Today wasn’t the round I wanted or expected (78), but I really have nobody but myself to blame.

Nothing went right for me, but I was the problem, not the course or the weather.

I got to the first tee and I was nervous and charged up, but not as bad as I thought I would be. I hit a bad shot off the (first) tee. It hit the trees and bounced back toward the fairway. I would have been better off if it had bounced into the ninth fairway.

I put my second shot in the bunker and made bogey and it was pretty much downhill. Just a bunch of bogeys and double bogeys, a long day.

In retrospect, I probably shouldn’t have played so much earlier in the week. I think I overdid it and I was just exhausted by today.

Last night after the reception and hanging out in the Crow’s Nest, I just fell into bed exhausted. I had an 11 a.m. tee time and managed to wake up before my alarm went off, so at least I didn’t oversleep.

I got up, tried to get down some breakfast, and headed to the range to practice. After the first nine I was only one over (par), but it still wasn’t very good. I was hitting it all over the place and I really paid for it on the second nine.

I had a double bogey on the 10th hole and another double bogey on the par-3 12th. I managed birdies on the par 5s, 13 and 15, on the second nine, but gave it right back with bogeys at 14 and 16. I made a final bogey at 18, when my approach shot skipped into the crowd and I had to chip out.

My dad Kurt was there behind the 18th hole to give me a big hug after the round along with my Florida State coach. We just walked arm-in-arm to the clubhouse.

I can’t say the course conditions really changed that much from the first couple of days. Maybe it was a little firmer and faster, but not that much.

The fans were encouraging and even said, ‘chip it in,’ when I hit it into the crowd on 18.

“I certainly couldn’t help but notice the great round Larry Mize (67) played along with John Merrick. I don’t really know Larry, but I certainly know about his Masters victory.

It wasn’t Larry’s experience that beat me today, it was his game. It wouldn’t matter if we had played any course, any conditions. He would have won today because he played better than I did.

We didn’t really talk that much on the course. I just said, ‘good birdie.’ A lot.

Of course, I’ve had poor rounds in high school and college and had to come back the next day. Deep down, I know I can play better, but it’s still a matter of doing it. I’m glad I have a chance to play again tomorrow.

The way I look at it, I’d probably be at practice with my team at Florida State right now, and this is way more fun than practice.

Tonight, I plan to rest and take it easy. I need to, because tomorrow is another round and I’m playing early.

That means there’s another test in my Masters week and one more chance to improve on today’s play.