Joey D Checking Back From Ontario...

Friday afternoon at the 2009 Canadian Open and rain delays have been the name of the game, so let's blog while there's some down time. Once again we’re battling weather conditions out here on the PGA Tour. Momentum is lost, guys are frustrated and we’re headed for another Monday finish. Think about other professional sports and the delays they deal with at that level. NFL. Major League Baseball. It doesn’t even compare.

We’ve had guys sitting around up to a full day, killing time while trying to remain limber and focused. Tomorrow is Sunday and these guys haven’t even started the third round yet. Another day lost, no idea what tomorrow will bring and quite possibly another Monday finish on tap. Sixteen guys were cut, which wouldn’t have been the case if the weather cooperated, but again that’s the name of the game out here under these conditions. Regarding my guys, we’re doing all we can to keep them focused and physically ready to play. The rest is on them.

Jason Dufner is having another incredible week out here and is making a run, as is my horse Pat Perez. Jason had a shot at breaking the course record with his second round, but fell short. Eight birdies and an eagle had him ten-under with two to play, but a bogey on #17 cost him the course record. That being said, how can you ever question a solid second round 63? You can't. Especially when you're sitting on the two-day lead. I've told our readers for months now to keep an eye out for Jason Dufner and here we go again, the kid is on top.

I couldn't be more proud of the run he's had this year. He's a student of the game and his swing is so Sam Snead-esque right now, it's scary. The ability has always been there. He's now married that with a quiet confidence as well as a full on commitment to getting his body right. The fact that he's no longer chasing his Tour card, I believe we'll still see some amazing things out of him down the stretch this season.

Pat Perez is another guy who made the cut this week and he too is in contention with back-to-back rounds of 67. He's finally 100% recovered from his ankle injury and he's back to playing like a man on a mission. He remains committed to biomechanics and I can't say enough how hard this kid works on every aspect of his game. Besides the yeoman's effort we see daily in the trailer, he puts in the same work on the course and range with his swing coach Mike Abbott.

Mike and Pat are still working on his new swing and the difference is showing yet again this week. My other five guys missed the cut - Jason Gore, Tom Pernice Jr., Ryuji Imada, Charlie Wi and our defending champ Chez Reavie. All five guys gave it their all, but it just wasn't in the cards. The inconsistency didn't help their cause, but everyone was in the same boat this week, so you can't flat out blame it on the weather.

They'll go back to the drawing board, work out the kinks and they'll be ready to give it a run next time they tee it up. It's the name of the game out here. All in all, in the midst of another frustrating week out here... but that too is the name of the game. You deal with what comes your way. It's been double duty working with a full field and having guys coming in twice as much, but we're pressing on and we'll get it done.

Patience is a much-needed virtue out on the PGA Tour. Especially with weather delays and a lot of down time. You have to keep both body and mind sound and that's what we're working on with all the guys.

We'll dial this thing back in on Tuesday when I'm back home for a week getting D1 Athletics dialed in.

Joey D.