Blog: Nitties doing well but wants to be better

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James Nitties is 88th in FedExCup points, so he easily made The Barclays field. Will he make it to TPC Boston?

Editor's note: James Nitties, a member of this year's Citi Mentor Program (click here for more), will write a blog for PGATOUR.COM periodically during the 2009 season. In his most recent post, he updates us on his problems with his game and his first Playoffs start.

Aug. 27, 2009

If you told me at the start of the season that I'd be in the top 90 money list at this point, I would have taken it. But when I look closer, I'm also disappointed it hasn't been better. I could easily be in the top 50 if not better, but I haven't been able to finish off tournaments. I'm getting off to great starts and fading on the weekend. It's absolutely killing me. I'm not sure what it is. I don't think I'm choking on the weekend, but some of it is experience.

Another part of it is running low on energy for those later tee times on the weekends. I can fix that easily. Whatever it is, I need to figure it out because it's driving me nuts. I'm in good shape and always have been a workout guy. But because of the long schedule, it's been tough to get on a good fitness routine. I started the season at 182 pounds and now weigh in at 170. That could be part of my fade as well. But again, it's something I can correct.

This week, we're playing a course that no one has played a competitive tournament on. That means for the first time, everyone is a rookie of sorts, which is great for me. Also, this is the type of course I absolutely love. It's very demanding: Dry and hard just like a lot of Australian courses. I love when a course is tough. The tougher the better for my game. I'm used to tournaments being won with a 3-under score, not 18 under. They say it might rain this weekend, but I'm praying it stays away, keeping the course dry and hard. That's my style. Can't wait.

July 2, 2009

How do I get prepared for a tournament? Well, tonight I'm sitting back and watching "America's Got Talent." I love that show. They just had a guy who catches chickens and sings country songs. He was tremendous. That show always amazes me. They have on so many people who don't look like much and then they are fantastic. It's a great way to relax.

I took last week off after playing for six straight weeks. Overall, I could be playing better, especially with my wedge and putter. That's why I'm playing this week with a pair of new wedges and a new-look putter. I needed the better grooves on the wedges to spin it better and I really just wanted a different look on the greens with the putter. I didn't change my stroke, but I think the new look will help. We'll see.

This week's course is probably the best I've seen from an overall perspective. It's tough, a great ball-striker's course and it's in phenomenal condition. The only thing that disappoints me is that it's too soft from the rain in the area lately. I really was looking forward to playing courses like this when they're hard and fast. I'm used to that from Australia and I perform better versus the field in those conditions. I'm killing it off the tee and smashing it straight. When it's hard and fast, I have an advantage. But when it's soft like it was the first two days of the Open, everyone can throw it right at the pin.

Then again, I can only blame myself for the way I played at the Open. I shot 78 the first day in great conditions. I just made a couple of stupid mistakes and that led to a bad score. I shot 1 under on the second day and really didn't play all that well. When I look up at the leaderboard on Sunday, part of me was disappointed that it should have been me. Part of me was glad to see a rookie like Ricky Barnes hanging in there. He's got the game but hasn't played well so far this year. I knew he would finish in the top three and he should have finished second.

The National is a big deal thanks to Tiger Woods, of course. It would be nice to get back into contention again and play under pressure on the weekends. I've played well from tee to green, but I definitely need to focus on my short game after this season. I could be getting a lot more from my rounds because I know I'm very close.

May 6, 2009
I've been hanging around Jacksonville as the fourth alternate for THE PLAYERS. It doesn't look very promising. Unless I take matters into my own hands and start messing with some competitors' vehicles, I'm on the outside looking in. OK, just kidding. But I really am disappointed not making that field. I started the season playing so well that I thought this was a very achievable goal. Honestly, I haven't scored well during my last three tournaments, but I'm not that far off from playing well again.

Nitties

I'm hitting my driver better than at anytime in my career. But the short game is letting me down. My short irons are leaving me too far from the hole - 10-15 feet vs. 5-8 feet. And I'm not making any putts. The putts are rolling well, but it's a combination of not knowing the greens very well and I'm just a bit off with my short game. If I do get the boot by THE PLAYERS, I plan to take a week off without even looking at a golf club. I want to focus on my physical and mental fitness.

I'm going to be playing in four tournaments in a row, including the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial and the Memorial Tournament. It's going to be a great run coming up, so I want to make sure my fitness is high. I've been pressing too much lately. I think my early success gave me a lot of confidence, and I just need to find that type of confidence again. I know I can play well out here, and I'm oh-so-close to doing that again. Can't wait to get it going soon.

April 14, 2009
I never really had what you'd call a traditional mentor growing up. My dad and mom did sacrifice a ton to get me out on the golf course, though. We didn't have a lot of money, but they did everything possible to get me out there traveling with the junior tours even if it meant they slept on the floors of the hotel rooms. About six years ago, my sister started dating a world-ranked kickboxer. He gave me some great advice on the mental aspects of being a professional athlete and also how to present myself as a gentleman. I learned a lot from him even though we play completely different sports.