Blog: Vranesh reflects on q-school, hopes to avoid it

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Editor's note: Brian Vranesh, 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 after the St. Jude Classic on the PGA TOUR.

July 30, 2009

Vranesh

There's nothing quite like q-school. It's some of the most intense competition I've ever experienced, but, ironically, you're playing against a number instead of playing against other players per se. It's a ton of pressure, and it's something I wouldn't want to go through again. But if it happens, at least I know what to expect and how I've dealt with it before. I posted six consecutive rounds under par at PGA West (in La Quinta, Calif.), including two 65s. I really got on a nice roll.

After playing the Nationwide Tour in 2007, I thought I was ready. The Nationwide is a fanastic tour when it comes to top-flight competition. In fact, I haven't really noticed a big jump in the talent pool at this level. Nationwide guys can be birdie machines, and you really have to go low to compete out there. The courses are set up a bit different than on the PGA TOUR, but the players are really good. I've done a lot of different jobs in my life, including waiting tables, delivering pizzas, stuff like that. Being out here is a privilege, and I just want to figure out the best way to stay out here. If it doesn't happen this year, I'll work hard to get back.

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June 17, 2009

Well, I basically changed every club in my bag, changed to cross-handed putting and have seen a sports physiologist. Oh yeah, and I changed my golf ball. I want to compete out here and I just wasn't getting down consistently enough. I shot two 66s at the St. Jude Classic and finished in the top 40 for my best tournament finish of the year, so I guess something went right for a change.

I wasn't stopping the ball quickly enough on my approach shots so I changed my TaylorMade irons to graphite and that's made a nice difference. It's a much softer feel at impact and they're flying great. I also put a new 3-wood and new pitching wedges in the bag. I switched back to the Titleist Pro VI 07 ball because of feel as well. I'm fortunate enough to have a good friend on my bag. The guy (Darren Angel) basically taught me to play golf. He encouraged me to look at my putting grip and go with the cross-handed style. After a round in which I missed eight putts of less than 15 feet, he gave me a challenge. He said to putt 10 balls from 10 feet with my regular grip and 10 from 10 with the cross-handed style. I went 5 for 10 with the regular grip and 7 for 10 cross-handed. It feels weird at first, but I'm rolling it better than I ever have before so I'm definitely sticking with it. I had 24 putts the first time I used it in the second round and that's my lowest total for the year. I'm naturally left-handed so this has really helped me since I tend to push a lot of putts.

My cousin hooked me up with a sports physiologist that works with Robert Allenby among others. I asked Allenby about him at the HP Byron Nelson Championship and he said the guy (Peter Crone) was actually caddying for him that round. I chatted with Peter a little there and then met up with him in San Diego for lunch. I've talked to him several times since and it's really made an impact.

My next stop is Fort Smith, Ark., and trying to make some Nationwide Tour money so I can stay out here. I love watching golf, so I'll likely tune in for some U.S. Open fun. It's always fun watching how silly the U.S. Open makes the best golfers in the world. I would love to try that out for myself some day.

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April 20, 2009

I played pretty well last week in Athens, but had a crazy finish that left me down the leaderboard. I was 7 under coming into the final three holes and made a pair of double bogeys down the stretch.

On No. 18, I hit it in the mud and tried to get it out of there after some fans and my playing partner talked me into giving it go. They wanted me to pull a Henrik Stenson and disrobe. I decided to just roll up my pants and take off my shirt. Unfortunately, it didn't come out and I had to drop. I chipped it to within a couple of feet and made the putt with no shirt and my pants still pulled up.

The way I look at it, I need to try to make as many birdies as possible on the Nationwide Tour so I'm being much more aggressive. I'm playing in the Zurich Classic of New Orleans this week on the PGA TOUR, so we'll see if the putter is rolling.