a California Highway Patrol bike.

HILTON HEAD, SC - Sitting pretty at -3 and climbing the leaderboard after the front nine in the opening round of the Verizon Heritage, Pat Perez was forced to withdraw from this year's competition due to a nagging left elbow injury.

The elbow had been sore for the majority of the week but progressively worsened throughout the afternoon.

Perez is headed back home to Scottsdale, AZ on Thursday evening and will have an MRI on the elbow on Friday afternoon.

Already slated to miss the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, Perez's status for the Shell Houston Open is now in doubt. He will most likely return for the Wachovia Championship (May 4th-7th) and might play right up through the US Open qualifier on Monday June 12th.

PatPerezGolf.com will have all the latest info regarding the MRI and Double P's schedule. Stay tuned.

Double P's column on GolfChannel.com was posted Wednesday April 12th and will run once a week.

The gist is 'life on the Tour' and what PP does in his spare time. Read what Pat had to say when checking in with the GolfChannel.com this past week:

"Hey Everyone. Pat Perez checking in from the road. Welcome to my blog.

A quick note of thanks to GolfChannel.com for contacting us to do this. The whole 'blogging' thing is still kind of new to me, but I've had a lot of fun with it these past few months and appreciate the opportunity here.

Where do I even begin? Well, for starters, I'm writing from Hilton Head, SC. I pulled into town Tuesday morning after a few days in Myrtle Beach, SC for Hootie and the Blowfish's charity tournament 'Monday After the Masters.' This is my fourth consecutive year playing in it and I plan on doing so for years to come. They're great guys and anything I can do to help their cause (South Carolina Junior Golf) I'm all for.

The first time I played their event was 2003 -- my second year on the Tour. I played the Masters that year and after Sunday's round my bud John Daly swung through Augusta to pick me up on his bus and I rode with him straight into the House of Blues parking lot that evening and went straight to the party. Hopefully in 2007 I'll make the trek from Augusta to Myrtle again instead of heading there from my home in Scottsdale.

Monday After the Masters was solid, as always. I landed in Myrtle Beach on Sunday evening and caught up with everyone to watch the end of the Masters. Took in the final few holes with Daly as well as my bud Scotty Phillips (drummer for Alter Bridge, formerly of Creed) and country singer Steve Azar. Both great guys. The Masters provided a ton of drama again this year, but as I said earlier - I want to be in the thick of that next year, not watching on the tube. If I keep playing like I am right now, I should be back there in 2007.

Hootie had their live auction on Sunday night so I swung by there with the crew. I think Daly bought a Hootie van or something. Not 100% sure how that played out. I'll get the whole story and write about it in an upcoming column. Hung out with all the guys that night and the gathering moved back to the bus where Steve Azar picked up JD's guitar and entertained everyone. That's the best. Anytime one of these guys rolls by the bus, a concert always breaks out. I've been fortunate enough to see Hootie, Sister Hazel, Queensryche, Fuel, Bret Michaels and a ton of other musicians on the bus just jamming away and putting on a show.

Monday morning was the actual tourney and I was paired up with Steve. I was originally supposed to play with Scotty (Phillips) but had a blast with Steve. We were terrible out there, but better to get that bad round out of the way on Monday as opposed to Thursday through Sunday. Thankfully the goal at charity tourneys is to have fun, and that we did.

Showered up and hit the concert that evening. As always, the boys from Hootie delivered. They put out a new CD last fall ("Looking For Lucky") so it was the first time I got to see them do all their new tunes. The latest CD is solid. If you don't have it yet, pick it up. I think it's their best stuff since ("Cracked Rear View" - their 1994 debut).

Par for the course, Daly got on stage midway through the set and entertained the crowd with his rendition of Bob Dylan's classic "Knockin' On Heaven's Door." I think it’s the only song he knows all the way through, but the fans definitely eat it up. Every time he plays it, he rips the roof off the joint.

All that brings me to my arrival in Hilton Head yesterday and this week's Verizon Heritage.

I had the past two weeks off and, while it was great to be home, I'm ready to get back to business. I started the season playing six straight -- from the Sony through the Nissan -- took two weeks off and then played all four Florida tourneys. The Sunshine State swing proved to be beneficial, as I finished 12th at the Honda and T-3 at the PLAYERS Championship a few weeks back.

Hopefully a first-place finish is in the cards over the coming weeks. Everything in my game is coming together nicely. My long-time coach Michael Owen was in Scottsdale last week working with me on my backswing. We're trying to get it flatter up top, allowing me to get inside on the ball and keeping the club on the plane longer. The result will help me keep it straighter, and hopefully the little things like that will be the difference between third place and first.

After Hilton Head, it's off to Texas for the Shell Houston Open. I've only played that tourney twice and never made the cut, but I have a feeling good things are in store for this year. After that, it's back home to Scottsdale for a quick off week and then I'm headed to North Carolina for the Wachovia Championship.

I think I'm playing four in a row starting there, so looking forward to heading home again. I just bought my second motorcycle and I haven't even gotten to ride it yet. It was delivered on Monday when I was in Myrtle Beach. My bud John Shope of SSinister Choppers in Beavercreek, Ore., custom built it to look like a California Highway Patrol bike. I'll make sure to blog about that when I finally get to ride it.

Until then, it's time to get back to work. The Verizon Heritage kicks off Thursday and I have an 8:41 a.m. ET tee time.

Check back next week for more and thanks for stopping by - Double P"

PGATour.com has updated their player profile pages. Check out Double P's new look page when you get a chance.

What's happening, Everyone? Pat here. Haven't been online much this past week at home, but wanted to log on and let everyone know what I've been up to since the PLAYERS Championship.

I headed home last Monday from JAX - definitely in a good mood after the t-3rd place finish. I liked how I played that week and entered the two off weeks feeling pretty confident about my game. The first three months of the 2006 season are behind us and in that time I did well enough to earn 31st place on the current money list. That has me pretty close to securing my Tour card for 2007 and takes that added pressure off. Now I can play to win each week - which is much different than playing to keep your card.

A lot of laying low this past week and a half. I've had a lot of time to ride my motorcycle and drive my cars - which is something I definitely miss while on the road.

Last Friday I rode up to The Hideaway Grill in Cave Creek, AZ. It's a biker bar and a fun ride from my house. Bike Week is taking place in Scottsdale right now and I met a guy named John Shope. He builds bikes and his company is SSinister Choppers up in Beavercreek, OR.

Shope is in town for bike week and had his trailer with him at The Hideaway. We got to talking and I was checking out his inventory. Twenty minutes later I probably gave him his easiest sell of his life when I bought the chopper pictured below. It's made to look like a California Highway Patrol bike. Growing up in San Diego, being a child of the 80s who watched CHiPs and just thinking this bike was the coolest thing ever - I had to scoop it up.

Only downer is that I don't get to take possession of it until Sunday... and I leave for the Monday After the Masters charity tourney tomorrow. Playing the MCI and Shell back to back, so I won't get to ride this thing until the end of the month. Until then I'm just heading over to Bike Week everyday to sit on it and shoot the breeze with John.

Other than the bike stuff this past week it's been a typical week home. Hanging with local buds, had some friends in from San Diego, met with my agent Ralph Cross and had my coach Michael Owen head out to work with both my brother Mike and I about certain aspects of our game.

We played Arizona Country Club on Tuesday with my bud Jay Francis, owner of Right Toyota - one of my sponsors. Had a blast out there - eight of us with some side wagers going on. Very 'Bushwood' at times. Especially when my bud Brad Cannon jumped in the lake for a swin. Cannon and I played at ASU together and we're college roommates.

We have video of his swim and I'm going to try and have my guys get it up on the site. I've already added it to my video iPod. I'll let Chris write a separate blog about that day on the course. Check back in the next day or so.

Gotta run. Hitting the road tomorrow and want to get back over to Bike Week so I can stare at the CHiPs bike I won't be able to ride for three more weeks. Cool.

P.P.