(Editor's Note: Russ Holden is a PGA Professional and the caddie for World Golf Hall of Fame member and 2004 European Ryder Cup captain Bernhard Langer. He also is CEO of the charitable organization, Caddy For a Cure. Holden's tour diary appears regularly on About.com Golf.
Hello from N'awlins, the best food stop on the PGA Tour!
We had a mediocre week this week and finished near the bottom of the pack, but we ate like kings and were treated like gold from one of the nicest stops out there.
My favorite pro-am on Wednesday - food stops on every third hole with magnificent N'awlins native food. They had grilled oysters on the tenth tee smothered in garlic and Romano and Parmesan cheeses. Amazingly good. Raw oysters on the first tee. Many other Tour stops should take note of this and try it. It sure made being out there for 5.5 hours a lot more palatable!
We had some good pairings this week. We played with Dennis Paulson on Thursday and Friday and he was a joy to play with. He played pretty well and has a great swing. We played with Paul Azinger on Saturday and his caddy, Ted Scott, is one of the coolest guys out there. We sure had a fun day. Other than a wicked double bogey on No. 11, Paul played really well. He is back working with his longtime coach John Redmond and he is back to his old self knocking down flags. His penetrating ball flight in those winds we played in was awesome!
His key thought right now is to keep the palm of the right hand facing down going back. This keeps the shaft moving up more steeply and never "laid off." It sure is working for him, and Bernhard even hit some balls yesterday to try it himself.
We are not playing the Wachovia event in North Carolina but are playing the two Dallas-Fort Worth events.
Caddy for a Cure (www.caddyforacure.com) is rolling along right now with four auctions up on the block, including one featuring Sergio Garcia. This is the chance of a lifetime to carry the bag for a day with one of the greatest players in the world on one of the greatest golf courses. Every dollar you spend will go to help change the lives of someone in need. Check it out!
