Withdrawal Symptoms for Sad Wie
It is easy not to feel sorry for Michelle Wie. She is only 17, a multi-millionaire, has good looks and she is a golfing prodigy. Not bad considering she has yet to win a professional tournament of note so far.
Then again, she is only 17. All she wants to do is play golf. But given the stage the game is played on, few people with her talent are going to escape criticism for even the slightest hiccup. And so it was after Wie withdrew from the “LPGA Tour’s Ginn Tribute by Annika Sorenstam” after 16 holes.
Wie claimed the wrist injury that kept her out for four months act up again and contributed to her 14 over par.
Some people just don’t buy that, Dan O’Neill, sports columnist for the St Louis Post-Dispatch being one of them. As he writes in his column:
“We’re not talking Lindsay Lohan yet, but the 17-year-old has become more of a curiosity than a legitimate player. And in this latest chapter, she drags the sport down with her. Perhaps Wie’s wrist was bothering her. But when she spoke to the press afterward, she talked confidently about playing in next week’s McDonald’s LPGA Championship. After missing four months, and withdrawing after 16 holes because of the same injury, are you optimistic about playing next week? Or are you making a mockery of the competition?â€
Indeed, one of her playing partners, Alena Sharp, said Wie hardly ever touched her wrist and believed she decided to quit simply because she was having a bad day. There was also talk her father, B.J. Wie was giving her advice on the course, which upset Sharp and the other golfer in the three-ball, Janice Moodie.
Whatever happens, Wie knows she has to bounce back. And with her talent, there is no doubt she can. The only question is when?
Sorenstam Happy to be Back
Annika Sorenstam said it was good to be back. And golf, in general, is glad to have her back as she teed up for the first time in almost two month, at $2.6 million Ginn Tribute in Mount Pleasant on the LPGA Tour.
Sorenstam suffered a ruptured disc and bulging disc in her back and could not have picked a better tournament to mark her comeback than the one she is hosting in South Carolina.
She was quoted by the Associated Press as saying:
“It’s been a little weird to be away in the middle of the season. I’m actually not hitting as many balls as I used to. I hope to avoid the rough. But I’m going to focus on the positive. It’s good to be back.â€
Since she’s been away, Lorena Ochoa has overtaken the Swede as the number one player in the world. The 36-year-old Sorenstam planning to take her time in trying to take the top ranking back.
For now, she is just happy to be competing again and trying to add to her 69 career titles, including 10 Majors.
The tournament is providing a comeback platform for another high-profile player, Michelle Wie, who was forced to take time off the circuit because of a wrist injury.
It will be a tough task for both Sorenstam and Wie, with the tournament featuring the top 50 players in the world. The field includes youngster Morgan Pressel, who won the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April.
Raising The Next Tiger Woods
Parents ask me all the time, how to get their children interested in golf. And then once interested, how to make sure their child improves. And then once there’s improvement, how to make sure they reach their full potential. Seems every parent I meet wants their child to be the next Tiger Woods and are looking for the magic formula. If it were only that easy.
Still, it is a valid question – and one that I take quite seriously. So, how do you — with a child who wants to play golf — turn him or her into the next Tiger Woods? Here are my top four tips.
1. Make it all about the short game. As much as your young child wants to be on the driving range hitting drivers, they will see much quicker improvement with practice around the greens. And the touch and feel they develop from ages 5-10, will stay with them forever. Long before your child steps foot on a golf course, they should spend countless hours around the putting and chipping green. Teach them 4 things; A basic chipping technique, a basic pitching technique, a basic bunker technique and a simple putting stroke. There is no need to get into trick shots (kids are wonderful about finding them on their own) – just the basic technique. For now, have them use just one club around the green — a sand wedge. There will be plenty of time later on to show them how to change clubs on “pitch and runs.” The reason I want them to learn first with the wedge is simple. You can always go with the high shot around the green – but can’t always go with the low option. There may be rough or a bunker between them and the hole, when a 7-iron will just not work. Teach them first how to control the trajectory of their sand wedge, and your child will become a better golfer for it. As for putting, teach them to keep their heads still. This valuable lesson, which is better learned early, will hold them in good stead through out their lives. The only thing I would “make” them do is — hole 20 three footers in a row every time they practice. Get them used to seeing the ball go in at an early age. But other than that, let them enjoy their hour or two having fun around the green. As long as they are sticking the fundamental technique, don’t say too much. Kids are amazing at teaching themselves all the things we want them to know.
2. Get them a teacher. This is one thing I would highly recommend early on in your child’s development. It doesn’t need to be Butch Harmon – just someone who is qualified and understands fundamentals. I cannot tell you how many times I’ve had to correct things that parents taught their kids as gospel. Kids don’t have to take lessons every week — but just enough to make sure their technique is getting better. That’s all! Too much instruction for a kid is just that — too much. Even if you’re a good player and know the basic technique, get a teacher! Your child will take a professional more seriously and understand that the time spent with the instructor is all about golf — and not about getting grounded the night before.
3. Don’t let them fail. I know this somewhat defies conventional wisdom, in that we want to teach our children to overcome obstacles. But in golf, there’s just way too much scar tissue to get through for most people to reach their true potential. Think about it — when we are first learning the game – what type of scores are we making? Mostly, lots of double, triple and quadruple bogeys. And that’s usually with mulligans. We see the ball go in the water. We see the ball go in the trap. We have lakes we cannot carry. This is a lot of negative input that will always be with us. Now, we may get better and stop making those high numbers – but we still remember. I say don’t ever let your child have those memories. The smartest thing Earl Woods did in raising Tiger: he never letting him make a double bogey. How did he do this you ask? He didn’t make the simple mistake of putting Tiger at the red tees at 5 years old, just because they were the closest to the green. Instead, he would have Tiger tee off from a point in the fairway where he could easily reach the green in regulation; such as the 100 yard marker. If it were a par 4, he wanted Tiger to hit the green in two shots. If it were a par 5, he wanted him to hit the green in three shots. As a result, Tiger has been putting for birdie since he starting playing golf. During some rounds, he was shooting under par at age 4. Now, it wasn’t a regulation score, as it was not from a set of tees. But do you think that mattered to Tiger? All he knew was — I shot 35 today mom! This type of approach basically guaranteed Tiger would not be afraid of “going low.” Unlike other golfers who become afraid when out of their comfort zone, Tiger learned how to just make birdies. This was brilliant and should be copied. All the kids I teach learn how to shoot par golf at an early age and only move back when — they get longer. That’s it! They just progressively move back until they reach the correct tees.
4. Avoid clinics and schools. I know this sounds like crazy advice — but if you really want to raise the next Tiger Woods — teach them to be like Tiger. Independent!! There has been an influx of academies for kids, and parents are paying top dollar to reap the benefits. But sadly, what ends up happening on most occasions is — your child is taught the same exact thing as every other child. They are in groups of 6-8 and all taught the same thing. But here’s the thing – not all golfers should grip it the same way. Or aim the same way. Or do a lot of things the same way. But the only way to make a clinic format work is to teach systems. The main pro will show his assistants an easy to follow system to teach the kids — and that system is followed to a tee. Can you imagine what would have become of Lee Trevino if he were taught a system? Or Jack Nicklaus with his flying elbow? The best thing to do for your child is — find one good intructor. Have them go less if money is an issue – but get a good solid fundamental teacher. That’s it! Bobby Jones had Stuart Maiden. Jack Nicklaus had Jack Grout. Tiger Woods had Butch Harmon. This is a good formula to copy.
I do hope you introduce your child to this great game — even if they don’t become the next Tiger Woods. Good Luck!!!
Hansen Holds Nerve for Wentworth Victory
Anders Hansen was hardly mentioned during the halfway stage of the BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club in England.
Two days later, he was the toast of the European Tour after his 25-foot putt on the first play-off hole gave him a birdie and a thrilling victory over local hope Justin Rose.
After an innocuous first two days, during which he shot 74 and 70, Hansen burst into life at the weekend, carding five-under-par 67 and three-under-par 69 to tie Rose at the top of the leaderboard on 280.
Thriving in the wet conditions as others struggled, Hansen fully deserved his second PGA Championship title, which came against a top field that included Fijian Vijay Singh, who finished tied for third, one stroke behind the leaders on 281.
Rose appeared out of it when he needed to get up and down from 100 feet on the 18th. This he did with a superb approach that spun back to within six inches of the hole.
However, he only delayed Hansen’s triumph, with the Dane unleashing a pressure putt that superbly hit its mark and earned him the 725,000-euro first prize.
Hansen said on the European Tour’s website:
“I think it means a lot more to me this time that the first time I won it. What means most to me is how I feel about myself and how I feel about my game and what I do, and right now it feels pretty good.â€
Hansen can also feel pretty good about his position on the European Tour’s money list after his victory on the circuit’s flagship event. He surged an amazing 253 places from 262 to ninth position.
Like last week, there was sudden-death drama on both sides of the Atlantic with South African Rory Sabbatini winning the Crowne Plaza Invitational at the Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas.
Sabbatini sunk a 15-foot birdie putt on the first play-off hole to outlast Jim Furyk and Bernhard Langer and take his fourth title on the PGA Tour.
The three play-off contenders finished on 266 for the tournament, all of them closing with three-under 67s.
It was Sabbatini, who shot 62 in the third round, who held his nerve in the play-off to win the $1.08 million first prize.
Fourth-placed Pat Perez was two strokes off the lead at 268 after his closing four-under-par 66.
On the Asian Tour, South Korea’s Bae Sang-moon recorded a convincing six-stroke victory in his home SK Telecom Open in Seoul.
He closed with a five-under-par 67 for a total of 17-under 271 to triumph over Australia’s Aaron Baddeley and compatriot Kim Hyung-tae.
The victory earned him $129,171 and also gave him a two-year exemption to the Asian Tour.
It was an emotional victory for Bae, whose mother carried his bag for him for the last time. He said on the Asian Tour website:
“My mum is 51 and I am thankful to have her on the bag as she helped me calm my nerves. It is her last time to be my caddie.â€
Howell Targets US Open for Comeback
England’s David Howell has had to delay his comeback yet again, which means he will go straight into the US Open at Oakmont with no tournament preparation.
Howell was supposed to end his injury lay-off at the Memorial Tournament in Dublin, Ohio, starting on May 31, but he is yet to fully recover from a back strain that stopped him from defending his title at the European Tour’s BMW PGA Championship at the Wentworth Club this week.
Reuters quoted him from a BBC interview as saying:
“I have been off for a month now and it is going to be another couple of weeks off for me I am afraid.”
The US Open, the season’s second Major tournament, takes place at the Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania from June 14-17.
Howell has been keeping a low profile during his time away from the fairways. He dares not to exert himself too much for fear of picking up other injuries.
“Looking for things to do in my spare time is sometimes a problem for me. The last two times I played tennis I sprained my ankle and hurt something else and the last time I went running I broke my arm so I am obviously jinxed.â€
Last year Howell became the first Englishman to win the PGA Championship since Nick Faldo won his fourth title in 1989. The 31-year-old earned the nickname “Cool Dude†by none other than Tiger Woods himself after he outlasted the world number one to win last year’s HSBC Championship in Shanghai.
Should Michelle Wie Play With the Guys?
Teenager Michelle Wie, who has been out of the spotlight with a wrist injury, created a stir this week by once again accepting a sponsor invitation to the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic. The announcement comes on the heels of negative feedback from LPGA players, who disagreed with her inclusion into the lucrative Samsung World Championship at season’s end.
The argument from most critics: Michelle Wie should prove herself on the LPGA Tour before getting the benefits of super-stardom.
Yet, here she is, once again playing with the guys – even after her coach David Leadbetter said she wouldn’t. So, I ask you — should Michelle Wie be allowed to play the PGA Tour, even when her credentials do not merit such an invitation?
First, let me say this about Michelle Wie. I believe she’s a tremendous talent, who over the next few years will bring the LPGA Tour to unprecedented heights.
Michelle Wie reminds me a lot of Bobby Jones, who also played with an effortless style and grace…who also won an important amateur tournament at age 13…who also became an instant celebrity. However, golf fans watched with bated breath as the boy wonder kept finding ways to lose and disappoint. Still, even when losing, Bobby Jones was the biggest draw in golf. He was the golfer fans wanted to most see. Then, at age 21, Bobby Jones won the U.S. Open and didn’t stop winning until he retired at age 28. I see the same type of scenario happening for Michelle Wie. Here is a girl who plays golf like no other female in history. A girl who won the U.S. Women’s Public Links at age 13 – but since has not lived up to extremely high expectations. Yet, she is still the girl everyone talks about. Still the girl everyone wants to watch play. And still the girl who gets special exemptions to men’s events and women’s invitationals. The question is — will her career end up like Bobby Jones? Will she win a bunch of majors and change the way the women’s game is played?
I say yes!
So what’s stopping her?
I think Michelle Wie’s biggest problem thus far has been scheduling. Whoever’s decision it was for her to play 6 straight weeks on three continents last summer should be fired. Not even Tiger Woods — let alone a teenager — should ever attempt a schedule like that. The reason — every time Michelle Wie plays a golf tournament — it’s an event. She is hounded like a rock star. Whether it’s an LPGA event, a Japanese tournament or trying to qualify for the men’s U.S. Open – every tournament has a major championship feel. And no one can handle that much stress that many weeks in a row. And undoubtedly, she lost her confidence. And with that lack of confidence, came a run of bad play, which brought out the naysayers. Critics were saying — “See, she should be playing junior golf and learning how to win.”
I have never heard such ridiculous comments. Any person who believes Michelle Wie would gain more experience playing and winning high school tournaments in Hawaii than she would playing practice rounds with Ernie Els knows nothing about golf. Besides, by then, Pandora’s Box had been open. You can’t close it. You cannot go from almost winning the Women’s U.S. Open to playing junior golf. Just doesn’t work that way.
So, let’s address my initial question. Should Michelle get special invites to the PGA Tour? My simple answer is no. I don’t think she deserves it. That said, if a sponsor, who are in the business of selling tickets, want to use one of their four exemptions on Michelle Wie — it’s their prerogative. And I personally think Michelle would be crazy to turn it down.
One of the hardest things I face as an instructor to aspiring professionals is simulation. You can spend as much time on the range and playing local events as possible, but it will never prepare you for the moment on the first tee of a major tournament. The only thing that will do that is playing in major tournaments. So the more Michelle can play in pressure events, the more comfortable she will get. And when she gets completely comfortable — Tiger comfortable — look out! She will win in bunches. Still, let me reiterate what I said earlier — she has to pay better attention to her schedule. She cannot play too many in a row.
As for the LPGA girls who don’t think she deserves an exemption into the Samsung — I say wake up. Michelle Wie is one of the top 5 women golfers in the world — hands down. She has a number of top 5 finishes in LPGA Majors over the last 3 years and almost always is in contention to win against the girls. She may very well win the Samsung this year if she gets healthy.
I think the wrist injury is the best thing to happen to Michelle. It took her out of the spotlight for a while and allowed her to get her bearings. Like I said, Michelle Wie will eventually change the women’s game. The one thing that might hold her back? She needs to putt a little better.
What do you think? Should Michelle play with the Guys?
Fringe Players Seek US Open Places
This week’s Crown Plaza Invitational at Colonial goes deeper than simply finding a winner at the end of four days. It is also crucial for those players on the fringe who are trying to qualify for the US Open.
The top 50 players in the Official World Golf Rankings earn the right to play in the US Open, along with the top 10 on the PGA Tour’s money list and the top two in Europe. All other hopefuls must go through a 36-hole qualifying competition.
The US Open week takes in June 11-17 at Oakmont Country Club and is the second Major tournament of the season.
Among the players who need to perform well at Colonial is Paul Goydos, ranked 49. He is one place above Tim Clark with Boo Weekley, the Hilton Head champion and ranked 52, also trying to sneak into contention.
The 51st-ranked player, Lucas Glover, has already sealed his place in the US Open because of his top-30 finish in last year’s money list.
Argentina’s Angel Cabrera will be hoping for a repeat of his triumph of two years ago at the BMW Championship in Wentworth, England this week. Cabrera is ranked 53 and is in a better position than his American rivals because the event is one of the biggest on the European Tour and offers more ranking points than at Colonial.
Mark Calcavecchia is ranked 55 but will probably aim for a US Open place through the money list. Only about $78,000 short of the top 10, He needs to finish among the first 20 at Colonial to earn his place in Oakmont.
The First Scottish Golfing Superstar
With the Women’s British Open being played at St Andrews this year the tournament will, again, garner the sort of headlines that the mainstream media seem loathe to give women’s golf throughout the rest of the year.
Yet it is often widely forgotten that women and golf have been closely connected in Scotland for centuries.Â
Scotland’s most famous, most debated and last independent monarch, Mary, Queen of Scots, was widely regarded as the country’s first female golfer. Indeed, she was, arguably, the nation’s first golfing superstar.
Like much of the Mary legend some of the facts about her golfing career are unclear. It seems likely, however, that she first picked up the game in France where she spent her formative years.Â
On her return to Scotland she followed the game passionately – and it was a passion that got her into trouble. Mary’s turbulent reign was matched only by her turbulent love life. Her second husband, Lord Darnley, was murdered in February 1567 in Edinburgh.
Within days of Darnley’s death Mary was playing golf at Seton Links in East Lothian (a golf course – Longniddry – remains within walking distance of the original links). A catholic monarch in an increasingly protestant country Mary had few troubles to seek: the apparent slight on her husband’s memory increased the impression – at least in the eyes of her enemies – that ruling the country was an unsuitable job for a woman.Â
One thing is clear, however, Mary, Queen of Scots, like so many of her subjects before and since, loved the golf and she did much to popularise the game and contribute to the democratic nature of Scottish golf. This truly was a game for all – man, woman, queen or servant.
And she left one enduring legacy – Mary’s French military attendants “cadets†carried her clubs. As time passed the local Scots turned cadet to caddie and a venerable profession was born.
Sudden-Death Triumphs for Harrington and Johnson
It took 25 years to end the drought but it was well worth the wait. If there was a choice homegrown winner for the Irish Open, it would always be Padraig Harrington and the Irishman overcame a late stumble to deliver the victory that the home fans wanted at the Adare Manor Hotel and Golf Resort.
Harrington parred the first extra hole of a sudden-death play-off to beat Welshman Bradley Dredge and take the title, the 416,660-euro first prize and rise to third place on the European Tour’s Order of Merit.
The Irishman was four shots ahead after the first nine on Sunday but dropped shots on the way back and ended up with a 71. Dredge reeled him in with a course record-equalling 68 to join Harrington on five-under-par 283, four shots in front of the field.
He became the first Irishman in 25 years, the last being European Tour Director John O’Leary, to win the Irish Open. Harrington was quoted as saying:
“I felt the pressure. It was probably the most nervous I’ve been for many a tournament. I’ve always said that after the four Majors this is the next event I’ve wanted to win. The crowd was fantastic. Even when I saved for bogey they cheered and the applause definitely gave me a boost.â€
Harrington, last year’s European money list winner, also returns to the top 10 of the Official World Golf Rankings after his victory. In the Order of Merit, he trails Henrik Stenson and Retief Goosen.
There was also sudden-death drama on the US PGA Tour with Masters winner Zach Johnson proving his victory at Augusta in April was not a one-off flurry by winning the AT&T Classic in Duluth, Georgia.
Johnson beat Ryuji Imada in the first hole of sudden death for his second victory at TPC Sugarloaf in four years. Along with the Masters, all of the Iowa-born golfer’s tournament victories have come in Georgia.
He was quoted on the PGA Tour website as saying:
“I guess I need to find some property here. I spent seven weeks at home in the off-season. I’ve never spent that much time at home before. I put a lot of work in, and it is really paying off now.â€
Johnson went into the final round three stokes adrift of Imada and Troy Matteson. He closed with a five-under-par 67 for a total of 15-under 273 to finish tied with Imada, who ended with 70. Matteson shot 73 in his last round to finish joint third with Matt Kuchar and Camilo Villegas on 276.
During the play-off, Johnson only needed to keep his cool after Imada found water with his second shot on the 18th. However, he went for it with a four-iron, saw the ball land safely on the green and then two-putted for a birdie and victory.
The win was worth $972,000 for Johnson, who also earned 4,500 FedEx Cup points. For Imada, it was a missed chance to become the first Japanese since Shigeki Maruyama in 2003 to win on the PGA Tour.
Veteran Lu Plays His Cards Right In Macau
At 44 years of age, Taiwan’s Lu Wen-teh really had no business duelling with 24-year-old Australian Richard Moir in a play-off at one of the Asian Tour’s most exotic locations.
As it turned out, Lu did the business, shooting birdie on the par-five 18th three times to trump Moir in a sudden-death play-off and win the 10th Macau Open. The former Portuguese enclave of Macau is known as the Las Vegas of Asia for its casinos. Lu, however, never needed to gamble as he kept his cool to win the tournament, which was reduced to 54 holes because of bad weather on Saturday.
Lu closed with a six-under-par 65 in the third round for a total of 201. Moir matched that total with a third round of 69 to force the play-off but was unable to sustain his late birdie charge when he could only par the third play-off hole.
India’s Ghaurav Ghei finished third, one stroke behind on 202 after a final round of 67. China’s Liang Wen-chong was fourth on 203 with veteran compatriot Zhang Lian-wei, a two-time Macau champion, fifth on 204.
Lu was quoted on the Asian Tour website as saying:
“I’m very excited with this win and on top of that, I’m very tired as well. I birdied the 18th four times today because I just went out there and tried my best. In the play-off, I stayed very consistent. It was hard. During the weather break, I kept my concentration as it was a really long day.â€
New Generation Dawning on Europe, Says Bjorn
The next generation of golf stars are ready to take over at the European Tour, according to veteran Dane Thomas Bjorn.
Golfers such as England’s Oliver Wilson and Ross Fisher, and Spaniard Alvaro Quiros, are poised to push past masters aside, said Bjorn, who is defending his Irish Open title at Adare Manor this week.
Bjorn, who has won nine times on the European Tour, said on its website:
“I think one of the things that people have got to take a very big note of on the European Tour is that we have a major generation change. It might be that people don’t know many of the players on this Tour, but in five years, people will know a lot about these guys.â€
The main characteristic of these rising stars, in Bjorn’s view, is that they have no fear, which is what was said of Tiger Woods when he burst on to the professional scene more than 10 years ago.
Reputations mean little to them. While adhering to golf’s etiquettes, they simply want to win and it doesn’t matter who is in their way, as Bjorn adds:
“These kids don’t care. They have one goal in mind, and they just want to win golf tournaments and they don’t care who they are up against. That’s the big difference I see today. They are going to come out in strength and come out in bigger numbers as well.â€
This year’s Irish Open is being held at the Manor for the first time in a three-year stint and, at 7,453 yards, it is one of the longest courses on the Tour.
Victorious Mickelson Looks Ahead with New Coach Harmon
Phil Mickelson may be timing his tune-up for the US Open just right. And if everything goes according to plan, he’d love to be playing the Oakmont course in four weeks time in the same form, or better, as he was during The Players Championship at Sawgrass over the weekend.
Lefty shot a final round three-under-par 69 at the TPC for a four-round total of 11-under 277 and a two-stroke victory over Spain’s Sergio Garcia, who closed with a 66.
Stewart Cink, who also shot 66 in the final round, and Jose Maria Olazabal (67) were tied for third at eight-under 280.
Mickelson can be happy with his performance, in one of the most difficult courses on the PGA Tour against one of the strongest fields assembled this season and for the biggest paycheque on tour – $1.63 million for the winner.
It was his 31st victory on the PGA Tour and second of the season, allowing him to move up to number two on the Official World Golf Rankings. It was also his first victory under coach Butch Harmon, taken on to improve his swing, since he left former guru Rick Smith.
While he thrived on the chance to spend time with Harmon, Mickelson refused to look too far ahead to the US Open, the second Major of the season. He was quoted on the PGA Tour website as saying:
“No, I’m not ready for that yet. I do need those three or four weeks to continue to progress and get sharper. I struck it today the way I need to, but I didn’t do it all four days, and that’s what I need to do. I’m really excited about the direction I’m headed.â€
In Andalucia, England’s Lee Westwood ended a four-year drought by winning the Valle Romano Open de Andalucia for his 17th European Tour title.
The 34-year-old closed with a five-under-par 67 for a 20-under total of 268, two shots ahead of compatriot Phillip Archer, who shot 65 in his last round, and Swede Fredrik Andersson-Hed (66).
Westwood endured a torrid time with the putter on the home stretch, dropping three shots, after having built up a five-stroke lead with eight holes remaining. He was delighted to have earned the win, saying on the Tour’s website:
“Winning was very important, it wouldn’t have felt good coming off with second or third after getting in such a good position. I never really thought about going so long without a win. I’ve still been playing pretty well and I knew that winning is fickle, sometimes you just don’t get across the line first.â€
The victory was worth 166,660 euro for Westwood, who rises to 18th on the European Tour Order of Merit and is probably returning to the top 50 of the Official World Golf Rankings.
Technology To Help Boost Aussie Open
Aussie golf fans may want to take their Palm Pilots when they travel to the Australian Open in Sydney this December.
Organisers of Australia’s premier event is trying to ramp up the entertainment and information factor for golf fans so that they can receive as much details about the tournament on the course as they could if they were watching on television.
Using communication devices such as Palm Pilots and other gadgets, golf fans can tune into the tournament live as they are walking the course. They can find out information such as yardage, wind direction and other details die-hard golf fans want to know about a player’s shot.
In addition, they would be able to see a live leaderboard on their machines so they can decide in an instant what is the best hole to watch at any given time.
This is the vision of tournament director Paul McNamee, whose initiative helped to give last year’s Australian Open a party atmosphere with live music, fashion shows, big-screen TVs and allowing spectators on to the fairways.
McNamee was quoted in the Brisbane Times as saying:
“We’ve got to keep improving the experience for spectators and part of that will be giving them as much information as we can while they’re out walking the course. That’s the only advantage you get from watching golf at home – the information. We need to be able to get the info to the fans quickly so there’s no doubt that watching golf is a better experience live.â€
Golf in Australiasia has been keeping a low profile in recent years with the emergence of the Asian Tour. McNamee, however, says he has no plans to make the Australia Open the world’s “fifth majorâ€. His simply hopes that the tournament can become the leading event within the Asia-Pacific region.
2 Great Putting Drills For Distance Control
If you want to be a great putter, you must have great speed control. Simply, it makes no sense to practice only aim, when the speed your ball rolls is the main factor determining line. So here are two great drills to help develop your speed control on the greens. And with proper speed control, finding your line will be a breeze.
The verbage I’ll use for this post will be for a right handed golfer. If you’re a lefty, just reverse the information. It’s nothing personal southpaws – promise.
Drill #1 — Right Hand Middle
The right hand middle drill is a wonderful way to achieve distance control on long lag putts. Because your right hand and fingers play such an important role in how you feel distance, this drill is a great way to develop touch.
How to perform this drill: Take ten balls and place them in the middle of the green. Mark the spot from where you’re putting with a tee. Take a comfortable stance and grip the putter with your right hand only. From there, putt the first ball with just your right hand at a spot on the fringe of the green. Your goal is to get the ball to stop as close to the fringe, without actually touching it, as you can. Take the second ball and, using the same technique, putt to a spot about five yards right of your first ball. Again, you want it as close as possible to the fringe without touching it. Continue this all the way around the green until your last ball has been putted. When you’re done putting the balls to the fringe, walk to your golf balls and putt them back to the tee. Make sure you’re still using just your right hand. One lap around the green with ten balls is considered a set. Do a couple sets a week when practicing.
**Application tips — Use your eyes. Focus on the fringe and let your eyes determine how hard to hit the ball. Also, feel your entire arm swinging — not just your hand and wrist.
Drill #2 — Right Hand Row
The right hand row drill is a wonderful way to develop touch, as well as visualizing the putting line. Again, obtaining feel in your right hand and fingers will give you the ability to judge distances from all over the green.
How to perform this drill: Set ten balls in a row beginning five feet from the hole. Each ball should be three feet away from the previous ball. When you are finished setting the balls, the first will be three feet away from the cup and the tenth will be thirty feet away. Then, put a tee in the ground 18 inches on the other side of the cup. To start the exercise, set up comfortably to the first ball. Grip the putter with your right hand only and stroke the ball toward the cup. Your only thought should be to knock it in with the correct speed. The ball should not go further than eighteen inches past (the tee is your guide) the hole on a missed putt. After you’ve stroked the first putt, go back to the next ball in line and start the process over. Continue this procedure until all balls are putted. No matter what ball you’re putting, from three feet to thirty, it should travel at the same speed at the hole. They should either go in or get past the hole — but not past the tee. So, we want all balls in that 18 inch zone past the hole if not holed. This is optimum speed. Ten balls make a set. Strive to do 5 sets a week when practicing.
**Application tips — Again, use your eyes. Before hitting each putt, take two (right handed only) practice swings while looking at the hole. Feel your entire arm – not just your hand and wrist.
Good Luck and Good Putting!
Rose Set for Wentworth Challenge
England’s Justin Rose will join a star-studded field for this month’s BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in Surrey, from May 24-27.
It will be one of the strongest tournaments on the European Tour this season with South Africans Ernie Els and Retief Goosen, Fijian Vijay Singh, Britons Paul Casey and Luke Donald and Henrik Stenson confirming their participation in the event.
Rose, who came close to winning the US Masters last month at Augusta, is a regular on the PGA Tour. He is returning to Britain to receive back treatment and the timing is perfect to compete in the Wentworth Club tournament.
Rose, who won the European Tour’s MasterCard Masters in Australia this season, said on the tour’s website:
“I am feeling very positive that my back injury will continue to improve at the same rate so that I am able to play. I was delighted to win again on the European Tour this season and like everyone else, nothing would give me greater pleasure than to win the BMW PGA Championship as all the players know this is our flagship event.â€
Meanwhile, it is a big week on the PGA Tour with players gearing up for The Players Championship at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach. And the rain that threatened to cause havoc is actually helping the course managers prove that their $8 million revamp, which included a hi-tech drainage system, was worth the effort.
Course superintendent Fred Klauk said:
“The rain hasn’t affected the playability of the golf course at all. In fact, given our forecast, I’m trying to retain the moisture that we’ve had so that the greens do not get too firm. The half-inch of rain we had Sunday didn’t really change the firmness of the course. Water is just passing right through.â€
