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POSTED: Wednesday, July 29, 2009

TORONTO » Parker McLachlin isn't the only local boy trying to turn around a frustrating year on the PGA Tour.

Castle High graduate Dean Wilson arrived in Toronto for the Canadian Open having made only three cuts in his last 14 tournaments. The soon-to-be 40-year-old said that a bad back is making it difficult to perform well on a consistent basis.

“;My back has just been real tight and that's hurt my golf swing a little bit—a lot actually,”; said Wilson, who now lives in Las Vegas. “;Every day I'm going to the physio and trying to work it out, trying to figure out what it is. It's always there. It's like trying to walk with a blister. And I think the bad play has hurt my confidence. So it's hard to tie it all together. A lot of golf is about confidence and it has to keep building. But I've seen a lot of bad shots in the last few months.”;

Wilson, coincidentally paired with McLachlin for the last two rounds of the Canadian Open, finished in a tie for 31st, after rounds of 68, 70, 69 and 72. After so many missed cuts, he's not displeased with that result, but it doesn't mean he's happy with his game either.

“;My game's getting a little better, but still really spotty,”; Wilson said after his final round.

He added that if he can get his back problem under control, he may yet find that elusive second PGA Tour victory. His first came in 2006.

“;I don't feel like I'm at the point of my career where my best golf is behind me. I really feel it's in front of me,”; Wilson said. “;I really want to make a Ryder Cup team or a Presidents Cup team. That's something I've always wanted to do. I got close in 2006 and I haven't been close since.”;

After playing at the next PGA Tour stop in Michigan this week, he'll head to the tournament in Reno, Nev. He said he's looking forward to having his parents coming to watch him play in Nevada because he doesn't get back to Hawaii very often to see them.

“;I only get there a couple of times a year,”; Wilson said. “;I like to play a lot of tournaments and the season's pretty full. But I need to get back more often, that's for sure.”;

TOUGH TIMES

Dean Wilson has struggled to make the cut this year for the first time in his career:

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Year	Events	Cuts made
2009	22	10
2008	32	22
2007	28	18
2006	34	23
2005	27	17

Source: pgatour.com