Join us as we travel on the PGA Tour with Parker McLachlin, a former Punahou athlete. McLachlin and Castle alum Dean Wilson are the only Hawai'i golfers on the PGA Tour. McLachlin, Waikoloa's touring pro, will write his impressions on events that he has just completed and tournaments that are coming up on his calendar.

Hello from Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., home of the Players Championship.

This will be my first ever start at the Players. I was an alternate last year and saw the golf course but didn't make the field. That being said, it was nice to get out on Monday and have a little familiarity with the golf course and the grounds.

I mentioned last week in Charlotte that I played a practice round with my coach Sean Foley's other pupils, including Sean O'Hair. Sean went on to win the event with some excellent play. On Tuesday of last week, he made seven birdies in his last 11 holes and I had a feeling he was going to be a force on Sunday. It was nice to see him get a little redemption from his close call at Bay Hill earlier this season.

For me, it was great to get four rounds in again in Charlotte. Quail Hollow is as good a test as we'll see all year, and that includes the majors. I think I used about every club in my bag every day, and that's a sign of a great golf course. People have mentioned that it could possibly host a PGA Championship or U.S. Open. From my perspective, the golf course stands the test.

I'm eager to get going this week and keep progressing with my game and my scores. It's been nice to get more rounds in by making cuts and thus more time to implement the adjustments I've been making.

I'd by lying if I said this week was exactly like any other. You have arguably the best field of any golf tournament of the year, not to mention that the winner's share is $1.7 million. I enjoy the big events, the atmosphere, and normally with those events come opportunity. That is certainly the case this week.

I've always been intrigued with the finishing holes at the Stadium Course. The 16th, 17th and 18th offer risk/reward options and often will determine the tournament champion. It's very similar to the finishing holes last week at Quail Hollow, dubbed the "Green Mile." I played the last three last week in a total of 1-under par, which gives me a lot of confidence to stand up to the test this week.

I'm taking next week off and would like to invite all of you to visit my Web site, www.parkermclachlin.com, and submit questions for next week's edition of Postcards.

Please visit the site, send me a question and I'll get to some of them next week.

Aloha,

Parker