Join us as we take a tour on the PGA Tour with Parker McLachlin, a former Punahou athlete. McLachlin earned his PGA Tour card for this season. He joins Castle alum Dean Wilson as the only Hawai'i golfers on the PGA Tour. McLachlin, Waikoloa's touring pro, will write his impressions on events that he's just completed and tournaments that are upcoming on his calendar.

Aloha.

I'm writing to you from Phoenix this week. While I'm missing out on U.S. Open week at Oakmont, I was able to play last week in Memphis and make the cut after spending two great weeks in Hawai'i. I had returned home to Hawai'i for the high school graduation of my brother Spencer and my father's (Chris) retirement. I can't describe to you how proud I am of both my little brother and my dad.

While I was in Hawai'i, I was able to do a junior clinic at Waikoloa. The turnout was absolutely great and I'm so happy that junior golf in Hawai'i kicked off in such a great way. I really believe that it's important for me to stay in touch with the junior golfers in Hawai'i and a big thank you goes to the people at Waikoloa for understanding how important junior golf is to Hawai'i's youth. It wasn't too long ago that I was in their exact shoes, looking up at players like Scott Simpson and thinking that I, too, could make it to the PGA Tour from Hawai'i.

It's already June, but I'm still learning how to make adjustments on the PGA Tour. I took the red eye from Hawai'i to Memphis last Monday and by the time Thursday rolled around I was ready to go. I had a lot of energy and I was playing great, but I seemed to lose some of that energy on the weekend because the travel started to catch up to me.

Unfortunately, this past weekend was a reminder to me why I'm unable to live full-time in Hawai'i and play on the PGA Tour. We play so many tournaments now on the East Coast, and to go back and forth so many times is just so difficult. Trust me, if I could live in Hawai'i full-time, I'd be there in a second.

I need to make a pick for the U.S. Open. For those of you who might remember, I picked guys that did really well in The Masters so I'm confident I'll make some good picks again. I actually played Oakmont in the U.S. Amateur there in 2003 and that is a special place. Since then, they have taken away all the trees and made all the holes longer and harder. They juiced it up to say the least. Depending on wind and the elements, the winning score will probably be 6-over par.

Tiger and Phil will certainly be up there, but look out for a guy like Vaughn Taylor, who hits it straight and putts well. The other guy I'm going with is Scott Verplank. He's one of those veterans who has been playing well recently. After the U.S. Open my schedule is about to get hectic. It's off to Hartford for the Travelers Championship, then Michigan for the Buick, and hopefully then to Washington, D.C. for Tiger's tournament at Congressional.

Who knows, I may have a nice stretch there and be able to take some more time off. I think you know where I'll be if I get some time off. Right there with you all in Hawai'i.

Mahalo,

Parker

Parker McLachlin can be reached at www.parkermclachlin.com