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 from Mississippi and the Viking Classic.

Well, I'm starting to feel that this — the PGA Tour — is where I'm supposed to be. Last week I finished tied for fifth at the Turning Stone Resort Championship, where I was in the second to last group on Sunday. Finally, it felt natural to be playing in contention on Sunday. Earlier this year, in the tournament in San Diego, I teed off in the third to last group, one group ahead of Tiger, but I was out of my element. Not this time.

As the season has progressed, I've matured a lot. I believe in my golf game now more than ever. I believe that I belong on this Tour, and last week affirmed that.

I hadn't played competitively since the Nationwide Tour event four weeks ago (where I finished fourth after having the lead the first three days) and my goal this past week was to play aggressive for all 72 holes and keep grinding. I actually never looked at the leaderboard until the final hole on Sunday (at which point I realized I needed to make a birdie to finish in the top 5). What really made me feel good about my game, though, was when I realized that of the four players in the final two groups on Sunday, I was the only one to break par.

I think after finishing in the top 5 of a PGA Tour event, my peers have started to look at me a bit differently. By being in contention, it's as if they recognize that now I understand what they go through and what this Tour is all about. Being in contention is almost like a rite of passage.

I received a ton of phone calls and text messages after Sunday's final round, and I can't thank you all enough. I'm trying hard for you out there. I've got six more weeks to get myself into the top 125 (I'm at 133 right now), and I'm going to grind it out each of the next six weeks to do what I can to get there.

Until next time,

Parker

Parker McLachlin can be reached at www.parkermclachlin.com