Ouch says the one legged fat guy from Ct.  I gave it a try and played pretty well considering how longs it’s been since I’ve done anything. A 74 would’ve been a lot better if I didn’t have 3 monster lip outs – I’ve forgotten how bad those piss you off when they happen.  I simply could not play the next day.

I’m trying hard to be patient with the kryo blast procedure, so I’ll just wait it out. Today is not so bad.  Yesterday might have been my worst day ever for pain, so how does one figure this stuff out?

I’ll be heading back to see my Mr. Munch on Monday and just wait it out with him as to what I do next.

By the dog’s tail – I have a debate with a fellow human – what is the first thing you think about when you wake up every morning? Is it consistently the same thing or different daily?  

Calc told me that Sahalee is playing stupid hard, so the scores will be high in the Senior Open.

Swing hard,

Ken

5-7-10: “Ken Green Is Scheduled To Play in Connecticut Open July 26-28”
By Tom Yantz, The Hartford Courant
The CSGA just announced in a press release that Ken Green, a native of Danbury, will play in the Connecticut Open July 26-28 at the Country Club of Fairfield. Green, who currently is playing with a lower right leg prosthesis, won the championship in 1985 and ‘92. The CSGA also overwhelmingly agreed to grant him a medical exemption to use a cart for this year’s Connecticut Open.
http://blogs.courant.com/chip_shots/2010/05/ken-green-is-scheduled-to-play.html

CSGA link:
76th Connecticut Open Championship
July 26-28 2010, Country Club of Fairfield
http://www.csgalinks.org/tournaments/2010/Open/76th_Open.asp

= = = = = = = = = = = = = GREAT ARTICLE – with VIDEO & PHOTO GALLERY!!!
7-26-10: “Golfer Ken Green Plays Through The Pain”
By Tom Yantz, The Hartford Courant, *Includes VIDEO*
http://www.courant.com/sports/golf/hc-ken-green-connecticut-open-0727-20100726,0,3290440.story

FAIRFIELD, Ken Green stopped in the middle of his backswing Monday on the third tee at the Country Club of Fairfield. He bent over at the waist and grimaced.

“The best way I can describe this nerve pain to someone who is not an amputee is to think about sticking a finger in a socket,” said Green, who wears a lower right leg prosthesis. “It’s a quick electric shock. Well, mine is 5 minutes, 10 or one hour. I can’t tell you how bad. I sit there sometimes and just cry.”

Green’s pain was at a somewhat tolerable level in the first round of the Connecticut Open.  A 5-time winner on the PGA Tour, Green shot a 4-over-par 74 and is tied for 49th. He beat more than 70 able-bodied players.

“I’m encouraged,” said Green, 52, a Danbury native who won Connecticut Open in 1985 and ‘92.

PHOTO GALLERY: “Pictures: Ken Green Through The Years” (Hartford Courant)
http://www.courant.com/sports/golf/hc-ken-green-pg,0,1474046.photogallery

The pain in his amputated leg can strike at any time — on the golf course, in his living room, anywhere. At least four times Monday, the pain appeared to be severe.  But he never retreated. On the third hole (his 12th after starting at No. 10), he gathered himself, took the driver back and hit his tee shot down the middle of the fairway.

Green played with 3-time champion Kyle Gallo, the 1st-round leader after a 65, and Steve Sokol, the 2003 champion.  “I was amazed at some of the shots Ken hit,” Gallo said. “I mean, for someone with two legs they were tough shots and he made them.”

Green has had nerve complications in his right leg since an SUV accident in Mississippi last June, when he was on his way to a Champions Tour event. The crash killed his brother, girlfriend and dog.  In January, his son Hunter was found dead in his dormitory room at Southern Methodist University. An autopsy revealed an accidental drug overdose.

“The game is so hard,” Gallo said. “But to see him come out here …He has got to be in pain. Not only what he has gone through, but also just playing. ”

Green, who lives in West Palm Beach, Fla., was in good spirits during most of the round and hit many quality shots. He missed three eight-foot birdie putts on his first nine holes but seldom missed the fairway with his driver.

His one birdie came at the par-5 first, where he made a 4-foot putt.

Green and caddie Greg Belger of Danbury rode in an electric cart. Green had been granted permission to use the cart because of his medical condition upon his request to the Connecticut State Golf Association a few months ago.  He didn’t know he was going to play until Sunday, when he said he took 5 practice swings at a friend’s house in Danbury. He said he’d do “everything I could to play in the Open.”

Green played in the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, a Champions Tour event June 25-27 in Endicott, N.Y., but had to withdraw after rounds of 78 and 74.  “Too much pain,” he said Monday. “I’ve only played parts of 2 rounds since.”

Last week, he underwent one medical procedure in Mount Kisco, N.Y., and another in Danbury in an attempt to free him of his pain.  “They stuck me with something — I call it Freon, minus 100 degrees — in my leg to try to kill one nerve that has curled up,” he said. “They stuck me with two big needles.”  He held his hands 6 inches apart.  He said if this procedure doesn’t work within the next two weeks, the next option is to “slice me open and cut it out.”

Green doesn’t wallow in pity or misery.  “I haven’t played here in 20 or so years,” Green said before the round, looking out over the majestic view of the links-style course with Long Island Sound as a backdrop. “It’s breathtaking.”  After the round, he said, “Being out here and just playing is just an automatic high.”

Green, Gallo and Sokol are scheduled to tee off at 8:10 this morning at the first tee. The top 40 players and ties today advance to the final round of the 54-hole tournament Wednesday.  Green hopes to least play today.  “The odds of me playing 3 days in a row are slim,” he said because of the anticipated pain. “I go one day at a time. For me, it’s one hour at a time.”

Gallo said he was inspired every minute he played with Green on Monday.  “His score doesn’t matter,” Gallo said. “I told him you’re my hero.”  Gallo bowed his head for a few seconds and said, “I’ll remember this day and playing with him for the rest of my life.”

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
For example, HERE’s ANOTHER Great Article, with VIDEO of KG Tee-shot:
7-27-10: “Course a peaceful respite for Green (video)”
By Dave Solomon, New Haven Register
http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/07/27/sports/0072710_solomon_on_ken_green072710.txt

= = = = = = = = = = = = = =KG Shoots 74 in Rnd1 – Pain force WD…

7-27-10: “Green Plays Through Pain, But For How Long?”
((( Great article - includes Photo Galley of 5 pictures of KG playing CT-Open)))
By Chris Elsberry, CT-Post Sports Writer
http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/ELSBERRY-Green-plays-through-pain-but-for-how-591554.php

FAIRFIELD CT: The only way Ken Green could try and describe it was like taking your finger and sticking it into a light socket. That instant stab of pain as the shock of the electricity surges up your arm. That one second of pure agony before your brain sends an emergency signal and you pull your finger out.  Only Green can’t pull his finger out when the pain gets to be too much. This pain is in his leg, an amputated stump of a leg, and when it starts, all Green can do is try to bear it as best he can.

And there were many days, early on, when Green gritted his teeth and did his best to shut that pain out of his mind. Playing golf again, that was the driving force. He needed to get back on the course again. Not just for himself but for his brother Billy, his girlfriend Jeannie and his dog Nip. It’s been just over a year since they died in that RV accident that took the lower half of Green’s right leg and that pain in his leg is a constant reminder of their lost lives.

And he has been back on the course again. Playing the Champions Tour. It has been an amazing story, an incredible tale of determination and despair. Of tragedy and triumph. Only Green knows just how horrible it all has been.

Stick your finger into a light socket, he says. Then magnify that by a thousand.

“You know how you get that electric shock for a second, this is like having that or five to 10 minutes at a time up to an hour. It’s just kills you,” he said. “I can’t tell you how many times I just sit there and cry. It’s awful.”

As Green sat in the open hatchback of his SUV early Monday afternoon, tears welled in his eyes. It still hurts to talk about how bad the pain is. He was in the parking lot at the Country Club of Fairfield, preparing to play in the 76th Connecticut Open. He survived the first day, shooting a respectable 4-over 74. But he isn’t sure if he’ll be back for the second round today.

That all depends on the pain.

“I just don’t know,” he said. “The leg will go nuts tonight if it follows the same pattern that it’s been doing. I’m certainly going to try (and play). I just have to wait, there’s no other way I can figure it out.”

Just over a week ago, Green had two separate procedures done to try and freeze the nerves in the stump of his amputated right leg. It’s called a cryoblast and if it’s successful, it could mean a lot less pain for Green.

“If it’s successful and I don’t have the pain then I can go see if I can be normal, whereas previously, every other minute was a mystery as to what I could do,” he said. “At least now, if it works and I have no pain then I can go see, `Can I play golf again?’. Plus, to be pain free … ”

Green closed his eyes, paused and took a deep breath, obviously thinking of what that might be like.

“Every day, the pain is a nightmare. It wears you down mentally. Someone told me, when you’re tortured enough, you will eventually crack. That’s what this is doing. It’s slowly wearing me down. It’s amazing how it drains your energy because there’s only so much pain the body can take.”

And Green is getting closer to the point where playing competitive golf again is not nearly as important as ending the pain.

“Quite frankly, that’s my main goal right now, to get rid of the pain,” Green said. “It used to be `I want to play golf again’ but I’ve gotten to the point where I just want the pain gone. I never thought I’d say this but if someone told me you could either get rid of the pain but not play golf I would say fine. It’s just worn me down too much.”

So just over a week ago, Green went to Mt. Kisko (N.Y.) Hospital and had the first cryoblast procedure. Then a few days later at Danbury Hospital, he had a second. Doctors injected several needles into the stump with a substance chilled down to minus-100 degrees, which deaden and freeze the nerves, hopefully eliminating the pain.

If the procedure works, that is.

“It’s pot luck. I don’t know if it will help. It could be days, it could be two or three weeks before I know,” he said. “But it was something that had to get done.”

Coming back to the Connecticut Open was also something that Green — a two-time winner in 1985 and 1992 — had to do.

“I debated what I was going to do. Clearly, I’m not even close to being physically able to … because the procedure still needs a few more days. But it’s that love, telling you to go do it,” he said. “It’s good news, bad news. I’m glad to see everyone again but then there’s that part of me that says, `Should you be here?’ Are you doing the right thing?  For a person who didn’t really care a whole lot about necessarily what other people thought, I seem to be leery of it now because everyone’s told me not to worry. It doesn’t matter what you shoot because you’re out there fighting. I’ve got to get it through my brain that I’m not hurting golf or me or anything by doing this.”

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = 
7-27-10: “Ken Green withdraws from Connecticut Open”
By Danbury News-Times Staff
http://www.newstimes.com/othersports/article/Ken-Green-withdraws-from-Connecticut-Open-592318.php

Citing unbearable pain in his amputated leg, Ken Green withdrew from the 76th Connecticut Open Tuesday morning.  The Danbury native, who was making his first appearance at the tournament since the car accident that took the lower half of his right leg, had just shot a first-round 74, better than half the field.

But Green said he played through excruciating pain from his leg, which had gone through two procedures last week in an attempt to freeze the nerves at the stump, and doubted if he’d continue.

By Tuesday morning it was clear he couldn’t continue.

“The pain was too much. It was unfortunately just too much for me to handle,” Green said Tuesday afternoon. “I wasn’t able to get up and move around. The leg just went nuts and it was too hard to even put the prosthetic on.”

Late Monday night, Green informed CSGA Director Malcom McLachlan via text message that if he wasn’t at the Country Club of Fairfield by 7:30am, he wouldn’t be playing the 2nd round.  Green did not appear for his 8:10 a.m. start with leader Kyle Gallo and Steve Sokol, who proceeded as a twosome.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
7-27-10: “Ken Green WDs from CT Open; Gallo extends lead”
By Bruce Berlet, CTGolfer.com
Great news Monday. Sad news Tuesday.  Danbury native Ken Green had to withdraw from the CT Open because of pain in his right leg, which was amputated from the knee down after a horrific RV accident about 14 months ago that claimed the lives of his girlfriend, brother and dog.  “The pain was too much,” Green said when reached where he’s staying in Danbury. “It was unfortunately too much to handle. I wasn’t able to get up and move around. The nerve endings went ballistic (Monday) night, and my leg swelled up so bad (Tuesday) morning that I couldn’t get my prothesic on.“  Despite missing several makeable putts Monday, Green shot a 4-over-par 74 in the first round at the CC Fairfield and was tied for 49th. The low 40 and ties after Tuesday’s second round advance to the final 18 holes Wednesday.

But Green, a 2-time winner who was low pro in another State Open, grimaced several times after shots, indicating just how much pain he was in despite two special treatments last week to try to freeze nerves in his leg.  “I guess it was too much too soon after the treatments, but that’s my world now,” Green said. “I played (Monday) because I wanted to play. Connecticut and the Connecticut Open have always meant so much to me, so I really wanted to give it a try.  But now I have to get healthy. If the treatments work, I can get back to playing again this year. But the pain is wearing me down. I’ve got to get better, then golf will be easy.”

Green plans to return to his home in West Palm Beach, Fla., in a week, then return to Connecticut in Sept. & October.  Green was scheduled to start at 8:10am on the 1st tee with leader Kyle Gallo and 2003 champ Steve Sokol.

http://www.ctgolfer.com/blogs/bruce_berlet/2010/07/ken-green-wds-from-connecticut-open.html
Bruce Berlet’s Blog: http://www.ctgolfer.com/blogs/bruce_berlet 

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
7-28-10: “More frustration for Ken Green after his WD at CT Open”
http://fromtherough.wordpress.com/2010/07/28/more-heartache-for-ken-green-after-his-wd-at-ct-open

Like most, I tend to root for the underdog in certain sports situations. Ken Green would definitely qualify as an underdog worth rooting for — when he has the energy to play in a golf tournament. Most golf fans know Green’s story, and how he recently made a comeback to the sport after a horrific RV accident that saw him lose some of the most important people in his life, as well as part of his right leg.

It’s hard not to want to see Green shine once more. After a couple of struggles with his game and the searing pain of having to get around a golf course with his prosthetic leg, Green hit his biggest rough patch in his comeback this past week, when he had to withdraw from the Connecticut Open.

As Tom Yantz of the Hartford Courant noted in his article, Green just couldn’t handle the pain in his right leg during the event, forcing him to withdraw after firing a 4-over-par 74 in the opening round.

“It was just too much for me to handle,” Green said during a phone interview with Yantz. “I just wasn’t able to get up and move around. The leg just went nuts, and it was too hard to even put the prosthetic on.”  Even though the pain has become unbearable at times, that hasn’t kept Green from holding out hope for a return to the course later this year.

“My hope is to play again [this year], but I’m not real confident it’ll happen. Hopefully, the procedure [to freeze a nerve in his leg] worked, and then we’ll have to continue on.  I have to get rid of the pain, and then we can go fight the battle and play golf at the level that I want to play. My belief and my hope is that I can. And I’m going to go with that belief until I’m proven otherwise.”

= = = = = = =
7-28-10: “Green withdraws from Connecticut Open”
FAIRFIELD Ken Green withdrew before the second round of the Connecticut Open because his right leg swelled up overnight, and he was unable to walk, let alone play golf.

Hello good people of planet earth!  It’s only 7:50 am and I’m going insane again!

I’m on orders to accomplish nothing for a few days so here I am disobeying my orders by doing a blog, this is a semi violation of conducting unbecoming a professional patient. My kryoblast supposedly went well but I will not really know anything for a few days more

The CT Open [July26-28] is not looking real good but I still have hopes of doing something stupid.

Speaking of stupid I have no choice but to mention how idiotic some of the announcers were in regards to lambasting Tiger for switching putters.  How on earth can they figure out what the best putter on the planet is doing wrong in regards to why and if he should have ever switched? He managed to change women all the time so why not putters? Then they have the audacity to critique all the guys who putted bad during that wind storm. It’s just impossible to putt in those conditions.

I would like you all to know that up to this point I actually thought I was the most unorganized dope in the country.  I do believe that the Obama administration may now have slurpped ahead of me after this Sherrod fiasco.

I saw recently that the 2 highest paid athletes in the world were Tiger & Phil – I’d like to say that its a testament to their integrity but I do say its just that corporate America wants to entertain their clients with these damn good golfers. I’ll have you know that I fell out of the Top 10 due to a recent slump.

Take care and I’ll keep you posted,

Ken

Well, it’s Open week and at least I have something to watch as I slowly rot away into a ball of stupidity.

I’m ready for step 2 in this idiotic trip I’m on! I will be getting a Kryosomething done on Monday. If this works, I may get anywhere from 1 week to 3 years of relief. I’ve got to give this a rip before we do the surgery, as I might get lucky and have some painless days ahead of me.

The sad thing is that I’m not sure I will be able to play in the CT Open on the 25th of July. I really wanted to play, but it’s just not up to me at this moment. I may be able to play or not, it just depends on how my body reacts to all the big arse needles they stick me with. However, even if I’m able to play, it will be with absolutely no work done on the game. I would be asking for a mini miracle just to make the one day cut.

So, I will just have to patiently wait and see. This is clearly one of my strong suits, patience. I must give props to the doctors as they are all going out of their way to give me a chance to slap that square ball around.

Now on a side point – how is it that in all the other sports cheating is ok, but in golf we are the most honest people on the planet. Except for Finchem.  Anyway, M Young of the Rangers last night struck out last night and then they threw him out as the catcher dropped the ball. Wait! The umpire then ruled it was a foul – OK, he thought it was. So now Young gets another chance and gets a hit, then he scored and the Sox lose. My point is he knew he did not foul tip it, but says nothing. We call things on ourselves that no one sees in golf. I know this is dopey on me by bringing this up but wouldn’t it have been great if he turns and says “no sir I whiffed it, I’m out”?  Now I hate the Sox, but damn why can’t we do the right thing?!

Calc is in great position after 2 rounds and maybe he can fire it up over the weekend. I loved Daly’s comment in the interview room, “I’ve never run away from my mistakes” or close to that. Wow, is he kidding us. That’s like saying my ex-wife is not wrong in the head or I’m missing a leg and a brain.

Mr. Munch called me last night and has said either get home or he’s out. So I’m going home soon. I’m anxious about Monday as I’m just worn down by these days of pain. I complain too much, sorry.

With that I wish you all good days and smiles to all.

Ken

Doctor Koi stuck me with gentle precision which caused complete pain.  However, the good news is they feel that they have definitely located the source of my problem. This psychotic neuroma, who has declared war on your humble writer, will be taken care of in one of 2 ways. The first will be an injection of freon, which will freeze the neuroma temporarily. If I go the temporary road, it will maybe allow me to play for a couple of months, before the inevitable. I am going to have to have surgery which will cause a 2 months recovery period.

The question now is: when will I do this?  My dilemma is, do I try to work hard and play in a few tournaments, or do I have the surgery right now, and bypass the temporary process. This is where the Tour’s decision really affects me, because I have no guarantee that I will get any exceptions to play in these upcoming events. So…do I bust my butt now to get ready to play in a few events, to find out later that I might not even get into those events? So, now I must decide on what to do on this pigoroma.

My doctors, who have been fantastic by the way, will discuss this early next week, and determine my best options. It is a very tricky decision and quite honestly I am not sure which is the right route to go. All I know is that I can not play professional golf @ this point with this pain.

It would not be right if I do not open my mouth on Lebron James drama…all I can say is, it is a downright shame that these great athletes do not know how to swallow their egos and do things the right way.

That is my bit of news at the moment. I will keep you posted.

Be good,

Ken

I just woke from a nap in the middle of the day. Sadly, my nap was determined by pills as I was having a monster surge of love from my good friend, stumpometer.

So I awoke feeling pretty good and was ready to join my friends down on the dock for lively debate on the problem in America. Where the heck is common sense and why can’t we just do the right thing anymore? I was full of ingenious ideas to save our world, only to find out that all 7 of them abandoned me for a ride on Mr. Package’s new boat – The Saint Mary was gone and I alone.

That however has not stopped me from spreading my words, I said – go to your blog, Ken Green, and spread the word. So by lord I am here.

The first word is this: I will be having a procedure on Thursday where they are gonna attack & destroy this thing they call neuroma. I have no clue what this is, but I guess it is basically nerve endings that have gone rogue. They just ball up and create pain. Good gracious man don’t they have anything better to do? It is our hope that they will be successful. This is the easy way, but it’s a 50-50 chance on whether they can do this correctly.  The second way just kind of sucks, so I’m not going to bring it up at the moment. I’m just gonna believe it will work so I can stop living like a FMW.

Larry Mize was on fire in Montreal, damn good golf! If people really want to watch good golf and be alot closer to the pros, the Champions tour is the way to go. I watched the event down in Philly and they are just robots with very little personality.  They need to be themselves out there on the course and open up.

Sidetracked here… Anyway, I just wanted to say hello and thank you all for your words of love, encouragement and spice!! I will let you all know whether we get lucky and solve our problem. I would dearly like to go work on the game daily and see what I can do.

Be good my friends,

Ken

My 2nd round, 74, was  so very close to breaking par. A few bad breaks, lies, and a not so good putter, c0st me the goal of going under par.  I was eagerly awaiting the 3rd round as I really thought I could go under par.

However, my friend, mister nerves struck pretty hard throughout the night. This was the 2nd. night in a row, that I had to fight my “friend”. Upon waking this morning, I realized that the body had had too much.  I was convinced by friends not to play today.

I do believe it was the right decision. Sadly I will not be going to Montreal; instead it is my hope that I will be seeing a neurologist this week. Reality has struck, and I know that until we solve this dilemma, I will never know whether I can become a professional golfer again. The inability to do things on a daily basis that you have to do to improve your game, just aren’t being done at the moment. So, with that said it is time for me to jump ship from competitive golf until my nerve problems are resolved.

My pride and competitive spirit, just do not want to handle the playing for show, disabled rights and the spirit of golf. I don’t want to be held responsible for anything I say in this moment as I am writing this with sadness and tears, so I may not be of sound mind.

I will certainly keep you posted as of what happens when I see the new neurologist. Please remember there WERE people that survived the Titanic and the RV. I will fight on.

Be good and be well,

Ken

I had the privilege and I mean that sincerely of walking with KG during round 2 at Endicott. I am writing this with tears of frustration in my eyes because I have just learned that Ken had to withdraw and not play the 3rd round. Pass this on to all – our man is going to make it. There is zero doubt on this point. Let me give you a synopsis of what I saw.

For anyone who has not been to the BC Open or to the Dick’s Sporting Goods events – they are precious. They are conducted on a well groomed course that was built in the 20’s for the employees of the Endicott-Johnson Company.  Gently rolling and listed at 6,975, the course plays every bit of that with the added attraction of tree lined fairways and multiple ponds that come into play. The people are thrilled to have the Champions Tour and thank everyone for attending. Parking next to the course is $5 as is a Grilled Chicken Spiedie that is tasty and does not lack in the chicken department. How can a fan go wrong?

After his frustrating round one, which he described to me as being off by inches, not feet, KG had a sleepless night because of the electric pain that simply will not subside. When I saw him on the putting green before the round, his face was beet red and he looked exhausted. So much so that I blurted out, “What’s with you?” He explained that he slept 5 minutes all night and was going to try to figure out how to get it done in the 20 minutes that he had left til tee time. At first his putting was very shaky. But he was determined and just before he picked ‘em up to head for the tee, he seemed to have the stroke under control. He introduced me to Jamie & Joe, 2 members with whom he had played in the Pro-Am on Wednesday. They were now Ken Green disciples. They loved the man.

The first thing that was obvious was the KG has progressed from those initial 230 yard drives, when he first got back to playing, to serious 275 yard (on level holes) boomers that kept him in position on most holes. The fairways were narrow. He hit only one tee-ball that missed the fairway on the fly – and that one not by a lot. He did continue to suffer the “2 inch” curse in that a few balls ran, after hitting well on the fairway, into the 2nd cut literally by 2 inches. But just enough to make the 2nd shot one that was difficult to control out of the rough. So his drives were definitely in the “Good” category  for distance & placement. When he needed to turn it over to get a little more length, he did so.

The irons were more of a problem. He has trouble hitting down on the ball as much as the other pros which results in balls that run out too much. He was past the pin more frequently than not, again suffering from the “2 inch” curse in that the ball would run through the 4 foot collar and end up 2 inches into the heavy stuff that surrounded the collar. Again that made it tough to knock it in if he was close or control the distance if he was not. The lack of spin also put him at the mercy of the slopes of the green in that the ball would land where it was supposed to and instead of taking one hop and then stopping it would trickle off to the side or back to the front, again ending up just 2 inches into the heavy rough despite hitting within a short distance of the pin. This problem was the cause of 2 of the 3 bogeys on his 1st nine. On the 3rd one, he was blocked by a large tree on a very short par 4 dogleg right. He flew the tree but missed the green by 3 feet and was thrown down an embankment on the short side.

As the round progressed, he got more and more confident with the flat stick. At first he was blowing the ball by the hole 4-5 feet. Mercifully he was making the comebackers which clearly gave him confidence both on the green and for the rest of his game. No lip outs, but several putts which scared the hole and just slid by. On the back side with the poa greens growing as they do, he left 2 birdie attempts 2 or 3 inches short dead on line. So the putting is in the “he knows that this is one of his strengths” category.

What was inspirational was his intestinal fortitude. At least 3 times he stopped in mid-swing (a la Tiger) because he got zapped by a thunderbolt of pain. He walked away, regrouped and hit an excellent shot each time. The fans were extremely appreciative. They gave him a warm round of applause no matter what he did. On the 9th and the 18th, where all the tents and boxes surrounded the green he got well deserved ovations.

The man is on the cusp of scoring the way he wants to. If he can find the cause of the multiple electrocutions that he has to suffer during each round, he will be able to work on his game, particularly when the ball is well below his feet or when he has an awkward stance, so that he can overcome the bad bounces that inevitably occur when you play this crazy game. His 1-under on the longer front side (which was his back side as he started on 10) despite being fall-down tired and in obvious pain made one proud to be a Ken Green supporter. The good humor with which he answered questions posed by the gallery and his patience in giving autographs until the last person who wanted one, left everyone with smiles. Sadly today he could not overcome the pain. I am positive that he will find the medical answer and then perform at a level that will make us all proud. I remind myself that this very week just 1 year ago, I was with Ken in the University of Mississippi Medical Center, calling for a refill the moment his morphine drip ran out. I watched as the doctor removed glass from his eyelid 3.5 weeks after the accident because he was in such pain that it was only then that he felt it. At that point he did not even know the extent of the damage to his left ankle because the right leg screamed day and night. So to be competing at the highest level just 1 year later is a testament to his will, his love of the game, his willingness to put up with mind-numbing pain to do what he was born to do.

KEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT. You are on a new journey in your life that I and all your friends are humbled to share with you. We salute you.

With admiration and love,
Jacksan

 I am trying to swallow my anger pills 5 hours later.  I still have immense anger and frustration from day1 at Dick’s at En-Joie. To be this angry 5 hours later is actually a good sign that my competitor juices are still intact.

After chipping in on #12 to get back to even par, I managed to play my last 6 holes in 6 over. It sounds strange but I actually did not hit it that bad. I putted the ball like a hippo on Valium. I have to relax and not try so hard on my putts. The old “the harder you try the worse you putt theory” was in full bloom!

I have one small correction to make in the swing and if I can accomplish that along with just relaxing on the greens, I still believe I can shoot under par one of the last 2 rounds. So this hippo must take a warm bath and relax for tomorrow is a new battle.

I will keep you posted, be good and take care.

Ken

FRIDAY, ROUND1, JUNE 25 2010:
KG off at 11:53am tomorrow (Friday) at Dick’s Open, Endicott NY
11:42am James Mason, Jim Colbert, Jim Dent
11:53am Ken Green, Gene Jones, Bill Glasson
12:04pm Tommy Armour III, Ronnie Black, Craig Stadler

…while buddy Mark Calcavecchia makes his Champions Tour debut!!
http://www.pgatour.com/2010/tournaments/s008/06/24/calcavecchia-debut/index.html
…Mark goes off at 1:32pm with John Cook and Fred Funk.

Go Ken & Mark – - Battle it out for The WIN!

Follow the Dick’s Open here:  http://www.pgatour.com/tournaments/s008

ROUND1 FRIDAY JUNE25:

“Green struggles with 78 in Round1 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Open”
June 25, 2010 4:15pm by Chris Elsberry, CT-News
It started so well. A bogey at 2 and a birdie at 12 and heading to 13, Danbury’s Ken Green was at even-par and playing well in the opening round of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Open Friday in Endicott, N.Y.
Sadly, after that, the wheels fell off.
Green double bogeyed 13 and then bogeyed 15, 16, 17 and 18 to finish with a 78 — shooting a 40 on the back nine.
Hopefully, it was just some poor shots and not leg pain from the prosthetic that had Green struggling on the back side.
http://blog.ctnews.com/travelers/2010/06/25/green-stuggles-at-dicks-sporting-goods-open

KG’s COMMENTS ABOUT ROUND1 FROM HIS BLOG#65:
Dick’s Round One,
I am trying to swallow my anger pills 5 hours later.  I still have immense anger and frustration from day1 at Dick’s at En-Joie. To be this angry 5 hours later is actually a good sign that my competitor juices are still intact.  After chipping in on #12 to get back to even par, I managed to play my last 6 holes in 6 over. It sounds strange but I actually did not hit it that bad. I putted the ball like a hippo on Valium. I have to relax and not try so hard on my putts. The old “the harder you try the worse you putt theory” was in full bloom!  I have one small correction to make in the swing and if I can accomplish that along with just relaxing on the greens, I still believe I can shoot under par one of the last 2 rounds. So this hippo must take a warm bath and relax for tomorrow is a new battle.
I will keep you posted, be good and take care.
Ken

SATURDAY, ROUND2, JUNE 26 2010:
11:35am Ken Green, Ted, Schulz, Jim Dent
“Ken Green rebounds with 74 in Round2 at Dick’s Sporting Goods Open”
June 26, 2010 4:16pm by Chris Elsberry, CT News
Never count a fighter out. After a disappointing 78 in Friday’s first round of the Champions Tour Dick’s Sporting Goods Open, Danbury’s Ken Green rebounded with a solid 2-over 74 that included a 1-under 36 on the first nine (Green’s second nine of the day).  Starting on the back nine, Green opened with 4 pars before bogeys at 14, 17 and 18 saw him make the turn at 3-over 38. But he rallied with 8 pars and a lone bird at 5 that put him at 8-over for the tournament heading into Sunday’s final round.
http://blog.ctnews.com/travelers/2010/06/26/ken-green-rebounds-with-74-at-dicks-sporting-goods-open

- – - – - – - – - – - -
Friend Jack Garamella on KG’s Rnd2 74 at Dick’s/Endicott
From: Jack Garamella  Sunday, June 27, 2010 1:38PM
Subj: Ken’s 2^nd Round at Endicott

I had the privilege and I mean that sincerely of walking with KG during round 2 at Endicott. I am writing this with tears of frustration in my eyes because I have just learned that Ken had to withdraw and not play the 3rd round. Pass this on to all – our man is going to make it. There is zero doubt on this point. Let me give you a synopsis of what I saw.

For anyone who has not been to the BC Open or to the Dick’s Sporting Goods events – they are precious. They are conducted on a well groomed course that was built in the 20’s for the employees of the Endicott-Johnson Company.  Gently rolling and listed at 6,975, the course plays every bit of that with the added attraction of tree lined fairways and multiple ponds that come into play. The people are thrilled to have the Champions Tour and thank everyone for attending. Parking next to the course is $5 as is a Grilled Chicken Spiedie that is tasty and does not lack in the chicken department. How can a fan go wrong?

After his frustrating round one, which he described to me as being off by inches, not feet, KG had a sleepless night because of the electric pain that simply will not subside. When I saw him on the putting green before the round, his face was beet red and he looked exhausted. So much so that I blurted out, “What’s with you?” He explained that he slept 5 minutes all night and was going to try to figure out how to get it done in the 20 minutes that he had left til tee time. At first his putting was very shaky. But he was determined and just before he picked ‘em up to head for the tee, he seemed to have the stroke under control. He introduced me to Jamie & Joe, 2 members with whom he had played in the Pro-Am on Wednesday. They were now Ken Green disciples. They loved the man.

The first thing that was obvious was the KG has progressed from those initial 230 yard drives, when he first got back to playing, to serious 275 yard (on level holes) boomers that kept him in position on most holes. The fairways were narrow. He hit only one tee-ball that missed the fairway on the fly – and that one not by a lot. He did continue to suffer the “2 inch” curse in that a few balls ran, after hitting well on the fairway, into the 2nd cut literally by 2 inches. But just enough to make the 2nd shot one that was difficult to control out of the rough. So his drives were definitely in the “Good” category  for distance & placement. When he needed to turn it over to get a little more length, he did so.

The irons were more of a problem. He has trouble hitting down on the ball as much as the other pros which results in balls that run out too much. He was past the pin more frequently than not, again suffering from the “2 inch” curse in that the ball would run through the 4 foot collar and end up 2 inches into the heavy stuff that surrounded the collar. Again that made it tough to knock it in if he was close or control the distance if he was not. The lack of spin also put him at the mercy of the slopes of the green in that the ball would land where it was supposed to and instead of taking one hop and then stopping it would trickle off to the side or back to the front, again ending up just 2 inches into the heavy rough despite hitting within a short distance of the pin. This problem was the cause of 2 of the 3 bogeys on his 1st nine. On the 3rd one, he was blocked by a large tree on a very short par 4 dogleg right. He flew the tree but missed the green by 3 feet and was thrown down an embankment on the short side.

As the round progressed, he got more and more confident with the flat stick. At first he was blowing the ball by the hole 4-5 feet. Mercifully he was making the comebackers which clearly gave him confidence both on the green and for the rest of his game. No lip outs, but several putts which scared the hole and just slid by. On the back side with the poa greens growing as they do, he left 2 birdie attempts 2 or 3 inches short dead on line. So the putting is in the “he knows that this is one of his strengths” category.

What was inspirational was his intestinal fortitude. At least 3 times he stopped in mid-swing (a la Tiger) because he got zapped by a thunderbolt of pain. He walked away, regrouped and hit an excellent shot each time. The fans were extremely appreciative. They gave him a warm round of applause no matter what he did. On the 9th and the 18th, where all the tents and boxes surrounded the green he got well deserved ovations.

The man is on the cusp of scoring the way he wants to. If he can find the cause of the multiple electrocutions that he has to suffer during each round, he will be able to work on his game, particularly when the ball is well below his feet or when he has an awkward stance, so that he can overcome the bad bounces that inevitably occur when you play this crazy game. His 1-under on the longer front side (which was his back side as he started on 10) despite being fall-down tired and in obvious pain made one proud to be a Ken Green supporter. The good humor with which he answered questions posed by the gallery and his patience in giving autographs until the last person who wanted one, left everyone with smiles. Sadly today he could not overcome the pain. I am positive that he will find the medical answer and then perform at a level that will make us all proud. I remind myself that this very week just 1 year ago, I was with Ken in the University of Mississippi Medical Center, calling for a refill the moment his morphine drip ran out. I watched as the doctor removed glass from his eyelid 3.5 weeks after the accident because he was in such pain that it was only then that he felt it. At that point he did not even know the extent of the damage to his left ankle because the right leg screamed day and night. So to be competing at the highest level just 1 year later is a testament to his will, his love of the game, his willingness to put up with mind-numbing pain to do what he was born to do.

KEN, THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORT. You are on a new journey in your life that I and all your friends are humbled to share with you. We salute you.

With admiration and love,
Jacksan

SUNDAY, ROUND3, JUNE 27 2010:
11:25am Bob Ford, Ken Green  => “Ken Green, who shot a 2-over 74 on Saturday as he adjusts to the game wearing a prosthetic device on his lower right leg, withdrew Sunday morning because of pain and said he would not play next week in Montreal.”
- – - – - – - – - – - - - – -
KG’s Blog Post #66 – 6/27/10 4:49pm (nerve pain too much)

My 2nd round, 74, was  so very close to breaking par. A few bad breaks, lies, and a not so good putter, c0st me the goal of going under par.  I was eagerly awaiting the 3rd round as I really thought I could go under par.

However, my friend, mister nerves struck pretty hard throughout the night. This was the 2nd. night in a row, that I had to fight my “friend”. Upon waking this morning, I realized that the body had had too much.  I was convinced by friends not to play today.

I do believe it was the right decision. Sadly I will not be going to Montreal; instead it is my hope that I will be seeing a neurologist this week. Reality has struck, and I know that until we solve this dilemma, I will never know whether I can become a professional golfer again. The inability to do things on a daily basis that you have to do to improve your game, just aren’t being done at the moment. So, with that said it is time for me to jump ship from competitive golf until my nerve problems are resolved.

My pride and competitive spirit, just do not want to handle the playing for show, disabled rights and the spirit of golf. I don’t want to be held responsible for anything I say in this moment as I am writing this with sadness and tears, so I may not be of sound mind.

I will certainly keep you posted as of what happens when I see the new neurologist. Please remember there WERE people that survived the Titanic and the RV. I will fight on.

Be good and be well,
Ken

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = ARTICLES:
6-23-10: “Dick’s Open features Historical Comeback Story: Ken Green”
VIDEO report by Mark Larson, Syracuse YNN News
“This week’s Dick’s Sporting Goods Open features one of the greatest comeback stories in the history of sports. One year after losing part of his leg in an RV accident. Ken Green is going for the greens again and as Mark Larson found out he’s savoring every step along the way.”
DON’T MISS: 2:12 VIDEO – KG PLAYING PRACTICE ROUND WITH CALC AT EN-JOIE!! 
http://centralny.ynn.com/content/sports/sports_news/508910/dick-s-open-features-historical-comeback-story

= = = = = = = = = = =
6-24-10 (Golf.com): “Calcavecchia Ready for Champions Tour Debut”
http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,1999470,00.html

ENDICOTT, N.Y. (AP) — Mark Calcavecchia remembers the good old days, when he was a threat to win almost every time out on the PGA Tour. . .

. . .When play begins, all eyes are likely to be trained on Ken Green, who will be making just his second start in a stroke-play event since a tragic crash a year ago. 

Last June, after playing a tournament in Texas, Green’s RV blew a tire on a Mississippi highway and careened into an oak tree. His girlfriend and brother were killed in the crash, as was Nip, his beloved German shepherd.  Green opted to have his lower right leg amputated a week later and replaced with a prosthetic because it was his only hope of playing golf again.  Then another setback. In January, Green’s son was found dead in his college dorm room.

Green persevered and made his return to the game at the Legends of Golf, a 2-man team event in April. He followed that by playing the Regions Charity Classic in mid-May at Ross Bridge, the longest course on the Champions Tour, and finished 73rd in the 77-player field.

Lonnie Nielsen (2009 winnder of Dick’s Open) marvels at Green’s grit. “He’s an inspiration for everybody. I can’t imagine even getting out of bed with what he’s had to go through,” Nielsen said. “I saw him walking up the steps after he played at the Legends, and it was all he could do. If there wouldn’t have been a railing, there was no chance he could have gotten into that clubhouse. I know how much pain he’s in. You can just tell it by watching him walk around, but he’s gone out and played some pretty respectable golf.”

The En-Joie Golf Club course is a 7,034-yard layout with narrow fairways and short par-5s. It should be easier for Green to traverse. “I think he was a little worried at first that he wasn’t going to be competitive,” tournament director John Karedes said. “But the other players made him feel right at home. This is a course that’s flat, isn’t the longest. I think Ken will be able to play well. I certainly hope so.”