Join us as we travel on the PGA Tour with Parker McLachlin, a former Punahou athlete. McLachlin and Castle alum Dean Wilson are the only Hawai'i golfers on the PGA Tour. McLachlin, Waikoloa's touring pro, will write his impressions on events that he has just completed and tournaments that are coming up on his calendar.

Aloha from Scottsdale.

One of the things that can be a challenge when you travel 30 weeks a year is the occasional time you get sick. You're not at home, and it's never fun to be sick in a hotel room.

Last week I had a stomach virus and wasn't able to eat for almost four days. Then I went out on Friday and had to play 34 holes since the weather was bad on Thursday (I played the final two holes Saturday morning because it got too dark the night before).

I had to get an IV on Thursday morning to try to replenish all of the fluids I had lost. I've never had an IV before, and it was one of those odd things to experience that you never really think about on a normal day.

We ended up playing on Friday and I did not have my top game mentally or physically. But I gave 100 percent of what I could give and came within a couple shots of making the cut. It was quite a trek for a body that had been in bed for four straight days to walk 34 holes on a golf course. Now I can tell you I definitely appreciate not feeling like there are living things running around in my stomach with swords.

Since I'm off this week, I'll be at home in Arizona eating some delicious home cooking. I lost about 10 pounds the first two days of my stomach virus, so I'm just trying to put on the weight I lost. After this, I'm headed up to Hilton Head and back on the road for the next four weeks.

This week is Masters week, and like any other golf fan, I'll be watching the coverage today through Sunday. Unfortunately my win at Reno last year was not enough to get me in the field. But I'll definitely be following as a fan. The Masters truly is one of the most special weeks of the year for the sport of golf.

My sleeper pick for the Masters is Nick Watney. He's a great buddy of mine who is at the Masters for the second time in his career, and he's playing the best golf of his life.

Mahalo,

Parker