If you’re a golf and/or sports fan the odds are high that you either watched, read or heard about the 13 ½ minute press statement given by Tiger Woods on Friday February 19. In probably the most anticipated, highest rated TV news coverage since the OJ Simpson verdict some fifteen years ago, Tiger finally appeared in front of a worldwide TV audience.
Did he wait too long to come forward? Did he reveal enough detail? Rather than ask all the other million “did he” questions I’m coming out of my own self induced silence to tell my story and give my own 2 cents on what I saw and some of what I think. For starters, I believe Tiger put himself in a no win situation, at least from an announcement perspective. Also, from an article I read in January, Tiger lied about what didn’t happen on Thanksgiving night, when he said his wife Elin didn’t hit him.
Before I watched the speech, I had already pre-named the title of this article ‘Lip Service”, because I expected it to be nothing but a bunch of doubletalk he needed to say to pacify everyone. Tiger stood nervously in front of his mother and a worldwide audience hungry to learn the details of his infidelity and when he would return to the world of competitive golf on the PGA Tour. What they got was neither.
Instead, he delivered an emotional and carefully selected collection of words that told us things we never heard from him before. He revealed that for 45 days from the end of December to early February, he was in inpatient therapy receiving guidance for the issues he now faces. With lots of conviction, Tiger appeared to be sincerely sorry as he apologized to his family, friends, fans, and business partners about his irresponsible and selfish behavior.
He pointed out that his real apology to his wife Elin will not come in the form of words; it will come from his behavior over time. As Tiger looked directly into the camera he told the media that although the couple has a lot to discuss, what we say to each other will remain between the two of them. He explained that he has a lot to atone for and there is one issue he really wanted to discuss. Then he made an error, that might end up becoming his eventual public downfall when he delivered this statement; “some people have speculated that Elin somehow hurt or attacked me on Thanksgiving night. It angers me that people would fabricate a story like that. Elin never hit me that night or any other night. There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage, ever.”
I want to be clear when I say that I really don’t care about Tiger’s personal life and that what happened between him and his wife has nothing to do with the enjoyment I get from watching him play golf. But, his comment completely contradicts an article that appeared on January 6, 2010 by Pat Burns the former NHL coach and Florida police officer. After Tiger crashed his SUV into a tree in late-November, Burns reached out to his local police buddies to get the inside scoop on what really went down that night. According to Burns, Tiger was knocked in the face with a golf club by his wife and was left with a deep cut on his cheek. Apparently, he went to watch television ... then suddenly, bang! A nine-iron in the face!
As he left the house running without shoes, Elin followed him with the club. After he drove off in his Escalade she broke two or three windows. That's why he hit the tree. She took him by ambulance to a hospital in Orlando where she called his agent, who suggested that they meet. Once there, the doctors said he needed plastic surgery to repair broken teeth, but only one institution could do it, in Phoenix Arizona. They flew to Phoenix for emergency dental and plastic surgery, making him unavailable to local police after the news broke. This explains Tiger’s absence when the police wanted to meet him the following days.
During his speech, Tiger became very self-critical, revealing how he stopped living by the core values that he was taught to believe in. He knew his actions were wrong, but convinced himself that normal rules didn't apply to him. He never thought about who he was hurting, instead thought only about himself. He ran straight through the boundaries that a married couple should live by and thought he could get away with whatever he wanted to. Tiger went on to say that he had worked hard his entire life and was entitled to enjoy all the temptations around me. As the rock band Queen wrote in their song “We are the Champions”, thanks to fame and fortune and everything that goes with it, he didn't have to go far to find his temptation.
Tiger admitted he was wrong. He was foolish and that he doesn't get to play by different rules. “The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me. I brought this shame on myself. I hurt my wife, my kids, my mother, my wife's family, my friends, my foundation, and kids all around the world who admired me. After a lot of time to think about what I've done, it’s time to make amends and start living a life of integrity.” He made it a point to explain how he drifted away from Buddhism, which teaches how to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint. He lost track of what he was taught, then went on to say how hard it was to admit that he needed help, but realized he did.
Tiger repeated that the issues between he and his wife were their business. He appeared upset that the media made up things that never happened; like that he used performance-enhancing drugs. Also, he didn’t appreciate things written about his family and how his children were followed to school. Unfortunately, this is the price and everything that goes with fame, that celebrities often have to pay. Nick Faldo, commented on the Golf Channel during the Accenture Match Play how the British tabloids treated him similarly after his divorce many years ago.
Finally, the question about when Tiger would return to the PGA Tour was explained with this comment; “I do plan to return to golf one day, I just don't know when that day will be. I don't rule out that it will be this year. When I do return, I need to make my behavior more respectful of the game.”
Now that it’s several weeks later, we’ve learned that Tiger has returned home from more time in therapy and has started working out and hitting balls. The speculation is that he’ll return in time to play in The Masters, in his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major titles. My guess all along was that he’d play at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill tournament, so he’d have a few tournaments to prepare for The Masters. Since there’s been no official announcements, it’s only a guess.
60 Second Golf Tip:
Hitting down on the ball is probably the most important ball striking fundamental and probably the most misunderstood, especially with the driver. In his March 3 Hit Down Dammit newsletter, Clive Scarff a teaching professional from BC Canada (where they recently held the Olympics) gives a simple explanation with pictures to one of his subscribers.
Here’s the question from his Letter of the Week, that I often hear from my customers. “ I am now hitting down well with my irons, but struggling with the driver. I think I am having trouble with the bigger transition a driver requires - can you help?” Here’s the beginning of the answer. “I get a lot of letters about troubles with the driver, and in my experience especially on the teaching tee, it is because people treat the driver as a different animal. Even though they struggle with the driver, most golfers insist on treating the driver differently, and when success is not found they don't think to mimic their iron swing, they look for an even more different remedy for their driver.”
For me, hitting down on the ball always came naturally. Although it’s a more controversial subject with the driver, I found that accelerating into the drive with my Thumbs rotating Down at the ball on a descending angle, returns the best results. It’s also why I’m good with my fairway woods. For beginners, hitting up seems to make more sense, but it’s not the correct way to hit a golf ball. Simply put; for better ball striking, combing the Thumbs Down rotation with hitting down on the ball squares the club and produces more powerful, more accurate and controlled shots, more often.
If you want to improve your ball striking and improve your game, I highly encourage you to sign up for Clive Scarff’s “Hit Down Dammit” newsletter and purchase his DVD series. You can do both and receive a $10 discount at http://www.string-thing.com/thumbs_down.htm. For another great game improvement value, the Pro edition of Thumbs Down, Golf Instruction Made Simple costs less than a dozen premium golf balls. “Teach Yourself” the same ball striking POWER MOVE used by all the best players in the world at http://www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/Products/Products.htm. It includes 2 videos, drills, do’s and don’ts, plus a one-on-one virtual lesson with me. The Pro Plus System includes the Impact Bag, with 3 hours of personal instruction. I look forward to working with you.
March 13, 2010
September 29, 2009
The Rules of Golf
Most golfers would like to know the rules better …or so you’d think. Do you think you know the rules of golf and do you think you play by the rules? I believe most golfers want to have a better understanding of the rules, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they want to play by them.
Why? I can tell you first hand that although most golfers wouldn’t call themselves cheaters, too many players cheat to satisfy their own interpretation of the rules and produce the numbers they expect to see on their scorecards. After playing the majority of 2009 on public courses for the first time in 24 years and seeing many different golfers, I’m shocked to see the liberties in the rules so many golfers take. For that matter, the previous statement also applies to people I’ve played with for many years.
On TV we see all the situations where the rules help tour players shoot lower scores, like when balls hit the gallery or grandstands instead of going out of bounds or into trouble areas. Remember when Tiger Woods hit a tee shot onto the roof of the clubhouse and received a free drop, then made par? Or who could ever forget when the fans moved a boulder that was blocking his shot in the desert? After watching these events the announcers point out how the rules were meant to help players, not penalize them.
Golf is a unique game where during the course of every day play, rules are enforced and self-policed by the individual player and not referees like in other sports. That’s both the good and bad news. I’m all for taking advantage of the rules, but when taking advantage means consistently posting lower scores than a player deserves, I don’t know what else to call it except cheating.
A few of the most common and obvious examples of what I often see are these:
· More often than not golfers don’t finish a hole by putting out, but count the last putt as good, even if it’s several feet from the hole. Of course I realize that missing a tap-in of a few inches is uncommon, but if there ever was a game where you can’t assume anything, it’s golf.
· Playing preferred lies is a subject that can easily be debated. When I first started playing, the rule of thumb was that you could move the ball onto a good lie in the fairway, but leave it alone in the rough. This is referred to as winter rules. On tour when conditions are wet, the pros may play lift, clean and place. The key point in all cases where the rules allow the ball to be moved is this; IT SHOULD NEVER END UP CLOSER TO THE HOLE. I find it amusing when I see golfers trying to gain the advantage of inches or fractions of an inch.
· Other areas where golfers often take liberties and don’t play properly are: lost balls, hitting out of bounds, unplayable lies and hitting into water hazards. Where do you play the next shot from and how many strokes is the penalty? You’d be surprised to see how many different interpretations golfers play by, without giving it a second thought.
Regardless of whether you play by the rules or not, I still believe that most golfers want to know the rules better. If you’ve ever read the rules of golf book you’ve probably been frustrated because it wasn’t very user friendly. I know I have. Well that’s all changed thanks to Barry Rhodes and his book, '999 Questions on the Rules of Golf'. It’s filled with real-life situations, with answers conveniently located immediately beneath each question that directly reference the applicable Rule of Golf, or decision on the rules.
Bobby Jones once said there’s golf and there’s tournament golf; and the two are not very much alike. Simply put, if you’re a serious tournament golfer, '999 Questions on the Rules of Golf' is a must read. The book pays attention to the many rules that differentiate stroke play, match play and stableford events. It’s one thing to want to play by the rules and another to need to play by them. This assures you don’t suffer costly penalties or a disqualification that could have easily been avoided during tournament play.
Barry Rhodes makes it easy to learn and remember the rules, by repeating many common questions, answers and explanations to the myriad of situations on the golf course that golfers may encounter. Regardless of whether you play in tournaments or recreationally, '999 Questions on the Rules of Golf' creates a user-friendly environment for golfers of all levels of skill and experience. The questions are tiered into three knowledge levels:
· There are 333 simple questions that every golfer should be familiar with
· There are 333 more difficult questions relevant to both casual golfers and Golf Club Members
· There are 333 advanced questions for those seeking to expand their knowledge of the Rules
For variety, the questions are subdivided into three formats; true or false, open answer and multiple choice. A detailed index provides an easy way for readers to reference specific situations as they arise. There are multiple questions on every one of the 126 sub-sections to the 34 Rules of Golf.
I give '999 Questions on the Rules of Golf' my highest recommendation. After reading the book I found it much easier to navigate through and now have a better understanding the rules of golf book. Priced at $19.99 (US), '999 Questions on the Rules of Golf' can be purchased on all the popular online bookstores. With the holiday season coming, it makes an ideal gift that any golfer would enjoy having. For a value packed gift idea that can’t be beat include a copy of ‘Thumbs Downâ, Golf Instruction Made Simple’, priced at $12.95 and available at all the popular online bookstores. Here are links to Amazon http://golftwitt.com/jjww, Borders http://golftwitt.com/7v2, Barnes and Noble http://golftwitt.com/7thm.
Why? I can tell you first hand that although most golfers wouldn’t call themselves cheaters, too many players cheat to satisfy their own interpretation of the rules and produce the numbers they expect to see on their scorecards. After playing the majority of 2009 on public courses for the first time in 24 years and seeing many different golfers, I’m shocked to see the liberties in the rules so many golfers take. For that matter, the previous statement also applies to people I’ve played with for many years.
On TV we see all the situations where the rules help tour players shoot lower scores, like when balls hit the gallery or grandstands instead of going out of bounds or into trouble areas. Remember when Tiger Woods hit a tee shot onto the roof of the clubhouse and received a free drop, then made par? Or who could ever forget when the fans moved a boulder that was blocking his shot in the desert? After watching these events the announcers point out how the rules were meant to help players, not penalize them.
Golf is a unique game where during the course of every day play, rules are enforced and self-policed by the individual player and not referees like in other sports. That’s both the good and bad news. I’m all for taking advantage of the rules, but when taking advantage means consistently posting lower scores than a player deserves, I don’t know what else to call it except cheating.
A few of the most common and obvious examples of what I often see are these:
· More often than not golfers don’t finish a hole by putting out, but count the last putt as good, even if it’s several feet from the hole. Of course I realize that missing a tap-in of a few inches is uncommon, but if there ever was a game where you can’t assume anything, it’s golf.
· Playing preferred lies is a subject that can easily be debated. When I first started playing, the rule of thumb was that you could move the ball onto a good lie in the fairway, but leave it alone in the rough. This is referred to as winter rules. On tour when conditions are wet, the pros may play lift, clean and place. The key point in all cases where the rules allow the ball to be moved is this; IT SHOULD NEVER END UP CLOSER TO THE HOLE. I find it amusing when I see golfers trying to gain the advantage of inches or fractions of an inch.
· Other areas where golfers often take liberties and don’t play properly are: lost balls, hitting out of bounds, unplayable lies and hitting into water hazards. Where do you play the next shot from and how many strokes is the penalty? You’d be surprised to see how many different interpretations golfers play by, without giving it a second thought.
Regardless of whether you play by the rules or not, I still believe that most golfers want to know the rules better. If you’ve ever read the rules of golf book you’ve probably been frustrated because it wasn’t very user friendly. I know I have. Well that’s all changed thanks to Barry Rhodes and his book, '999 Questions on the Rules of Golf'. It’s filled with real-life situations, with answers conveniently located immediately beneath each question that directly reference the applicable Rule of Golf, or decision on the rules.
Bobby Jones once said there’s golf and there’s tournament golf; and the two are not very much alike. Simply put, if you’re a serious tournament golfer, '999 Questions on the Rules of Golf' is a must read. The book pays attention to the many rules that differentiate stroke play, match play and stableford events. It’s one thing to want to play by the rules and another to need to play by them. This assures you don’t suffer costly penalties or a disqualification that could have easily been avoided during tournament play.
Barry Rhodes makes it easy to learn and remember the rules, by repeating many common questions, answers and explanations to the myriad of situations on the golf course that golfers may encounter. Regardless of whether you play in tournaments or recreationally, '999 Questions on the Rules of Golf' creates a user-friendly environment for golfers of all levels of skill and experience. The questions are tiered into three knowledge levels:
· There are 333 simple questions that every golfer should be familiar with
· There are 333 more difficult questions relevant to both casual golfers and Golf Club Members
· There are 333 advanced questions for those seeking to expand their knowledge of the Rules
For variety, the questions are subdivided into three formats; true or false, open answer and multiple choice. A detailed index provides an easy way for readers to reference specific situations as they arise. There are multiple questions on every one of the 126 sub-sections to the 34 Rules of Golf.
I give '999 Questions on the Rules of Golf' my highest recommendation. After reading the book I found it much easier to navigate through and now have a better understanding the rules of golf book. Priced at $19.99 (US), '999 Questions on the Rules of Golf' can be purchased on all the popular online bookstores. With the holiday season coming, it makes an ideal gift that any golfer would enjoy having. For a value packed gift idea that can’t be beat include a copy of ‘Thumbs Downâ, Golf Instruction Made Simple’, priced at $12.95 and available at all the popular online bookstores. Here are links to Amazon http://golftwitt.com/jjww, Borders http://golftwitt.com/7v2, Barnes and Noble http://golftwitt.com/7thm.
December 11, 2008
Wie’s good for the game
Whether you love, like or hate Michele Wie, it doesn’t really matter. Why? Because the plane truth is Wie’s good for lady’s golf and it’s good that Wie’s made it to the LPGA show. Even though we’ve known Wie for so long, it’s time to realize this reality; Wie’s good for the game of golf period.
If you read my previous articles Wie Bad http://www.thumbsdownmethod.com/2007/10/16/wie-bad/
or What is Wie Doing
http://www.thumbsdownmethod.com/2008/08/01/what-is-wie-doing/
you’d think maybe I was anti-Wie or the head of the he-man Wie haters club, but I’m not. I’m just one of many that quickly got tired of watching her on the PGA Tour trying to make the cut against the men. The novelty wore off quickly after almost qualifying at her first two tries. It was time a long time ago that Wie’s better off winning against the ladies than just qualifying against the men, because so far Wie’s done neither.
In an age where professional athletes are treated like rock stars, it’s more important than ever that they be good role models too. Since her early teen years over six years ago when she almost won the Woman’s US Open, we’ve seen a lot of Wie. The real Wie has proven so far that she enjoys the limelight and celebrity that comes with being a “Tigerlike” phenom. To Wie’s credit, even during the last few years while struggling with her game, nagging injuries and negative PR, she’s handled it well. Wie’s proven to be a solid citizen with her head on straight, well beyond her teen years. As the father of two teens I know first hand.
Her role model status looks better every day, especially when you read the news stories about athlete arrests for gun possession and drugs or players who refuse to play for their teams. Athletes should be grateful playing a game for a living and making a King’s ransom along the way.
Wie’s a super talent that was meant to play the game of golf, just like Tiger Woods. She looked to be on the fast track when she qualified for her first LPGA Tour event at age 12. Wie played in the final group of a major at 13, shot 68 on the PGA Tour at the Sony Open a year later, had a share of the 54-hole lead at the U.S. Women’s Open at 15 and shared the lead on the back nine of three straight majors by the age of sixteen. Equally amazing was her downfall into adulthood.
At the ripe old age of 19 as a student at Stamford Wie’s dealing with all the uncertainty that comes with being an adult growing up. A wrist injury that severely hurt her golf game, didn’t help, but somehow we all knew there would be a happy ending coming soon. Finally, after all the years of playing by invitation or sponsor’s exemptions, Wie earned her LPGA Tour Card. Fortunately for her, winning isn’t the only thing when it comes to Q-school. Since just finishing in the top 20 makes you a winner, the media temporarily lowered their standards and didn’t criticize her for not winning as the medallist, or lowest overall score.
Finally, it’s time to see what Wie has. As Annika Sorenstam departs, waiting for Wie on tour are seasoned pros under the age of 25 like Lorena Ochoia, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel and others who are already proven winners. Wie’ll need to play like she did in her early teen years to win against today’s LPGA players. My gut tells me Wie’s on her way and she’ll do just fine! What do you think? Email your comments to ajm.me@thumbsdownmethod.com
If you read my previous articles Wie Bad http://www.thumbsdownmethod.com/2007/10/16/wie-bad/
or What is Wie Doing
http://www.thumbsdownmethod.com/2008/08/01/what-is-wie-doing/
you’d think maybe I was anti-Wie or the head of the he-man Wie haters club, but I’m not. I’m just one of many that quickly got tired of watching her on the PGA Tour trying to make the cut against the men. The novelty wore off quickly after almost qualifying at her first two tries. It was time a long time ago that Wie’s better off winning against the ladies than just qualifying against the men, because so far Wie’s done neither.
In an age where professional athletes are treated like rock stars, it’s more important than ever that they be good role models too. Since her early teen years over six years ago when she almost won the Woman’s US Open, we’ve seen a lot of Wie. The real Wie has proven so far that she enjoys the limelight and celebrity that comes with being a “Tigerlike” phenom. To Wie’s credit, even during the last few years while struggling with her game, nagging injuries and negative PR, she’s handled it well. Wie’s proven to be a solid citizen with her head on straight, well beyond her teen years. As the father of two teens I know first hand.
Her role model status looks better every day, especially when you read the news stories about athlete arrests for gun possession and drugs or players who refuse to play for their teams. Athletes should be grateful playing a game for a living and making a King’s ransom along the way.
Wie’s a super talent that was meant to play the game of golf, just like Tiger Woods. She looked to be on the fast track when she qualified for her first LPGA Tour event at age 12. Wie played in the final group of a major at 13, shot 68 on the PGA Tour at the Sony Open a year later, had a share of the 54-hole lead at the U.S. Women’s Open at 15 and shared the lead on the back nine of three straight majors by the age of sixteen. Equally amazing was her downfall into adulthood.
At the ripe old age of 19 as a student at Stamford Wie’s dealing with all the uncertainty that comes with being an adult growing up. A wrist injury that severely hurt her golf game, didn’t help, but somehow we all knew there would be a happy ending coming soon. Finally, after all the years of playing by invitation or sponsor’s exemptions, Wie earned her LPGA Tour Card. Fortunately for her, winning isn’t the only thing when it comes to Q-school. Since just finishing in the top 20 makes you a winner, the media temporarily lowered their standards and didn’t criticize her for not winning as the medallist, or lowest overall score.
Finally, it’s time to see what Wie has. As Annika Sorenstam departs, waiting for Wie on tour are seasoned pros under the age of 25 like Lorena Ochoia, Paula Creamer, Morgan Pressel and others who are already proven winners. Wie’ll need to play like she did in her early teen years to win against today’s LPGA players. My gut tells me Wie’s on her way and she’ll do just fine! What do you think? Email your comments to ajm.me@thumbsdownmethod.com
September 16, 2008
GOLF IS DEAD without Tiger
Do you remember the initial reactions after Tiger announced he'll miss the rest of the 2008 golf season?
On Tuesday June 19th, the day after the Monday US Open playoff battle between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate, I called a senior producer at Golf Channel I've known for a few years. He was noticeably worried about Tiger's condition because without him their ratings could fall off the charts. In the world of TV, ratings are everything. After the announcement that reconstructive surgery was required, the media immediately reported that all the drama has left the game of golf with Tiger on the sidelines. At that stage of the season, Tiger as player of the year was already a foregone conclusion, with two more majors and the FedEx cup still to be played.
The word circulating around the world of golf news going into the British Open was that golf is dead without Tiger and no one cares about the this major tournament in the middle of July. Just in case you fell into the trap and didn't follow any of the action, you missed enough drama to fill a typical season, and it ain't even over yet.
Here's a recap of the drama you missed, times three:
Playing out exactly according to the historic script, The British Open was played in cold and nasty weather with 30-50 mph winds throughout the tournament. A surprise name familiar to all also surfaced, as Greg Norman went back in time and challenged at the top. I'm sure the early morning ratings skyrocketed, as myself and millions of fans viewed, sentimentally pulling for the great white shark. The early predictions counted out Padraig Harrington the defending champion, due to an injured wrist that almost prevented him from playing. In the same fashion as Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, Harrington hung in there, letting the field drop out of contention, before taking charge on the back nine of the final round to win.
Suddenly there was a back-to-back British Open champion and a European to boot, both rarities. Immediately the media counted out any chance of Harrington winning the PGA because Kenny Perry was the favorite and Phil Mickelson is always expected to win if Tiger isn't there. Besides, Tiger is the only player in many a year to win this often, so we're not used to picking the same guy to win too often. Ironically, Perry had to withdraw due to an eye problem.
In what started out as a ho-hum major tournament played on a monster of a course, the PGA at Oakland Hills in Michigan played out as a significant event in the history of golf.With a rainout on the Saturday third round, the players were forced to play 36-holes on Sunday. The leader board changed throughout the day and going into the final round Sergio Garcia, Ben Curtis and Padraig Harrington rose to the top and were tied after 16 holes. Once again Harrington took over with a birdie on 17 and a scrambling par on 18 to win back-to-back majors and three of the last six. Tiger who?
So much for the regular season, bring on the playoffs. For the second year golf has a second season. Like most other sports, golf has it's version of the playoffs and it's Super Bowl equivalent called the FedEx Cup, a $10 million prize to the winner. Also like other sports, the regular season standings only got you in or out of the playoff season, which consists of four events. Now you'd better perform or your season could end quickly.
The opening tournament, the Barclays was played at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New
Jersey. After three days of many players jockeying for position at the top, tour rookie Kevin Streelman was the leader going into the final round. On the back nine, where most tournaments really begin, the cream rose to the top as Vijay Singh and Sergio Garcia battled with surprise co-leader Kevin Sutherland, forcing a 3-way playoff.
Garcia thought he had won it after he drained a 30-foot uphill birdie putt on the 18th hole, but Singh spoiled the celebration with a 25-foot gem of his own to extend the playoff between those two players. When Garcia found the trees off the tee on the par five 17th hole Singh took over, by bombing a perfect drive, then easily reaching in two and making a 2-putt birdie. The win vaulted Vijay into the FedEx Cup playoff lead.
Personally, I like watching good golf and think it's very entertaining. Because the tournament was in New Jersey I attended round one and watched good golf up close and personal. The difference was that unlike other tournaments where I moved all around following different players, I followed one group primarily this time and one player in particular. What I noticed earlier in the season was how naturally he performed Thumbs Up on the back swing and Thumbs Down at impact.
60 second golf tip:
What I've noticed as the main difference between amateurs and pros is how naturally pros load up the wrists on the back swing and strike down on the ball with active hands through the impact zone. Because it happens so fast, it takes the Biz Hub super slow motion cameras as shown on the telecasts, to actually see what their hands are doing as they make contact and continue into their follow-throughs. To get a better idea of what I call My Secret, checkout this page: http://www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/MySecret/MySecret.htm
On Tuesday June 19th, the day after the Monday US Open playoff battle between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate, I called a senior producer at Golf Channel I've known for a few years. He was noticeably worried about Tiger's condition because without him their ratings could fall off the charts. In the world of TV, ratings are everything. After the announcement that reconstructive surgery was required, the media immediately reported that all the drama has left the game of golf with Tiger on the sidelines. At that stage of the season, Tiger as player of the year was already a foregone conclusion, with two more majors and the FedEx cup still to be played.
The word circulating around the world of golf news going into the British Open was that golf is dead without Tiger and no one cares about the this major tournament in the middle of July. Just in case you fell into the trap and didn't follow any of the action, you missed enough drama to fill a typical season, and it ain't even over yet.
Here's a recap of the drama you missed, times three:
Playing out exactly according to the historic script, The British Open was played in cold and nasty weather with 30-50 mph winds throughout the tournament. A surprise name familiar to all also surfaced, as Greg Norman went back in time and challenged at the top. I'm sure the early morning ratings skyrocketed, as myself and millions of fans viewed, sentimentally pulling for the great white shark. The early predictions counted out Padraig Harrington the defending champion, due to an injured wrist that almost prevented him from playing. In the same fashion as Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods, Harrington hung in there, letting the field drop out of contention, before taking charge on the back nine of the final round to win.
Suddenly there was a back-to-back British Open champion and a European to boot, both rarities. Immediately the media counted out any chance of Harrington winning the PGA because Kenny Perry was the favorite and Phil Mickelson is always expected to win if Tiger isn't there. Besides, Tiger is the only player in many a year to win this often, so we're not used to picking the same guy to win too often. Ironically, Perry had to withdraw due to an eye problem.
In what started out as a ho-hum major tournament played on a monster of a course, the PGA at Oakland Hills in Michigan played out as a significant event in the history of golf.With a rainout on the Saturday third round, the players were forced to play 36-holes on Sunday. The leader board changed throughout the day and going into the final round Sergio Garcia, Ben Curtis and Padraig Harrington rose to the top and were tied after 16 holes. Once again Harrington took over with a birdie on 17 and a scrambling par on 18 to win back-to-back majors and three of the last six. Tiger who?
So much for the regular season, bring on the playoffs. For the second year golf has a second season. Like most other sports, golf has it's version of the playoffs and it's Super Bowl equivalent called the FedEx Cup, a $10 million prize to the winner. Also like other sports, the regular season standings only got you in or out of the playoff season, which consists of four events. Now you'd better perform or your season could end quickly.
The opening tournament, the Barclays was played at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, New
Jersey. After three days of many players jockeying for position at the top, tour rookie Kevin Streelman was the leader going into the final round. On the back nine, where most tournaments really begin, the cream rose to the top as Vijay Singh and Sergio Garcia battled with surprise co-leader Kevin Sutherland, forcing a 3-way playoff.
Garcia thought he had won it after he drained a 30-foot uphill birdie putt on the 18th hole, but Singh spoiled the celebration with a 25-foot gem of his own to extend the playoff between those two players. When Garcia found the trees off the tee on the par five 17th hole Singh took over, by bombing a perfect drive, then easily reaching in two and making a 2-putt birdie. The win vaulted Vijay into the FedEx Cup playoff lead.
Personally, I like watching good golf and think it's very entertaining. Because the tournament was in New Jersey I attended round one and watched good golf up close and personal. The difference was that unlike other tournaments where I moved all around following different players, I followed one group primarily this time and one player in particular. What I noticed earlier in the season was how naturally he performed Thumbs Up on the back swing and Thumbs Down at impact.
60 second golf tip:
What I've noticed as the main difference between amateurs and pros is how naturally pros load up the wrists on the back swing and strike down on the ball with active hands through the impact zone. Because it happens so fast, it takes the Biz Hub super slow motion cameras as shown on the telecasts, to actually see what their hands are doing as they make contact and continue into their follow-throughs. To get a better idea of what I call My Secret, checkout this page: http://www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/MySecret/MySecret.htm
July 07, 2008
If the putts don't go in, you don't win
Shaking in their boots. NOT!
Just listen to the announcers at any pro tournament and you will hear them talk about how much pressure the contenders are feeling (except Tiger of course). They'll typically describe in detail the pounding of their hearts and the feeling of veins bulging out of their heads.
For any pros that may be reading this story, I realize I might be way out of bounds for my viewpoint. After all, I'm not a pro and will never live in a pro's shoes, so I'll never REALLY know how much pressure or how nervous pro golfers get while they're in contention for a win. What I do know is how I've reacted during club golf tournaments for the past twenty-five years, including this past weekend. Again, I realize it's not the same as playing for big prize money, but it's not as different as you may think.
To me, there's a big difference between pressure and nerves. What I've experienced is that I'm constantly putting pressure on myself to perform to the best of my ability. In golf it means always hitting good shots and making the make able putts. The ironic side is that the bigger the situation, the less nervous I actually feel. Pressure is a completely different story. All too often it's the pressure I put on myself that leads to poor shot-making and bad decisions, not nerves. Nervousness is a feeling that happens before the opening tee shot and usually lasts until the first putt drops. After that, it's over.
Do you remember Annika Sorenstam's opening tee shot at the 2003 Colonial, when she played in the men's event? After months of anticipation you could tell she was extremely nervous on the first tee. After she saw her first tee shot land in the fairway I'll bet the nerves disappeared, but the pressure was constant. The pressure to make birdies lasted until her final putt in round two, when she officially missed the cut. A few more putts made and she would have gone where no woman ever has.
Throughout my college football and tournament golf experiences, the more competitive the battle, the more intense my concentration level. Instead of nerves, a feeling of calmness and increased focus takes over, which explains why I've performed my best in some of the most pressure packed situations. Having said that, all too often it works in reverse. All it takes is one or two mistakes early for the pressure demons to re-appear, causing more mistakes in a hurry.
I can only believe it's a similar feeling for professional athletes while they are competing. At the recent Buick Classic, Woody Austin said he choked when he didn't make two closing pars to win. In my eyes he simply put too much pressure on himself to get the job done, including ramming his birdie putt on eighteen (to win) fifteen feet past the hole. Woodie suffered the dreaded birdie to bogey three-putt syndrome and lost by one shot. Although the announcers would have you believe otherwise, it wasn't because he was nervous.
We all put pressure on ourselves. Just look at the recently completed Women's US Open, where Paula Creamer shot a front nine 41 in the final round. The day before I watched her miss several make able birdie putts on the back nine, which would have given her the lead. For some reason the hole seems to shrink when you need to make the putts the most. In golf, scoring is all about making the putts. She missed them all and I believe it's because she wanted to win so badly, putting too much pressure on herself. In tournament golf, when the putts don't go in, you don't win.
When I was in the computer business the word FUD meant that a competitor was building up the Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt in the market. A good comparison is a political campaign, when candidates of opposite parties campaign by creating Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt in the voter's mind about their fellow candidate.
FUD is also a good description of the feeling a golfer has on the greens, when make able putts won't go in. Failure on the greens is contagious and all too often I'll putt defensively, in fear that if I run it past the hole more than a couple of feet, I'll miss the come backer. As crazy as it sounds I've had some of my worst putting days when I hit the best shots onto the green. Missing make able birdie putts is frustrating enough, but when birdies turn into three-putt bogeys, you just want to kick something and cry. (I highly suggest crying because the last time I had a major tantrum was about ten years ago during a member-guest tournament. On the first hole of the second day I three putted, then went to kick my golf bag and instead hit the metal post on the pull cart head-on with my big toe. I thought I broke my toe and limped around the final seventeen holes in pain). We've all seen Woody Austin's approach to letting out steam by smacking his head with his putter until it's bent out of shape. Let's not forget, it's just a game!
When David Feherty or Gary McCord talk about veins bulging from a player's necks, I just don't believe that's what pros are feeling. Professional athletes are conditioned to compete. Although I'll never have a first hand experience, I believe the playing field in the heat of the battle is where they feel most comfortable, not nervous. To best prove my point, did you see the Wimbledon final? You don't hit shots like Roger Federer and Raphael Nadal hit in the fifth set and throughout the tie-breakers when your nervous.
60 second Golf Tip
I hope you appreciate how difficult it is to find a 60 second golf tip these days and how rare it is to actually understand and relate to it when you practice.
When I was having ball striking problems in the early 1990's I naturally read what the experts in the top golf magazines suggested, expecting to practice their tips and turn my game around. What happened was just the opposite, mainly because I couldn't understand how to apply the pages of technical jargon and mechanics they described. I found that keeping it simple is what they all preached, but rarely practiced.
To show how the old is forever new, I just finished reading a two page article about golf's newest swing sensation called the stack and tilt, and how it's being used by more and more tour players every day. It's funny because conceptually what they're describing is simple and makes sense to me. In fact, it's a component of my swing I recently needed to re-discover, again.On paper it's a different story. I'm sorry, but I can't relate to pages that tell me to release my hips so that the butt muscles push them upward and toward the target. When they tell me to feel as if I'm jumping up as the club comes down, it doesn't help me hit more fairways and greens.
The skinny of what I read in the article is this, "keeping your weight on your front foot is the simplest way to control where the club hits the ground, which is the first fundamental of hitting the ball. Golfers who shift to the right (for righties) on the backswing have to make precisely the same shift back to the left by impact. That complicated maneuver is the biggest source of frustration in the game today". My swing-thoughts to myself consist of only a few words, so this is how I translate that statement: Keep weight centered, then shift onto the left side into impact. I'm at my best when the brain is quite, my swing is rhythmic and full of feel.
For me, the more time I spend on thoughts about my swing the worse my ball striking and accuracy gets. When I hinge my wrists as I take the club back and delay my thinking until my hands reach waist height on the downswing, then fire them down on the ball, everything just happens as it should. Translation: Thumbs Up on the backswing, then Thumbs Down at impact. What could be simpler?
To discover Simplicity at Last, go to www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com and checkout the Pro Shop. Be sure to notice the Summer Special of three hours of virtual coaching included with the Pro Edition. Cure your slice and teach yourself to be a better ball striker in minutes by adding Thumbs Down, the missing ingredient. Vist my blog for past articles and other products and topics of interest at www.thumbsdownmethod.com. My media center was recently updated to include an article in the Philadelphia Golfer (thank you Nate Oxman!) about me and my appearance on the Golf Channel's Fore Inventors Only.
Enjoy the Open Championship from Royal Birkdale!
Just listen to the announcers at any pro tournament and you will hear them talk about how much pressure the contenders are feeling (except Tiger of course). They'll typically describe in detail the pounding of their hearts and the feeling of veins bulging out of their heads.
For any pros that may be reading this story, I realize I might be way out of bounds for my viewpoint. After all, I'm not a pro and will never live in a pro's shoes, so I'll never REALLY know how much pressure or how nervous pro golfers get while they're in contention for a win. What I do know is how I've reacted during club golf tournaments for the past twenty-five years, including this past weekend. Again, I realize it's not the same as playing for big prize money, but it's not as different as you may think.
To me, there's a big difference between pressure and nerves. What I've experienced is that I'm constantly putting pressure on myself to perform to the best of my ability. In golf it means always hitting good shots and making the make able putts. The ironic side is that the bigger the situation, the less nervous I actually feel. Pressure is a completely different story. All too often it's the pressure I put on myself that leads to poor shot-making and bad decisions, not nerves. Nervousness is a feeling that happens before the opening tee shot and usually lasts until the first putt drops. After that, it's over.
Do you remember Annika Sorenstam's opening tee shot at the 2003 Colonial, when she played in the men's event? After months of anticipation you could tell she was extremely nervous on the first tee. After she saw her first tee shot land in the fairway I'll bet the nerves disappeared, but the pressure was constant. The pressure to make birdies lasted until her final putt in round two, when she officially missed the cut. A few more putts made and she would have gone where no woman ever has.
Throughout my college football and tournament golf experiences, the more competitive the battle, the more intense my concentration level. Instead of nerves, a feeling of calmness and increased focus takes over, which explains why I've performed my best in some of the most pressure packed situations. Having said that, all too often it works in reverse. All it takes is one or two mistakes early for the pressure demons to re-appear, causing more mistakes in a hurry.
I can only believe it's a similar feeling for professional athletes while they are competing. At the recent Buick Classic, Woody Austin said he choked when he didn't make two closing pars to win. In my eyes he simply put too much pressure on himself to get the job done, including ramming his birdie putt on eighteen (to win) fifteen feet past the hole. Woodie suffered the dreaded birdie to bogey three-putt syndrome and lost by one shot. Although the announcers would have you believe otherwise, it wasn't because he was nervous.
We all put pressure on ourselves. Just look at the recently completed Women's US Open, where Paula Creamer shot a front nine 41 in the final round. The day before I watched her miss several make able birdie putts on the back nine, which would have given her the lead. For some reason the hole seems to shrink when you need to make the putts the most. In golf, scoring is all about making the putts. She missed them all and I believe it's because she wanted to win so badly, putting too much pressure on herself. In tournament golf, when the putts don't go in, you don't win.
When I was in the computer business the word FUD meant that a competitor was building up the Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt in the market. A good comparison is a political campaign, when candidates of opposite parties campaign by creating Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt in the voter's mind about their fellow candidate.
FUD is also a good description of the feeling a golfer has on the greens, when make able putts won't go in. Failure on the greens is contagious and all too often I'll putt defensively, in fear that if I run it past the hole more than a couple of feet, I'll miss the come backer. As crazy as it sounds I've had some of my worst putting days when I hit the best shots onto the green. Missing make able birdie putts is frustrating enough, but when birdies turn into three-putt bogeys, you just want to kick something and cry. (I highly suggest crying because the last time I had a major tantrum was about ten years ago during a member-guest tournament. On the first hole of the second day I three putted, then went to kick my golf bag and instead hit the metal post on the pull cart head-on with my big toe. I thought I broke my toe and limped around the final seventeen holes in pain). We've all seen Woody Austin's approach to letting out steam by smacking his head with his putter until it's bent out of shape. Let's not forget, it's just a game!
When David Feherty or Gary McCord talk about veins bulging from a player's necks, I just don't believe that's what pros are feeling. Professional athletes are conditioned to compete. Although I'll never have a first hand experience, I believe the playing field in the heat of the battle is where they feel most comfortable, not nervous. To best prove my point, did you see the Wimbledon final? You don't hit shots like Roger Federer and Raphael Nadal hit in the fifth set and throughout the tie-breakers when your nervous.
60 second Golf Tip
I hope you appreciate how difficult it is to find a 60 second golf tip these days and how rare it is to actually understand and relate to it when you practice.
When I was having ball striking problems in the early 1990's I naturally read what the experts in the top golf magazines suggested, expecting to practice their tips and turn my game around. What happened was just the opposite, mainly because I couldn't understand how to apply the pages of technical jargon and mechanics they described. I found that keeping it simple is what they all preached, but rarely practiced.
To show how the old is forever new, I just finished reading a two page article about golf's newest swing sensation called the stack and tilt, and how it's being used by more and more tour players every day. It's funny because conceptually what they're describing is simple and makes sense to me. In fact, it's a component of my swing I recently needed to re-discover, again.On paper it's a different story. I'm sorry, but I can't relate to pages that tell me to release my hips so that the butt muscles push them upward and toward the target. When they tell me to feel as if I'm jumping up as the club comes down, it doesn't help me hit more fairways and greens.
The skinny of what I read in the article is this, "keeping your weight on your front foot is the simplest way to control where the club hits the ground, which is the first fundamental of hitting the ball. Golfers who shift to the right (for righties) on the backswing have to make precisely the same shift back to the left by impact. That complicated maneuver is the biggest source of frustration in the game today". My swing-thoughts to myself consist of only a few words, so this is how I translate that statement: Keep weight centered, then shift onto the left side into impact. I'm at my best when the brain is quite, my swing is rhythmic and full of feel.
For me, the more time I spend on thoughts about my swing the worse my ball striking and accuracy gets. When I hinge my wrists as I take the club back and delay my thinking until my hands reach waist height on the downswing, then fire them down on the ball, everything just happens as it should. Translation: Thumbs Up on the backswing, then Thumbs Down at impact. What could be simpler?
To discover Simplicity at Last, go to www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com and checkout the Pro Shop. Be sure to notice the Summer Special of three hours of virtual coaching included with the Pro Edition. Cure your slice and teach yourself to be a better ball striker in minutes by adding Thumbs Down, the missing ingredient. Vist my blog for past articles and other products and topics of interest at www.thumbsdownmethod.com. My media center was recently updated to include an article in the Philadelphia Golfer (thank you Nate Oxman!) about me and my appearance on the Golf Channel's Fore Inventors Only.
Enjoy the Open Championship from Royal Birkdale!
June 24, 2008
Dead Center - Tiger Woods' historic victory at the 2008 US Open
Anyone who says golf on TV is boring, doesn't watch it or wasn't watching this year's US Open, or both. As I'm finishing this story, the Monday playoff between Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate is already over a week old. All too often major sporting events with this much hype and anticipation, end with disappointing outcomes. Just like most of the major golf tournaments in my recent memory this one was filled with drama, as I was glued to my seat until the final putt.
If that wasn't enough, how about the startling news revealed after the tournament about Tiger's injuries and "out for the season" status? Hey, I'll bet that professional golf writers around the world have already written millions of words about the announcement, the planned surgery and details about the trickle down of effect of this stunning set of circumstances, that rocked the world of golf. As I'm not a professional writer I wrote this through the eyes of an amateur, with my own spin on what I saw. Here's a few of the many words I read that showed up in my email inbox the following day, that I thought summed up the 2008 US Open rather nicely. Regardless of who you were rooting for, you have to appreciate the history that we're experiencing: "Words no longer do justice to Tiger Woods. First, his winning of the U.S. Open in his first tournament since knee surgery - and without having walked 18 holes of golf in two months since that surgery - was impressive enough. But then to learn that he actually had a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee, plus two stress fractures in the left leg?"
The 2008 US Open will be remembered for it's high drama, uncertainty and doubt until the last putt was struck, as Tiger Woods finally prevailed. That statement is actually true for both regulation play and the playoff. As a golfer, this tournament spoke volumes about how exciting and dramatic major golf tournaments are. In the game of golf, just being able to hang in there and not crumble when shots are not going as planned is difficult enough. The ability to grind, re-group and post a score that's still better than most, is a skill only a few in the game have ever had. Add to that the circumstances around Tiger's injuries and this one will be remembered as TRULY SPECIAL in golf history. There's no doubt it will go down as one of the greatest performances by any athlete in any sport.
As a viewer I felt similar drama watching this year's Players, the Masters, last year's British and US Opens, plus most of the majors in recent memory. To me, "golf is great theatre" is more than just a slogan, it's a great description. The majors during the last few years have lived up to the hype, but there's just more interest when Tiger's in the hunt. He's proven time and time again that anything can happen when he's in a position to win and don't ever believe it's over, till it's over.
There's no secret I love watching championship golf on TV. For me, when the coverage starts late in the afternoon lasting through prime-time, it's an added bonus. As if it were scripted by NBC on Father's Day night, the final pair came to the 71st hole with both players (Woods and Westwood) tied for second place and the leader (Mediate) up ahead on the 72nd hole, with the tournament still up for grabs. I can't recall a major tournament where the last three players to finish all had a chance to win like this. At 8:52 PM EST, Tiger had the stage all to himself. On this occasion, he needed the entire hole to birdie the 18th. As we know by now, he rolled in a 12-footer to tie Rocco, forcing an 18 hole Monday playoff. I watched it all unfold. As usual, it did not disappoint.
How did Tiger even get to that final putt to tie? Let's rewind back to Friday. On his first nine holes he was slopping it up at 3-over par. Fortunately, a few over par still keeps you within reach at the US Open. He managed to hang in there with the help of an eagle on #13, sandwiched in-between four bogies, playing what's described as military golf, hitting it left, right, left, right... all over the course. On many shots it was clearly visible that Tiger's knee was hurting, BADLY.
On his back nine (which was actually the front nine of the course because they played the back nine first) it didn't start off any better, as Tiger's drive on hole #1 ended up next to a tree and just off the cart path. Because he was standing on the cart path he was entitled to a free drop, but because the ball could easily have ended up behind the tree, he decided to play it from where it lied. There was just enough room between the ball and cart path to hit it cleanly. The announcers poured it on thick, pointing out that Tiger wears metal spikes and the worry was that his leg would slip, injuring himself worse. In typical fashion, he not only hit it clean, he flushed it right onto the green and made the birdie putt. This was the spark that turned on the light switch, as he made three more threes and added another birdie for a score of thirty. As expected he found a way to enter moving day Saturday on page one of the leader board.
During the third round Rocco Mediate was clearly the best player in the field. He entered his back nine with a three shot lead and six shots over Tiger, who struggled with a two over-par 37 on his front nine. On the back nine it was complete role reversal, with Rocco faltering at two over-par and Tiger turning on the switch again, shooting a 3-under par 33.
After his second shot on #13 almost flew into the hole on a fly, it ended up over 60 feet away. If you're looking for a turning point, this would be a good place to start, as Tiger made the eagle putt. It was a tough down-hiller with a big break left, that was motoring until it landed DEAD CENTER in the cup. On the par three 17th , he missed the green with his tee shot, then chipped his second shot high into the air from an uphill lie on the side of the bunker. It landed a few inches from the hole on a fly, then hopped up and hit the pin DEAD CENTER, and dropped straight down into the hole for a birdie. Even Tiger had to laugh as his shot looked like it was going at least a few feet past before the hole swallowed it. This put him one shot behind Lee Westwood, the leader at that time. He then reached the par 5 18th hole in two. His eagle putt was a sharp breaking left to right slider from the top of a ridge, so it was going to be fast. DEAD CENTER is the only way to describe how the ball entered the hole. Now Tiger had a one stroke lead entering the final round and we all know his record when leading after three rounds in a major. Here's a hint (he's 13 & 0).
Remember the original Wizard of Oz movie, where the first part was in black and white and the rest of the movie was in color? In comparison, the black and white portion of this year's US Open was Mediate's first 54 holes. The color came on starting when Tiger went double-bogey, bogey on Sunday's first two holes and Westwood also began to slide. Rocco was now in the lead and only Bob May in the 2000 PGA has challenged Tiger like this in the final round of a major.
Up until now, the US Open was a story about Tiger Woods, his struggle and his determination, playing on one leg. Early on Sunday, the storyline was becoming more of a fairy tale about a journeyman pro golfer named Rocco, who everyone loved, but who hadn't won a pro tournament in six years. In fact the last and only time he was this close in a major was in the 2006 Masters. Entering the 15th hole on Saturday, Rocco found himself right in the thick of it, then he slipped and injured is back. If you remember him yukking it up in the TV booth in early 2007, this is why. He spent all last year rehabbing and this year needed to play his way into the US Open as one of the low qualifiers, before getting this opportunity. Like a heavyweight boxer with a shot at the title (just like in Rocky) Rocco knew this was probably his last chance to beat the best, and he gave it everything he had. Unfortunately, he was up against possibly the greatest the game of golf has ever seen.
Will Tiger Woods break Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 majors and every other major record on the books? Will he go down as the best there ever was? OR will injuries prevent him from reaching these goals? What do you think? I welcome your comments. Please feel free to reply via email and I'll post them on my blog or go to the blog directly at www.thumbsdownmethod.com and post your comments.
Trivia Question
What is the size of the golf hole? (Hint: it's smaller than a breadbox)
60 second golf tip
Here's an excerpt from page 57 of my soon to be published book, Thumbs Down - Golf Instruction Made Simple, by Morgan James Publishing. It stresses the importance of not only thinking "delayed hit", but also implies the need for delayed thinking. "Remember: you can't hit the ball during the first 3/4 of your swing, so don't try to. Instead: keep your swing under control as you reach the slot, then accelerate into the impact zone on the downswing." Translation: Keep the swing slow and rhythmic and wait until the second part of the down swing, then accelerate down and kill the ball at impact.
This past weekend I played in a two-day club tournament. The 7th hole is a par 3, 180 yards, where I usually hit my 6-iron. During the first round the tees were up a few yards with a slight wind at our backs and the ground very firm in front of the green. Since the pin was up front I decided to hit a hard 7-iron. Usually when I try to reach for a little extra I start with a strong back swing, followed by a lot of acceleration from the top, followed by a miss-hit, most of the time.
What I remembered on this shot was to delay the acceleration until my hands reached waist height on the downswing (the first 3/4 of my swing), then I fired Thumbs Down at the ball. I've found that the longer I can delay my thinking, before accelerating down on the ball, the more consistent a ball striker I am. I struck it as well as I could and bounced it up onto the green. I had a terrible putting weekend so of course I missed the birdie (a defensive down-hiller), but at least I didn't blow it past and three-putt the hole.
Summer Special
For the summer I'm offering the Pro Plus edition ($197 and includes 3 hours of one-on-one virtual coaching) for the same price as the Pro edition $47 (plus $4 S&H). Also, if you purchase the Front Nine eBook ($9.97) I'll give you 100% trade-in towards the purchase of the Pro Edition. Order yours today or as a gift at www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/Products/ProEdition.htm and Tell-A-Friend.
If that wasn't enough, how about the startling news revealed after the tournament about Tiger's injuries and "out for the season" status? Hey, I'll bet that professional golf writers around the world have already written millions of words about the announcement, the planned surgery and details about the trickle down of effect of this stunning set of circumstances, that rocked the world of golf. As I'm not a professional writer I wrote this through the eyes of an amateur, with my own spin on what I saw. Here's a few of the many words I read that showed up in my email inbox the following day, that I thought summed up the 2008 US Open rather nicely. Regardless of who you were rooting for, you have to appreciate the history that we're experiencing: "Words no longer do justice to Tiger Woods. First, his winning of the U.S. Open in his first tournament since knee surgery - and without having walked 18 holes of golf in two months since that surgery - was impressive enough. But then to learn that he actually had a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee, plus two stress fractures in the left leg?"
The 2008 US Open will be remembered for it's high drama, uncertainty and doubt until the last putt was struck, as Tiger Woods finally prevailed. That statement is actually true for both regulation play and the playoff. As a golfer, this tournament spoke volumes about how exciting and dramatic major golf tournaments are. In the game of golf, just being able to hang in there and not crumble when shots are not going as planned is difficult enough. The ability to grind, re-group and post a score that's still better than most, is a skill only a few in the game have ever had. Add to that the circumstances around Tiger's injuries and this one will be remembered as TRULY SPECIAL in golf history. There's no doubt it will go down as one of the greatest performances by any athlete in any sport.
As a viewer I felt similar drama watching this year's Players, the Masters, last year's British and US Opens, plus most of the majors in recent memory. To me, "golf is great theatre" is more than just a slogan, it's a great description. The majors during the last few years have lived up to the hype, but there's just more interest when Tiger's in the hunt. He's proven time and time again that anything can happen when he's in a position to win and don't ever believe it's over, till it's over.
There's no secret I love watching championship golf on TV. For me, when the coverage starts late in the afternoon lasting through prime-time, it's an added bonus. As if it were scripted by NBC on Father's Day night, the final pair came to the 71st hole with both players (Woods and Westwood) tied for second place and the leader (Mediate) up ahead on the 72nd hole, with the tournament still up for grabs. I can't recall a major tournament where the last three players to finish all had a chance to win like this. At 8:52 PM EST, Tiger had the stage all to himself. On this occasion, he needed the entire hole to birdie the 18th. As we know by now, he rolled in a 12-footer to tie Rocco, forcing an 18 hole Monday playoff. I watched it all unfold. As usual, it did not disappoint.
How did Tiger even get to that final putt to tie? Let's rewind back to Friday. On his first nine holes he was slopping it up at 3-over par. Fortunately, a few over par still keeps you within reach at the US Open. He managed to hang in there with the help of an eagle on #13, sandwiched in-between four bogies, playing what's described as military golf, hitting it left, right, left, right... all over the course. On many shots it was clearly visible that Tiger's knee was hurting, BADLY.
On his back nine (which was actually the front nine of the course because they played the back nine first) it didn't start off any better, as Tiger's drive on hole #1 ended up next to a tree and just off the cart path. Because he was standing on the cart path he was entitled to a free drop, but because the ball could easily have ended up behind the tree, he decided to play it from where it lied. There was just enough room between the ball and cart path to hit it cleanly. The announcers poured it on thick, pointing out that Tiger wears metal spikes and the worry was that his leg would slip, injuring himself worse. In typical fashion, he not only hit it clean, he flushed it right onto the green and made the birdie putt. This was the spark that turned on the light switch, as he made three more threes and added another birdie for a score of thirty. As expected he found a way to enter moving day Saturday on page one of the leader board.
During the third round Rocco Mediate was clearly the best player in the field. He entered his back nine with a three shot lead and six shots over Tiger, who struggled with a two over-par 37 on his front nine. On the back nine it was complete role reversal, with Rocco faltering at two over-par and Tiger turning on the switch again, shooting a 3-under par 33.
After his second shot on #13 almost flew into the hole on a fly, it ended up over 60 feet away. If you're looking for a turning point, this would be a good place to start, as Tiger made the eagle putt. It was a tough down-hiller with a big break left, that was motoring until it landed DEAD CENTER in the cup. On the par three 17th , he missed the green with his tee shot, then chipped his second shot high into the air from an uphill lie on the side of the bunker. It landed a few inches from the hole on a fly, then hopped up and hit the pin DEAD CENTER, and dropped straight down into the hole for a birdie. Even Tiger had to laugh as his shot looked like it was going at least a few feet past before the hole swallowed it. This put him one shot behind Lee Westwood, the leader at that time. He then reached the par 5 18th hole in two. His eagle putt was a sharp breaking left to right slider from the top of a ridge, so it was going to be fast. DEAD CENTER is the only way to describe how the ball entered the hole. Now Tiger had a one stroke lead entering the final round and we all know his record when leading after three rounds in a major. Here's a hint (he's 13 & 0).
Remember the original Wizard of Oz movie, where the first part was in black and white and the rest of the movie was in color? In comparison, the black and white portion of this year's US Open was Mediate's first 54 holes. The color came on starting when Tiger went double-bogey, bogey on Sunday's first two holes and Westwood also began to slide. Rocco was now in the lead and only Bob May in the 2000 PGA has challenged Tiger like this in the final round of a major.
Up until now, the US Open was a story about Tiger Woods, his struggle and his determination, playing on one leg. Early on Sunday, the storyline was becoming more of a fairy tale about a journeyman pro golfer named Rocco, who everyone loved, but who hadn't won a pro tournament in six years. In fact the last and only time he was this close in a major was in the 2006 Masters. Entering the 15th hole on Saturday, Rocco found himself right in the thick of it, then he slipped and injured is back. If you remember him yukking it up in the TV booth in early 2007, this is why. He spent all last year rehabbing and this year needed to play his way into the US Open as one of the low qualifiers, before getting this opportunity. Like a heavyweight boxer with a shot at the title (just like in Rocky) Rocco knew this was probably his last chance to beat the best, and he gave it everything he had. Unfortunately, he was up against possibly the greatest the game of golf has ever seen.
Will Tiger Woods break Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 majors and every other major record on the books? Will he go down as the best there ever was? OR will injuries prevent him from reaching these goals? What do you think? I welcome your comments. Please feel free to reply via email and I'll post them on my blog or go to the blog directly at www.thumbsdownmethod.com and post your comments.
Trivia Question
What is the size of the golf hole? (Hint: it's smaller than a breadbox)
60 second golf tip
Here's an excerpt from page 57 of my soon to be published book, Thumbs Down - Golf Instruction Made Simple, by Morgan James Publishing. It stresses the importance of not only thinking "delayed hit", but also implies the need for delayed thinking. "Remember: you can't hit the ball during the first 3/4 of your swing, so don't try to. Instead: keep your swing under control as you reach the slot, then accelerate into the impact zone on the downswing." Translation: Keep the swing slow and rhythmic and wait until the second part of the down swing, then accelerate down and kill the ball at impact.
This past weekend I played in a two-day club tournament. The 7th hole is a par 3, 180 yards, where I usually hit my 6-iron. During the first round the tees were up a few yards with a slight wind at our backs and the ground very firm in front of the green. Since the pin was up front I decided to hit a hard 7-iron. Usually when I try to reach for a little extra I start with a strong back swing, followed by a lot of acceleration from the top, followed by a miss-hit, most of the time.
What I remembered on this shot was to delay the acceleration until my hands reached waist height on the downswing (the first 3/4 of my swing), then I fired Thumbs Down at the ball. I've found that the longer I can delay my thinking, before accelerating down on the ball, the more consistent a ball striker I am. I struck it as well as I could and bounced it up onto the green. I had a terrible putting weekend so of course I missed the birdie (a defensive down-hiller), but at least I didn't blow it past and three-putt the hole.
Summer Special
For the summer I'm offering the Pro Plus edition ($197 and includes 3 hours of one-on-one virtual coaching) for the same price as the Pro edition $47 (plus $4 S&H). Also, if you purchase the Front Nine eBook ($9.97) I'll give you 100% trade-in towards the purchase of the Pro Edition. Order yours today or as a gift at www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/Products/ProEdition.htm and Tell-A-Friend.
June 12, 2008
US Open Week - Torrey Pines
With the month of May in central New Jersey cold and rainy, and the temperature for past few days in the mid-high nineties, I'm finding myself singing the words "hot town summer in the city" in my mind all day. In the Midwest there's tornados, thunderstorms with baseball sized hail and flooding rains. Although Mother Nature can't make up her mind what season it is, it's finally that time of year when the world's media attention turns to golf. It's US Open week.
Whether you love or hate Tiger Woods, the question of will he win his fourteenth major championship in his quest to pass Jack Nicklaus' record of eighteen, at Torrey Pines, a course where he's already won earlier this year; or if Phil Mickelson will win in the San Diego are where he grew up playing, are the buzz all over the world this week. As the number one and two players in the world, you'd expect them to be the favorites. Who will win? I'm not making any predictions... except why do I think Tiger has a great shot to win (or finish on the leader board), even though he's playing his first competitive round since having arthroscopic surgery following the Masters? Because he plays the majors a lot like Jack Nicklaus did.
Even when he didn't have his A-game Nicklaus, who finished second a record nineteen times, seemed to find a way to hang in there until a majority of the field eliminated themselves. Follow all the hype and you'd think there were only two players in this year's field, Tiger and Phil. We all learned how terribly wrong "all the buzz" can be this past weekend, as Big Brown was trying to become the first horse in thirty years to win the Triple Crown. We all know what a lock and "sure thing" he was at 1 to 4 odds to coast to victory, at least if you followed all the buzz prior to the race. I've learned my lesson, that in sports there's no way to predict the outcome. Every year I see more bizarre events and upsets I never thought could happen (like the NY Giants winning this year's Super Bowl). Nothing in sports surprises me anymore. That's why they play the game.
This week's 60 second Thumbs Down method golf tip.
In this 2007 article from a major golf publication in, Tiger Woods describes the benefits of turning knuckles down to the ground. Although he's not using the exact same words, he's describing Thumbs Down, a move all the great ball strikers do, whether they realize it or not.
Most great iron players have at least one thing in common: They take a divot, whether the ball is teed up or on the turf. And it usually comes from a shallow angle of attack, which produces a long, shallow divot about the size of a dollar bill. Conversely, high-handicappers either make a steep downswing and dig a crater through impact, or they don't take a divot at all. Both mistakes lead to inconsistent contact and poor shots.
To improve your ball striking (and your divots), try shallowing out your backswing--swinging a little more around you. That sets up a shallower angle into the ball and a long, thin divot. It also helps if you turn the knuckles of your top hand to the ground through impact, like I'm doing here. This is a clear sign that you're compressing the ball, trapping it between the clubface and the turf, which will result in a divot on the forward side of the ball.
For more information about the Thumbs Down method go to www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com and vist my new blog at www.thumbsdownmethod.com. There's plenty of golf and other topics of interest like airport security and travel tips, alternative energy and environmentally friendly products, articles and information. And now there's a book store. Check it out.
Whether you love or hate Tiger Woods, the question of will he win his fourteenth major championship in his quest to pass Jack Nicklaus' record of eighteen, at Torrey Pines, a course where he's already won earlier this year; or if Phil Mickelson will win in the San Diego are where he grew up playing, are the buzz all over the world this week. As the number one and two players in the world, you'd expect them to be the favorites. Who will win? I'm not making any predictions... except why do I think Tiger has a great shot to win (or finish on the leader board), even though he's playing his first competitive round since having arthroscopic surgery following the Masters? Because he plays the majors a lot like Jack Nicklaus did.
Even when he didn't have his A-game Nicklaus, who finished second a record nineteen times, seemed to find a way to hang in there until a majority of the field eliminated themselves. Follow all the hype and you'd think there were only two players in this year's field, Tiger and Phil. We all learned how terribly wrong "all the buzz" can be this past weekend, as Big Brown was trying to become the first horse in thirty years to win the Triple Crown. We all know what a lock and "sure thing" he was at 1 to 4 odds to coast to victory, at least if you followed all the buzz prior to the race. I've learned my lesson, that in sports there's no way to predict the outcome. Every year I see more bizarre events and upsets I never thought could happen (like the NY Giants winning this year's Super Bowl). Nothing in sports surprises me anymore. That's why they play the game.
This week's 60 second Thumbs Down method golf tip.
In this 2007 article from a major golf publication in, Tiger Woods describes the benefits of turning knuckles down to the ground. Although he's not using the exact same words, he's describing Thumbs Down, a move all the great ball strikers do, whether they realize it or not.
Most great iron players have at least one thing in common: They take a divot, whether the ball is teed up or on the turf. And it usually comes from a shallow angle of attack, which produces a long, shallow divot about the size of a dollar bill. Conversely, high-handicappers either make a steep downswing and dig a crater through impact, or they don't take a divot at all. Both mistakes lead to inconsistent contact and poor shots.
To improve your ball striking (and your divots), try shallowing out your backswing--swinging a little more around you. That sets up a shallower angle into the ball and a long, thin divot. It also helps if you turn the knuckles of your top hand to the ground through impact, like I'm doing here. This is a clear sign that you're compressing the ball, trapping it between the clubface and the turf, which will result in a divot on the forward side of the ball.
For more information about the Thumbs Down method go to www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com and vist my new blog at www.thumbsdownmethod.com. There's plenty of golf and other topics of interest like airport security and travel tips, alternative energy and environmentally friendly products, articles and information. And now there's a book store. Check it out.
Cheating 101 - A Golf Etiquette Primer
Bobby Jones once said, "there's golf and there's tournament golf ...and the two are not very much alike". I say, "there's beginner golf and there's serious golfer's golf"...and the same can be said. They're not very much alike.
When a beginner doesn't follow the rules it's usually because they don't know right from wrong. When guys (or gals) get together and play "beer golf" just for fun, it's OK not to keep score and just play for fun. Just comply with these basic etiquette rules of golf and others:-Respect the golf course. Replace divots and repair ball marks on the green.-Play as fast as possible, maintaining a pace of play that doesn't hold up any players behind you.-Stand still and quietly while other players are hitting and don't walk in anyone's putting line on the green.
BUT, it's a different story when experienced players feel that interpreting the rules "their way" is a right no one should dare to question. For these players, there's only one word to describe what they're doing; CHEATING! Maybe I'm just noticing it more lately, but it's amazing to see club players or members of the golf industry blatantly cheat and think it's OK. They treat mulligans, do-overs, preferred lies anywhere, and mental lapses in counting their actual strokes like it's a normal part of the game that no one notices. They're wrong, I'm noticing.
One of the many beauties of golf is that each player is their own umpire or referee, responsible for enforcing their own rules. With all the talk about golf being a game of honor, a sport that epitomizes the balance between skill, competition and integrity, why is cheating such an accepted part of the game for some players? I'll never understand what they're thinking, except the golf course does make an ideal setting for any person with the mentality of "what they don't see won't hurt them".
Golf is a special sport, with a large majority of golfers honest and trustworthy. My earliest memories at the golf course recall seeing bags of beautiful clubs standing unattended in front of the clubhouse and thinking anyone could steal these at anytime. I remember my father telling me that the golf course is the safest place around, because golfers are the most honest people you'll find anywhere. Around the clubhouse is one thing, but on the course where no one's looking (or so they think) is a completely different story, especially once the competitive juices start to flow and egos take over. Nothing surprises me anymore.
For the record I personally don't consider it cheating when you violate a rule without realizing it. (The Rules of Golf has never been an easy read or very understandable). I also believe that a player should not be penalized due to the poor condition of the golf course, but the rule's of golf Gods don't agree. During my youth playing on public courses the rule of thumb was preferred lies on the fairway and leave it lie in the rough.
Most friendly and casual games are played using paradise rules, which means moving the ball onto a preferred lie on any shot, is OK. This is especially the case when golfer's are first learning to play the game. The only BUT in the last statement is this; if you're going to move the ball, DON'T move it closer to the hole, EVER.
The cheating I'm describing is either when the rules are violated or the score on the card doesn't reflect the actual number of swings at the ball, OR BOTH. They usually go hand in hand.
Have you seen the TGW commercial on the Golf Channel with two guys in a cart adding up one player's score. After replaying many shots, plus one in the water and one out of bounds, he says give me a four. I realize this is a bit far fetched but let me share some of what I've seen on the golf course battlefield. These are actual events I've witnessed, with each player's name disguised, to protect further personal embarrassment.
Player 1 - Have you ever played with someone they call "the umpire". That's because he always keeps an extra ball in his pocket and drops it out when he can't find his original shot. One round when I watched him look for a ball that sliced out of bounds I saw him take a ball out of his pocket and throw it ahead to play it. I called out, "you're not going to play that one, are you"? He had a sick look when he realized I caught him.
On another occasion I watched him search 20-30 yards beyond where his ball. In fact I found his ball (I know that because I saw the logo on the last green while he was putting), then called out "what ball are you playing"? His back-up plan just in case this happens is to say it has a Court TV logo. Since it never does, he drops one plays on without penalty.
When he's not moving the ball in the rough (almost always closer to the hole) and giving himself a preferred lie, this player often times picks up the ball and places it, (again closer to hole). This is the same player who criticizes his former group for doing the same. When he does have a bad lie and misses the shot he blames the course and takes his do-over. After skulling the first shot into the face of the bunker he tries it again, then get's pissed off and starts swinging wildly.
On the greens, he takes liberty with concept of "the gimmee". When his approach shot stops within four to six feet of the hole he putts with the pin in, so if he misses he counts it as if he made it, a gimmee. He almost always steals an extra inch (or more) by marking the ball on the green closer to the hole.
Last but not least, never play this player in a match or expect to watch every shot like a hawk. That includes asking him and agreeing on his score after every hole. Even during tournaments he'll leave a stoke or two off the total when it takes four or five out of the bunker. In fact, as I'm finishing this story, I have a good example of this from yesterday's round. On the 16th hole he pops up the tee shot about 150 yards, leaving 200+ yards to the green. The second shot goes left and ends up in high grass near a tree just short of the green. Shot three lands short. A chip and two putts. As he taps in the sixth shot he says, bogey and puts a five on his card. This is very common, as his scorecard often reads bogey or occasionally double-bogey or more. I know this because the new pull carts at our club have a clip for the scorecard which he now uses. Until this year he used one of my Cardkeepers and had his scorecard and pencil in his back pocket, hidden. Bottom line; after cheating all thorough the round, the score he ultimately posts for his handicap is now lowered once again. He's been described as the world's worst player, that plays almost everyday.
Player 2. - This is a member of the golf industry who often plays in events. During the ten times we've played together I've seen him taking mulligans on any hole, on any shot. I can't remember ever seeing him with a bad lie. That doesn't mean he's never hit the ball in the rough, behind trees or in the tall grass around the greens. He always picks his ball up out of the rough and replaces it where he prefers it. When there's a tree in his way he moves the ball out of the way (I guess that's why they call it preferred lies).
One day on a par 5 he hit a good drive and went for the green on his second shot. The ball went far to the right. There was a creek beyond where he was looking and we never found the ball. Because he knew around where the ball was he felt he was robbed and deserved to play three from a free drop. After an up and down, he celebrates that he made a great par. To me, it doesn't pay to question it. Just play on. Like Player 1 he'll conveniently count only certain shots. What do you post on the card when you pick-up and say, that's enough?
Player 3. - This one really shattered me inside. I have a friend I've played with for over twenty years. . He always wants to beat me and out drive me, but when we play for money, even just a few dollars, it gets real competitive. The first time I caught him cheating was during my first Myrtle Beach golf-o-mania vacation in March 2006. On the first hole of our first of eight rounds, he wanted a 3-foot gimmee, which I didn't give. As he went down to mark his ball he tried to hide it with his body and then snuck the mark a few inches closer the hole. I didn't say anything and never trusted him after that. I saw him do it a few more times at our home course and stopped playing for money until recently, after finally confronting him about cheating. Are you surprised to hear that he denied everything?
Player 4. - This one hurt financially. A regular member of my group in the 1990's inherited a lot of family money. His basement looks like a golf club hall of fame, with a putting green and more new sets of clubs than most pro shops.
One day during a multi-hole Skins game carryover, I was about to win about $20. On a par 5 I'm on the green in three, with only a five needed to win. As his third shot ran just off the back of the green up against the tall grass, he groaned. As we approached the green I saw him scoop the ball with his wedge and move it a few inches closer, onto the fringe. I asked both players in the group if they saw what I just saw. They didn't. Instead of a very difficult wedge shot to even make a par, he putted and of-course made it for birdie, robbing me of some much needed cash.
He didn't need the money, but his ego couldn't live with the loss. This is the same player that carries a +1 handicap (which means he's under-par) because he only posts his low scores. Yes, he's a good player, but maybe a 3 or 4 handicap.
Usually I end my stories by saying Golf is Great Theatre. This time is goes like this; Golf is a game that brings out the worst in people and offers the perfect setting for cheaters.
When a beginner doesn't follow the rules it's usually because they don't know right from wrong. When guys (or gals) get together and play "beer golf" just for fun, it's OK not to keep score and just play for fun. Just comply with these basic etiquette rules of golf and others:-Respect the golf course. Replace divots and repair ball marks on the green.-Play as fast as possible, maintaining a pace of play that doesn't hold up any players behind you.-Stand still and quietly while other players are hitting and don't walk in anyone's putting line on the green.
BUT, it's a different story when experienced players feel that interpreting the rules "their way" is a right no one should dare to question. For these players, there's only one word to describe what they're doing; CHEATING! Maybe I'm just noticing it more lately, but it's amazing to see club players or members of the golf industry blatantly cheat and think it's OK. They treat mulligans, do-overs, preferred lies anywhere, and mental lapses in counting their actual strokes like it's a normal part of the game that no one notices. They're wrong, I'm noticing.
One of the many beauties of golf is that each player is their own umpire or referee, responsible for enforcing their own rules. With all the talk about golf being a game of honor, a sport that epitomizes the balance between skill, competition and integrity, why is cheating such an accepted part of the game for some players? I'll never understand what they're thinking, except the golf course does make an ideal setting for any person with the mentality of "what they don't see won't hurt them".
Golf is a special sport, with a large majority of golfers honest and trustworthy. My earliest memories at the golf course recall seeing bags of beautiful clubs standing unattended in front of the clubhouse and thinking anyone could steal these at anytime. I remember my father telling me that the golf course is the safest place around, because golfers are the most honest people you'll find anywhere. Around the clubhouse is one thing, but on the course where no one's looking (or so they think) is a completely different story, especially once the competitive juices start to flow and egos take over. Nothing surprises me anymore.
For the record I personally don't consider it cheating when you violate a rule without realizing it. (The Rules of Golf has never been an easy read or very understandable). I also believe that a player should not be penalized due to the poor condition of the golf course, but the rule's of golf Gods don't agree. During my youth playing on public courses the rule of thumb was preferred lies on the fairway and leave it lie in the rough.
Most friendly and casual games are played using paradise rules, which means moving the ball onto a preferred lie on any shot, is OK. This is especially the case when golfer's are first learning to play the game. The only BUT in the last statement is this; if you're going to move the ball, DON'T move it closer to the hole, EVER.
The cheating I'm describing is either when the rules are violated or the score on the card doesn't reflect the actual number of swings at the ball, OR BOTH. They usually go hand in hand.
Have you seen the TGW commercial on the Golf Channel with two guys in a cart adding up one player's score. After replaying many shots, plus one in the water and one out of bounds, he says give me a four. I realize this is a bit far fetched but let me share some of what I've seen on the golf course battlefield. These are actual events I've witnessed, with each player's name disguised, to protect further personal embarrassment.
Player 1 - Have you ever played with someone they call "the umpire". That's because he always keeps an extra ball in his pocket and drops it out when he can't find his original shot. One round when I watched him look for a ball that sliced out of bounds I saw him take a ball out of his pocket and throw it ahead to play it. I called out, "you're not going to play that one, are you"? He had a sick look when he realized I caught him.
On another occasion I watched him search 20-30 yards beyond where his ball. In fact I found his ball (I know that because I saw the logo on the last green while he was putting), then called out "what ball are you playing"? His back-up plan just in case this happens is to say it has a Court TV logo. Since it never does, he drops one plays on without penalty.
When he's not moving the ball in the rough (almost always closer to the hole) and giving himself a preferred lie, this player often times picks up the ball and places it, (again closer to hole). This is the same player who criticizes his former group for doing the same. When he does have a bad lie and misses the shot he blames the course and takes his do-over. After skulling the first shot into the face of the bunker he tries it again, then get's pissed off and starts swinging wildly.
On the greens, he takes liberty with concept of "the gimmee". When his approach shot stops within four to six feet of the hole he putts with the pin in, so if he misses he counts it as if he made it, a gimmee. He almost always steals an extra inch (or more) by marking the ball on the green closer to the hole.
Last but not least, never play this player in a match or expect to watch every shot like a hawk. That includes asking him and agreeing on his score after every hole. Even during tournaments he'll leave a stoke or two off the total when it takes four or five out of the bunker. In fact, as I'm finishing this story, I have a good example of this from yesterday's round. On the 16th hole he pops up the tee shot about 150 yards, leaving 200+ yards to the green. The second shot goes left and ends up in high grass near a tree just short of the green. Shot three lands short. A chip and two putts. As he taps in the sixth shot he says, bogey and puts a five on his card. This is very common, as his scorecard often reads bogey or occasionally double-bogey or more. I know this because the new pull carts at our club have a clip for the scorecard which he now uses. Until this year he used one of my Cardkeepers and had his scorecard and pencil in his back pocket, hidden. Bottom line; after cheating all thorough the round, the score he ultimately posts for his handicap is now lowered once again. He's been described as the world's worst player, that plays almost everyday.
Player 2. - This is a member of the golf industry who often plays in events. During the ten times we've played together I've seen him taking mulligans on any hole, on any shot. I can't remember ever seeing him with a bad lie. That doesn't mean he's never hit the ball in the rough, behind trees or in the tall grass around the greens. He always picks his ball up out of the rough and replaces it where he prefers it. When there's a tree in his way he moves the ball out of the way (I guess that's why they call it preferred lies).
One day on a par 5 he hit a good drive and went for the green on his second shot. The ball went far to the right. There was a creek beyond where he was looking and we never found the ball. Because he knew around where the ball was he felt he was robbed and deserved to play three from a free drop. After an up and down, he celebrates that he made a great par. To me, it doesn't pay to question it. Just play on. Like Player 1 he'll conveniently count only certain shots. What do you post on the card when you pick-up and say, that's enough?
Player 3. - This one really shattered me inside. I have a friend I've played with for over twenty years. . He always wants to beat me and out drive me, but when we play for money, even just a few dollars, it gets real competitive. The first time I caught him cheating was during my first Myrtle Beach golf-o-mania vacation in March 2006. On the first hole of our first of eight rounds, he wanted a 3-foot gimmee, which I didn't give. As he went down to mark his ball he tried to hide it with his body and then snuck the mark a few inches closer the hole. I didn't say anything and never trusted him after that. I saw him do it a few more times at our home course and stopped playing for money until recently, after finally confronting him about cheating. Are you surprised to hear that he denied everything?
Player 4. - This one hurt financially. A regular member of my group in the 1990's inherited a lot of family money. His basement looks like a golf club hall of fame, with a putting green and more new sets of clubs than most pro shops.
One day during a multi-hole Skins game carryover, I was about to win about $20. On a par 5 I'm on the green in three, with only a five needed to win. As his third shot ran just off the back of the green up against the tall grass, he groaned. As we approached the green I saw him scoop the ball with his wedge and move it a few inches closer, onto the fringe. I asked both players in the group if they saw what I just saw. They didn't. Instead of a very difficult wedge shot to even make a par, he putted and of-course made it for birdie, robbing me of some much needed cash.
He didn't need the money, but his ego couldn't live with the loss. This is the same player that carries a +1 handicap (which means he's under-par) because he only posts his low scores. Yes, he's a good player, but maybe a 3 or 4 handicap.
Usually I end my stories by saying Golf is Great Theatre. This time is goes like this; Golf is a game that brings out the worst in people and offers the perfect setting for cheaters.
April 25, 2008
Golf's Answer to Houdini
Yogi Berra said it best when he reminded us It Ain't Over Till It's Over. Do you have your own personal favorite expressions with similar meaning? Here's just a few that come to mind: "Almost Doesn't Count ...except in horseshoes"."Close, But No Cigar"."I Can't Believe What I Just Saw".
I'm sure there are many good ones I've left out. Either way, if you were watching last week's Accenture Match Play Championships you saw what I saw, starting with Wednesday's opening matches. If you missed it just trust me, ALL these clichés and more apply to the escape acts performed by Tiger Woods, golf's answer to Harry Houdini. Starting his 2008 golf season the way he ended 2007, Tiger is sending his own message to all those trying to beat him; Forget About It!
We all have a soft spot in our hearts and like to root for the underdog. I'll even admit rooting against Tiger on several occasions, including each of his US Amateur final match victories, his first wins as a pro and Masters win in 1997. Back then, I didn't think he was worth all the hype. I've since learned to enjoy watching him compete, appreciate how good he is as compared to every other player and the history he's making. Yes, I still continue to root for someone to put up a legitimate challenge each tournament, but I'm not holding my breath anymore. I'm also not a believer that Phil Mickelson is that steady challenger. What's incredible to me is that the guys who can't beat Tiger, are the rest of the best players in the world. These guys play a different game than the rest of us, (who's passions are to steadily break 80, 90or 100) and Tiger plays a different game than all of them. To put things into their proper prospective, think about how many times you were ever under par during a round, beyond the first few holes. Be honest now.
For those who still root against him, thinking he can't be that good, that he's made a deal with the devil (GB), get used to suffering for many more years. With 63 wins and Arnold Palmer's 62 victories now in his rear view mirror, Tiger takes aim next at Ben Hogan's 64. It's just a matter of time before he beats Jack Nicklaus' 73, Sam Snead's 82 and holds all the records. He can't go undefeated for the year, can he? Of course not, that's absurd. What about twelve in a row, beating Byron Nelson's record of eleven? This record was always thought of as sacred, never to be broken, just like Joe Dimaggio's 56 game hitting streak Well maybe he can't win every tournament he enters, but why not the fours majors? Tiger has the unique luxury of losing and still being the big winner, especially if he pulls off the Grand Slam. My take on Tiger, "never say never".
To put the official wrap on the Accenture Match Play, here's the quick version of what I saw:Simply put; Tiger was good TV. I watched in awe as he shifted into another gear on Wednesday making three birdies and an eagle, as he performed his Houdini-like escape, a 3-down with 5 to play death grip by JB Holmes. Then on Friday, he out dueled Aaron Baddley in an entertaining birdie fest, where Baddley had multiple make able putts in regulation, before losing in extra holes in sudden death. In the spirit of basketball's March Madness, the bracket wars saw their share of early upsets by top players. The most notable was Ernie Els, who lost 6 and 5 to Jonathan Byrd in round one. Phil Mickelson's early exit can at the hands of red hot Stuart Appleby, where birdies chirped throughout the match for both players before Mickelson made a crucial mistake, three putting on the final hole. The biggest surprise was watching Stewart Cink humiliate his opponents throughout the week, but as the final script read, IT GOT LATE EARLY for Cink, losing 8-7 to Tiger in the 36 hole final. What a surprise!
Today's 60-second golf tip:
With all this talk about perfection, is it just me or do you see all the BAD shots I do by tour players? Here's a few lowlights from Wednesday:Tiger's opening tee shot out of bounds rightThe tee shot on 18 of Henrik Stensen, (last year's winner and this year's winner of the consolation match for 3rd place). This low hook off the heel with his 3 metal (I still don't know what to call it) was replayed by Johnny Miller and described as the worst tee shot he'd ever seen by a pro.
More and more I see bad slices off the tee, as the top players strive for the perfect plane and timing of the knees, hips, shoulders, arms and chest. Wanna get confused too? Just listen to the telecasts and see the replays of a player's swing as they're analyzed by the experts in spectacular super slow motion. They do a good job of showing off their knowledge, with technical terms only a physics major understands. For me, the moment I worry about my left side "getting stuck" on the down swing, not allowing the club to release (quoting Nick Faldo), I lose touch with what's most important, squaring the club into impact. Squaring the club by turning the hands with Thumbs Down as you strike the ball, makes all the right things happen automatically, without thinking. That's the way I like it. This discovery was the magic formula for me, "like money in the bank", as it cured my out of control slice in the mid 1990's.
In case I haven't made this good new public knowledge yet, Morgan James Publishing will soon publish Thumbs Down, the virtual golf lesson, Front Nine edition. Checkout my new and improved website at www.golfinstructionmadesimple and see all the new products and videos available. Pay particular attention to the "Promo Item" button on each page that shows how Thumbs Down makes a unique promotional item for business. Contact me for pricing at: info@thumbsdownmethod.com. While you're on the website see "visit my blog" button or at www.thumbsdownmethod.com.
I'm sure there are many good ones I've left out. Either way, if you were watching last week's Accenture Match Play Championships you saw what I saw, starting with Wednesday's opening matches. If you missed it just trust me, ALL these clichés and more apply to the escape acts performed by Tiger Woods, golf's answer to Harry Houdini. Starting his 2008 golf season the way he ended 2007, Tiger is sending his own message to all those trying to beat him; Forget About It!
We all have a soft spot in our hearts and like to root for the underdog. I'll even admit rooting against Tiger on several occasions, including each of his US Amateur final match victories, his first wins as a pro and Masters win in 1997. Back then, I didn't think he was worth all the hype. I've since learned to enjoy watching him compete, appreciate how good he is as compared to every other player and the history he's making. Yes, I still continue to root for someone to put up a legitimate challenge each tournament, but I'm not holding my breath anymore. I'm also not a believer that Phil Mickelson is that steady challenger. What's incredible to me is that the guys who can't beat Tiger, are the rest of the best players in the world. These guys play a different game than the rest of us, (who's passions are to steadily break 80, 90or 100) and Tiger plays a different game than all of them. To put things into their proper prospective, think about how many times you were ever under par during a round, beyond the first few holes. Be honest now.
For those who still root against him, thinking he can't be that good, that he's made a deal with the devil (GB), get used to suffering for many more years. With 63 wins and Arnold Palmer's 62 victories now in his rear view mirror, Tiger takes aim next at Ben Hogan's 64. It's just a matter of time before he beats Jack Nicklaus' 73, Sam Snead's 82 and holds all the records. He can't go undefeated for the year, can he? Of course not, that's absurd. What about twelve in a row, beating Byron Nelson's record of eleven? This record was always thought of as sacred, never to be broken, just like Joe Dimaggio's 56 game hitting streak Well maybe he can't win every tournament he enters, but why not the fours majors? Tiger has the unique luxury of losing and still being the big winner, especially if he pulls off the Grand Slam. My take on Tiger, "never say never".
To put the official wrap on the Accenture Match Play, here's the quick version of what I saw:Simply put; Tiger was good TV. I watched in awe as he shifted into another gear on Wednesday making three birdies and an eagle, as he performed his Houdini-like escape, a 3-down with 5 to play death grip by JB Holmes. Then on Friday, he out dueled Aaron Baddley in an entertaining birdie fest, where Baddley had multiple make able putts in regulation, before losing in extra holes in sudden death. In the spirit of basketball's March Madness, the bracket wars saw their share of early upsets by top players. The most notable was Ernie Els, who lost 6 and 5 to Jonathan Byrd in round one. Phil Mickelson's early exit can at the hands of red hot Stuart Appleby, where birdies chirped throughout the match for both players before Mickelson made a crucial mistake, three putting on the final hole. The biggest surprise was watching Stewart Cink humiliate his opponents throughout the week, but as the final script read, IT GOT LATE EARLY for Cink, losing 8-7 to Tiger in the 36 hole final. What a surprise!
Today's 60-second golf tip:
With all this talk about perfection, is it just me or do you see all the BAD shots I do by tour players? Here's a few lowlights from Wednesday:Tiger's opening tee shot out of bounds rightThe tee shot on 18 of Henrik Stensen, (last year's winner and this year's winner of the consolation match for 3rd place). This low hook off the heel with his 3 metal (I still don't know what to call it) was replayed by Johnny Miller and described as the worst tee shot he'd ever seen by a pro.
More and more I see bad slices off the tee, as the top players strive for the perfect plane and timing of the knees, hips, shoulders, arms and chest. Wanna get confused too? Just listen to the telecasts and see the replays of a player's swing as they're analyzed by the experts in spectacular super slow motion. They do a good job of showing off their knowledge, with technical terms only a physics major understands. For me, the moment I worry about my left side "getting stuck" on the down swing, not allowing the club to release (quoting Nick Faldo), I lose touch with what's most important, squaring the club into impact. Squaring the club by turning the hands with Thumbs Down as you strike the ball, makes all the right things happen automatically, without thinking. That's the way I like it. This discovery was the magic formula for me, "like money in the bank", as it cured my out of control slice in the mid 1990's.
In case I haven't made this good new public knowledge yet, Morgan James Publishing will soon publish Thumbs Down, the virtual golf lesson, Front Nine edition. Checkout my new and improved website at www.golfinstructionmadesimple and see all the new products and videos available. Pay particular attention to the "Promo Item" button on each page that shows how Thumbs Down makes a unique promotional item for business. Contact me for pricing at: info@thumbsdownmethod.com. While you're on the website see "visit my blog" button or at www.thumbsdownmethod.com.
Aloha and Welcome Back
Aloha and Welcome Back to the professional golf season 2008!
After an off-season break, I'm back in the saddle with many stories and interesting information already teed up to share with you throughout the year. Each story is also posted on my new blog at www.thumbsdownmethod.com, which is also a website with a new Turn Golf Into Business theme. Please check it out, but pardon the appearance during the next few weeks, as it's still under construction.
While the NFL playoffs heated up and football fans like me were enjoying the first three rounds,the 2008 PGA golf season officially kicked off in Hawaii. Even though most of the game's big names didn't play at the Mercedes and Sony Opens, it was still fun to watch the rest of the world's best golfers make the game look easy. Coincidentally, last weekend Tiger Woods made itlook too easy as he coasted to victory by eight shots at the Buick Invitational, after leading by eleven on the back nine of the final round. Stay tuned for more on this.
This weekend it's Super Bowl XLII (42), with my NY Giants playing the role of this year's Cinderella team, against possibly the best team in football history. After suffering with my Gints for forty years (with the exception of two Super Bowl wins and the 2000 Super Bowl loss), a die hard fan can only hope the magic lasts one more week, as they try to spoil the New England Patriots historic unbeaten season. While the football teams are in the desert in Arizona, Tiger and a few friends: Mark O'Meara, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Darren Clark and Thomas Bjorn are in the desert in Dubai. On the eve of the opening round of the Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates, I'm watching the Golf Channel's telecast of the team competition.
I love watching great players do what they do best, but I'm getting tired of seeing their fluid swings, perfect ball striking and follow-throughs in super slow motion, then listening to the experts as they analyze what we just saw. This year, a new toy called Track Man shows each player's ball and club speed, spin rates and gives even more feedback. I have absolutely no problem with the quality of the commentator's credentials and expertise, but their explanations are filled with technical information I don't understand, in a language I can't relate to. In their attempts to keep it simple for all of us, most of the messages go right over our heads, better suited for the top 1% of all golfers. In sharp contrast, the Thumbs Down method is targeted at the other 99% (10's of millions of us), because it was created by a peer (ME), not an expert. My big advantage is that I relate to amateurs better because I live in your shoes every day.
It drives me crazy when I see and hear instructors do side by side comparisons between the best in the world and recreational players. Hey, don't get me wrong because watching the best players (Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, etc) on TV is how I learned and taught myself to play golf. I also learned to bowl by watching Dick Weber and started hitting topspin forehands by watching Bjorn Borg destroy the world of tennis in the 1970's. It's a mystery to me why the golf swing is analyzed more than in any other sport. Unfortunately for too many golfers, the term paralysis through analysis applies all too often.
I have a very strong opinion that a majority of the instruction to focuses on the wrong order of importance for the average player. To me, a pretty swing don't mean a thing unless you're making solid contact and able to control where the ball is going. Golf is a lot like skiing in that it's essential to initially learn the correct fundamentals first, but after that you're on your own. Like it or not, we learn and teach ourselves every time we do it.
This year I'm branding the Thumbs Down method as the premier "Teach Yourself" method and myself as a Teach Yourself virtual coach, with a virtual coaching program using the internet. Contact ME to learn more.
This issue's 60 second Thumbs Down method golf tip emphasizes one of my pet phrases, "start with solid ball striking …then works backwards. See what I mean by checking out my new video at www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/Downloads/FreeStuff.htm. It was filmed live for the Inside Golf show (6:00PM Saturday's on Comcast Sportsnet) on November 14, as I cured the producer's slice and made him a better ball striker in minutes, just as advertised. The video tells my story exactly as it was originally intended.
On Feb 4 I'll be unveiling a new website look, with a unique Pro Shop and Online Store. Check it out and tell your friends to do the same. As always, your comments, replies and input are welcome.
After an off-season break, I'm back in the saddle with many stories and interesting information already teed up to share with you throughout the year. Each story is also posted on my new blog at www.thumbsdownmethod.com, which is also a website with a new Turn Golf Into Business theme. Please check it out, but pardon the appearance during the next few weeks, as it's still under construction.
While the NFL playoffs heated up and football fans like me were enjoying the first three rounds,the 2008 PGA golf season officially kicked off in Hawaii. Even though most of the game's big names didn't play at the Mercedes and Sony Opens, it was still fun to watch the rest of the world's best golfers make the game look easy. Coincidentally, last weekend Tiger Woods made itlook too easy as he coasted to victory by eight shots at the Buick Invitational, after leading by eleven on the back nine of the final round. Stay tuned for more on this.
This weekend it's Super Bowl XLII (42), with my NY Giants playing the role of this year's Cinderella team, against possibly the best team in football history. After suffering with my Gints for forty years (with the exception of two Super Bowl wins and the 2000 Super Bowl loss), a die hard fan can only hope the magic lasts one more week, as they try to spoil the New England Patriots historic unbeaten season. While the football teams are in the desert in Arizona, Tiger and a few friends: Mark O'Meara, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Darren Clark and Thomas Bjorn are in the desert in Dubai. On the eve of the opening round of the Dubai Desert Classic in the United Arab Emirates, I'm watching the Golf Channel's telecast of the team competition.
I love watching great players do what they do best, but I'm getting tired of seeing their fluid swings, perfect ball striking and follow-throughs in super slow motion, then listening to the experts as they analyze what we just saw. This year, a new toy called Track Man shows each player's ball and club speed, spin rates and gives even more feedback. I have absolutely no problem with the quality of the commentator's credentials and expertise, but their explanations are filled with technical information I don't understand, in a language I can't relate to. In their attempts to keep it simple for all of us, most of the messages go right over our heads, better suited for the top 1% of all golfers. In sharp contrast, the Thumbs Down method is targeted at the other 99% (10's of millions of us), because it was created by a peer (ME), not an expert. My big advantage is that I relate to amateurs better because I live in your shoes every day.
It drives me crazy when I see and hear instructors do side by side comparisons between the best in the world and recreational players. Hey, don't get me wrong because watching the best players (Palmer, Nicklaus, Player, etc) on TV is how I learned and taught myself to play golf. I also learned to bowl by watching Dick Weber and started hitting topspin forehands by watching Bjorn Borg destroy the world of tennis in the 1970's. It's a mystery to me why the golf swing is analyzed more than in any other sport. Unfortunately for too many golfers, the term paralysis through analysis applies all too often.
I have a very strong opinion that a majority of the instruction to focuses on the wrong order of importance for the average player. To me, a pretty swing don't mean a thing unless you're making solid contact and able to control where the ball is going. Golf is a lot like skiing in that it's essential to initially learn the correct fundamentals first, but after that you're on your own. Like it or not, we learn and teach ourselves every time we do it.
This year I'm branding the Thumbs Down method as the premier "Teach Yourself" method and myself as a Teach Yourself virtual coach, with a virtual coaching program using the internet. Contact ME to learn more.
This issue's 60 second Thumbs Down method golf tip emphasizes one of my pet phrases, "start with solid ball striking …then works backwards. See what I mean by checking out my new video at www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/Downloads/FreeStuff.htm. It was filmed live for the Inside Golf show (6:00PM Saturday's on Comcast Sportsnet) on November 14, as I cured the producer's slice and made him a better ball striker in minutes, just as advertised. The video tells my story exactly as it was originally intended.
On Feb 4 I'll be unveiling a new website look, with a unique Pro Shop and Online Store. Check it out and tell your friends to do the same. As always, your comments, replies and input are welcome.
November 20, 2007
Happy Thanksgiving 07
I want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving (ready or not here comes the holiday season).
My main goal in publishing these newsletters is to provide you with the best golf instruction resources I am aware of. To date I've mainly included the Thumbs Down method, but I'm pleased to announce an affiliation with Chuck Evans. For those of you not familiar with Chuck, he's one of only 31 Teachers in the world to hold the designation of "Doctorate in Golf Stroke Engineering", and a Golf Magazine Top Teacher. He's been called, The Teacher of Teachers and has been touted as one of the most highly sought after instructors in the world not only by players but other teachers as well!
Evans Golf Group recently announced the merger of two golf companies', Chuck Evans Golf and Medicus, now known as Medicus Golf Institute. Medicus has long been known for their game improvement training aids and programs. These two power houses have come together to form a company that combines both instruction and training aids to enhance, and improve, your golf game.
Chuck's written a wonderful ebook and he's also offering his entire golf training system for $67 (sorry, his half price offer has expired). Included as a bonus are interviews on 2 downloadable CD's and if that wasn't enough....he also has agreed to come on a "live call with you personally! For a limited time you can talk with Chuck Evans and ask him any golf question you have, would that help you and solve some of your questions? You will be able to ask him anything you want. Hurry up, as he will only be accepting so many customers because Chuck is busy!
To receive your FREE Secrets to Better Golfing interview with Chuck Evans go to:
While you're there take advantage and purchase Chuck's entire golf training system.
October 16, 2007
Wie Bad
Now that you’re an adult answer this question (honestly please). Do you now believe that all the hype you heard while growing up about how great it would be to be an adult, was highly overrated? Most people do. Why else do we always hear adults wanting to turn back the clock and become kids again? We all do it, right?
Think for a moment about how true the statement is these days for Michele Wie, who turned 18 less than a week ago and is now legally an adult. Her 18th birthday was October 11, but it seems like only yesterday that she was a 14 year old phenom, on her way to conquering the world of golf, both women’s AND men’s. In the summer of 2005 at the age of 16, Wie drew a large crowd watching her play and almost making it, during US Open qualifying at Canoe Brook in New Jersey. Not that long ago it looked like she was a can’t miss.
If her first few days as an adult are any indication, Wie should begin efforts to brand her name and capitalize on what she’s already accomplished, because her golf game has suffered a meltdown, no one could see coming. Forget about competing against the men anymore, because Wie can’t even make a cut competing against the women (no offense intended!). Who would have thought that just a few short years ago Wie would be at a crossroad in her career, at the ripe old age of 18. Talk about a case of teenage burnout on steroids!
Blame it on her wrist injury. Blame it on her new life in college, or even blame it on her change of caddies, after her parents fired Greg Johnson, her long standing caddie. (If I was still a betting man, I’d bet heavily that the parents are a big part of this problem.) Regardless, Wie’s game over the past 15 months has abandoned her, coming apart at the seams by pro’s standards. One day she’s the darling of the media, almost making the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii, then a few short years later she’s shooting rounds in the high 70’s and 80’s, not in the 60’s as required to compete. To put it all into perspective, last week at the Samsung World Championships Michele Wie shot 79-79-77-71 for 18 over par while Lorena Ochoa, the winner shot 68-67-69-66, 36 shots better at 18 under. Her ballooning scoring average in 2007 rivals the spectacular train wreck performed by the 2007 NY Mets in September, as they collapsed down the back stretch of this year’s baseball season.
At least Wie’s in good company. While the world was discovering her on her way up, Annika Sorenstam was the queen of golf, even more dominant than Tiger Woods was in the men’s game. For the past two seasons though, Lorena Ochoa is #1, with Suzanne Pettersen her main competitor each week lately. Now it’s Annika’s turn to try and get back on top, as she battles back from an early season neck injury that sidelined her for a few months.
Golf, more than any other sport has a way of coming and going and sometimes never coming back again EVER, at least at the same high level. To validate this, you only need to remember when the names David Duval and Ty Tryon filled the Golf Channel headlines and how quickly they disappeared from the radar screen. The major difference these days of course is that when golfers win tournaments and finish in the top 10 frequently, like David Duval did in the late 1990’s through 2001, they make a boat load of cash to carry them through the rough times.
In the case of Michele Wie, I somehow think she’ll survive this and chalk it up to a learning experience. My 2 cents prediction is that she’ll put her game face back on and compete on the LPGA Tour in the years to come. Whether she does or doesn’t, the women of the LPGA Tour are more fun to watch than ever before. What do you think?
Please send me your comments and I’ll post them on future blog entries.
Think for a moment about how true the statement is these days for Michele Wie, who turned 18 less than a week ago and is now legally an adult. Her 18th birthday was October 11, but it seems like only yesterday that she was a 14 year old phenom, on her way to conquering the world of golf, both women’s AND men’s. In the summer of 2005 at the age of 16, Wie drew a large crowd watching her play and almost making it, during US Open qualifying at Canoe Brook in New Jersey. Not that long ago it looked like she was a can’t miss.
If her first few days as an adult are any indication, Wie should begin efforts to brand her name and capitalize on what she’s already accomplished, because her golf game has suffered a meltdown, no one could see coming. Forget about competing against the men anymore, because Wie can’t even make a cut competing against the women (no offense intended!). Who would have thought that just a few short years ago Wie would be at a crossroad in her career, at the ripe old age of 18. Talk about a case of teenage burnout on steroids!
Blame it on her wrist injury. Blame it on her new life in college, or even blame it on her change of caddies, after her parents fired Greg Johnson, her long standing caddie. (If I was still a betting man, I’d bet heavily that the parents are a big part of this problem.) Regardless, Wie’s game over the past 15 months has abandoned her, coming apart at the seams by pro’s standards. One day she’s the darling of the media, almost making the cut at the Sony Open in Hawaii, then a few short years later she’s shooting rounds in the high 70’s and 80’s, not in the 60’s as required to compete. To put it all into perspective, last week at the Samsung World Championships Michele Wie shot 79-79-77-71 for 18 over par while Lorena Ochoa, the winner shot 68-67-69-66, 36 shots better at 18 under. Her ballooning scoring average in 2007 rivals the spectacular train wreck performed by the 2007 NY Mets in September, as they collapsed down the back stretch of this year’s baseball season.
At least Wie’s in good company. While the world was discovering her on her way up, Annika Sorenstam was the queen of golf, even more dominant than Tiger Woods was in the men’s game. For the past two seasons though, Lorena Ochoa is #1, with Suzanne Pettersen her main competitor each week lately. Now it’s Annika’s turn to try and get back on top, as she battles back from an early season neck injury that sidelined her for a few months.
Golf, more than any other sport has a way of coming and going and sometimes never coming back again EVER, at least at the same high level. To validate this, you only need to remember when the names David Duval and Ty Tryon filled the Golf Channel headlines and how quickly they disappeared from the radar screen. The major difference these days of course is that when golfers win tournaments and finish in the top 10 frequently, like David Duval did in the late 1990’s through 2001, they make a boat load of cash to carry them through the rough times.
In the case of Michele Wie, I somehow think she’ll survive this and chalk it up to a learning experience. My 2 cents prediction is that she’ll put her game face back on and compete on the LPGA Tour in the years to come. Whether she does or doesn’t, the women of the LPGA Tour are more fun to watch than ever before. What do you think?
Please send me your comments and I’ll post them on future blog entries.
September 26, 2007
President's Cup week
On Sunday 9-23, both New York football teams won their first games of the 2007 NFL season. The Yankees beat the Toronto Blue Jays to pull to within 1 game of the Boston Red Sox in the all important loss column for first place, going into the last week of the baseball season. It appears almost certain they will at least clinch a playoff spot in the American League East, but it’s still anyone's guess who will play who and where they’ll play, as the playoffs begin next week.
The real question in sports this week is, does anyone REALLY care what’s going on in golf these days, besides the players, their families, sponsors and some devoted fans? (AND of course the entire city of Montreal and a few Canadian provinces, if not more.) Does the anticipation for the President’s Cup raise your adrenaline levels like the Ryder Cup, The Masters or ANY of the majors? ME either! In fact, it’s that time of the year when football, baseball’s finale, then hockey (especially hockey) and basketball take over mind share for die hard sports fans (like ME).
The golf season for ME typically lasts into the first week of December, or longer some years like last year, when a member of my 3-some played in shorts on his 55th birthday, Jan 6. I play nine months out of the year and think golf non-stop. TV golf, well that’s a different story. The President’s Cup has always been played this time of year when my focus changes with the seasons. A recent example can be found in last week’s newsletter and blog article, where I wrote about Tiger shutting it down for the season last week to become a full time dad. I said he’d gone fishing. Well, I believe it’s still true but I had completely forgotten about the President’s Cup in Montreal this coming weekend, September 28-30, so shame on ME. Also, shame on you for not noticing my mistake OR al least sending ME a comment about it.
No, it’s not the Ryder Cup, but each President’s Cup over the last ten years has been entertaining, as the best players in the world battle for their country’s team, just like in the Ryder Cup. Too bad the mind share just isn’t there, AGAIN. Am I alone? Do you feel the same way? Your comments are always welcome.
________________________________________________
It’s Alan Martin, with a 60 second Thumbs Down method golf tip about the power source in the golf swing. Where does the power come from? What’s your answer? Please reply to ajm.me@thumbsdown.info or feel free to call ME 609-448-4331.
Is it the large muscles of the shoulders, or the legs, or the hips? I believe a majority of golfers would say yes. Once upon a time I was one of the more than 50 percenter’s that turned and pivoted my body like a corkscrew into the ground for power. I hit the ball hard and relatively long for a 5’7”, 150 pound man, but after 25 years of that kind of thinking I ended up with these results: 20 less yards with every club in my bag (putter excluded) and an out of control slice. I still hit it hard.
OR is it the arms that swing, with the forearms, wrists and hands that generate the REAL POWER in the golf swing? If you’ve read any of my Thumbs Down HOW TO guides (Front Nine, Back Nine, Preview, Drills or Pro editions) on curing a slice and teaching yourself to become a better ball striker, you know how much I believe this is where the secret lies, ESPECIALLY for amateur and recreational players.
Pro’s play a different game than the rest of us. They can afford to fine tune their swings to perfection, but for the tens of millions of others, squaring the club at impact with the smaller muscles in the forearms, wrists, hands (and don’t forget those thumbs) provide the missing ingredient's for increased power, accuracy and control.
Don’t forget, for a limited time I’m offering Better Ball Striking for under $10, then a 100% trade-in (means it’s FREE) for an upgrade to the new and improved Back Nine or Pro Plus editions. Both include virtual lessons via the internet by ME.
With the holidays approaching, the gift of golf ALWAYS scores points with family, friends and business. Please visit http://www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/
The real question in sports this week is, does anyone REALLY care what’s going on in golf these days, besides the players, their families, sponsors and some devoted fans? (AND of course the entire city of Montreal and a few Canadian provinces, if not more.) Does the anticipation for the President’s Cup raise your adrenaline levels like the Ryder Cup, The Masters or ANY of the majors? ME either! In fact, it’s that time of the year when football, baseball’s finale, then hockey (especially hockey) and basketball take over mind share for die hard sports fans (like ME).
The golf season for ME typically lasts into the first week of December, or longer some years like last year, when a member of my 3-some played in shorts on his 55th birthday, Jan 6. I play nine months out of the year and think golf non-stop. TV golf, well that’s a different story. The President’s Cup has always been played this time of year when my focus changes with the seasons. A recent example can be found in last week’s newsletter and blog article, where I wrote about Tiger shutting it down for the season last week to become a full time dad. I said he’d gone fishing. Well, I believe it’s still true but I had completely forgotten about the President’s Cup in Montreal this coming weekend, September 28-30, so shame on ME. Also, shame on you for not noticing my mistake OR al least sending ME a comment about it.
No, it’s not the Ryder Cup, but each President’s Cup over the last ten years has been entertaining, as the best players in the world battle for their country’s team, just like in the Ryder Cup. Too bad the mind share just isn’t there, AGAIN. Am I alone? Do you feel the same way? Your comments are always welcome.
________________________________________________
It’s Alan Martin, with a 60 second Thumbs Down method golf tip about the power source in the golf swing. Where does the power come from? What’s your answer? Please reply to ajm.me@thumbsdown.info or feel free to call ME 609-448-4331.
Is it the large muscles of the shoulders, or the legs, or the hips? I believe a majority of golfers would say yes. Once upon a time I was one of the more than 50 percenter’s that turned and pivoted my body like a corkscrew into the ground for power. I hit the ball hard and relatively long for a 5’7”, 150 pound man, but after 25 years of that kind of thinking I ended up with these results: 20 less yards with every club in my bag (putter excluded) and an out of control slice. I still hit it hard.
OR is it the arms that swing, with the forearms, wrists and hands that generate the REAL POWER in the golf swing? If you’ve read any of my Thumbs Down HOW TO guides (Front Nine, Back Nine, Preview, Drills or Pro editions) on curing a slice and teaching yourself to become a better ball striker, you know how much I believe this is where the secret lies, ESPECIALLY for amateur and recreational players.
Pro’s play a different game than the rest of us. They can afford to fine tune their swings to perfection, but for the tens of millions of others, squaring the club at impact with the smaller muscles in the forearms, wrists, hands (and don’t forget those thumbs) provide the missing ingredient's for increased power, accuracy and control.
Don’t forget, for a limited time I’m offering Better Ball Striking for under $10, then a 100% trade-in (means it’s FREE) for an upgrade to the new and improved Back Nine or Pro Plus editions. Both include virtual lessons via the internet by ME.
With the holidays approaching, the gift of golf ALWAYS scores points with family, friends and business. Please visit http://www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/
September 20, 2007
Tiger in the Spotlight ...yes again
If it looks like the focus of my last few stories has been Tiger Woods, I admit it, but there’s a good reason. I realize, NOT everyone agrees with my view point, (some of you more than others as your comments imply) BUT this guy is the real deal! He’s the kind of athlete one can admire, (try to) imitate and enjoy watching perform with the utmost respect, both for his talent level and endless desire to win, but also as a person. Today it’s rare to find that combination in a professional athlete, especially one who’s consistently re-writing the history books (both hard copy and on-line versions) AND ALWAYS in the spotlight with every move he makes. Once there was a guy named OJ who seemed to own the world (…but we won’t go down that road).
With all the historic achievements bestowed on him, Tiger Woods did something last Sunday 9-16-07, he had never done before. No, I’m not referring to his hitting into the group in front of him (Sergio Garcia and Zach Johnson) with his second shot from 286 yards with a 5 wood, while they were on the ninth green of the par 5 hole. I’ll bet he’s hit into many groups during his storied career. This was the first time Woods walked away from one tournament with two trophies. Along with winning the TOUR Championship and its $1.26 million prize, he was a runaway winner of the inaugural FedEx Cup and the $10 million that goes into his retirement account.
The PGA TOUR's "new era in golf" came to a familiar conclusion Sunday when the world's #1 player captured the TOUR Championship in record-setting fashion, closing with a 4-under 66 for an eight-shot victory at East Lake and his seventh title of the season.
Since the beginning of August, when Tiger took it up to a gear NO other golfer can, he’s won everything in site: The WGC, The PGA, The Tour Championship and The FedEx Cup. I think it’s safe to say that we’ll see highlights of his wins this season a plenty, but we won’t see Tiger on the golf course again until next season’s opener in early January, the Mercedes Championship from Maui. It’s time to give someone else their turn to win.
The FedEx Cup didn't change anything but Tiger Woods' bank account. What’s dramatically changed is this; Tiger’s a dad now! So DON'T be surprised if he’s hung a big sign outside his door that says, “Gone Fishing”.
With all the historic achievements bestowed on him, Tiger Woods did something last Sunday 9-16-07, he had never done before. No, I’m not referring to his hitting into the group in front of him (Sergio Garcia and Zach Johnson) with his second shot from 286 yards with a 5 wood, while they were on the ninth green of the par 5 hole. I’ll bet he’s hit into many groups during his storied career. This was the first time Woods walked away from one tournament with two trophies. Along with winning the TOUR Championship and its $1.26 million prize, he was a runaway winner of the inaugural FedEx Cup and the $10 million that goes into his retirement account.
The PGA TOUR's "new era in golf" came to a familiar conclusion Sunday when the world's #1 player captured the TOUR Championship in record-setting fashion, closing with a 4-under 66 for an eight-shot victory at East Lake and his seventh title of the season.
Since the beginning of August, when Tiger took it up to a gear NO other golfer can, he’s won everything in site: The WGC, The PGA, The Tour Championship and The FedEx Cup. I think it’s safe to say that we’ll see highlights of his wins this season a plenty, but we won’t see Tiger on the golf course again until next season’s opener in early January, the Mercedes Championship from Maui. It’s time to give someone else their turn to win.
The FedEx Cup didn't change anything but Tiger Woods' bank account. What’s dramatically changed is this; Tiger’s a dad now! So DON'T be surprised if he’s hung a big sign outside his door that says, “Gone Fishing”.
September 11, 2007
The cream rises to the top
Alan Martin here, with a 60 second Thumbs Down method golf tip titled: A Pretty Swing don't mean a thing.
On hole #4 of the Front Nine edition of Thumbs Down, the virtual golf lesson I explain how "if the club isn't square, your shots could end up anywhere". Translation: the #1 priority of the golf swing needs to be squaring the club at impact, NOT having the prettiest swing. It's nice to have a smooth rhythmic swing, but golf has had and continues to have champions with average looking or downright ugly looking swings, so it's not a must. Miller Barber, Jim Furyk, Jim Thorp, Alan Doyle and of course that guy Arnold Palmer are a few examples of champions who have gotten the job done without the prettiest of swings. Instead, all pros look basically the same coming through the hitting zone, striking the ball to perfection on almost every shot.
Throughout the Front Nine I tell you to focus on a method that squares the club and to concentrate your precious swing thought time on the moment "just before" ball contact. That's what the Thumbs Down method does. Bottom Line: Better Golf, More Often.
Checkout http://www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/. Take advantage of my limited offer of "better ball striking" for less than $10. I hope you enjoy today's story below titled "The cream rises to the top".
On the official starting Sunday of the 2007 football season, the best players in the worlds of professional golf and tennis helped take the meaning of this well known expression to the next level, TOTAL DOMINATION.
During the 1970’s I enjoyed watching a stoic yet classy Bjorn Borg play tennis, hitting top spin passing shots with his tiny wooden racket (the Donnay Borg) from every possible angle, on his way to five straight Wimbledon titles. Unfortunately for Borg, Jimmy Conners, John McEnroe and other rivals stood in the way of his ever winning the US Open.
After completing his sixth consecutive Wimbledon victory earlier this year, Roger Federer did what Borg couldn't. He made it look easy as he completed his forth year in a row hoisting the US Open trophy, as he played in his record ninth straight grand slam final match. Can anyone beat this guy? Yes, but the upsets are few and far between!
As Federer’s match against Novak Djokovic was beginning, Tiger Woods was showing Steve Stricker, Aaron Baddley and the rest of golf what being #1 is about, finishing them all off during the FedEx Cup playoffs at the BMW Championship. Any bets on who will finish runner-up in the FedEx Cup race and the $10 million prize? (Actually, it’s a deferred annuity not a lump sum, so take out your violins for Tiger).
Normally, I root for the underdog, but it’s hard to root against these two dominators in their respective sports. Instead I’m enjoying watching history take place, as both Woods and Federer show why they’re in a class above every other player that ever played their sport. Sorry to fans of Jack, Arnie, Ben, Bobby, Bjorn, Arthur and all other past champions in golf and tennis, but it’s true. Thankfully, both are class acts and true role models, a characteristic missing from most professional athletes today.
Do you agree? Disagree? Email your thoughts to ajm.me@thumbsdown.info
On hole #4 of the Front Nine edition of Thumbs Down, the virtual golf lesson I explain how "if the club isn't square, your shots could end up anywhere". Translation: the #1 priority of the golf swing needs to be squaring the club at impact, NOT having the prettiest swing. It's nice to have a smooth rhythmic swing, but golf has had and continues to have champions with average looking or downright ugly looking swings, so it's not a must. Miller Barber, Jim Furyk, Jim Thorp, Alan Doyle and of course that guy Arnold Palmer are a few examples of champions who have gotten the job done without the prettiest of swings. Instead, all pros look basically the same coming through the hitting zone, striking the ball to perfection on almost every shot.
Throughout the Front Nine I tell you to focus on a method that squares the club and to concentrate your precious swing thought time on the moment "just before" ball contact. That's what the Thumbs Down method does. Bottom Line: Better Golf, More Often.
Checkout http://www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/. Take advantage of my limited offer of "better ball striking" for less than $10. I hope you enjoy today's story below titled "The cream rises to the top".
On the official starting Sunday of the 2007 football season, the best players in the worlds of professional golf and tennis helped take the meaning of this well known expression to the next level, TOTAL DOMINATION.
During the 1970’s I enjoyed watching a stoic yet classy Bjorn Borg play tennis, hitting top spin passing shots with his tiny wooden racket (the Donnay Borg) from every possible angle, on his way to five straight Wimbledon titles. Unfortunately for Borg, Jimmy Conners, John McEnroe and other rivals stood in the way of his ever winning the US Open.
After completing his sixth consecutive Wimbledon victory earlier this year, Roger Federer did what Borg couldn't. He made it look easy as he completed his forth year in a row hoisting the US Open trophy, as he played in his record ninth straight grand slam final match. Can anyone beat this guy? Yes, but the upsets are few and far between!
As Federer’s match against Novak Djokovic was beginning, Tiger Woods was showing Steve Stricker, Aaron Baddley and the rest of golf what being #1 is about, finishing them all off during the FedEx Cup playoffs at the BMW Championship. Any bets on who will finish runner-up in the FedEx Cup race and the $10 million prize? (Actually, it’s a deferred annuity not a lump sum, so take out your violins for Tiger).
Normally, I root for the underdog, but it’s hard to root against these two dominators in their respective sports. Instead I’m enjoying watching history take place, as both Woods and Federer show why they’re in a class above every other player that ever played their sport. Sorry to fans of Jack, Arnie, Ben, Bobby, Bjorn, Arthur and all other past champions in golf and tennis, but it’s true. Thankfully, both are class acts and true role models, a characteristic missing from most professional athletes today.
Do you agree? Disagree? Email your thoughts to ajm.me@thumbsdown.info
September 04, 2007
The greatest inventions of our time
Alan Martin here, with a 60 second Thumbs Down method golf tip titled: The Truth Be Told
Pros control the clubface and control their shots ...by letting the club do all the work. ALL great ball strikers use their hands and wrists for hidden power, whether they know it or want to admit it. A common denominator that exists with all the best players is how they have the ability to square the club and put it in the ideal hitting position at impact on every shot.
Discover for yourself (as I did) how pros maximize the true source of power and control that comes from the correct use of the hands, wrists and forearms. Visit http://www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/ for more details.
It’s ironic timing, yet very fitting that my subject matter for this blog story comes on the eve of the conclusion of the Golf Channel’s Fore Inventors Only. After all, this new program, which was conceived by the same people who created "The Big Break" program series, helped begin the process of taking my Thumbs Down efforts for the past 10+ years to the next level.
On a perfect weather Labor Day late afternoon, after dropping my daughter off at college for her freshman year, I kicked back and watched two major league battles in two sports I love to watch, golf and tennis. These events were especially special because it was the final round of the first ever playoffs in golf, at the Deutsche Bank Championship and the end of the first week at the US Open in tennis, which is always a treat. These events were particularly timely for me because they followed an emotional week, where my daughter developed a nasty throat infection and missed all the weekend activities that the university planned for incoming freshman, prior to her first day of classes (today).
As I constantly switched back to watch every stroke from both events, a strange thought and question crossed my mind that went something like this: What’s the greatest invention of my lifetime? The TV, PC, golf and automobile have to rank as 4 of the my top 5, but watching these events almost simultaneously made one stand out high and above the rest, especially when dealing with a sports freak (ME) and my description of late weekend heaven. The winner in my book as the most useful and valuable tools during my lifetime is the TV remote control.
There’s no question of the importance of the computer and specifically the laptop, a handy device I’d have difficulty doing without. How else could I bring you such an entertaining story as this one? But the personal computer ranks as a distant fifth to the others and especially to the remote control. Living equidistant between New York and Philadelphia really helps because there’s a choice of channels between both major markets, which usually assures easy viewing with just a press or two.
On this Labor Day Monday you couldn’t have asked for more action and drama as I watched the back nine on NBC where Phil Mickelson battled head to head in a 2-some against Tiger Woods, holding on to win the second leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs, while a five set thriller on CBS between James Blake and Tommy Haas was televised at the US Open. Their match jockeyed back and forth, with both players ahead then behind, each with match points until Haas finally won it with an ace that made it in by ¼ inch during the tie-breaker.
So, what do you think is the greatest invention of your lifetime? Also, after tonight’s conclusion to Fore Inventors Only, I’d like your opinion of who the winner should be. If you didn’t watch the show you can see the inventions at http://www.golfchannel.com/. I’m interested in knowing if you watched the show and if you voted. If yes, who did you vote for? If no, who do you think should have won? Please email me your comments at ajm.ME@thumbsdown.info.
...AND DON’T FORGET I’m offering a special for a limited time to customers and subscribers (you) to improve your ball striking with my Front Nine eBook for under $10, then get a 100% trade in (which means it's FREE), to celebrate the opening of the new Back Nine and release of the Pro Plus editions of Thumbs Down, the virtual golf lesson.
Both include foundation ball strikng information and drills that are priceless, for less than the price of a round of golf and lunch at a typical country club. PLUS, I include a virtual lesson using the internet, which let’s us connect to review the lessons and answer questions, just like as if we were together. Please visit my website www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/ and www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/order.htm for product details.
Pros control the clubface and control their shots ...by letting the club do all the work. ALL great ball strikers use their hands and wrists for hidden power, whether they know it or want to admit it. A common denominator that exists with all the best players is how they have the ability to square the club and put it in the ideal hitting position at impact on every shot.
Discover for yourself (as I did) how pros maximize the true source of power and control that comes from the correct use of the hands, wrists and forearms. Visit http://www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/ for more details.
It’s ironic timing, yet very fitting that my subject matter for this blog story comes on the eve of the conclusion of the Golf Channel’s Fore Inventors Only. After all, this new program, which was conceived by the same people who created "The Big Break" program series, helped begin the process of taking my Thumbs Down efforts for the past 10+ years to the next level.
On a perfect weather Labor Day late afternoon, after dropping my daughter off at college for her freshman year, I kicked back and watched two major league battles in two sports I love to watch, golf and tennis. These events were especially special because it was the final round of the first ever playoffs in golf, at the Deutsche Bank Championship and the end of the first week at the US Open in tennis, which is always a treat. These events were particularly timely for me because they followed an emotional week, where my daughter developed a nasty throat infection and missed all the weekend activities that the university planned for incoming freshman, prior to her first day of classes (today).
As I constantly switched back to watch every stroke from both events, a strange thought and question crossed my mind that went something like this: What’s the greatest invention of my lifetime? The TV, PC, golf and automobile have to rank as 4 of the my top 5, but watching these events almost simultaneously made one stand out high and above the rest, especially when dealing with a sports freak (ME) and my description of late weekend heaven. The winner in my book as the most useful and valuable tools during my lifetime is the TV remote control.
There’s no question of the importance of the computer and specifically the laptop, a handy device I’d have difficulty doing without. How else could I bring you such an entertaining story as this one? But the personal computer ranks as a distant fifth to the others and especially to the remote control. Living equidistant between New York and Philadelphia really helps because there’s a choice of channels between both major markets, which usually assures easy viewing with just a press or two.
On this Labor Day Monday you couldn’t have asked for more action and drama as I watched the back nine on NBC where Phil Mickelson battled head to head in a 2-some against Tiger Woods, holding on to win the second leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs, while a five set thriller on CBS between James Blake and Tommy Haas was televised at the US Open. Their match jockeyed back and forth, with both players ahead then behind, each with match points until Haas finally won it with an ace that made it in by ¼ inch during the tie-breaker.
So, what do you think is the greatest invention of your lifetime? Also, after tonight’s conclusion to Fore Inventors Only, I’d like your opinion of who the winner should be. If you didn’t watch the show you can see the inventions at http://www.golfchannel.com/. I’m interested in knowing if you watched the show and if you voted. If yes, who did you vote for? If no, who do you think should have won? Please email me your comments at ajm.ME@thumbsdown.info.
...AND DON’T FORGET I’m offering a special for a limited time to customers and subscribers (you) to improve your ball striking with my Front Nine eBook for under $10, then get a 100% trade in (which means it's FREE), to celebrate the opening of the new Back Nine and release of the Pro Plus editions of Thumbs Down, the virtual golf lesson.
Both include foundation ball strikng information and drills that are priceless, for less than the price of a round of golf and lunch at a typical country club. PLUS, I include a virtual lesson using the internet, which let’s us connect to review the lessons and answer questions, just like as if we were together. Please visit my website www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/ and www.golfinstructionmadesimple.com/order.htm for product details.
August 06, 2007
Eye of the Tiger
Who do you think will finish second at the PGA Championship?
In 2000, I just began a new job and remember the first time meeting my new Regional VP at a local sales meeting and talking golf. After the initial introduction, the above question was the first I asked him. Of course back then I was referring to fact that Tiger Woods was winning every major tournament in sight ...and there was no reason to think anything would change, so the field was playing for second. Little did I realize that was the year the PGA Championship at Medina would come down to an epic battle between Tiger and Bob May.
Yesterday, I took my kids to see the NY Yankees baseball game, a 1:05 start in the Bronx. Planning ahead, I set the timer for 1:00 to tape (an old fashioned VCR) the WGC Bridgestone Championship. Rory Sabbatini held a one shot lead over Tiger going into the final round and was confident, trash talking at every opportunity. All Saturday night I saw replays of the press conference earlier this year at the Wachovia Championship, where Sabbatini also held a lead over Tiger going into the final round, saying how he thought Tiger had lost his edge and was beatable. NOT! Tiger won that event as Sabbatini faded. At Saturday's press conference Tiger reminded everyone how he’s won as many tournaments this year alone as Sabbatini’s career grand total.
As I returned home from a fun afternoon around 7:00, I sat down with my dinner and turned on the replay, not having any idea what had happened. As I began watching, the TV crew explained how going head to head in the final group with Tiger was REALLY hazardous to the game of his competitor. Although their game plans are to play well, be patient and follow their plan, it usually takes only a few holes for them to hit a few bad shots or miss a few putts, then implode. Typically they shoot in the high 70’s or even 80 or above. At the same time, Tiger plays steady, makes pars plus adds a few birdies to take the lead, then pulls away from the field.
All I can say after watching the first few holes yesterday is WOW…WOW and more WOW! It was déjà vu all over again, an instant replay of the past. Like many before him, Sabbatini scrambled on the first hole for par, then started missing fairways. On this day at Firestone Country Club, where Woods has won many times before, the conditions were US Open-like. The rough was long, thick and wet, thanks to a steady rain all day. Sabbatini slopped it up with bogies and doubles on the front nine, while Tiger hit fairways and greens, making pars and birdies and pulling away. He lead by seven shots before the end of the front nine, but put an exclamation point by chipping in twice from off the green.
Tiger is one modern day athlete you don’t mess with, especially when it’s the final round and he’s in your rear view mirror.
In 2000, I just began a new job and remember the first time meeting my new Regional VP at a local sales meeting and talking golf. After the initial introduction, the above question was the first I asked him. Of course back then I was referring to fact that Tiger Woods was winning every major tournament in sight ...and there was no reason to think anything would change, so the field was playing for second. Little did I realize that was the year the PGA Championship at Medina would come down to an epic battle between Tiger and Bob May.
Yesterday, I took my kids to see the NY Yankees baseball game, a 1:05 start in the Bronx. Planning ahead, I set the timer for 1:00 to tape (an old fashioned VCR) the WGC Bridgestone Championship. Rory Sabbatini held a one shot lead over Tiger going into the final round and was confident, trash talking at every opportunity. All Saturday night I saw replays of the press conference earlier this year at the Wachovia Championship, where Sabbatini also held a lead over Tiger going into the final round, saying how he thought Tiger had lost his edge and was beatable. NOT! Tiger won that event as Sabbatini faded. At Saturday's press conference Tiger reminded everyone how he’s won as many tournaments this year alone as Sabbatini’s career grand total.
As I returned home from a fun afternoon around 7:00, I sat down with my dinner and turned on the replay, not having any idea what had happened. As I began watching, the TV crew explained how going head to head in the final group with Tiger was REALLY hazardous to the game of his competitor. Although their game plans are to play well, be patient and follow their plan, it usually takes only a few holes for them to hit a few bad shots or miss a few putts, then implode. Typically they shoot in the high 70’s or even 80 or above. At the same time, Tiger plays steady, makes pars plus adds a few birdies to take the lead, then pulls away from the field.
All I can say after watching the first few holes yesterday is WOW…WOW and more WOW! It was déjà vu all over again, an instant replay of the past. Like many before him, Sabbatini scrambled on the first hole for par, then started missing fairways. On this day at Firestone Country Club, where Woods has won many times before, the conditions were US Open-like. The rough was long, thick and wet, thanks to a steady rain all day. Sabbatini slopped it up with bogies and doubles on the front nine, while Tiger hit fairways and greens, making pars and birdies and pulling away. He lead by seven shots before the end of the front nine, but put an exclamation point by chipping in twice from off the green.
Tiger is one modern day athlete you don’t mess with, especially when it’s the final round and he’s in your rear view mirror.
July 25, 2007
Golf’s Majors – Events that never disappoint
For all those who criticize golf and insist it’s NOT a real sport, what have you been watching for the past forty + years? Ever since I was ten years old and watched Arnold Palmer win the 1964 Masters, I’ve been glued to the TV every year, four times a year during the majors: Masters, US Open, British Open and PGA Championship.
This year’s final round of the 136th British Open (or more officially known as the Open Golf Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links), won by Padraig Harrington in a playoff vs Sergio Garcia, was yet another nail biting finish that did not disappoint. Isn’t it amazing how even after 72 holes of 300 + yard drives, 250 yard iron shots during regulation play and another four playoff holes, that once again the final outcome came down to a short putt?
Think back to the last time a big time sporting event actually came through with the drama and heart-pounding suspense it was hyped up to be. From my own experiences, the majority of Super Bowls I’ve watched over the years have been mainly disappointing blowouts. The worst hyped events were the big boxing matches. When Ali was at the end of his boxing career I remember getting psyched up a few weeks prior to each fight, only to watch endless rounds of boring clenching and holding. I love baseball and hockey, which is my favorite action packed spectator sport, but when your team is out of it (like my NY Rangers), it’s on to the next season. The other problem that occurs with most other sports is when referees, umpires, judges, etc make judgmental calls that negatively influence the outcome and ruin the game. The recent betting scandal with Tim Donaghy the basketball referee, only accentuates the beauty of golf’s “self policing” style of rule enforcement.
Watching a great golf tournament on a great golf course like the one's they play the majors on is always a treat, even if I’m not rooting for a specific player. This week, I must admit I was rooting for Sergio to break through and erase the demons that haunt those winners who haven’t won a major. Funny thing, Padraig Harrington was in that category himself (for a lot longer) until he shot a final round 67 vs Garcia’s 73 on Sunday, then won the playoff one stroke up. All I can say is, who cares what anyone else thinks. GOLF IS GREAT THEATRE!
Here’s a few questions to leave you with. Your answers and comments are important and welcome, which I plan to post on each blog to make it more interactive and interesting for all:
1. For Sergio, was OPEN week a dream or his worst nightmare?
2. What business related relationship do the winners of the last two British Opens at Carnoustie have in common?
This year’s final round of the 136th British Open (or more officially known as the Open Golf Championship at Carnoustie Golf Links), won by Padraig Harrington in a playoff vs Sergio Garcia, was yet another nail biting finish that did not disappoint. Isn’t it amazing how even after 72 holes of 300 + yard drives, 250 yard iron shots during regulation play and another four playoff holes, that once again the final outcome came down to a short putt?
Think back to the last time a big time sporting event actually came through with the drama and heart-pounding suspense it was hyped up to be. From my own experiences, the majority of Super Bowls I’ve watched over the years have been mainly disappointing blowouts. The worst hyped events were the big boxing matches. When Ali was at the end of his boxing career I remember getting psyched up a few weeks prior to each fight, only to watch endless rounds of boring clenching and holding. I love baseball and hockey, which is my favorite action packed spectator sport, but when your team is out of it (like my NY Rangers), it’s on to the next season. The other problem that occurs with most other sports is when referees, umpires, judges, etc make judgmental calls that negatively influence the outcome and ruin the game. The recent betting scandal with Tim Donaghy the basketball referee, only accentuates the beauty of golf’s “self policing” style of rule enforcement.
Watching a great golf tournament on a great golf course like the one's they play the majors on is always a treat, even if I’m not rooting for a specific player. This week, I must admit I was rooting for Sergio to break through and erase the demons that haunt those winners who haven’t won a major. Funny thing, Padraig Harrington was in that category himself (for a lot longer) until he shot a final round 67 vs Garcia’s 73 on Sunday, then won the playoff one stroke up. All I can say is, who cares what anyone else thinks. GOLF IS GREAT THEATRE!
Here’s a few questions to leave you with. Your answers and comments are important and welcome, which I plan to post on each blog to make it more interactive and interesting for all:
1. For Sergio, was OPEN week a dream or his worst nightmare?
2. What business related relationship do the winners of the last two British Opens at Carnoustie have in common?
June 21, 2007
Tiger, a lot like Jack
U.S. Open
Oakmont Country Club
Oakmont, Pennsylvania
June 14-17, 2007
Defending Champion: Geoff Ogilvy
Everyone remembers Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championships and Tiger Wood's relentless pursuit to break it. After watching Tiger move up on the leader board only to come up short to finish second, like he also did at the Masters I quickly remembered how Nicklaus finished runner up 19 times, also a record. To match Jack, Tiger has a lot of disappointment to experience before eventually surpassing him as best of all time. What I clearly noticed at this year's first two majors is how similar these two champions are in their mental approach to preparing for majors.
At major tournaments with the toughest playing conditions, Nicklaus always felt like he had an immediate edge. His reasoning was simple; most of the field eliminated themselves. Look at the scores at Oakmont this year, Winged Foot last year and US Opens since the mid 1960's and you'll see very similar results. With rare exception, the winning scores are near or over par, but a closer look at the entire field shows many top players posting embarrassing rounds in the high 70's or 80's. Finishing scores of +20 or higher are very common.
Tiger, like Jack has the knack to hang in there, grind it out and minimize the damage until there's only a few players left standing to beat. Even when he's way down the leader board after rounds one and two, Tiger almost always seems to get himself back into contention, heading toward the top on Sunday. I would have given great odds that he would come back to win during the final round at Oakmont.
The conditions played into Tiger's favor but at the end the one stroke margin of victory came from the same place it usually does at the pro level, on the greens. The winning edge came from Angel Cabrera's ability to make birdies when he had the chances verses Tiger Wood's inability to do the same. At the end it wasn't how many fairways, or 395 yard bombs off the tee, or greens in regulation as it was getting the ball to drop into the 4 ¼ inch cup at the right time.
For those who don't think golf is a real sport, wake up. Golf is great theatre!
Oakmont Country Club
Oakmont, Pennsylvania
June 14-17, 2007
Defending Champion: Geoff Ogilvy
Everyone remembers Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championships and Tiger Wood's relentless pursuit to break it. After watching Tiger move up on the leader board only to come up short to finish second, like he also did at the Masters I quickly remembered how Nicklaus finished runner up 19 times, also a record. To match Jack, Tiger has a lot of disappointment to experience before eventually surpassing him as best of all time. What I clearly noticed at this year's first two majors is how similar these two champions are in their mental approach to preparing for majors.
At major tournaments with the toughest playing conditions, Nicklaus always felt like he had an immediate edge. His reasoning was simple; most of the field eliminated themselves. Look at the scores at Oakmont this year, Winged Foot last year and US Opens since the mid 1960's and you'll see very similar results. With rare exception, the winning scores are near or over par, but a closer look at the entire field shows many top players posting embarrassing rounds in the high 70's or 80's. Finishing scores of +20 or higher are very common.
Tiger, like Jack has the knack to hang in there, grind it out and minimize the damage until there's only a few players left standing to beat. Even when he's way down the leader board after rounds one and two, Tiger almost always seems to get himself back into contention, heading toward the top on Sunday. I would have given great odds that he would come back to win during the final round at Oakmont.
The conditions played into Tiger's favor but at the end the one stroke margin of victory came from the same place it usually does at the pro level, on the greens. The winning edge came from Angel Cabrera's ability to make birdies when he had the chances verses Tiger Wood's inability to do the same. At the end it wasn't how many fairways, or 395 yard bombs off the tee, or greens in regulation as it was getting the ball to drop into the 4 ¼ inch cup at the right time.
For those who don't think golf is a real sport, wake up. Golf is great theatre!
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