[Yoda]

Brian Gay made six -- double bogey -- on his first hole at this week's Byron Nelson.

He followed it with a birdie.

But two more bogies followed and he turned in 37 -- three-over on the Par 34 front side of the very tough Cottonwood Valley Golf Club. The PGA TOUR is the Land of the Meateaters, and three-over after the first nine holes can make for a short week.

Gut-check time.

Birdies on the 11th and 14th followed. And then the eagle three on the par five 16th.

37-32 = 69.

Another 69 followed on Friday and then 68 today.

In a field that began with 144 of the best players in the world and starting with double bogey six, Brian goes into the final round tied for 18th.

When we began our day together in Atlanta on Monday, I asked him what he was working on.

"Same things."

"What do you like best about what we've done?"

"It's simple."

Doesn't sound much like The Golfing Machine, does it?

Good luck tomorrow, Brian. You've earned your spurs, and you've waited your turn.

Good things lie ahead.