May 16 - 2008 -- PGA Professional Chip Sullivan is making history this week and sending his personal account of being the first reigning PGA Professional National Champion to compete in the Japan PGA Championship, May 15-18. Sullivan is the PGA Director of Golf at Ashley Plantation in Daleville, Va.

Besides playing this week in Japan, one of the most exciting perks of holding the title of PGA Professional National Champion is receiving six PGA Tour exemptions.

Chip Sullivan has found great support from fans and fellow players while in Japan. (Photo: Japan PGA)

So far this year, I am two for four in making cuts on the PGA Tour. Neither one of those cuts (Puerto Rico and New Orleans) have come easily. More specifically, making those cuts was a painful, grinding experience.

Making the cut this week in Japan has been no different. I don't know if this is a good thing or not, but I keep making cuts right on the number, and each time I have to do something miraculous to pull it off.

No wonder I am bald.

I can not begin to explain how frustrating my even-par round was today. I felt really good about my swing, and I hit good shots, only to end up with bad results.

From the first hole through the 16th, the course was beating me up pretty badly. I walked off the 16th green prepared to pack my bags and begin the 14-hour journey back to Virginia. It would take a birdie-birdie finish to extend my stay in Japan.

The 17th is a great par-5. Swinging like I had nothing to lose, I put myself in good position off the tee. My approach landed 45- to 50 feet from the pin, in two. Who knows what came over me, but my put ran dead into the heart of the cup.

I had eagled my second to last hole! Tom and I just shook our heads, thinking: "Here we go again . . . causing a heart attack on the closing stretch".

Filled with adrenaline, I tried to calm myself down to manage a par on 18. I left myself a tricky six-footer to make the cut.

I drained it.

Wake up the kids, Honey...Daddy's playing through the weekend!

After the ball dropped, everyone started bouncing off the walls; not just Tom and me. That putt got a reaction like Sergio's tee shot on 17 at Sawgrass last Sunday. The gallery went nuts, and many of my new friends were there to give me hugs, high fives, bows, and words of congratulations.

The Japan PGA officials, including Chairman Isao Matsui, were by the green watching my finish. Sandy's parents had come out to watch me play, and they were there, too. I felt as if I were surrounded by friends I had known for 100 years. The support was amazing.

From my playing partners to total strangers, everyone seemed to know the deep-rooted impact of what I had done. With my eagle-par finish, I made the cut, but most importantly I made history.

My round carved a pathway for the next United States PGA Professional National Champion to come and play in Japan.

Speaking of PGA Professional National Champions, I was able to spend some time today with my Japanese counterpart -- Isao Ohno, the 2007 Japan Teaching Professional Champion. Through translation, we talked about the differences of our roles within our respective PGAs.

Isao also received an exemption into this Championship by his victory. But, I am the only club professional to be competing in this field.

There are no "club professionals" in Japan, only teaching professionals. Isao said that he would love to have a head professional job at a club here, but it is unheard of in Japan. Additionally, teaching Professionals have very limited opportunities to play in what we call "Section events" or Pro-Ams. These events don't exist over here, so the PGA Professionals in Japan have limited opportunities to supplement their income through playing golf.

One of the sights that I found fascinating here are the practice facilities.

Land is very valuable, and so practice ranges are built "up" instead of "out". Practice ranges are 2 or 3 stories high, and all of the tees are artificial. Massive nets surround the range, so one can rarely make a full swing and see the ball land on the ground.

Interestingly enough, I introduced a brand new concept to a teaching professional I met, and brought up teaching golf to children in the schools.

He asked me a barrage of questions about junior golf within the school setting, because that is one more thing that is unheard of in Japan. It has made me feel good to be able to share the knowledge I have gained as an American PGA Professional with someone on the other side of the world.

Sometimes it only takes one seed to "grow" the game.

It is easy to grow something in a fertile environment. For example, relationships with my fellow competitors have grown stronger on a daily basis. Despite language barriers, I can see and feel the increasing bond of camaraderie. Guys I haven't even met come up to me in the locker room and congratulate me on my rounds. The people over here are truly some of the nicest I have ever met.

While playing this year in Puerto Rico, I had the honor of being paired with a friendly Korean, Dong-Hwan Lee. I called him "D.H.". Come to find out, D.H. is in the field this week, and he sought me out to see how I was doing, or if there was anything he could do to help.

Well-wishes even came from old friends down under. Some of the Australian players in the field relayed greetings to me from my college roommates; Darren Cole and Steve Elkington (the 1995 PGA Champion).

Before graduating from the University of Mississippi, I attended the University of Houston for a semester. Elkie and I shared a room, and I was the brunt of many of his infamous practical jokes. Elk told the guys to tell "Crash" hello and 'good luck'. (If you ever run into Steve, I'll let you ask him why he calls me 'crash'.)

While at Ole Miss, Darren Cole and I were roommates for a time. He sent greetings and words of encouragement my way, too.

Thanks, guys, for the good luck. Apparently, I needed it today.

Maybe today I needed luck, but tonight I needed comfort food!

Tom and I are getting the hang of eating over here, and figuring out what we can and can not "stomach".

Thanks to Sandy, we have stockpiled corn flakes, bananas, and milk in our room for breakfast and snacks. We have found an Italian restaurant, and learned how to order spaghetti.

It just took us a while to explain to the server that we didn't want a raw egg cracked over the sauce.

So while I am writing this blog, I am not only digesting my spaghetti dinner, but I am also digesting all that has happened to me today.

Nearby, I see the statue of Byakui Dai-Kannon. It is a 137-foot high piece of art, which was erected in 1937.

Byakui is the goddess of mercy, who looks upon and blesses the city of Takasaki.

I must have found favor in the statue's eyes, because she was obviously looking out for me on 17 today.

If I can stay in her good graces, maybe tomorrow positive things will continue to happen on the course. I know I can shoot in the 60's out here. I want to make sure that the world knows that The PGA of America has members who can play AND compete.

And compete, I will. After making the cut, my confidence is on-track. Now it is time for me to heat up my putter and go low!

While most of America sleeps, I will be on the course in Japan. Hopefully my scores will translate into sweet dreams.