Last week kicked off the 2021 LPGA season at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions played at the Four Seasons Tranquilo Golf Course in Orlando Florida. This event is for Tournament Winners from the past 2 seasons so only had a field of 25 players and is played with celebrities each day. Here's a little insight into the week from the time I left Dublin till the day I returned.

Friday Jan 15th : Arrived in Dublin airport at 11am for a 1pm Aerlingus to Orlando via JFK. A requirement from the LPGA is to show a negative Covid Test before you travel over which I had taken on the Wednesday. Dublin airport was empty so from check in to US Preclearance took me 10 mins. As I am on an exemption list for the US, immigration only took 15mins. When I eventually boarded the flight it was just me and 59 other passengers heading to JFK. A private Airbus A330 is always nice!!

Saturday Jan 16th : Was up early with the jetlag so headed to the course. A normal weeks work wouldn't start till Monday but because I was starting with a new player I arrived a few days early to do some work with her. We practiced on the range and played 18 holes to end the day.

Sunday Jan 17th : Met up at the course early again and did some practice. At lunchtime our weekly Covid testing opened up so after a nice lunch it was time again for another swab up the nose!!

Monday Jan 18th : Got our Covid test results back so received our green negative test wrist bands for the week which gives us access to dining and all facilities. We played 9 holes Monday in golf carts because its such a long walk around the course. Always a Brucey bonus for a caddy.

Tuesday  Jan 19th : Early morning temperature at the course(this is a requirement each day before you enter the property)  9 holes and a couple of hours practice.

Wednesday Jan 20th : As it was the day before the Tournament we only did 3 hours practice in the middle of the day so a nice caddy day.

Thursday Jan 21st : Rd 1 8.10am tee time. I like to get to the course 2 hours before our tee time to have breakfast and put my pin positions in the yardage book. For todays round we played with Brian Urlacher who is a Hall of Fame NFL Linebacker. He played all his career with the Chicago Bears. Our other partner was Adam Thielen who is a current NFL wide receiver with the Minnesota Vikings. We got off to a slow start shooting 73(+2). Did 40mins practice after the round and headed home.

Brian Urlacher                                                                                                                                          Adam Thielen

Friday Jan 22nd : Rd 2 9.40am tee time. Played today with retired Major League Baseball player, Joe Carter. Joe is a 5x All Star and 2x World Series Champion. Our other player was reality TV Star Ben Higgins who made his name in the hit TV Show 'The Bachelor' and the 'Bachelorette'. we shot 69(-2). Because I am flying back to Dublin after the week I had to take another Covid Test after the round.

   Joe Carter                                       Ben Higgins                                                

 Saturday Jan 23rd : Rd3 10.40am tee time. Raining today in Orlando which make for a heavy bag and a hard day keeping things dry. Our partners today were 11x All-Star and 2x World Series Champion, Rodger  Clemens and the country music star. Toby Keith. We shot 69(-2) again today. Got my negative test result back aswell.

Rodger Clemens                                                                          

                                                                                                                                    Toby Keith

Sunday Jan 24th : Rd4 11am tee time. The sun is out again this morning. Our playing partners today were John Hart. John was a former Major League Baseball executive who served as general manager of the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers. And comedian Larry The Cable Guy. We shot 70(-1) and finished T22.

John Hart                              Larry The Cable Guy

Monday Jan 24th : Checked out of my accommodation and headed for the airport. Flew up to New York to catch my AerLingus flight back to Dublin. If you think my Aerlingus flight out to New York was quiet with only 60 people on board, my retuen flight had 18!! Arrived in Dublin Tuesday morning to start my 5 day quarantine before I take another Covid Test next week.

Final Tournament Results : https://www.lpga.com/tournaments/diamond-resorts-tournament-of-champions/results

I hope you enjoyed a little insight into the week on Tour. If you have any questions you would like to ask me about it, feel free to comment below.