Brian Quackenbush Golf

Thanks to everyone who called or sent messages to me after Stage 2. It’s nice to see so many people show their concern. I’m surprised again at how many people actively follow what I’m doing.

While the timing of the injury was bad, the mental work I’ve done since 2004 enables me to move past it without any problems. Some of you might remember my trip to Stage 2 in 2004 when the event was shortened to 36 holes due to weather. Midway through the third round I was playing very well and probably within the number to move on to Stage 3. But, when we couldn’t finish the third round after 2 extra days the event reverted to 36 hole scores and I missed by one shot. That was a difficult blow to take because I wasn’t mentally prepared for it.

What I’ve learned over time is that the day-to-day process of improvement is more important than individual tournaments. Great performance in tournaments automatically takes care of itself when I stay focused on getting a little better every day. Most of the successful people I know adhere to something like this approach regardless of whether it’s in their career or any aspect of their lives.

I can look back at the last few years and see that by following a well thought out path of improvement I have become better every day. Wins and good finishes in events have naturally followed. The ill-timed injury, while a bump in the road, doesn’t take away from the success I’ve had in taking my game to new levels. Next year will see more improvement and therefore more opportunities.

My doctor diagnosed several possible injuries to my ribcage, all of which would be treated the same way. I’ve either cracked a rib or torn or strained a muscle or other soft tissue. An x-ray might clarify the injury but wouldn’t change the treatment. He prescribed some meds which should speed along the healing. I need to lay off swinging a club for a few weeks and get some physical therapy.

I had to withdraw from Stage 2 of Q-School at Lake Jovita yesterday due to injury. Around November 5th I strained something in my right ribcage through normal practice and play. I recognized there was an injury immediately and took 4 days off without swinging to make sure it didn’t get worse. It was difficult to take this much time off going into such an important event, but I felt like it was more important to get it healed so it didn’t effect my play. I had it worked on twice by a local therapist, and it felt like it was very manageable going into the first round.

On my second hole of the first round I aggravated it very badly trying to hit a utility club into a par-5. Over the first nine I hit several shots that produced more pain than I have ever experienced on a golf course. Plenty of advil and “Icy Hot” got me through most of the second nine until it started to hurt over the last few holes.

That night I got some therapy from a local physical therapist and took plenty of meds. The next morning I still felt a lot of pain but had to give it a shot. Since getting through Stage 2 would have given me some kind of status for next year, I was comfortable risking more damage to the injury even if it meant I would have to take last place in Stage 3.

In the second round the injury bothered me from the first swing. On the 8th hole I hit a 5-iron and had trouble breathing and walking up to the green. When the pain failed to subside on the 9th hole I decided to withdraw from the tournament.

I am seeing a local doctor here in Aiken this morning to get a diagnosis and see how to proceed.

This is about as disappointing of a finish to the season as I can imagine. I felt that every aspect of my game was ready for this tournament, Stage 3 and the Nationwide or PGA Tour next year. To not even have the chance at Stage 2 because of an ill-timed injury is very difficult.

Regardless, I take a lot of satisfaction away from this year. I had a successful season with continued improvement across my entire game. I got into several Nationwide Tour events and proved that I am capable of competing at the next levels.

I got confirmation that I will be competing at Lake Jovita CC for Stage 2 of Q-School on November 14-17. I went to stage 2 at this course last year. It’s a good course all the way around…a very appropriate and fair challenge for a second stage site. I am heading down for a practice session at Sea Island on the 11th and practice rounds at Lake Jovita on the 12th and 13th.

Coverage of the event will be on the PGA Tour’s Q-School website: http://www.pgatour.com/qschool/.