#first came there + augusta struggles with it too. there are some benefits to having draconic blood in the Dragoncursed Lands but overall

[poptartmochi]

WAIT HEAD IN THE HANDS 🦅🦅

[torentialtribute]

A rollercoaster journey for Rory McIlroy as he recovers at the Masters

All those self-help manuals, meditation and juggling skills must come in handy on Thursday evenings as Rory McIlroy [19459004

Two-year-old two-year-old ran the risk of seeing his Grand Slam bid derailed on the opening day.

However, on this occasion I kept his calm and played his way back to red figures with three spicy birds in an orbit with four holes. It looked like it had momentum but an ugly bogey-bogey finish fitted in a whimsical version. He finished with a 73.

<img id = "i-5a02686406a6308d" src = "https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/11/ 20 / 12161444-0-image-a-1_1555009450599.jpg "height =" 497 "width =" 634 "alt =" Rory McIlroy withstood a roller coaster opening round on day one of the Masters in Augusta "class =" blkBorder img- Rory McIlroy endured a roller coaster opening round on one of the Masters in Augusta "

Rory McIlroy endured a roller coaster-coaster opening round on day one of the Masters at Augusta

< img id = "i-44a26a099e8962fa" src = "https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/11/20/12161442-0-image-a-2_1555009455227.jpg" height = "422" width = "634" alt = "McIlroy was in trouble with the first hole and had to play behind a tree" <img id = "i-44a26a099e8962fa" src = "https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s /2019/04/11/20/12161442-0-image-a-2_1555009455227.jpg "height =" 422 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-44a26a099e8962fa" src = "https: // i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/11/20/12161442-0-image-a-2_1555009455227.jpg "height =" 422 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i- 44a26a099e8962fa "src =" https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/11/20/12161442-0-image-a-2_1555009455227.jpg "height =" 422 "width =" 634 "alt = "McIlroy was in trouble at the first hole and had to play behind a tree"

McIlroy was in trouble at the first hole and had to play behind a tree

STATS BOM

Rory McIlroy shot on Thursday day 73 in Augusta.

He has never won a professional tournament with a first-round score of 73 or higher.

McIlroy played in the group behind Tiger Woods and for a very insightful first day, his sharp presentation contrasted sharply with the reassurance of the American.

The circumstances could hardly have been conducive to a good score, with fair fairways, little wind early and warm sunshine.

The first to do so was South African Justin Harding, who was soon followed by former Masters champion. Adam Scott and then Spaniard Jon Rahm, who got along well with the fanfare of playing alongside Woods.

Big-hitting Americans JB Holmes and Gary Woodland both shot rounds of 70, while Tommy Fleetwood signed for a 71. There was a terrible feeling of deja vu when McIlroy & # 39; s opening drive got out of hand and in the trees on the right. Twelve months ago he had been on this tee in the final round against Patrick Reed and hit one in the same row, but worse.

As on that earlier occasion, it told you something about the nerves felt the Northern Irish, just like his next blow from the pine cane, who caught a sagging branch and came far enough away from the green . A chip and two putts later, and he had his first bogey.

In the past, McIlroy might have panicked and hit hard after a difficult start.

<img id = "i-2d7fa1e83916d9bd" src = "https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/11/22/12161440-6913263-In_the_past_McIlroy_might_well_have_panicked_and_pushed_too155. jpg "height =" 465 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-2d7fa1e83916d9bd" src = "https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/11/22/12161440 -6913263-In_the_past_McIlroy_might_well_have_panicked_and_pushed_too_hard-a-9_1555016715199.jpg "height =" 465 "width =" 634 "alt =" In the past McIlroy may have been panicked and bumped after a difficult start "194591010 [1945008]

In the past, McIlroy might have panicked and been hit too hard after a difficult start

<img id = "i-ac887f09cde7852c" src = "https: / /i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/11/20/12161434-0-image-a-5_1555009464385.jpg "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt =" [The Northern Irish calm down and played himself back in the fight with Augusta] <img id = "i-ac887f09cde7 852c "src =" https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/11/20/12161434-0-image-a-5_1555009464385.jpg "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt "The Northern Irishman kept his calm and played himself back in the battle with Augusta. <img id = "i-ac887f09cde7852c" src = "https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/11/20/12161434-0-image-a-5_1555009464385.jpg" height = "423 "width =" 634 "alt =" <img id = "i-ac887f09cde7852c" src = "https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2019/04/11/20/12161434-0-image-a -5_1555009464385.jpg "height =" 423 "width =" 634 "alt =" The Northern Irishman kept his calm and played himself back in the battle with Augusta.

A chance to repair the damage hip in the short par-four thirds in a birdie.

The beginning of the legendary ninth back party has caused many attacks over the years and threatened to lose contact.

He had to take advantage of the opportunity of the par-five 13th and did that to return to a two-putt birdie.

I pulled his tee, I pulled his tee, I pulled it all over, he also shot at the par five 15th, and sighed deeply as his ball hit the forest the left went – but he caught a break, searched a hole in the trees for his second shot, and took advantage of the good shot to 20 feet.

The value of staying patient was shown in the following when he pierced the 30 foot putt for a birdie. Suddenly he was one under and in the sight of the leaders.

The Australian Adam Scott was the one who set the pace on the first day

Usually his strong suit, driving McIlroy, caused him trouble again on the 17th and he paid the price with another bogey.

Fleetwood might have been a little disappointed with his score after skillfully negotiating the front nine in 34 shots. The tone was set from the start, with a 50-foot putt on the first to 18 inches that he said his touch was sure.

One bird on the second was followed by another on the seventh to be in excellent condition

The 28-year-old was the other for the difficult 10th bogey, and in the birdie followed the 13th. A bogey on the 14th and he was in danger of losing all his winnings, but a birdie on the 15th followed by three pars kept him in red.

Scott won the Masters in 2013 and has revived this year and benefits from the greens by being able to watch the flagpoles.

The 38-year-old feels that by focusing on the slenderness of the stick, the hole appears to be larger, and it certainly seemed as big as a bucket above the closing holes when it birdied three of the last four.

Justin Harding from South Africa was next to Scott and John Rahm on the leaderboard Scott and John Rahm on top of the leaderboard

& # 39; I thought I played well all day, but the flags were in such difficult places that I couldn't see many birds until I got some good numbers had in the last few holes & # 39 ;, said the Queenslander

Harding came here for his Masters debut as the horse of the European Tour, with a maiden victory in Qatar and second place in the Kenyan Open.

& # 39; Considering how many rookies fought over the years in the first round, I am naturally very happy with that score, & he said.

Lucas Bjerregaard went to the recent WGC Match Play in Texas as perhaps the best kept secret in Europe, but that all changed with his quarter-final win over Woods, heading for fourth place overall.

Masters debutant Eddie Pepperell struggled to replicate the excitement of his recent third-placed finish at the Players Championship when he opened with a 74.

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[notyourordinarysuperman]

2018 Year In Review

2018 hasn’t been exactly the kind of year that I expected it to be. I had a lot of great experiences but also had a ton of downfalls that had me almost quitting. To say that I had a tough year is an understatement. This year was the second year of officially being done with college and actually starting to do “adult” things. Not those things, but the things an adult would do to survive. Right now I’m writing this while listening to Spotify’s custom-made playlist “Christmas Pop”, so forgive me for the messy, disorganized thought process happening right in this post. 

Drama aside, 2018 has taught me a lot of lessons that I’d never get anywhere else aside from being at the rock bottom. Sure, the mountain top gave me a view of what’s below, but the real things happen on the other side. Without further ado, here’s my 2018. 

January was a month that I officially started at my new job as a Behavior Therapist. I started working with young children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), implementing treatment programs tailored for each individual’s needs. At first I was hesitant to take the job, but it was 5 minutes away from the house and it provided an opportunity for me to go full-time. This, in turn would provide me with benefits and more earnings, which I need because I planned to go back to school this year. I started the training process, which seemed easy at first. But the real deal happened when I started face-to-face training with the children. 

February came, and I was focused on working a lot of extra hours from being part-time for a month. I finished my training and passed the preliminary competency tests. I was so happy,  and they immediately scheduled my exam to become an official Registered Behavior Technician. I had a week to review and then I made it. Man, was I so happy. I became fully independent with my kids and starting getting close to 40 hours almost every week. 

March was a rather chill month for work, except that I started doubting if I’ll ever be enough for my significant other. We haven’t spent a lot of quality online time (we were in an LDR since 2016) I felt that my partner was pulling away. I tried to save it but the arguments would always end in a hot mess. I tried giving him the space he needs and he gave me mine. Also, I almost lost my cousin in what seems to be an unexpected elopement into Oregon after an Instagram story stating she doesn’t care anymore. I was so distressed and I couldn’t give my 100% at work all of the time. Thankfully, we were able to take her back, and man, was I so happy. 

April was significant, because this was the month my employers offered me full-time status and benefits. I was doubting myself but I just accepted the offer since this was what I was waiting for, anyway. I started working full 40-hour weeks and oh boy, the adjustment was not what I expected. I took the leap from 25-28 hrs/week to a full 40. I didn’t know how much 12 additional hours of work could do until I did it. 

May was a month I’d always remember because  I thought I could salvage what I had with my partner. We were supposed to be 2 years the following month. And things went along fine for a while. But that’s what I thought. It went downhill from this month on, eventually leading to our break up. At the same time, I got my permission letter from the Board, allowing me to take my examination to become a nurse in the state of California. I had to force myself to review 3 hrs a night after work, even when I was not emotionally prepared. I was determined not to let my depression get in the way of my license. I have waited so long for this. 

June was supposed to be the month of our 2-year anniversary, but unfortunately, we didn’t make it. I still woke up exactly at 12 midnight on the supposed day of our anniversary. We were both online, but we posted separate things on our profiles but probably made it visible only to each other. I was so devastated, and I was crying for 4 hrs straight. We decided that we’d have no form of any contact after this, in  order to start our recovery. It was hard. I tried hard, and I was able not to contact him but almost every night I was crying so much. 

My examination was a week away from it, so I decided to stop reviewing and just take a break and reserve myself for the test. Thank heavens I passed. I officially got my license number a few days after I passed it. 

July was my birthday month. I decided I’d focus myself on work and family for now. I wasn’t emotionally ready for anything anyway, as I am still not okay. But it didn’t feel as significant as I usually would have, because I celebrated my birthday at work. I was with my kids and they greeted me, but I wish I was off on that day. Haha. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job and the kids, but I hope I was not working that day, that’s all.  My family and I celebrated my birthday just with a dinner at a restaurant. I think that’s how adults celebrate it, right? Also, this month was the one I started feeling a little bit of burnout here and there because of long work hours combined with working with different kids almost everyday. It tested my flexibility and knowledge of the basics that I learned from training and how I’d apply it to a kid I haven’t worked with before. Thankfully I survived, and most of them love me now. Haha!

August was the month I was saving up most of my money from work because I decided to go back to school for some further studies. Thankfully my dad said he’d help me and so I enrolled for a program that started the following month. It’s still ongoing, and I hope to finish it with flying colors. I was afraid my employers wouldn’t let me do it, but fortunately, they did. They said it was because of how they value me as an awesome (their words, not mine) employee and they’d rather have me gone for a little bit than forever. 

I was still recovering from my emotions when he decided to visit my house and actually talk to me, after months of not talking. I so badly wanted to get back together, but I told myself not to do it. We talked for a bit but I was holding back my words and my tears the whole time. I tried to be happy for him and pretend that I’m okay with what he was saying. What a way to end my August. 

I started studying in September in Miami, Florida. It was my first time there, and it was so humid and warm at the same time. Luckily, I made some new friends. However, I decided I’d live on my own because it provided me with a sense of privacy and just in case I wouldn’t have any friends while I’m there. I was wrong.

October rolled and although I was friends with almost all of my classmates, I had joined a specific group of people I’d call my home. We had a lot of shared stories almost every night, and we’d always hang out late. I formed a friendship I haven’t had in such a long time, and I thought I didn’t deserve them. But they made me feel like I can be myself around them. 

November was like October, except that there were a lot of instances where I’d feel burnout at work; I had this one kid I’m working with that even though I’ve already had him for 3 months, he showed low to no signs of improvement on the targets my team had. I began to feel frustrated and I’d usually doubt myself if I deserved to be working with this kid.  There were nights when I’d blame myself. 

December went by so fast. I didn’t even feel it until it was done. School was still going on, and me and my classmates had a Christmas Party in Miami. I had a small argument with one of my close friends, one of those I had made in October. I’ve apologized ever since, but we haven’t talked to each other after it happened. 

I know I shouldn’t be feeling hurt anymore, but I did, as I saw my ex got engaged. I know it shouldn’t be a big deal but for me it was. I thought when the right time came, I could win him back. But nope, not anymore. 

One of the best things happened this month though, as I was able to see my older brother in Augusta, Georgia after not seeing him for 6 years. I flew straight from Miami to Augusta and spent 4 days in Georgia. He and his friends took me to Atlanta and showed me all the beautiful places to go visit. They took me out to awesome restaurants and we ate so much food. I flew right back to California on the 24th to celebrate Christmas with my parents, though. Well, also because I had work on the 26th. 

I know for a lot of people, the things I have here are mostly normal “adult” things, but words are not enough to explain the emotions, feelings, and thoughts I had this year. I apologize if you think I wasted your time reading this post of my year in review. I try to do this so I won’t forget significant things that happened to my life every year. 

I must say that even though there were bad things that happened to me this year, I’m glad I survived this year. This year was definitely harder than 2017, and 2016 (which was my best year so far). My patience, faith, and resilience was tested a lot this year. I received a lot of great things and learned a lot of valuable lessons, which I will be carrying this next year. There were things I wish I could turn back, and there were things I wish I could’ve just skipped. But I think the journey is part of the process. I want to think that everything I’m going through right now is supposed to make me a better person than I was yesterday, which is what I strive for everyday. 

I’d like to say sorry for everyone I hurt this year, be it intentionally and unintentionally. I never meant to hurt anyone. Thank you for everyone new I met, thank you for those who stuck with me through thick and thin, thank you for those who came and taught me lessons. 

Cheers to you, my dear reader (if you made it this far), for finishing 2018. I wish you all the best for the following years to come. I know you had a hard year too, one filled with struggles and pain. But guess what? We made it. 

Thank you, 2018. Next!

[junker-town]

The Players Championship 2017: Predictions and picks for TPC Sawgrass

The Players Championship boasts the strongest field in golf on one of the most exciting courses in the world. Here are some picks and predictions for the week at Sawgrass.

The Players Championship has carved out a unique identity as the premier championship on the PGA Tour. It’s on one of the more famous courses in the world and this is the week we make our annual visit to TPC Sawgrass. Dustin Johnson is back following his mishap on the steps in Augusta. Rory McIlroy is back after getting married. Sergio Garcia is back after taking a month away with his new jacket.

The best in the world all show up for this championship, which boasts one of the richest purses in the game and its strongest field. SB Nation golf staffers Brendan Porath and Kyle Robbins hit some of the discussion points and make some predictions for this week at The Players.

Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy, the Nos. 1 and 2 players in the world, are paired together for the first two days. Who has the better week?

Kyle Robbins: There’s no real point in debating it at this current moment: Dustin Johnson is the best player in golf right now, back injury or not. But if you’re thinking back, this time just last year we watched the no-doubt, best-player-in-the-world dominate Sawgrass — that was Jason Day. Golf is hard, maybe we should stop rushing these proclamations.

At nearly any other course, DJ and Rory might be your favorites. They likely will be at Erin Hills in one month. But this is Sawgrass — where the premium is on shotmaking, not bludgeoning the course with distance. It’s a test as mental as physical. Day overcame career struggles here to win by changing his approach tactically, leaving the driver in his bag often. Even with his dominance, I’m not sure I trust DJ to pull back the reigns enough to win here. I think both stay in the Top 15 to 20, but I’ll guess Rory has a better shot to contend here.

Brendan Porath: With the Tiger era over, we all too often have what is, to me, this rather tedious debate about which player is “best at his best.” Some argue for Jordan Spieth. Some for Jason Day. Others for Dustin Johnson. And many for Rory McIlroy, who has as many major championships as those three combined.

It’s an unanswerable question that takes up a lot of media air time. We’ll never a get a week where all the top players in the world are playing at their best. What is true, however, is that DJ has been the best player in the world — at his best, his close-to-best, his mediocre, his whatever — for almost a full year now. He became No. 1 in the world just this February, but no one has been doing it better on a weekly basis since his U.S. Open win last June. I expect him to be back again challenging for another win this week.

DJ came off that injury layoff from his Masters tumble down the stairs and immediately contended at the Wells Fargo last week. It was like nothing happened. Rory, meanwhile, got married, turned 28 years old, and signed a new equipment mega deal during his layoff since the Masters.

This is supposed to be a course where driving distance is mitigated — one of the few remaining on the PGA Tour and in professional golf. That’s a DJ and Rory strength but I’d still be surprised if both are not in the hunt on Sunday afternoon. Rory seems ready for another top 10 (which doesn’t necessarily mean he’s in contention), with DJ pushing for for his fourth win in five starts. It’s hard to pick anyone, even Rory, to finish ahead of DJ these days.

Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images

Rory is back, and now he’s got a bobblehead too.

Is The Players the "5th major?" Does that even mean anything? Do we care anymore about this?

Brendan: Ahhh, the annual discussion about a “fifth major.” I do not care about this. If you feel like it is -- fine. If you scoff at the notion — cool, whatever. The debate has seemed to quiet in recent years and the PGA Tour definitely doesn’t try to push that narrative, either overtly or behind-the-scenes.

It does not matter whether The Players Championship is a major or not even close. What it is is a completely unique event that occupies its own space in the game. No one skips this event. It draws the strongest field of the season and is on an instantly recognizable course made-for-TV and rowdy crowds. It doesn’t have to have the traditions or test of golf like the majors. It is a huge golf event and party floating in its own space, which is perfectly fine separate and apart from the traditional four majors. The Tour and those covering the game have seemed to embrace that.

Kyle: Yeah, that’s about where I’m at. I do, personally, enjoy the Players. It’s very much different from the week-in, week-out tour experience, it provides the best field in the sport, and it’s held on a one-of-a-kind track. On the heels of the reformatted Zurich Classic & Golfsixes last week in London, this is really the home of weird golf.

In general, we in golf spend waaaaaaaay too much time forcing the conversation about where things stand in history. You can’t classify everything with binary logic. Is it a fifth major? Does it matter? I don’t know, time will tell. The PGA still isn’t prestigious enough for some folks — and it’s gonna be played for the 98th time this year!

The Players is another point on the schedule to get super excited for some awesome golf. Just enjoy that for what it is. It’ll be much more enjoyable.

The island 17th hole is one of the most instantly recognizable holes in the world. It also gets a ton of hype. Are you a fan or jaded cynic?

Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

A diabolical Dye design, the island 17th will turn into one of the rowdiest scenes in golf come Sunday.

Kyle: If we’re gonna be super honest, 17’s not a hard hole -- the water and the optics provide more bark than bite. For a replacement-level college player, it’s a pretty stock gap wedge to a relatively large green. Swirling winds can be the lone defense, and even then, well — it’s a relatively short par-3. Tour stats reflect that.

That said! This is a 10/10 good hole for televised, tournament golf. It’s iconic, there’s a stadium-like feel to it for fans on the course, and the finishing stretch of 16-17-18 is classic Pete Dye and as good as any for drama in golf. Not every hole need be diabolical — it just needs ample risk/reward benefit. Trailing by a shot or two on Sunday and firing at that classic tucked front-right pin provides that. It’s cathartic.

Brendan: Along the same lines of the “fifth major” discussion, the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass is an annual tradition I’ve come to terms with. It’s a fine hole, a big party, and makes for a good broadcast, whatever your opinion is of its architectural merits. I used to pan the hype around it but maybe I’ve gone soft as I get older.

Who is your darkhorse pick to either win or contend (odds here)?

Brendan: The winners at this event since 2012 are really a who’s who from the top of the world rankings over the last five years. But it still carries a rep as an event with an extremely deep field that produces random winners. When it comes to gambling on golf, the value almost never lies with the top stars and favorites. I like Matt Fitzpatrick way down the board at 100/1 -- he’s played here only once, missing the cut, but he’s a super ball striker and tends to play well in tougher conditions. Patrick Cantlay at 80/1 is also a great sleeper pick.

Kyle: I’m gonna go with another young Englishman: How about Tommy Fleetwood at 80-1? The 26-year-old is having the best season of his career — 2nd in the European Tour’s Race To Dubai rankings. He’s already had success in big events in North America this year, a runner-up at the WGC-Mexico & a top-10 at Arnie’s event. He’s an elite ballstriker & hits greens by the boatload. If he’s able to make enough putts, he’ll be in the conversation this weekend.

Photo by Sam Greenwood/Getty Images

In the middle of a breakout season, Fleetwood leads the European Tour in GIR in 2017.

This is known as one of the harder events on the PGA Tour to handicap. What makes it so difficult and so unique?

Brendan: It’s Pete Dye golf with lots of trouble and a layout that doesn’t automatically reward the guys who can bomb it the farthest off the tee. Distance is still an advantage, as it is everywhere in the game in this era. But things can even out here and make it harder to predict. That can make for a fun tournament unless you end up with some titanic Sunday clash between, oh I dunno, Brian Stuard and Sean O’Hair.

Kyle: You’re totally right, but I think you can even take this a step further. Golf is hard, lots of guys can win on any given week, and this is the best field in golf. There’s not the dead-weight of The Masters, the amateurs of the US Open & Open Championship, and the club pros of the PGA. This is, top-to-bottom, guys that can truly win the event. That makes it harder to predict, especially combined with Dye’s tricked-up track.

Who's your winner this week and why?

Brendan: I am going with the third wheel in that marquee group of the first two days, passing on Dustin Johnson and Rory McIlroy to pick Justin Thomas as my winner. JT has cooled off a bit since he lit the world on fire in the first couple months of the season. But he has professed his love for this championship and has backed it up with results in his first two years at The Players, finishing inside the top 25 as a rookie and T3 last year. He’s also shown each year that he can put a “round of the day” type number up at Sawgrass -- that Saturday 65 in his 2015 debut rocketed him into contention for Sunday’s final round and was one of the major statements of his rookie season. He returns this year as a top 10 ranked player in the world, has all the game and distance off the tee to compete anywhere in the world, and playing a course he loves and has figured out early in his career. That’s my pick.

Kyle: I like the JT pick. Loving a course you’re playing can be half the battle. But I’ll go a little different route for a young guy and take, um, Jordan Spieth. Is it weird he still seems to sit a bit under the radar? I’ll admit, there’s no particular rhyme or reason on this one — Rahm, JT, even Sergio or DJ. But for whatever reason, this just feels right. A track like Sawgrass should fit Spieth’s game a touch. Don’t be shocked if he’s taking home the crystal on Sunday.