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 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 from Dallas.

Last week was the Verizon Heritage. I was out to get even with the golf course. As those of you who have followed my career closely, last year I played very poorly at the Verizon Heritage and it was my worst two rounds of the year. This year, it was all about revenge against the golf course. After eight holes, I was leading the golf tournament at 5-under par. That's the first time in my PGA Tour career I've had the lead at an event. Hey, even if it was for only one hole it was still pretty cool!

Rather than just take the week off because I didn't have good memories of last year, I decided to take the tournament head on and put up some great rounds. I spent some time preparing last week to play the golf course in Hilton Head, and that really paid off. I made the cut and got my revenge.

Hilton Head is an east coast golf destination, and it's a very unique golf tournament environment. It's a very social event. There are houses on literally every hole, and it seemed like on nearly every hole there was a party at the house that was next to the tee box or the green. There was a lot of energy and excitement in the air. The golf tournament is definitely the "to do" thing during the week, as all the girls were in their "Easter dresses" and all the guys were in collared shirts and boat shoes. Everyone was there to dress to impress.

Looking ahead, I have two more weeks of playing as I am scheduled to play the Byron Nelson this week and the Wachovia Championship next week. I'm partly playing this tournament because I have so much respect for what Byron Nelson stood for as a golfer.

While he's no longer with us, this is a prestigious event and this is an opportunity for me to play my way into the Players Championship. If I play well this week, I would earn a spot into the Players Championship, a marquee event. There is nothing wrong with the $9 million dollar purse at the Players Championship, right?

Here's to hoping I can play well enough to get into the Players. I'll check in with you next week.

Mahalo,

Parker

Parker McLachlin can be reached at www.parkermclachlin.com.