Double P turned 31 back on March 1st, but was down in Palm Beach Gardens, FL for this year's Honda Classic and put off the celebration until his return to Scottsdale, AZ.
Off until mid-April, PP's belated birthday bash went down this past weekend. Check out the pics below:
Coach Michael Owen checks in after Florida swing...
I am writing this blog, as I often do, sitting on an airplane flying back from the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, FL.
PP played in three of the Florida swing events. Having played eight in a row and about to take three weeks off, it seems a good time to check in with all of you.
The first event was the Honda in Palm Beach Gardens, where he missed the cut by one shot. He missed to many greens in regulation in the opening round, putting him behind the eight ball. A fine Friday morning round (which include an eagle on 18) was not quite enough to see weekend work.
From there it was on to Tampa for the PODS Championship played at Innisbrook Resort, a course PP has played well in the past. The day before the tournament, we went to watch Philadelphia play Toronto in a spring training match up. Our host for the week, Phillies left fielder Pat Burrell, hit a two-run homer which might still be traveling. This thing was a bomb. After the game he took us for a tour of the clubhouse which PP, H and I really enjoyed.
PP played some great golf that week but a poorish Sunday resulted in a t14.
This last week the Tour went back to Bay Hill and the Arnold Palmer Invitational. I know PP is always honored to play in Mr. Palmer's event. After a solid start, PP struggled with his ball striking on Saturday, resulting in a 6 over 76. But he dug deep to fire 69 on Sunday one of the four under par rounds of the day in very testing conditions. This included a bogey-bogey finish.
It is very apparent that PP is getting closer and closer to winning. If he just keeps doing what he's been doing, the door to victory will open wide.
While PP and H have three weeks vacation, I'm off to Houston next week to try and get JD back in the winners circle.
The "Average Joes" chime in with their perspective...
PatPerezGolf.com had a brainstorm this past week. Being based on the west coast, Team Perez can't travel the US and follow Double P week-to-week.
PP has some buds in Florida who mad the trek to both the Honda Classic, PODS Championship and Arnold Palmer Invitational so we figured, why not let a bud and golf fanatic from outside the ropes give his or her perspective on Pat Perez and what it's like on any given tourney day.
Our first installment is from Bryan Joseph of Miami, FL. BJ is a long-time bud of PP's dating back to the Arizona State era and met through mutual friends. BJ is an avid golfer and offered to shed some light on Friday and Saturday's rounds at Bay Hill.
PP is off until Hilton Head, but PatPerezGolf.com is throwing something out to the fan base. Headed to a PGA Tour event where Double P is playing? Follow him for 18 and send us your recap and a photo. The best recap will be posted in the blog and we'll let you give your perspective from outside the ropes!
For now, read on and check out BJ's take:
Following "Double P" around Arnie's Playground
"Once again I had the unique opportunity of following Pat Perez around on his Friday and Saturday rounds at Bay Hill and once again the kid never ceases to amaze me.
I've gotten to know PP over the years through mutual friends and living in South Florida, I always make a point to get out to the Doral and Honda, but with the Doral now a World Golf event, I made the trek to Orlando to check him out with my Miami contingent.
Even though he found himself in some trouble spots on Friday, it was the shots that got him out of trouble that left me scratching my head wondering how this kid doesn't have a couple majors under his belt yet, much less his first win.
As the round progressed, there were about five putts attempted that were within an inch of falling. There's your difference difference between a 2 over round or 3 under, which would have put him near the top of the leader board at -6.
The questions then swirling in my head were answered. The margin of error these guys have to contend with every week is razor thin. Ask Boo Weekley about that 3'3" putt for what would've been his first Tour win at the Honda Classic. These guys are beyond good. It's a game of millimeters.
In answering my own question as to why PP doesn't have that first win, I began to appreciate his skills - and the competition - that much more.
On one shot in particular, he was on the upslope inside a fairway bunker, tucked almost under the lip. From my vantage point and all those around me, it looked as if he was going to have to punch it out into the fairway for a safe approach to the green, which was over a severe water hazard.
True to form, PP selected his club, stepped up, and wasted no time planting his ball right on the green. Left with about a 30-footer for birdie, he dropped that sucker like a bad habit and moved on to the next tee as if the feat were completely effortless.
A mere golf mortal would have chalked up no better than bogey facing similar circumstances and pin placement.
These are the shots that are burned into my memory and the ones that leave me asking those "how" or "why" type questions. I was taught to remember that cream rises to the top. The breaks can't go against you all the time. Eventually the golf gods will smile down on a given week.
There will be a time when everything is working and when that time comes, the rest of the field will not be able keep up. I truly feel that time is coming soon. As a friend and fan of Double P, this guy is serious about his game. His competitive drive and determination will let nothing stand in the way of his first win.
My crew and I thank PP once again for hooking up the tickets and hanging with us during the Florida swing. I look forward to making it up the PGA Championship in May. TPC Sawgrass is only a car ride away. Last year our boy t-3rd and hopefully I'll be present for that elusive first victory should it come there this year. Of course we're all hoping it comes before that...
That first Tour win will be the one which opens Pandora's Box and shoots this guy to the top of the golfing world where he belongs."
ORLANDO, FL - Pat Perez had a rough go of it today at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, but he kept scrapping right down to the final hole.
Starting on #10, Double P nailed three straight pars before his first birdie of the day on #13. Right when it seemed the kid had some momentum, the round took a bizarre turn. On #15, a par 3, PP's errant tee shot wound up in a tree and never came back down. Forced to take the two-stroke penalty, he got on the green and two-putted for double bogey. A bogey on #16 had him +2 on the day hitting the turn.
There was reason for excitement on #3 when Double P birdied the par 4. After hitting his tee shot into the middle of the fairway, he put his second shot on the green and left himself a six foot birdie putt, which he drained. After back-to-back bogeys on #3 and #4, PP birdied #6, a par 5. After his 255-yard tee shot, PP flew the green with his second shot and hit out of the primary rough on his third, leaving him a one and a half foot put for birdie.
Sitting at +3 on the day after a bogey on #8, PP faced Bay Hill's third hardest hole #9, a par 4. A six foot putt left him his final birdie opp of the day, which he dropped to finish at +2 for Friday and -1 on the tourney entering Saturday.
Tune in tomorrow to see if PP can have a monster round to get back in the mix for Sunday.
-3 after first round at Arnold Palmer Invitational
ORLANDO, FL - Another strong Thursday showing for Pat Perez in the Florida swing as he went -3 in the opening round of this year's Arnold Palmer Invitational.
Last week at the PODS Championship, PP opened with a 68 and was t-7th entering the clubhouse. Today's 67 should have a similar outcome depending on weather conditions for the afternoon pairings.
Double P started blazing his trail early on today with three birdies in his first seven holes. Finding himself at -5 after #13, PP bogeyed #15 and #16 down the stretch. A six foot putt was left a foot short, leaving PP with his first bogey of the day.
On #16 Perez's tee shot went in the left rough, forcing him to lay up and avoid a water hazard. Once on the green, PP stared down an eleven foot putt which he left six inches short of the cup.
One final birdie opp presented itself on #18 but PP's eight foot putt was long, forcing him to settle for par.
Another strong outing for the kid. Friday's tee time will be announced shortly. Tune in tomorrow to watch PP attempt to move one step closer to his first Tour win.
A Sunday round of 73 put Pat Perez at t-14th for the PODS Championship.
After three straight pars, PP bogeyed #4 but bounced back with birdies on #5 and #7. After a 35 on the front nine, Sunday's pins and conditions had PP shooting 38 on the back nine with three bogeys and six pars. Double P went 68-70-69-73 this week and the t-14th finish earned him $90,100 this week. In eight events this season, PP has brought home $457,375 and is 35th in FedEx Cup standings.
Next up, the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill Club & Lodge in Orlando, FL and then three weeks to workout and gear up for another stretch. Concluding this week's PODS Championship, Double P has now played eight straight events and will take three off before the Verizon Heritage mid-April.
18 holes and a handful of talented players stand between Double P and his first Tour win.
Four under on the day after 14, PP went bogey-bogey on back-to-back holes, hitting his drive in the water on #16 and finishing today's round -2. Sitting pretty at -6 on the tourney, PP finds himself three of the lead entering Sunday and in need of a solid performance to bring home the win.
Tomorrow's tee time is set for 1:38pm ET and Double P is paired with Zach Johnson. Tune in tomorrow to see if our boy Pat Perez finally brings home that long-awaited first PGA Tour win.
TAMPA BAY, FL - Pat Perez went low today with an opening round 68, fueled by five birdies. Thursday's -3 at Innisbrook has Double P sitting t7th entering Friday's round. Tee times to be announced shortly.
Perez has been on a hot streak since 2007 kicked off. Two top ten finishes are under his belt; t10th at the Sony Open and 8th at the Nissan Open. Today's 68 marked Perez's 12th sub-70 round now in his eighth event of this season. In the seven prior events to the PODS Championship, PP has made four cuts and missed three.
PP rolls on this week in the Sunshine State. Tune in tomorrow to see how Double P rolls on at the PODS Championship.
Borat came out on DVD today. Rent it. Buy it. Steal it. Whatever. You gotta see this thing. I laughed my ass off when I saw it and can't wait to watch a hundred more times. Makes me wish I didn't leave my "What's up Vanilla Face?" shirt at home. I wore that thig all off season and I didn't bring it on the Florida swing.
On the 'new music' front, there are few bands a bud turned me on to last week. Check them out; Eve To Adam (and their new CD 'Queens of Eden') and Transmatic. He also showed me some video for a song called 'Sweep The Leg' by No More Kings.
Wasn't too big on the song, but the video had all the guys from Karate Kid in it, so I guess it's worth watching for that alone. Yeah Johnny, get 'em a body bag. I love that guy. Worth watching the vid just for that scene.
Transmatic did all the music in this movie we watched last week, Sol Goode, so we checked the credits and downloaded their stuff. Pretty solid. (If you haven't seen Sol Goode, check it out. Classic.)
I've also been beating up a few cuts Silversun Pickups, Justin Timberlake, Nickelback, Daughtry and the new Good Charlotte single. When I'm out on the road, I either have the iPod pumping at the gym or blast CD mixes in the courtesy car.
Time to get busy and gear up for this week. More later.
Double P is celebrating the big 31 today. He's also #31 in FedEx Cup points and he's back in Palm Beach Gardens for The Honda Classic, where he finished 4th in 2005. 3+1 = 4. I used to own a Prelude.
How Jim Carrey-esque and very like the new film "23". That or we're just really reaching here. Either way, PP loves playing the Florida swing and after PGATour.com's T.J. Auclair picked the kid as his 'sleeper' and dark horse this week, who knows what can happen.
Happy Birthday to PP. Below, some pics from this morning. Jeff Banaszak swung through for quick stretch and then it was off to the course with The Great H in good bud Mark Mulder's insane looking Bentley.
Here's to a great week in South Florida. Let's do this thing.
