THE SWING REPORT

A 33 net, lowest of the season so far. It opened with a triple bogey on the first.

It did. Seven on the first. Which I would argue is an excellent way to lower your expectations early and, handled correctly, a legitimate strategy.

Once you have made a seven on the first hole, nothing that follows can hurt you. I played the last eight holes like a man with nothing left to lose, because I had already lost it, on the first hole, in front of witnesses.

You lead the standings now. Does that change your approach?

The standings say I am first, which mostly means I have played three rounds and none of them were embarrassing enough for anyone to bring up in the parking lot.

That is the whole trick. Be relentlessly unremarkable and wait for somebody else to make a ten.

You won last week with a 34. This week, 47. Thirteen shots.

Thirteen. Yes. I have been told. Several times. By several people. One of whom was my playing partner, continuously, throughout the round.

Defending a title is hard. Ask anyone who has done it. The entire league had a full week to study my game, and what they learned was that if you simply leave me alone I will shoot 55. They then used that information ruthlessly by letting me play golf.

Where exactly did it go?

Everywhere. Seven on the first, seven on the seventh, seven on the ninth. Very consistent, which is what everyone tells you to be.

Last Thursday I was a champion. This Thursday I am a cautionary tale. That is the beauty of a nine-hole league — the entire arc of a career, weekly.