Waste Management Phoenix Open Preview Notes

2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open Preview Notes

Dates: January 30 – February 5, 2017
Where: Scottsdale, Ariz.
Courses: TPC Scottsdale (Par/Yards: 71/7,266)
Field size: 132
2014 champion: Hideki Matsuyama
Purse: $6,700,000 ($1,206,000/winner)
FedExCup: 500 points to the winner
Format: 72-hole stroke play
Facebook: http://ift.tt/2kn7Fds
Twitter: @WMPhoenixOpen

The “Greenest Show on Grass” poised for another outstanding week:

• Once again, the Waste Management Phoenix Open features a top-notch field that includes 26 of the top 30 in the FedExCup standings and marks FedExCup leader Justin Thomas’ first start since winning back-to-back at the SBS Tournament of Champions and Sony Open in Hawaii.
• Record crowds are once again anticipated at the 2017 Waste Management Phoenix Open. Last year, more than 65,000 fans came out to TPC Scottsdale for Sunday’s final round, helping to break a new weekly attendance record at 618,365. That mark eclipsed the previous record of 564,368 that was set in 2015.
• All told three attendance records were broken in 2016 — the weekly attendance mark, plus record crowds on Friday (160,415) and Saturday (201,003).
• With massive crowds once again expected in 2017, the tournament has asked fans to be ambassadors for “their” event with an overall theme of respect to ensure an enjoyable experience for all. The tagline is: Respect the game. Respect the players. Respect the fans.
• Now in its 82nd year, the event surpassed the $100 million in all-time charitable giving in 2015, making it the third PGA TOUR event to achieve the historic milestone, along with the AT&T Byron Nelson and the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.
• The Waste Management Phoenix Open has done something that no other sporting event, municipality, or company in the world has ever done – Zero Waste – for four straight years.
• The Waste Management Phoenix Open was named the 2015 PGA TOUR Tournament of the Year and this year was co-honored for Best Sales Award at the 2016 year-end PGA TOUR tournament meetings.
• First of a 10-year contract extension with Waste Management began in 2016.

World No. 5 Hideki Matsuyama set to defend.

• How Hideki Matsuyama won the 2016 Waste Management Phoenix Open
• Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama, who began last year’s final round trailing by three strokes at 10-under, birdied the 72nd hole to post a 4-under 67 and force sudden death with Rickie Fowler.
• With a par on the fourth extra hole, No. 17, Matsuyama claimed his second career PGA TOUR title in his 65th start on TOUR.
• Matsuyama had previously won the 2014 Memorial Tournament.
• Following his win in Scottsdale last year, Matsuyama went on to claim six more top-10 finishes, good for a season-long total of eight. Among them were a pair of T7 finishes at the Masters and PLAYERS Championship and a T4 at the PGA Championship.
• Matsuyama is off to an even stronger season so for this season. On the PGA TOUR, he claimed his third career TOUR win at the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and finished second at the CIMB Classic and SBS Tournament of Champions.
• On the Japan Golf Tour, he won the Japan Open Golf Champions and Mitsui Sumitomo Visa Taiheiyo. He also won Tiger Woods’ unofficial Hero World Challenge in December.

A Look At The Field

• Ten of this season’s 11 winners on the PGA TOUR: Brendan Steele (Safeway Open), Justin Thomas (CIMB Classic, SBS Tournament of Champions, Sony Open in Hawaii), Hideki Matsuyama (World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions), Cody Gribble (Sanderson Farms Championship), Rod Pampling (Shriners Hospitals for Children Open), Pat Perez (OHL Classic at Mayakoba), Mackenzie Hughes (The RSM Classic), Jon Rahm (Farmers Insurance Open).
• 26 of the top 30 in the current FedExCup standings, led by No. 1 Justin Thomas.
• Two players that have posted rounds of 59 in 2016-17 are in the field, Justin Thomas (Round 1, Sony Open in Hawaii) and Adam Hadwin (Round 3, CareerBuilder Challenge). The two 59s were the seventh and eighth rounds of 59 or better in PGA TOUR history
• Last year’s runner-up Rickie Fowler, who fell in a sudden-death playoff to Hideki Matsuyama.
• 13 of the top 30 in the Official World Golf Ranking led by Hideki Matsuyama (5), Jordan Spieth (6), Justin Thomas (8) and Patrick Reed (9).
• Eight past Waste Management Phoenix Open champions: Hideki Matsuyama (2016), Brooks Koepka (2015), Phil Mickelson (2005, 2013), Kyle Stanley (2012), Mark Wilson (2011), Hunter Mahan (2010), J.B. Holmes (2006, 2008) and Aaron Baddeley (2007).

Three-time Waste Management Phoenix Open champion Phil Mickelson returns for 28th start

• With this week’s start in the Waste Management Phoenix Open, his 28th, World Golf Hall of Fame member Phil Mickelson will be one start shy of the record of 29 shared by Gene Littler, Jim Ferrier and Jerry Barber.
• In search of his first PGA TOUR win since the 2013 Open Championship, and 43rd overall, Arizona State University alum Phil Mickelson will make his 28th career start at this week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open. He is a three-time winner of the event (1996, 2005, 2013), with a total of 10 top-10 finishes.
• Mickelson has twice posted an 11-under 60 in the event; R1/2013, R2/2005.
• Mickelson’s average winning margin of victory in his three wins at the Waste Management Phoenix Open is 3.667 strokes (playoff/1996, 5 strokes/2005, 4 strokes/2013).
• Since 1989, Mickelson has played in the event each year, with the exception of 1990 (27 total).

Waste Management Phoenix Open Preview – Players

• Justin Thomas
  • Three-time PGA TOUR winner this season Justin Thomas is poised to make his third start in the Waste Management Phoenix Open.
  • Thomas, the current FedExCup points leader, has already won the CIMB Classic, SBS Tournament of Champions and Sony Open in Hawaii this season.
  • En route to his victory at Waialae Country Club, Thomas became the seventh player to post a 59 (11-under/R1) in PGA TOUR history.
  • He finished T17 in 2015 and missed the cut in 2016.
• John Rahm
  • 2016 Arizona State graduate Jon Rahm drained an eagle on the 72nd hole, from 60’8” away to post a final round 65 and clinch his maiden PGA TOUR victory at last week’s Farmers Insurance Open at the age of 22 years, 2 months, 19 days.
  • Amazingly, Rahm became the first player since Jay Don Blake (1991) to earn his first PGA TOUR title at the Farmers Insurance Open.
  • Rahm was a four-time All-American at ASU and is the only player to win multiple Ben Hogan Awards (2015 and 2016), given to the NCAA’s top collegiate male golfer.
• Jorden Spieth
  • The 2015 FedExCup champion Jordan Spieth returns to TPC Scottsdale for a second time.
  • In 2015, Spieth finished T7 with scores of 70-68-70-65—273 (-11).
  • Spieth comes into this week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open with third-place showings in both starts this season; SBS Tournament of Champions (T3) and Sony Open in Hawaii (3rd).
  • On the PGA TOUR last season, Spieth collected his seventh and eight TOUR victories at the SBS Tournament of Champions and Dean & DELUCA Invitational.
• Patrick Reed
  • Patrick Reed, who captured his fifth career PGA TOUR title last year at The Barclays, one of 11 top-10 finishes on his season, will be making his third start in this week’s Waste Management Phoenix Open.
  • He finished T19 in 2014 and T40 in 2015. In addition to his successes in TOUR events last season, Reed represented the United States at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games (T11). He also competed in his second Ryder Cup, going 3-1-1 in five matches.
• Bubba Watson
  • Two-time Masters champion Bubba Watson returns to TPC Scottsdale this week for a 10th-consecutive appearance in the event. In his previous nine starts, he has collected three top-10 finishes, including a pair of T2s in 2014 and 2015. In his first start in Scottsdale, he finished T8 in 2007.
  • In the 2014-15 PGA TOUR Season, Watson won the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions and Travelers Championship, both via playoffs. In addition to the wins, he amassed six top-5 finishes.
  • Watson, who is making his third start of the season this week, is in search of his ninth career PGA TOUR win.
  • Watson will be joined in this year’s Wednesday pro-am by actor Mark Wahlberg, whose latest film “Patriots Day” recently hit theatres.
• Steve Stricker
  • The 2017 U.S. Presidents Cup Captain Steve Stricker will make his first start of the 2016-17 PGA TOUR Season.
  • Stricker, a 12-time winner on the PGA TOUR, turns 50 on February 23 and will play in his own PGA TOUR Champions event in June, the American Family Insurance Championship in his hometown of Madison, Wisconsin, where he serves as tournament host.
• Andrew “Beef” Johnston
  • Andrew “Beef” Johnston caught the attention of the golf world with his eighth-place finish in last year’s Open Championship at Royal Troon Golf Club.
  • Johnson, who divided his time last season between the PGA TOUR, European Tour and Web.com Tour, earned his exempt status to the PGA TOUR this season by virtue of his 21st-place finish on the 2016 Web.com Tour priority list.
  • Johnston came to be known as “Beef” by friends in his childhood years.
  • Born in London to a working-class family, his late father worked as a bus driver and at a timber company, while his mother worked in a school cafeteria.

Waste Management Phoenix Open Preview Notes

• Seven of the 10 winners of the Waste Management Phoenix Open in the FedExCup era (2007-present) have qualified for the FedExCup finale, the TOUR Championship: Aaron Baddeley (2007), Kenny Perry 2009), Hunter Mahan (2010), Mark Wilson (2011), Phil Mickelson (2013), Brooks Koepka (2015) and Hideki Matsuyama (2016).
• Three of the last five winners of the Waste Management Phoenix Open made their win in Scottsdale their first on the PGA TOUR; Brooks Koepka (2015), Kevin Stadler (2014) and Kyle Stanley (2012). The others since 2000 were J.B. Holmes (2006) and Jonathan Kaye (2004).
• Since 1980, only three players have won the Waste Management Phoenix Open in a first attempt: Jeff Mitchell (1980), Kyle Stanley (2012) and Brooks Koepka (2015).

 

Waste Management Phoenix Open Preview Notes via PGA TOUR

 

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Work On Your Putting: Feeding Your Golf Addiction In the Winter Part 6:

Work On Your Your Putting

Putting is one of the few golf activities that I can engage in year-round at GolfBlogger World Headquarters in Michigan. When the snow is falling, the wind blowing and the temperatures plummeting, I can still lay out a small putting course in my family and sun rooms and get some quality time in with the flat stick.

And that’s a good thing, because putting is fully half the game of golf. Two of the stokes on every par are set aside for putting, so on a par 72, 36 of those are for putts. The math here is simple. To score well, you need to putt well. Teaching pros have long insisted that the easiest way to improve your scores is to improve your short game. I’ll go one further. Simply work on improving your putting.

Fortunately, the putting stroke is the easiest thing in the game to master. Compared to a full swing (or, god forbid, one of those dreaded Dave Pelz three quarter clock swings), the putting stroke is simple, slow and controllable. When a ball goes offline on a drive, it’s often hard to tell which of a dozen things actually went wrong. When a ball falls short, rolls long or heads offline on a putt, the cause usually is more obvious.

Given the central importance of putting, and the relative ease of fixing a bad stroke, I have always found it strange that players who regularly three jack on the greens will spend so much time focusing on the full swing . It does absolutely no good to get to the green in regulation if you’re going to three- or even four-putt once you get there.

So feed your golf addiction this winter by practicing your putting. Set up one of those mechanical ball return targets in a room with a short carpet and have at it with a couple of dozen putts a day. Concentrate at first on tempo and a smooth stroke. Work on your putting distance control. You might even consider getting one of those putting plane systems that are designed to align your eyes, shoulders, clubface and path for a clean stroke.

Another fun thing to do is to head to the local well-stocked pro shop, spend an hour or so putting around on their large professional greens. My conscience usually bothers me after a free session like this, so I buy a box of balls.

Work On Your Putting is the sixth in a series of essays on things to do to feed your golf addiction in the off-season.

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Sorry, but I couldn't let this one go.

I realize I said I was out of the office until Monday, February 6th, but that was before I saw this story on NY1:

Before I begin, I should say that I enjoy NY1, and like many households in this city we begin our weekday mornings with anchorperson and affable Canadian (is there any other kind?) Pat Kiernan.  However, this particular story is just...oy.  [Winces and massages temples.]  And it begins with this guy:

For 13 years, Ben Bowman has taken part in a ritual all too familiar to city car owners who park on the street. Twice a week, he moves his Jeep from one side of West 68th St. to the other to make way for street cleaners.

W. 68th Street is in the vicinity of Lincoln Center and numerous other cultural institutions, educational facilities, and famous landmarks.  If you live on W. 68th Street you can walk to everything from the Metropolitan Opera to the Dakota to an Imax movie theater to a Lowe's Home Improvement to a Trader fucking Joe's.  It is also extremely well served by public transit should you need to leave the neighborhood.  Given this, it probably won't surprise you to learn that free street parking is at a premium.  Yet, despite all this, Ben Bowman opts to deal with the hassle of keeping not just any car but this dumbass Jeep with a fucking light bar on the roof because you need that in the middle of Manhattan:

Hey, I'm sure Ben Bowman has his reasons for wasting two days a week amid this embarrassment of cultural riches in order to move a soccer mom car on steroids from one side of the street to the other.  Maybe he's an avid outdoorsman who makes frequent trips to the country.  Maybe his job requires him to haul lots of equipment at a moment's notice.  Or maybe he just likes the damn thing.  And I wouldn't care, either, except that it's turning him into a raving fucking lunatic:

With space at a premium, things can get ugly, such as the time another driver snuck into a spot Bowman had been waiting to take. 

"I went to my truck and pulled out my tire iron and stood by his door, and I said 'You can have this spot, but you're taking a beating when you get out."

Yes, here's Ben Bowman, Upper West Side resident, inhabitant of one of the most rarefied and privileged bubbles in the United States and therefore the world, explaining to a TV camera that he threatened to assault somebody with a tire iron for taking the parking space that he doesn't even fucking own.

Yet incredibly this is not a news story about mental illness, or even about how Ben Bowman should just move the hell upstate already.  It's a story about how hard it is for unfortunate souls such as Ben Bowman to find free car storage on a small island with excellent 24-hour mass transit that also happens to be the most densely populated county in the United States:

Drivers say tensions and the time it takes to find a space have been increasing since the city began eliminating parking spaces to install Citi Bike stations and dedicated bike lanes.

Here, let me fix that for you:

Drivers say tensions and the time it takes to find a space have been increasing since the city began eliminating parking spaces to install Citi Bike stations and dedicated bike lanes.

That's better.

In Manhattan alone, the city has eliminated at least 2,330 parking spaces south of 125th St. to accommodate bike lanes and bike-sharing stations, according to city records obtained by NY1 nine months after filing a request under the Freedom of Information Law.

I like how they make it sound as though they've uncovered a massive conspiracy and not simply the city's well-documented efforts to keep its citizens safe and make it easier for people to get around.

Gone, for example, are 340 spots along 1st Ave, 300 spots along 2nd Ave., and 140 on Columbus Ave. just for bike lanes.

What a tragedy!  2,330 parking spaces gone, never to return!  Lost in the mists of time, like the Lenape Indians and the verdant forests and sparkling streams that once covered this isle!  Yeah, it does sound like a lot of parking spaces--until you consider that the population of Manhattan below 125th Street is approximately 1,039,000, which means this represents a loss of approximately .002 parking spots per person.

Big fucking deal.

But if you don't feel bad for people like Ben Bowman, perhaps you'll feel bad for the people who deliver their appliances:

Car owners aren't alone in suffering.  The growth of bike lanes has made delivery work even more challenging.  These guys had to double-park on Columbus and walk a half-block to deliver a stove and refrigerator.

Okay, wait a minute: if the bike lane has made this job more challenging then why did they end up parking on Columbus, which is the street with the bike lane on it?  Why didn't they just park in front of the delivery address?  Oh, I dunno, maybe because of the giant truck unloading a Dumpster?!?

Nice try blaming the bike lane though.

Officials say that with the population growing, it's essential to get people out of cars and onto bikes. The city's transportation commissioner, Polly Trottenberg, says cars still rule the streets.

"We dedicate about 95 percent of (the streets) to automobiles," Trottenberg said, "and actually only about 5 percent to buses and cycles. And yet buses and cycles are the way we are going to carry the most people."

That's right.  And check out the Smugerati.  See how they're smiling as they roll over the graves of all those dead parking spaces?  (Actually the parking spaces are still there and have just been moved over a bit but we're not supposed to know that.)  They don't look like they want to bash anybody with a tire iron, do they?

No they don't.  But it's important to remember that in New York City anybody who rides a bike is a wealthy elitist (except for food delivery people, but they don't count), whereas anybody who drives a car is "middle class:"

That's little solace to middle class residents like Valerie Perez who need a car and can't afford garage space. 

She walks with a cane and has parked in the East 80s since 1970.

Yeah, in 1970 there was only one area code for the whole city too, and you could smoke at the doctor's office while eating fondue in the waiting room.  But you know what?  Things have a way of changing over the course of forty-seven years.  Speaking of change, someone should tell Ms. Perez tha they just opened up a brand new subway line right in her neighborhood.  In fact, between all the trains and the buses I don't think there's a more accessible neighborhood than the East 80s in the entire country:

And I don't mean to be hard on Ms. Perez, who is undoubtedly a lovely person who is simply used to doing things her own way in her own neighborhood.  But to blame bike lanes because it's harder to park on the Upper East Side in 2017 than it was in 1970 is more than a little unfair:

"It's worse than ever. It's been worse since they put the bike lanes in."

Is it because of the bike lanes?  Or is it because there are over 140,000 more registered vehicles in New York City in 2015 than there were in 2007, and about 380,000 more than there were in 1970?

I'm gong to go ahead and say it's the latter, and that we need the bike lanes because it's the only mode of private surface transportation left that's got any long-term viability.

I mean really, there were over 40,000 more registered vehicles in New York City in 2015 than there were in 2014.  Should the city have added 40,000 more parkings spaces in a single year?

Of course not:

"It's a hindrance to expect that's it your constitutional right to park for free on every street in New York City. That can't happen."

Unfortunately, Americans have a poor understanding on their constitutional rights, which explains everything from our willingness to bludgeon our neighbors with tire irons over public street space to our current president.  Also, good, honest, salt-of-the-earth middle-class people who drive cars in Manhattan resent being reminded of this by jet-setting bicycling advocates with swashbuckling mustaches.

And finally, the article goes out in a crescendo of irony:

"This Citi Bike station on Columbus Avenue extends an entire block.  It holds 67 bikes but at the expense of about nine cars."

Nine cars.  Nine measly cars!  Cars owned by crowbar-wielding psychopaths like Ben Bowman who only drive them back and forth across the street!  Actually, that's not even true.  It's metered parking on Columbus, which means it wasn't even long-term parking for those decent hard-working middle-class New Yorkers, it was just a little extra coin for the city from the unlucky schmucks who couldn't find free parking.  Meanwhile, the Citi Bike station now holds sixty-seven bikes that anybody can use--and they are using them, judging from the fact that the station is at that moment almost completely empty.

Seems to me the city's not losing parking spaces, it's gaining them.

I really hope he addresses that in Part Two, but I ain't exactly holding my breath.

And with that, I resume my absence, and I'll see you back here on Monday, February 6th with regular updates.

Your's Truely,


--Wildcat Rock Machine

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West Virginia Golf Cigarette Card

In 1910 – 1911, the Murad Cigarette company produced a “college series” of collectors cards, including this one of West Virginia golf.

Cigarette cards were included in packs of cigarettes, much like bubble gum cards did later.  In addition to serving as a purchase incentive, the cards stiffened the packs.

Card topics included sports, movie stars, landscapes, natures, military figures and uniforms and heraldry.

The practice ended during the WWII due to paper rationing, and never really recovered.

I find it interesting that golf was the sport chosen to represent West Virginia University. The University of South Carolina featured Women’s golf. Illinois and Millsaps Universities were others schools where golf was the featured sport. Baker University featured both men and women golfers.

Michigan”s card spotlighted football, as was Harvard. Amherst had the hammer throw. Vermont had the shot put.

West Virginia golf returned in 2015, after a 33-year layoff.

The back side of the West Virginia golf cigarette card is below.

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Omega Dubai Desert Classic Past Winners and History

The first European Tour event to be staged in the Middle East, the Dubai Desert Classic was inaugurated in 1989. It currently is one of three played in the Emirates.

With the exception of two tournaments (1999 and 2000) it has been played at the Majlis course at the Emirates Golf Club.

A few factoids:

• The tournament record were set by Thomas Bjorn in 2000. Aggregate: 266 ; To par: −22.
• With three wins, Ernie Els has won the most titles (1994, 2002, 2005).
• In 1994, Els shot a tournament record 61—11 under par.
• Tiger Woods has won twice.
• At just under 20 years old, Rory McIlroy is the youngest winner (2009)
• Mark O’Meara was the oldest winner, aged 47.
• The tournament’s 19 different winners hail from 12 different nations.
• Martin Kaymer has played in every one of the tournament’s editions.

From a business perspective, the Desert Classic has gained some notoriety for the generous appearance fees that it pays top stars.

A complete list of Dubai Desert Classic Winners is below:

Omega Dubai Desert Classic Past Winners

Year	Winner	Country	Score
Omega Dubai Desert Classic
2016	Danny Willett	England	269 (-19)
2015	Rory McIlroy	Northern Ireland	266 (–22)
2014	Stephen Gallacher	Scotland	272 (–16)
2013	Stephen Gallacher	Scotland	266 (–22)
2012	Rafael Cabrera-Bello	Spain	270 (–18)
2011	Álvaro Quirós	Spain	277 (–11)
2010	Miguel Ángel Jiménez	Spain	277 (−11)
Dubai Desert Classic
2009	Rory McIlroy	Northern Ireland	269 (−19)
2008	Tiger Woods	United States	274 (−14)
2007	Henrik Stenson	Sweden	269 (−19)
2006	Tiger Woods	United States	269 (−19)
2005	Ernie Els	South Africa	269 (−19)
2004	Mark O’Meara	United States	271 (−17)
2003	Robert-Jan Derksen	Netherlands	271 (−17)
2002	Ernie Els	South Africa	272 (−16)
2001	Thomas Bjørn	Denmark	266 (−22)
2000	José Cóceres	Argentina	274 (−14)
1999	David Howell	England	275 (−13)
1998	José María Olazábal	Spain	269 (−19)
1997	Richard Green	Australia	272 (−16)
1996	Colin Montgomerie	Scotland	270 (−18)
1995	Fred Couples	United States	268 (−20)
1994	Ernie Els	South Africa	268 (−20)
1993	Wayne Westner	South Africa	274 (−14)
1992	Seve Ballesteros	Spain	272 (−16)
Emirates Airlines Desert Classic
1990	Eamonn Darcy	Ireland	276 (−12)
Karl Litten Desert Classic
1989	Mark James	England	277 (−11)

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Wilson Staff Triton Driver: Winner of “Driver vs Driver”

Wilson Staff Triton Driver: Winner of “Driver vs Driver”

The winner of last year’s Driver vs Driver club design reality show, the Triton Driver features baseplates that can be swapped out to change driver performance.

The club features:

• 1:1 Visible Swing Active Technology – The revolutionary crown feature makes set-up consistent, easy and intuitive. The 1:1 alignment aid, visible both pre-shot and at impact, improves ball striking for improved accuracy, distance and consistency.
• Changeable Sole Weights – Innovative, interchangeable sole plates, one titanium and one carbon fiber, are included for significant launch and spin changes. The 22 gram titanium sole plate is optimized for the majority of players who need mid to high launch and low spin while the 9 gram carbon fiber sole plate is geared for players who need lower launch and lower spin, for the world’s most adjustable multi-piece driver.
• Chemically-Etched Crown – A chemically-etched crown reduces weight and increases the thickness toward the face for structural support and durability.
• Movable Weights – Five moveable weights – two 2 gram, two 6 gram and one 12 gram – can be placed in 18 unique combinations to fine tune and perfect ball flight. By varying the weight placement in the three sole ports, shot trajectory can be adjusted higher or lower or to help with draws and fades for true customization to complement each player’s swing.
• Adjustable Hosel – Green Means Go! One of the smallest, lightest and easiest to use adjustable hosel systems available, Fast Fit technology makes getting the perfect set-up fast and easy. Just a few turns of the wrench, the head does not need to be detached from the shaft, allows access to all six hosel settings. Those settings include three for loft – 1o strong, standard, 1o weak – and those same three in a Draw configuration for enhanced right-to-left shot shaping.
• Head Cover and Wrench Included

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A Little Lost in London – An Unconventional Travel Journey

Today I’m sharing a little bit about my trip to London so far: the good, the bad, the messy & the beautiful path to following your gut and traveling alone.

Oh man (think that’s my favorite way to start a post, when I know it’s going to be a doozy).

If you’ve read my 2016 recap post, or seen my Instagram recently, you probably already know I’m in London right now.

I debated for a while if I wanted to talk about this trip on the blog at all. I debated whether it would bring you enough value. I debated whether anyone would care. But I realized sharing my story is my strength.

I, and so many others, learn through story. Yes, reading a listicle can be helpful, especially if you’re just trying to digest some quick information. However, it’s not the only way to learn and understand. I know that value doesn’t just come in the form of “How to do BLANK in 3 Easy Steps.”

Hearing someone else’s experience can unlock truths for you, as it often does for me. I’m hoping this experience might resonate with you. I hope it helps you think about what planning, adapting and embracing opportunities means in your own life.

So how did I get here?

For those tuning in at home, you might be asking yourself “wait, why is she in London?” And maybe this is your first time reading the blog and you’re probably even more confused, “wait who is this chick and I guess why is she in London?”

Allow me to explain

When I was living in Boston two years ago, I started feeling really depressed. Things were fine on paper, but I felt suffocated and isolated in my own life. I could tell that something had to change. I had this crazy realization that, in fact, I could literally do anything with my life. Which led to the question: so what do you want to do with your life?

Honestly, the only answer I got was… London. *for a little context, I was born in the UK (so I’m a dual citizen), grew up in the states and studied abroad in London for 4 months in 2013*

My first thought was, ok, well that’s going to be expensive. I knew if I tried to save enough money while I was still at my job at the time, it would take forever. And then the dreaming and scheming began. I decided I could move home to save money and work somewhere on Nantucket. I would save enough money for 3 months of expenses and try to find a job during that time. Worst case scenario I could always come home.

Then 2016 Unfolded

I went home with a heart full of excitement, but a pride that was a little bruised. At first I was wrapped up in the stigma of moving home at 24, but I quickly learned that literally nobody cares. And if they did it, I really didn’t care either.

I worked and I blogged, but something surprising happened. Each day I became happier and happier. Rather than feeling like I was reverting back to my high school self when I moved home (something I feared), I had found an atmosphere of growth.

And then, like I mentioned in my 2016 Expectations Post  … I fell in love.

It’s been wonderful in so many ways. It also sparked a lot more personal growth than I ever could have imagined. My preconceived notion about love was that it caused partners (and especially women) to lose their identities. I’ve always been so determined to be my own person, that I didn’t realize how much a relationship could teach me and allow me to grow on my own, too.

I was blissfully happy. My hometown felt fresh and exciting… but wait…

… what about my plan?

What about London? The magical city I fell in love with four years ago. The whole reason I quit my job. If I still went, I’d be leaving behind this man I loved so much. If I didn’t go, I was afraid I’d live with that regret forever.

So I bought a return ticket

No, it wasn’t this bold act I had imagined, the “one-way ticket.”

I had to come to terms with the fact that there are no right answers, just paths. I had made this perfect plan that needed editing. So really it wasn’t perfect. There was no way it could have been, because reality turned out to be so much better, and worth editing the plan for.

I turned to my favorite quote that I reread whenever I’m about to, or have just made, an important decision

“If you obsess over whether you are making the right decision, you are basically assuming that the universe will reward you for one thing and punish you for another.

The universe has no fixed agenda. Once you make any decision, it works around that decision. There is no right or wrong, only a series of possibilities that shift with each thought, feeling, and action that you experience.” – Deepak Chopra

January 11th approached rapidly. That night I stood in the security line at Logan airport with puffy, tear-streaked cheeks watching my boyfriend slowly walk away, turning back every couple steps to wave.

I asked myself “if I’m so happy, then why am I leaving?” (a little late to ask this question… I know)

and wait, what am I doing here?

Have you ever worked so hard for a goal that you kind of forgot about what you were going to do when you got there? It’s like finishing a race, you stop and wonder… wait, now what?

Moving to London was a bit like that. I was so intensely focused on making enough money, trusting that this destination would bring me some kind of enlightenment once I got there. But I realized that as I changed my plans I didn’t really tune into why I wanted to change my plans.

As I settled into my flat, I came to terms with the fact that…

I don’t have a goal for this trip

I was so obsessed with getting to London that I forgot why I wanted to even go. Does that make any sense? If you’re confused, join the club.

So I don’t have any “goal” for this trip. Being a former goal junkie this is completely out of character. I’ve always been a striver, a hustler, a hunter. But I’ve felt this shift, from wanting to achieve something into wanting to enjoy each day as it comes.

I’m taking it one day at a time

So for once (in my life?) I’m trying to take it day by day. There’s no agenda. No milestones to check off. No S.M.A.R.T. goals to achieve. What does successes look like for this trip? I can’t wait to find out. Honestly. I know that sounds crazy, especially if you are or have been a goal junkie. But I have this weird gut feeling that I’m going to learn about myself and why I’m here as each day passes. I realized I didn’t want to set arbitrary goals for this trip or force an agenda just because I felt like I should have one.

Things I am Afraid to Tell You About This Trip

Inspired by a post Davida from the Healthy Maven & a podcast by Jess Lively I wanted to share some things I’ve been afraid to tell you about this trip.

Traveling alone is lonely

The thing I probably have the most anxiety, fear, shame around is meeting new people. I want to build friendships while I’m here, but it’s not easy when you’re starting from scratch. I love spending time alone, but not all the time. I’m not drawn to bars or clubs or trying to force myself on people. I also don’t want to treat making friends like it’s a goal to be achieved. I want to meet people because I want to, not because I feel like I’m supposed to. So I’m trying this thing where I’m just being super friendly and seeing where it goes. (I’ll let you know)

Being in a long distance relationship is way harder than I wanted it to be

Yes. I knew that being in a long distance relationship was going to be difficult, but I couldn’t have predicted how it was going to feel until we were actually apart. I tried getting advice from a lot of people, but in the end I realized, I didn’t want to force any arbitrary tactics on how we communicated or how I felt about it. A part of me is also managing the guilt from feeling like I left someone behind. And the complicated feelings of realizing maybe I don’t need to be as independent as I thought I was supposed to be. Another piece of me is incredibly grateful to have someone I miss so much.

I already changed my plans

My pride told me I should stick to my original plan, which was supposed to be 4 months. But I’m coming home a month early. (I thought) I didn’t want to be the kind of person who has to change her plans. But my gut said that it was ok. Traveling doesn’t have to fit into a cute shiny package. It can be messy and complicated and frustrating and challenging and still be immensely rewarding. I knew deep down I didn’t have to be away for that long, which ultimately was a beautiful gratifying feeling.

But on a really bright note

I seriously don’t want you to think that I’m miserable over here. Yes it’s been challenging in unexpected ways, but with those challenges come lessons, that I needed to learn my way. I truly love London. It’s so beautiful and there are magic moments and spaces around every corner. I’m in this tiny, bright studio apartment that’s incredibly central. I can walk pretty much anywhere I need to go. I really hope if you get the chance, you’ll visit. Oh and there are amazing coffee shops all around me.

I feel really awake

Maybe this is what people refer to as being mindful or present, but for me it feels like being awake. Ironically I’ve been sleeping in super late (hey the sun doesn’t rise until 8 over here), but that’s not the point. This might be part of the nature of travel, but being out of your familiar surroundings means your brain is taking in so much new information. I also feel more in-tune with what my body and mind needs each day. Sometimes it’s being in my flat working and sometimes it’s just picking a neighborhood and walking around all day.

I’ve only been gone for 3 weeks, but I can already tell that this trip will teach me so much and bring me joy in unexpected ways.

What does this mean for the blog

Nothing’s really going to change. My goal is to always provide you with content that helps you put more joy and happiness into your healthy lifestyle. I just wanted to share a bit of my travel journey as it’s been teaching me a lot of interesting lessons that might spark something in you. As always, I love your feedback because it helps me focus and create the content that you need in your life.

I also just love hearing from you in general. So even if you’re not into commenting (totally ok) drop me an email or DM on Instagram or however you like to say hi. I really really really appreciate you being here and sharing your time and attention and life with me.

With love from London,

Georgie

ps. I made an instagram account for my travel photos if you’d like to see more @alittlelostinlondon

The post A Little Lost in London – An Unconventional Travel Journey appeared first on In it for the Long Run.

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This is the Islamic World

Let me show you a world that is too often misunderstood.

Women gossiping in a park.

Istanbul, 2013.

Soft sand, palm trees, and some of the bluest waters you’ve ever seen.

Senggigi, Indonesia, 2011.

Bikes and bread and girls in matching dresses.

Prizren, Kosovo, 2013.

Camel rides at sunrise.

Wadi Rum, Jordan, 2011.

Chilled out beach resorts.

Ksamil, Albania, 2015.

Opulence.

Dubai, 2013

New friends who are dressed a million times better than you.

Amman, 2011.

 

Bridges across the divide.

Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2012.

Best friends forever.

Brunei Darussalam, 2014.

Desert dunes.

Wadi Rum, Jordan, 2013.

Graffitied pyramids dwarfing cities.

Tirana, Albania, 2015.

Whirling dervishes.

Istanbul, 2013.

Women with style.

Kuala Lumpur, 2010.

Reverence for American leaders.

Prishtina, Kosovo, 2013.

Mocktails made with gold leaf and camel milk.

Dubai, 2013.

Ruins that could rival anything in Rome.

Jerash, Jordan, 2011.

The call to prayer beautifully punctuating the day.

Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam, 2014.

Bazaars packed with traditional goods.

Istanbul, 2013.

Bridges, mosques, minarets, and fortresses.

Prizren, Kosovo, 2013.

World wonders.

Petra, Jordan, 2011.

Daredevils showing off for the camera.

Koh Lanta, Thailand, 2014.

Olives. Lots and lots of olives.

Istanbul, 2013.

Fiery curries, not a bite of pork in sight.

Koh Lanta, Thailand, 2015.

Cevapciki with pita, sausages, and the only time you’ll ever willingly eat raw onions.

Sarajevo, 2012.

Pink sunsets over the Mediterranean.

Fethiye, Turkey, 2011.

Pink sunsets over Lombok.

Lombok, Indonesia, 2011.

Pink sunsets over the Bosphorus.

Istanbul, 2013.

Pink sunsets over the Andaman.

Koh Lanta, Thailand, 2015.

Spellbinding traditional architecture.

Istanbul, 2013.

UNESCO World Heritage-listed architecture.

Berat, Albania, 2015.

Avant-garde architecture.

Prishtina, Kosovo, 2013.

Gold-domed mosques that bring together colorful streets.

Singapore, 2011.

And the tallest building in the world.

Dubai, 2013.

Not to mention the largest flag in the world.

Amman, 2011.

Tea served in tulip-shaped glasses.

Istanbul, 2011.

Tea cooked over an open fire.

Petra, Jordan, 2011.

High tea overlooking a luxurious city.

Dubai, 2013.

Young men who live on the edge.

Istanbul, 2013.

Young men who died far too young.

Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2013.

Feeling at home. And welcomed.

Ajloun, Jordan, 2011.

Did I ever feel in danger?

Not once.

Beauty, joy, friendship, and the best hospitality in the world — this is just a fraction of what the Islamic world has to offer. And this doesn’t even count western countries with sizable Muslim populations, like London and Paris, nor places where I interact with Muslims daily, like my home city of New York.

Looking back, I thought that Islamophobia would slowly decrease in the years following 9/11. Now, it seems to be worse than ever. Considering how Islamophobia is ricocheting across America and the globe right now, I think it’s vital to change perceptions by sharing the truth about these beautiful, welcoming destinations.

I’m adding another priority of 2017: to visit at least one new Islamic region or country, and hopefully more. That could be Uzbekistan or Tunisia, Oman or Azerbaijan, Western China or Northern India or Turkish Cyprus.

In the seven years that I’ve been publishing this site, my goal has been to show women that they shouldn’t let fear stop them from traveling the world. Now I want to change perceptions about this oft-misunderstood region.

Have you traveled in the Islamic world? What did you enjoy the most?

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