Blog: From Indonesia to Korea

Another week finished, another adventure ahead.  My last blog touched on a few points that I was going to focus on heading into the Indonesian Masters. More aggressive play and instinctual reactions with less deliberation were among the keys I wanted to focus on.  And while I didn’t play particularly well on the week, I did a very nice job of working these ideas into my game.  I definitely need to keep pressing forward with this aggressive mindset.  On another note, I watched Westwood play some holes this week and it was quite eye opening.  I was very intrigued by the way it appeared that he was playing inside a bubble.  He was in his own little world and it didn’t look like anything could disrupt it.  Every shot looked the same, regardless of the situation or circumstance.  I know I play in a very similar way, especially when I’m going well, but he appeared to be in a place that was more stable and focused than I’ve ever been.  He looked like a stoic god amongst a field of frantic, nervous kids.  It was inspiring. I have the ability and skill to get to a similar place, I just need to start doing it.  I need to create my own, separate world on the golf course with my own goals and expectations, and ways of playing, that are stable and constant amidst all the wavering outside influences.  This is the point in which my potential can shine, and all the aggressive instincts can start to take over.  The million dollar question is how? The simple answer is I have no idea exactly.  But what I do know is that I’m close to putting everything together. That’s about as much as I’m going to spill my guts for now, don’t get used to it!

On the logistical front, I’m dealing with something just short of a nightmare right now.  My plan after Indonesia was to fly home to LA.  That was yesterday and I’m still pretty far from home.  I received word last night (Sunday) that I had moved up 10 spots to 3rd reserve for the European Tour event next week in Korea.  I was under the impression that I had no chance of playing, but now that I moved up the list so much I might just get in. So, I decided to forgo my flight home and head to Korea instead. The only problem is that I don’t have a Korean business visa which is required to play the tournament, rookie mistake because I easily could have gotten last week in Malaysia.  So, instead of flying straight to Korea, I had to head to Malaysia to get a Visa.  I hopped on an Air Asia flight (which, by the way, is the worst airline in the world – every time I fly with them I swear I’ll never do it again) to Kuala Lumpur.  I arrived in KL this morning, found a place to get passport photos taken for the application, and went to the Korean Embassy.  Of course, the embassy was closed when I arrived and they informed me to come back first thing in the morning.  So here I sit, waiting in a hotel room in Kuala Lumpur to get this visa, which probably wont be processed until Wednesday.  Then I’ll fly from here to Seoul Wednesday night, by which time I’m hoping 2 guys will have withdrawn so I get a spot to play.  Welcome to the life.

Follow me on twitter to see how this little story plays out over the next week.

-ben

Wow, that was a frustrating tournament last week at the Malaysian Open.  I played very poorly, but sometimes that’s what it takes to realize what you really need to focus on.

I’ve been talking to my coach Brady and my trainer MP for a while now about playing more aggressively and instinctually with less thought and more reaction.  However, I haven’t done much more than talk about these ideas.  I need to, badly!  I’ve been playing way too conservatively and controlled when I have the ability to do so much more.  I was a few groups behind Rory McIlroy and Martin Kaymer this week and was able to watch them attack the course in a much more aggressive way than I did.  I was hitting 3 woods and irons on holes they were blasting drivers on.  I’m making the courses too hard on myself while other guys are taking some risks trying to make the course as easy as possible. I had an awesome talk with my Mom the other night about meditating, letting go, and not being hesitant to be more aggressive and free on the course.  It’s time to do just that and I’m really looking forward to it.  I’m excited to swing away, have some fun, and see what comes of it.  If I play badly, at least I’ll go down swinging for the fences, so watch out!  Might have to duck for cover but at least I’ll be putting myself in a position to let my true colors shine instead of holding back and trying to control everything.  Stay tuned.

On another note, I just bumped into Lee Westwood in the elevator heading down to the opening ceremony dinner for this weeks event here in Jakarta, Indonesia.  It’s nice that the Asian Tour is able to draw some top players to certain events.  Should be a good week.  The course is in great shape and set up for a real championship with long rough and fast greens.  I haven’t seen much of Jakarta yet but I plan to as the week goes on.  We usually get sick of the hotel food after a few days and venture out to find something different.  Unfortunately, you never really know what you’re going to end up eating, but I have to say that most of us have stomachs of steel and can basically digest anything short of sewer water.  When you do eat that rare meal that makes you rumble it’s hysterical how most guys immediately load up on stomach drugs and end up not going to the bathroom for the next 7 days.  As bad as that sounds it is better than the alternative.  Not quite sure how I just got from fast greens to preventing diarrhea in two sentences but I guess that just shows what’s on our minds out here!   That’s all for now.  Email me at info@benfoxgolf.com with any suggestions for future blog topics and don’t forget to follow my day to day action on Twitter.

Ben

So, the Panasonic Open in India ended differently than I would have liked it to.  After being tied for second through two rounds, I shot 74, 71 on the weekend to fall to 10th place.  Although it’s never bad finishing in the top 10, it is always frustrating when you know you let one get away.  I could elaborate on all my mistakes and carry on and on about what should have been better but then I would just sound like another whining golfer.  So I’ll just say this: Learning from mistakes and using what you’ve learned to perform better the next time around is the key to everything. Next time I’m in a similar position I expect to be holding the trophy and a bottle of champagne instead of writing a blog about what went wrong. Until then, I’m stuck writing.

At the moment, I’m flying from New Delhi, India to Kuala Lampur, Malaysia.  One of the perks of traveling so much is I have amazing status with the airlines which is why I’m sitting in a first class seat right now after purchasing a coach ticket.  If you flew 130,000 miles last year you would be sitting up front with me too!  I’ll be in Kuala Lampur in a few hours for the Maybank Malaysian Open.  It’s going to be an exciting week.  Three of the last four major champions, Louis Oosthuizen, world number one Martin Kaymer and newly crowned masters champion Charl Schwartzel are all playing, along with Rory McIlroy and some other big names.  It’s always fun competing against the best players in the world.  Your focus is still one hundred percent on playing your game, but you can’t help being aware of how you stack up to the the guys at the top.  There’s also a lot you can learn from playing alongside some bigger names.  Usually it has nothing to do with their game, it’s more about how they carry themselves, deal with certain situations, and own everything they’re doing – All good stuff that I’m working on myself.  From what I’ve heard of the course, it should be a good test.  Scorching hot and humid temperatures along with the unpredictable winds in KL will make things interesting.  Three days of solid preparation with my caddie, Elango, and I’ll be ready to roll Thursday. Follow the action on http://www.asiantour.com or http://www.europeantour.com and follow my Twitter feed for daily updates.

Lastly, I have a favor to ask.  To everyone reading my blogs, can you email me suggestions about what you like and don’t like hearing about?  This is all new to me, so I’d like to hear your opinions. Would you like more golf talk?  Would you like more off the course travel stuff? I have so much I can talk about that I’d like to know specifically what everyone likes hearing about.  Email your comments to me at Info@benfoxgolf.com.  Thanks for the help,

Ben

2/28/11

I’m writing this on board Malaysian airlines flight 394, Bangkok.  I’m struggling. The flight has gotten the best of my entertainment arsenal and I still have 5 hours left.  I usually don’t run out of my movies and TV shows but when you book a last minute flight that has layovers in Kuala Lampur and Taiwan it’s easy to burn through a lot of content. I started the trip home with 3 new movies, 4 TV shows and a book on tape and now I have nothing.  I have sifted through the options on the planes’ entertainment system but I’ve literally seen every movie they’re offering.  In desperate times like these sometimes you have to resort to watching a Discovery channel episode on something like “unique weapons of the future” or “Man vs. wild: Sudan.”  It’s amazing what becomes interesting when you’re crammed in a coach seat at 36 thousand feet but those shows aren’t even an option on this flight.  So, here I am blabbing away on my laptop.

Once I’m home and the jet lag dissipates it’s back to work.  I’ll have four or five days to bring the game together and then I’m off to Puerto Rico to qualify for the PGA Tour event there.  After that I’ll be gearing up for the first stretch of tournaments this year: 5 events over 7 weeks in Asia including several very big ones.  I’m eager to go, but also confident that the slow start to this years’ schedule will pay dividends come November and December when I’m still on the road.  It’s a long year with a lot of tournaments to be won.  Can’t wait.  I think I’ve written enough for now.  I’m going to force myself to sleep to finish this flight off the easy way.  Goodnight.

As always, follow my real time updates on Twitter.

Ben

Ben’s Blog: Bangkok, Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand:

Home sweet home, or something like that!  The first stop after leaving India always seems to feel a little more like home, no matter where it is.  I just checked my passport and this is my 8th visit to Thailand since January 2010 so it’s fair to say that this really is a home away from home.  It’s strange that a year ago I felt like I was on another planet in Thailand and now it’s as if Bangkok is an extension of L.A.  A bit more fried rice and maybe not as many Pinkberry’s, but who’s counting.  The bottom line is I feel comfortable and at ease here.

On another note, the course this week for the British Open Qualifying is great.  It has hosted several Royal Trophies (a Ryder cup style event between Europe and Asia) and a skins game last month with Tiger, Thongchai, Camilo and Paul Casey.  It should be a good fair test. I practiced hard in India but because I didn’t get into the event I wasn’t able to spend time on the course. Tomorrow is important to get back in the rhythm of things and bring all the pieces that I’ve been working on together.  There’s going to be no holding back this week: 70 players, 2 rounds, 4 spots.  I only need 1, time to go get it!  I’ll keep the posts coming but for more frequent updates follow me on Twitter.  Also, the results should be posted on the Asian Tour website.

Ben

New Delhi, India!

Four days of waiting at the European Tour’s Avantha Masters in India and I didn’t get in. Never fun not getting a chance to play, especially when you’re ready to go.  That being said, it’s been a good few days.  I spent time Wednesday with the Taylormade guys and got a new R11 driver that’s working much better than the first one I had.  I haven’t been able to get it on the course yet but judging by the way it’s flying on the range it should be damn good.

Even though I didn’t get to play this week it feels good to be back out here, it’s where I need to be.

On another note, India is f***ing crazy!  I’ve traveled a lot but never visited a place where it’s so difficult to accomplish anything or get anywhere.  Take the roads for example – You put cars, trucks, motorbikes, bicycles, people, cows, elephants and begging children on the streets and tell them to scatter in every direction without any traffic signals, lanes or laws and you have the roads of India – total chaos.  Cars without dents do not exist because you get in accidents every time you’re on the road.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they sold pre-dented cars to save people the stress of seeing their new purchases destroyed over night.  The roads are just the beginning, but I don’t need to rant on and on because I might never stop.  It’s a wild place.  I wouldn’t recommend it to many people, but I love it.  It’s full action every time you step outside.  If you have an interest to tap into your inner Jason Bourne, this might be the place to start. If not, stay away.  That’s all for now.

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for more real time updates and results.

Offseason was great but it’s time to get back to it!

So, my rookie season in Asia ended with the good news that I secured my full tour card for 2011.  After a long year, I was in serious need of a break to relax, recharge, and prepare for the 2011 season.  I did just that: spent 5 days in India with my girlfriend, went on a snowboarding trip with the boys in Mammoth and spent some down time time in L.A. with the family.

In early January I was back in the gym with Michael Pauldine and back on the range with my coach, Brady.  Over the course of the year I tend to lose weight and strength and the swing gets sloppy.  So, while Mike and I have been focusing on filling out and getting my body ready to handle another long year, Brady has been helping me make a few changes with the swing to be more consistent, knocking out a few variables (I’ll try and have some videos of the swing posted on the site soon!).  As always, the work with Brady and MP has been really productive, and was exactly what I needed out of this last month.

That being said, let’s be honest here: the offseason was great but enough is enough. The 2011 season is waiting and I’m ready to dive in!  Here we go.  Follow all the action here on BenFoxGolf.com.

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter for live updates of my journey!

Ben

Ben Fox is a 23 year old California native who has brought his game to the world stage. Along with 2 professional wins, Ben’s resume includes experience on the PGA, Asian, and European tours.  Ben will spend 2011 as a fully exempt player on the Asian Tour where he will compete in a wide variety of Asian Tour and European Tour events with many opportunities to play his way into the World Golf Championships and the Majors.  He will also target specific events on the PGA Tour.

“I grew up in Los Angeles and spent my youth competing  in golf tournaments in the United States, but now I’m seeing the world and loving it,”  Ben declares as he recounts his round-the-world adventures. “The world experience has been an eye opener, a huge confidence booster, and has made me a better, stronger player.” He is the youngest American with full Asian Tour status and beams when recounting his experiences abroad.  His US passport contains entry stamps in 2010 from UK, Spain, Turkey, India, Brunei, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Ben’s success as a professional results from a tireless work ethic and support from long time coach Brady Riggs, trainer Michael Pauldine, and a committed family.  ”I have been so lucky to have had Brady, Mike and my family supporting me from the beginning. They are the reason I have been able to get better at such a fast rate.”

Ben, a natural athlete who excelled at youth hockey and baseball, was introduced to the game by his cousin Alex when he was 11.  Unlike many of his peers, Ben did not grow up on the golf course, and instead spent his childhood on ice rinks and baseball diamonds.  He admits, “Starting late in the game had its downsides but playing other sports was awesome and I wouldn’t have traded for anything.”  Ben credits his intense competitive nature to his days playing hockey.  ”As a little guy on the ice you learn how to scrap, grind and fight for every inch.  I’m constantly drawing on these experiences when on the course.”

When Ben was 14 he gave up hockey and baseball to focus on golf. He honed his skills on L.A. public courses under the watchful eye of coach Brady Riggs and showed fast improvement.  He competed in local junior and amateur events, and several years later earned a golf scholarship to the University of Arizona.  Ben’s amateur career included winning the California State Junior Amateur, Pac10 Freshman Honors and winning the Southwest Amateur Championship.

After turning professional in 2008, Ben has taken his game to the world stage.  In his first year as a professional, he was featured as a member of the Canadian Tour.  As a rookie on the Asian Tour in 2010, Ben earned three top 20 finishes on his way to becoming one of only three American players to retain their playing privileges for 2011.  Ben also won the 2010 Sierra Nevada Open and had is best finish on the PGA tour (t26) at the 2010 Reno-Tahoe Open.

Ben has an amazing ability to keep getting better.  In just 10 years playing golf he has reached unexpected heights and shows no signs of slowing down.  2011 might just be his breakout year.

Follow Ben on Twitter in 2011 to get up to date information on his progress and an inside look at his exciting journey.