A caddie's game plan for Peggy Ference

Kris Shreiner, aka "The Grinder," caddied at Pebble Beach for 11 years. He was asked to provide tips to Peggy Ference, the amateur who will try to break 100 from the championship tees in Wednesday's Golf Digest U.S. Open Challenge. "With the right game plan, I believe she can break 100 and by a few shots if she's patient and stays focused on executing her strategy," Shreiner said. "Corey (Pavin, Peggy's caddie during the event) will provide valuable assistance, particularly around the greens."

While wind, general conditions and recovering from the rough will require adjustments, these calls are raw yardages, and the best percentage plays for what Peggy's up against.

Goals: on the green with a putt for par on all par threes and short fours, on the green with a putt for bogey on the longer par 4's and 5's.

Hole 1 -- Driver tee shot at first, straightaway bunker. Second shot: Depending on fairway firmness, at left greenside bunker, planning to land 10-20 yards short of green. Ball usually kicks right and releases, ending up just on front or slightly short ... perfect position.

Hole 2-- Driver down left side, aim at left fairway bunker. Second shot could well be from the rough, cut wedge with ball bounding down middle fairway. Third shot: Probably a lay up to about 130 yards in, as this will be far enough back to avoid tree issues if shot is off line. Fourth shot: At left side of green +10 on from front edge ... left side is ALWAYS better than right coming into this green.

Hole 3 -- Driver at right edge of fairway cut. A MUST! Left is dead on this hole. Second shot: wedge cut shot out of rough, bounding down middle of fairway. Third shot: Unless inside 140 yards to green, play is lay up at left side of green apron, 10 yards short of front edge. This keeps one short of the bunkers and in perfect position to chip close to any pin.

Hole 4 -- Driver LEFT of cross bunker. Second shot: wedge cut shot out of rough, bounding down middle of fairway. Third shot: Aim for left side of green, plus 10 on from front edge of green. This hole is sneaky tough, short left, even in the front left bunker is fine...anywhere else, bring your toolbox and rosary beads!

Hole 5-- Tee shot: Aim at LEFT greenside bunker, FRONT EDGE yardage ALWAYS!  Good Par chance!!!

Hole 6 -- Driver at left edge of fairway cut. Second shot: Cut wedge, bounding down middle of fairway. Third shot: layup to base of hill, favor right side a little if possible. Fourth shot: Aim slightly right and carry hill! Fifth shot: Aim left center of green, plus 10 on, from front edge.

Hole 7 -- Aim left center of green, plus five on, from front edge. Short left, even in bunker is fine!

Hole 8-- Driver from right side of tee box... HAVE A GOOD LINE FOR this tee shot! Second shot: Lay up to 20 yards short of cliff edge, unless inside 180 yards to green. Third shot -- Left front edge yardage -- NOT DOWNHILL AT ALL!

Hole 9 -- Driver at left edge of fairway. Second shot: Cut wedge from rough, bounding down middle of fairway. Third shot: If outside 200 yards to the green, lay up, aim at left green apron cut and land 100 yards short of green. Ball will kick right and release to front edge or just short ... perfect. If going for green, land 30 yards short of green, aim at left green apron cut. Fourth shot -- left center of green , plus 10 on, from front edge.

Hole 10 -- Driver at left fairway bunker. Second shot:  cut wedge from rough, bounding down middle of fairway. Third shot: Outside 150 yards, aim at left edge of green apron and land 20 yards short of green. Ball kicks right and releases. Again, left and short is fine. If going for green, left center, plus 10 on from front.

Hole 11 -- Driver from right side of tee box, aim at left edge of fairway cut. Second shot: Wedge cut shot from rough, bounding down LEFT side of fairway. Third shot: Aim at left edge of green, FRONT EDGE YARDAGE ALWAYS!

Hole 12 -- Right front edge ... play that yardage and shot  line ... ALWAYS!

Hole 13 -- Driver right of right edge fairway cut ... A MUST! Second shot: Cut wedge from rough bounding up middle of fairway. Third shot: Plays plus five uphill. Front edge yardage or short left is fine ... NO RIGHT!!!!

Hole 14 --  Driver at left edge of fairway. Second shot: Cut wedge from rough, bounding down middle of fairway. Third shot: Utility wood to 150 yards lay up, keeps ball widest part of fairway with no tree issues. Fourth shot: Plays uphill plus five. If outside 150 yards, land 10 yards short of green at RIGHT edge of apron cut. If going for green, right side, plus 20, from front edge! Long or short right is fine ... LEFT IS DEAD!!!!!!

Hole 15 --  Driver from right side of tee box. Aim at right bunkers or right edge of fairway ... A MUST!          Second shot: Wedge cut shot out of rough to short of center-fairway pot bunker, or utility from fairway to 100 yards.  Third shot: play to land on front edge yardage, or plus 10, if inside 120 yards

Hole 16 -- Driver at fairway LEFT of center-fairway bunker. Second shot:  Lay up to 150 yards out or utility club to 80 yards at base of fairway. Third shot : Aim at right edge of green -- ALWAYS... from 150 yards out, play it, plus 15, from front edge...NO DOWNHILL!

Hole 17 -- Left side of tee box aim at RIGHT front edge of green.  ALWAYS play that right front edge yardage!

Hole 18 --  Driver at cluster of fairway trees. Second shot: Utility club just right of left seawall bunker. Third shot: 170 yards or less, aim at right greenside trap and land 30 yards short of green. Over 170 yards, aim to land in center of fairway 110 yards out. Fourth shot: center of green, plus 10 on from front edge.

H__ole 19__ - TAP ROOM! A must to celebrate a job well done!

While this will be a daunting test for Peggy, if she smiles and enjoys the challenge, stays focused, avoids three putts and tacks her way around .. I'll call her for 97 beautiful blows and will pledge an additional $50.00 to her brother's SPARC charity.

*-- Kris Shreiner

Photo by Steve Szurlej