Parker McLachlin, a former Punahou athlete, is in his second year on the PGA Tour. Once again he is sharing his impressions with Advertiser readers on events that he's just completed and tournaments that are upcoming on his calendar.

Aloha from Scottsdale,

I'm writing to you all from Arizona this week because after last week's incredible experience, I caught a bit of the flu and I just had to pull out of this week's Bob Hope Classic. I will, however, be ready to go for the Buick Invitational in San Diego next week.

The 2008 Sony Open was a tournament I'll never forget. I could not have imagined a better way to start my year. For everything that the people of Hawai'i and the people at the Sony Open have done for me over the years it was just really nice to come out there last week and give everyone on the Islands a top-10 finish at such a great event.

This has always been a tournament that means so much to me. As many of you know, I grew up working around that golf course, and on Thursday, when I started out poorly (4-over through my first six holes), I really had to stay mentally strong and recognize that there was a lot of golf left in me that week.

Midway through my round on Thursday there was a point where my experience from playing on the PGA Tour last year really helped me. Instead of starting to press, I knew that I had time to overcome the rough start, and I was able to hold it together Thursday and then come out Friday and birdie the last hole to make the playing cut by one shot. I really wanted to get to the weekend, especially because so many of you were out there cheering me on.

On the weekend, seeing that I was the only Hawaiian in the field on Sunday, I really felt that the eyes of the Islands were on me, and I could feel so many of your emotions with every one of my shots. Waikoloa, one of my Hawaiian sponsors, even made these "Go Parker" hats that I must have seen hundreds of fans wearing all weekend. The support from all of you local fans was truly incredible.

I know that I have to keep these postcards short, but I can't express to all you fans my gratitude for your support this past week. To my friends and family and to fans new and old on the Islands, you made the 2008 Sony Open one of the most surreal — and special — weeks of my life. Hopefully, the 2008 season will be magical, and we can all say that we were there together for the first week of it all.

Mahalo for now, and I can't wait to check in with you all after next week's Buick Open.

Parker

Parker McLachlin can be reached at www.parkermclachlin.com