OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. — Derek Bard didn't enter the U.S. Amateur playing his best golf.
He followed a second at the Monroe Invitational with a victory at the Sunnehanna Amateur in June, but then plummeted to 29th with a final-round 79 at the Players Amateur before finishing 50th at the Porter Cup.
Bard has one key advantage, though, over most amateur golfers who fall into uninspired play. He can contact Dr. Bob Rotella whenever he pleases and strike up a conversation about his game. He did just that a few days before he arrived at Olympia Fields, and the message was clear: Keep things simple and remain calm.