Aloha,

It's great to be reporting to you from my real home as I'm back in Hawaii for the first time since I participated in the Sony Open. Last week I tied for 34th at the Wachovia Championship in North Carolina and returned home this week to get a little rest and relaxation before heading back to the east coast and the AT&T Classic next week in Atlanta.

What a great experience last week! The crowds in North Carolina were outstanding. They had really big galleries that lined each side of the fairways and I received an ovation as I walked to every tee box and to every green. It was an experience that felt very similar to the 2004 US Open at Shinnecock Hills. The people of North Carolina sure appreciate their golf and it was a fun week to be inside the ropes giving them something to cheer about.

The golf course was one of the best I've played on the PGA Tour, only in it's 5th year the Wachovia sure has catapulted itself into elite status. Quail Hollow Country Club is a big reason for that early success and it's evident by the great field it's a favorite for us players. Seeing that I was 15th alternate as the week started and then got in as the last person in the field, it was great to take advantage of the opportunity to play in the same field as 29 of the Top 30 players in the World.

Many of you may have seen me last week on the CBS golf coverage and wondered exactly what I was doing playing the last hole without my shoes on. Well here is the story, my playing partner Bubba Watson dropped out due to injury on the third hole so I played most of the entire final round by myself. By the time I got the 18th hole, it had taken me 4 hours, 45 minutes and it was difficult all day to get into any sort of a rhythm because I was waiting on every shot. After hitting my ball into the creek that runs along the left side of the green, I decided to play my ball out of the water without my shoes on. Since I had to catch a flight back to Phoenix that night, I figured I'd save some time by not putting my shoes back on. I grew up in Hawaii practicing barefooted anyways, so I figured why not? Little did I know that it turned out to bring a lot of exposure for me and maybe even gave America a glimpse into my roots.

Having been out on the PGA Tour for half a season now, I've found that I'm not quite as awestruck as before. I've played in the same events as guys like Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, and Vijay Singh, and having some success has really boosted my confidence and I look for that to continue.

Since it's hallway through the season and I'm back in Hawaii, I figured I'd answer a lot of questions that fans seem to ask:

My Favorite Hotel on the Road: The Houstonian (Shell Houston Open)

Favorite Course on PGA Tour So Far: Quail Hollow (Wachovia Championship). It made you think all the way around the course. The greens were so fast and true.

Favorite Hole on the PGA Tour So Far: 16th Hole at the FBR Open. The Par 3 with 100,000 fans. Fans either want a great shot, or one where they can boo you. Either way, they are happy to be there. I hit a shot to six-feet and the place went nuts. Then I missed the putt and everyone booed me. It was amazing.

Most Memorable Shot: Hole in one, first round, 3rd hole on the South Course of the Buick Invitational (my 12th hole of the day). It was really the shot that started my year. I had missed the cut at Sony and I was playing on the South Course and through 11 holes I wasn't really making the most out of my game. I got to the hole at 1-over par and was getting the feeling that the field was going to leave me behind. Then, to make an ace and go from 1-over to 1-under turned my entire round into really great score. The next day I shot 5-under and finished in the Top 25 that week. I think that shot really jumpstarted my entire season.

Shot You Would Like To Have Back: Hitting my second shot into the water hazard on the 72nd hole last week was tough, but I wish I had that next chip back, because I would have selected a different club and hit it closer to the pin.

Best food: New Orleans (Zurich Classic of New Orleans). The charbroiled oysters were great.

Favorite playing partner: Will McKenzie. There is never a dull moment with that guy. We played a couple practice rounds together in Phoenix last week. He's just a very happy-go-lucky guy with a laid back, Hawaiian style that I like.

Hardest hole: No. 10 at the Honda Classic. It's a 500-yard Par 4 that is converted from a Par 5. If you miss the fairway at all you've got a 90-100 yard third shot into the green. I think I got up and down the first day, and the second day I made bogey. I started on the 10th one day, and it's really tough to start any day on a 500-yard Par 4.

Favorite sightseeing place: Tie - Mexico (Mayakoba Golf Classic), and New Orleans (Zurich). Both very unique places.