Trying to make the Big Tour- A TPG dynasty
 

Using the newly released, Total Pro Golf, created a Tour: I decided to let the game decide my potentials, but here's my starting ratings: (on a 1-100 basis)

Power: 55
Woods:55
Long Irons: 55
Short Irons: 65
Wedges:75
Putting: 65
Mechanics: 55
Recovery:60
Mental:50
Consistency: 65

Well, the shorter shot, the better off I am, but let's see how this goes..

First stop is to buy equipment and to hire a caddy:

I buy Hewle Golf Clubs: The set costs me $1900, but they're above average, and starting probably will need all the help I can get.

I buy JAG golf balls, which are cheaper then the clubs, they're also above average and will cost me $490

I still have 47,700 or so of my $50,000 starting money, and it's time to hire a caddy.

Trying to fix my power deficiency, I hire Jorge Harper, who used to play full time on tour. He had the nickname Boom on tour because that was the sound he'd make when the club hit the ball, usually over 300 yards.

He's rated as a 9 for the Long game, 6 for the short game, and 8 for putting which is good.

Unfortunately, he's not the best TEACHER, as he only has a 2 for mechanics and 2 for mental.

He'll cost me $362/wk for coaching.. and two six packs when ever I show up for a training session.

My caddy is Riley Baker, who's average at Strategy and Reading Greens (5 in each, but costs $350/week, and for a guy on the lower tour, that's not so bad.

I miss the first two JAG tour events practicing, (screwed up), but now I understand the calendar system, and will be playing in the 3rd Jag Tour event, The Norsoft Championships at the Risk/Reward Course in England

The first hole is a Par Four. I'm in trouble right off the tee, where my first shot finds the bunker on the right hand side of the fairway.. I can only play my 2nd shot out from there to the fairway.

The third shot, I get agressive and go for the flag, but land in one of the pot bunkers that surround the green. *sighs*

I flop a shot out of there, and two putt to take my double bogey.

Welcome to the golfer's life, Chumley.

(1, +2)

I bogey the 2nd hole, a par three, after a shot so horrid it's hard to describe.. let's just say if it was better, it would've splashed.

(2, +3)

Let's just say it went down hill from there, especially on a par 3, where I took an ungodly score.

Ugh.

As Boom and I drink heavily in the club bar that night, I shake my head.

"96 for the first round.. twenty four over par... what the hell.." I mutter into my fourth scotch and whiskey of the evening..

"It's ok, kid.. first round jitters, plus that one hole just ruined your day.. it happens to the best of us.. Besides, there's ways of reducing it.."

I look at him through bleary eyes.. "Yah.. what's that?"

"We're doin it right now, kid.. come tommorrow, you'll be so hurting that you won't be nervous about your play. Don't forget, you got an 8 AM start time." Boom says, grinning..

I look at the clock.. 1:45 AM.

Fuck.

I l

The 2nd round starts just as bad, with an 8 over on the first hole, as I fight through the hangover, but I settle down, and even eagle the 18th hole.. it's still an 83, 35 over for the tournament, but I think I'll do better next time.

I sim the next tournament, and go 80-84 and miss that cut too, it's a learning experience.

Up next is the Stellatech Open from Devon, England

A bad first round of 85 dooms me.. but a 74 2nd round gives me something to build on, besides missing the cut.

Again.

I make my first cut the following event, at the Hofstar Regional Classic, as I shoot a 70-73 to make the cut.. put myself breifly into Top 10 contention with a 70 in the third round, but a 76 in the final round leaves me +1 for the tourney, 14 shots behind the winner, but tied for 15th, and earns me $8,533. Which will pay my way on tour for about six weeks.

I miss the next two cuts, one by just two strokes, but I'm starting to battle tour fatigue.

My first top 10 Finish comes at Risk/Reward, as I shoot +9 over four rounds to finish 9th, and earn another $14,000. Which is really good, because it puts me at positive money for the year, at least temporarily.

I have $53,000 in the bank.

I get my first sponsorship, as Tenasa Technology offers me a combined $11,000 a year to be the sponsor on my shirt and bag, for the next couple of years. Hey, it's free money ;)

A few weeks later, I pick up a 7th place finish at the Sibeton Open, and that earns me another $14K.... plus I now have a club and ball sponsor.

The Brodems club and ball will set me back a bit, they're new, and not as well regarded as the ones I'm using, but more importantly, they're free :D

I miss the next couple cuts as I get used to the clubs, but then..

BREAK THRU.

Round 1: 71 (-1)
Round 2: 70 (-2, -3 total)
Round 3: 69 (-3, -6 total)

I'm playing in the final pairing with a guy who's two shots ahead of me. Just gotta play my game, and I'll really cash well, and even if I don't win, a good cash could lead to me playing on the big tour next year (winners of three tournaments automatically qualify, the top 20 money list on the Junior tour qualify, and there's a last gasp qualifier)

I shoot an even par 72, punctuated witha birdie on 17 that gives me a 1 shot lead.. and a par on the 18th earns me $85,499, and my first junior tour win! 2nd place shot a 75.. so wow!

The win puts me at $122,432 for the year, good for 13th on the money list. If I continue to play this way, I could be getting my Tour card very soon!

Just in case I was getting cocky, I shoot 77-72 the next week and miss the cut ;)

ANd it's irony that having posted a full 18 posts/holes, my game crashed. I did not save, but I got home and immediately made a new game :)

I'm really encouraged by what I read yesterday... leaning closer to buying this!

I'm curious about fatigue(and I just bought the game last night and havne't read much on it...). At what point do you decide to skip a tournament? The 2nd and 3rd tournaments on the JAG tour are back to back. I made the cut in the first one somehow and after its over I'm at 70 energy and I assume am going to really suffer next week, but with 3 weeks off after that, I don't want to not play. Just curious how you make those decisions at this point.

I start managing energy (taking days off etecetera) at 80, and take weeks off when I', below 60 fatigue