How to Strengthen Your Grip on Putting

Adam Scott knows his weakness is putting, according to a Golfweek.com article, and knowledge is power. He continues to strengthen the "grip" he has on this essential flaw in his golf game by testing new putters, grips and even methods of putting (at one time, Scott was known for using the belly putter). 

Note: Golf for Beginners also suggests reading: Which Golf Clubs Can I Use as a Putter?

The difference between Adam Scott and the average golfer is that many of us are not at that level of expertise to be able to know that we have a fault and be willing to change it nor do most of us ever even visit the putting green when we have the opportunity (for the small stuff, like bump-and-run or chipping practice). Isn't it much more fun to head over to the driving range to "grip it and rip it"?

That being said, let's try and focus on how we can improve our golf game with the tools in our possession.

I am not saying that you shouldn't go out and try new putters (Chesson Hadley won the Albertsons Boise Open after a last-minute putter swap), but putting is about feel, alignment, and green speed; if any of those details are a bit off, chances are you will miss the cup and your score will suffer.

Just last week, while playing at the magnificent Grande Dunes Resort Course, one of my playing partners, (a fourteen-year-old with a heck of a game), mentioned to me that I could have saved so many more strokes if I had not three-putted so much (thanks for the tip Jonathan). At that point, a light bulb went off above my head ... I needed to start working on my short game.

I read a lot of golf tips on the internet and so I will pass along a few tips to help you regain your feel on the green. These may or may not work for you so try them on the practice green a few times before taking them to the golf course:

- Keep Your Backside Quiet? PGA Tour winner Johnson Wagner believes that, on short putts, keeping your butt still is more effective than a restricted head. Wagner says to, "forget about my head and instead try to keep my rear end still. If that doesn’t move, the core of the body stays in place. That gives me a stable base on every putt, which helps with consistency." This tip is worth a try...

- Chill out: Sounds simple enough - Steve Stricker's golf tip to Gary Woodland just before the PGA Championship was to get comfortable, and you will sink putts. Right before a round is NOT the time to change your swing or your putting stroke. Take advice from a pro who knows...another great tip!

- Work on your lag putting and try not to come up short, says Dave Pelz. Get as close to the hole with your first putt so the second one is an easy drop.

Share your putting tips in the comments section of this golf blog and tag/tweet us on @Golf4Beginners!

Try These Three #Golf Swing Thoughts

Golfers are going to be out in droves this Memorial Day Weekend; some have only pulled out their sticks a few times this season while others have been playing for months. There will be those golfers out purely for the enjoyment of the weather and there will be competitive players seeking the win. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned golfer, consider taking away these swing thoughts for use during your round.

1. Try not to fill your head with swing thoughts! Pick only one or two during the round and stick with them. My latest swing thought is to keep my elbows connected losing that dreaded "flying elbow" that has recently crept its way into my swing. Adam Scott agrees stating, "Whatever I'm working on, I like to keep one swing thought in my head when I'm on the course. Keeping it simple helped me at the Deutsche Bank Championship in Boston last year."

2. Are you trying to regain composure after a blow-up hole? What's next, you think...another bad shot? Thoughts like this will have you spiraling downward, spewing curse words and throwing your golf clubs into a retention pond! Instead, think about the "C" word...Confidence.  Remember that one or two shots will not ruin your round, that you have hit good shots in the past and focus on the next shot instead of dwelling on something that is already past.

Read these Golf Tips to Improve Your Game from Tee to Green.

Look at the Positives of a Golf Hole: In his GolfTV.com video, Dave Marsh says that most players look down a par-five and immediately notice the trouble; the patch of grass or the bunker that they have to fly over...don't be that guy! Instead, when you step onto the tee box, look down the fairway and "pick three things you really like about the hole," and where you are going to place that golf ball.

A negative approach will almost always lead to some type of golf course meltdown so take each shot and hole as its own adventure, remain positive and look for a way out of trouble. Follow the words of Bob Rotella'sbook cover which says, "Golf is Not a Game of Perfect."

Which swing thoughts have helped improve your golf game and outlook on the course? Let us know below in our golf blog comments section and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners!

And The Masters Green Jacket Goes To...Jason Day? #golf

Who is The 2016 Masters' favorite or Who Do You Think is Going to Win The Masters is on most fans' lips and a topic of conversation this week for many golf writers and so Golf for Beginners asks readers, "Who is your choice to take home the green jacket this year?"

Whether you lay down a two dollar Nassau with your mates or plunk down hundreds at an online betting site, golf is, and will always be, a gambling game.

Golf Digest doesn't give you a single winner or a straight answer, offering suppositions and options such as "under thirty/over thirty" choices like Adam Scott, Bubba Watson, etc, hedging their bets by not offering one definitive choice. In their defense, however, there are a lot of variables before making a decision; pin placements, conditions and who brought their "A" game this year.

In seasons past, this decision would probably have been a no-brainer, choosing Tiger Woods to take home The Masters trophy and green jacket but, with the former number one opting to take a role as emcee, he has decided to hit the first drive of the tournament instead of playing four grueling rounds,

That being said, do you think that Jordan Spieth will win back-to-back Masters tournaments?

Odds are that Spieth will take a back seat to Jason Day, winner of his last two starts, going off at 7-to-1 odds according to TheGolfNewsNet.com.

Doc Sports agree and all three sites have Spieth and Rory McIlroy trailing in popularity with Bubba Watson and Adam Scott not far behind. CBS Sports places 2012 and 2014 Masters winner Watson in the top spot but concedes that, "It all depends on the first 27 holes."

As for the number one golfer on this list, Jason Day once wanted to quit the game and now is being considered The Masters favorite and with good reason. According to Yahoo Sports, Day, is "the winner of the last major in 2015, US PGA champion Jason Day, has secured top-10 finishes in 48 per cent of the 21 majors he has played in."

The Masters is set to begin on Thursday with the Par-3 preview offering fans a fun glimpse into the first major of the year. I am sure this year's Tournament will offer viewers the same excitement as in previous years. Let the games begin!

Don't forget to enter The Masters Giveaway to win a Masters caddy hat. Enter Through Sunday.

Follow Golf4Beginners on Twitter and feel free to post your 2016 Masters favorite in the comments section of this golf blog.

photo: Wikipedia

One of These Golfers Will Win The Masters #golf

Which one of these golfers will win The Masters? Here is the leaderboard of 2016 Masters invitees as shown on the Masters.com website:

The list of players who have been selected above have qualified by March 21, 2016 (the field stands at 90), and can serve as a starting point for this golf blog's discussion as to favorites to win The Masters. For example, Tiger Woods is listed to play but, for the second year in a row, CBS Sports reports that Tiger Woods may not play in The Masters. Pairings and tee times will be available after the par-3 event on Wednesday.

Who is YOUR Favorite to win The 2016 Masters?

This is an invitation-only tournament so the golfers that have been selected are the cream of the crop and/or have won an event offering an exemption into this first of four major events of the year.

From the above list, here are the five players I suspect will be in contention on Sunday at The Masters:

Jordan Spieth - The top-ranked golfer in the world, already a Masters Champion in a wire-to-wire win and mentioned that this is his favorite tournament in the world. Also, Jordan set a Masters record last year for most birdies in a tournament (26).

Phil Mickelson - My favorite golfer... at 70 wins to date, made the cut in The Masters twenty-one times and has three green jackets in his closet. "The results will come if I continue to play the way I'm playing," Lefty recently stated.

Adam Scott - Not much for Match Play this year calling his recent halve "pathetic" but red-hot on the PGA Tour right now and, since golfers play in the moment, this is why I picked Scott as a possibility to win. Also, with Steve Williams confirmed as his Masters caddy, Scott has increased his winning potential, in my opinion.

Zach Johnson -Has a Claret Jug and a Green Jacket as his prized possessions. Very steady player.

Jason Day - Able to scramble and win against Graeme McDowell even after hurting his back during match play.

Okay, so I am not positively sure that any of my picks will win The Masters but, based on this season's performance as well as previous accomplishments, these players have a good shot at 2016 Masters glory.

Who are your picks? Let us know on this golf blog or on Twitter @Golf4beginners.

#Golf Beating Down Top Players as Masters Limps Closer

Although this probably will not be considered a second-string Masters Tournament, with top golfers dropping like flies due to injuries, the first major of the season at Augusta National might surely be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Between Tiger Woods' back injury forcing surgery this past week, Hunter Mahan with injured hip, Phil Mickelson pulling his oblique muscle just under two weeks ago and Jason Day not having played a full round of golf since the WGC, The Masters Tournament is beginning to look like a prizefighter who is down but not yet counted out…ambulatory at best?

Mickelson says he is ready for his return to the Shell Houston Open this week (looking good so far) but he also suffers from psoriatric arthritis, a debilitating illness which could act up offering fans only an early glimpse at Lefty. Not sure that Phil will win this year’s opening major but would love to see it happen.

Jason Day, just one day ago brushed off the fact that he is indeed among the walking wounded, declaring to all that his thumb injury is healed.

The pros want to play golf at The Masters but are they physically able to compete...and win?

Fans, however, will not be keeping count of the injuries list but will most certainly be watching the sport at its finest and gazing at Augusta revealing it’s majesty of azaleas and spring in bloom.

So it’s now up to Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson and Jimmy Walker to carry the ball – strength of mind is what is needed at Augusta, not power, as these three are soon to find out.

*This Just In - DUSTIN JOHNSON W/D from Shell Houston Open after carding an 80! No reason was given but the chances are slim that he will recover from this "ailment" before The Masters...enough said.

McIlroy has Las Vegas on his side, with Adam Scott and DJ close behind now that Woods has officially pulled out of The Masters but is that enough?:  Tough talk from Rory, "someone's got to step up, so I'm trying to be that person", will not get the job done and the internet is buzzing with a possible consecutive Masters win by Scott but only Nicklaus, Woods and Faldo have ever completed this feat.

What about JimmyWalker? Well, Butch Harmon says he's "ready for The Masters," and is holding aside a $1200 bottle of his finest champagne for the after-party but past meltdowns make this writer wonder about anything more than a top-ten finish for this dramatic player.

Could The Masters win go to 2013 PGA Championship Jason Dufner?

“I’ve had a pretty good run the last two years in majors,” Dufner said. “I haven’t missed a cut. Had some good finishes. Had probably three or four legitimate chances to win the events going into Sunday. So I’m excited about what’s around the corner for me at the Masters.”

Do you agree that the Masters Tournament belongs to one of the above golfers? Voice your opinion on our Golf for Beginners blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

photo credits: foxsports.com, pga

Swing Thoughts for the #Golf Course from Tiger Woods, DJ and Garcia

Every golfer, when standing at the first tee, has something on his or her mind while setting up for that first shot; keep your head down, stare at a spot on the golf ball, hit the middle of their fairway. On every shot thereafter, thoughts about the ensuing round set the stage for either a positive or negative experience.

Which golf swing thoughts are useful and which should you immediately discard?

Imagery creates reality on the golf course, so, if you have negative thoughts, chances are they will translate into negative actions. The Wedge Guy, among others in the business, note that golfers should only think of a single, positive swing thought at each meeting with the golf ball instead of creating "a running dialog through their head about all the things they are trying to remember to do . . . or not do." 

That being said, Golf for Beginners has compiled several swing thoughts and golf tips used by top professional golfers to try on the golf course.

1. Sergio Garcia - TEMPO OVER SPEED - "When you make practice swings on the tee, think 'tempo' first. Notice that I never make them at full speed. I'll make a nice, controlled move back and through. I'm not practicing for power, I'm practicing for balance."

2. TIGER WOODS - VISUALIZE YOUR SHOT - Picture the golf ball going into the cup...yes, it's that simple. Some of the greatest athletes in the world (Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretsky and Woods) use creative visualization to gain control over the 90 percent mental-10 percent physical...that is, "using one’s imagination to visualize specific behaviors or events occurring in one’s life."

3. FOCUS ON STRIKING THE GOLF BALL - "In a survey of twenty-four PGA Tour players, eighteen said they didn’t think about anything at all during their swing. Those that did have a swing thought said it was to focus on a spot a few inches in front of the ball, to encourage swinging through, instead of hitting at the ball OR focusing on hitting the inside of the ball. NONE of them said they had ANY technical thoughts about their swing."

4. Dustin Johnson - CREATE A GOOD STANCE AND SET-UP- While DJ says he doesn't think of golf swing thoughts during a professional round, out on the driving range he works on creating good posture for his drive - pushing his hips back with a good bend at the knees.

5. ADAM SCOTT - One swing thought at a time!

What are YOUR Golf swing thoughts?

Let us know here on our Golf for Beginners blog, on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on our Facebook page.

Golf Psychology: Tips to Avoid Choking

Thanks to My Golf Locker for this thought-provoking blog on how to avoid the dreaded golf choke!

*************

Let’s face it; we have all choked. In fact, just last week, I played a round of golf with my dad and everything was absolutely perfect: the sun was shining, the course was immaculate and the golf on display was absolutely superb (even if I do say so myself).

As a 15 handicapper, it is not often that you get these types of rounds, so you have to make the most of them! Luckily, for 15 holes, I did just that and raced into a four-shot lead with three holes to play. Surely my dad couldn’t overtake me now? 

WRONG! I lost by one stroke… I was (and still am) absolutely gutted.

The story of choking in golf, however, isn’t unique to me. Who could forget Adam Scott at the 2012 Open? 

Could you imagine the pain and heartache that Adam Scott experienced that day? Many predicted that he would never get over it; he did, however, and in spectacular style by winning the 2013 Masters. 

Adam Scott went on to win the 2013 Barclays and with a final bogey-free round. Still, Adam Scott believed his final round wasn't good enough to win. Caddy Steve Williams was seen packing Scott's golf bag with the Aussie player thinking that he "really didn't think I had much of a chance."

The reason behind Adam Scott's win at The Masters was undoubtedly the change in his psychology. He didn’t play flawless golf at Augusta, but he got the job done.

The same can be said for this year’s US Open Champion Justin Rose who has also had his demons. After coming in fourth at the Open at the age of just fifteen, Rose went on to miss twenty-one consecutive cuts! Since then, however, Rose has rebounded and can now also call himself a major champion; something that fellow Brits Lee Westwood and Luke Donald can only dream of.

Although our golfing exploits are nowhere near on par with those of our idols, we can take similar steps to avoid choking in a similar fashion.

1. Accept your handicap:

Your handicap exists for a reason and your aim is to reduce it. We cannot expect to be perfect every time we play golf. We can, however, accept the situation and deal with it accordingly. The key is getting into a positive mindset.

Often, there is no need to go ‘birdie searching’ when a par will do. Try adopting the stableford scoring system as this will give you an accurate reflection of your round- you could be doing a lot better than you think!

2. Play the hole, not the situation:

If you’re having a good round, focus on the positives and play the shots you’re capable of achieving. If you start trying to lay-up or play shots that you haven’t been playing during the round, you increase the risk of ‘choking’.

Always play your natural game despite what those around you may be saying!

3. Dress for success:

In order to play well you have to look, and feel, the part. Although some courses do not enforce a dress code, it is still important that you maintain proper golf etiquette. Dressing in golf attire regardless will help get you into the right mindset and will ensure that you ‘feel the part’. Yes, golf etiquette does mean that what you wear is a reflection on you.

Contrary to popular belief, golf clothing is also less expensive than you’d imagine. Try checking out My Golf Locker to see what’s on offer. 

Join the conversation on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and friend me on Facebook.

photo credit: ESPN, Brentgolf.com

Disclosure: This is a “sponsored post.” The company who sponsored it compensated me via a cash payment, gift, or something else of value to write it. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Tiger Woods the Sexiest Golfer at 2013 British Open?

If you watch enough golf, you'll hear or read EVERYTHING, including a recent survey from a website where women have selected Tiger Woods as the Sexiest Golfer at the 2013 British Open!

No, I am not a proponent of infidelity but a press release was sent to Golf for Beginners by the site Victoria Milan, Europe´s original discreet social network, which asked members who they believed to be the hottest golfer at The Open and, out of over 3,225 cheating ladies, Tiger Woods came in first with 27% of the votes. Adam Scott was a close second with 25% of the votes and Sergio Garcia held the third position with 14% of the ladies.

Tiger, it is believed, earned his rank based on his history of high-profile infidelity. Woods' divorce from Elin received worldwide attention and is notorious as one of the most expensive break-ups the world has ever seen. 

Considering Tiger's "bad-boy" image and the site's penchant for infidelity, I wonder how Adam Scott got to 2nd place...oh yes, that was his finish in the 2012 Open ;-)  And Sergio? Another bad boy but, certainly not tops on the sexy list of golfers IMO.

Company founder and CEO Sigurd Vedal stated: 

“It makes perfect sense that golf captures the senses of cheaters! The quiet tension builds hole by hole until it's broken by wild applause, and the 19th hole parties are legendary. And, of course, the sport itself represents luxury and opulence. Our members are definitely going to be found in the British Open crowd!”

*Results of the Survey conducted 3225 female members.

Tiger Woods 27%

Adam Scott 25%

Sergio Garcia 14%

Luke Donald 11%

Justin Rose 9%

Graeme McDowell 6%

Nicolas Colsaerts 3%

Phil Mickelson 2%

Ernie Els 2%

Rory Mcilroy 1%

Should Tiger Woods be flattered by this distinction? 

Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and like on Facebook.

Will the Belly Putter Go “Belly Up”? Examination of the Anchored Putting Style

By Scott McCormick, Contributing Writer

Webb Simpson and Keegan Bradley have recently taken home major championship trophies on the PGA Tour utilizing a distinctive putting style – the long putter, or belly putter – in which they anchor the top of the putting shaft to their torso.

Their success has inaugurated a debate about the virtues of the belly putter and whether the technique runs contrary to the spirit of the game of golf.  Such luminaries as Tiger Woods have chimed in against the belly putter, and PGA tour officials are said to be considering the future legality of the practice.

With this putting technique getting increased attention and a debate among golf aficionados raging as to its legitimacy, let’s take a look at the finer points of the belly putter.  Who uses it and why?  Does it constitute an unfair advantage?

History

There is a common misconception that the belly putting style is a wholly new fad, and though the method has clearly risen in prominence in the last couple years, the origins of the style actually date back to at least the 1920s.  After struggling with his short game, a future Hall-of-Famer by the name of Leo Diegel began experimenting with new techniques, eventually settling on a strange method in which he placed both elbows out wide and tucked the shaft of the putter into his chest.

In the decades since, other golfers who have experimented with alternative putting styles have done so for the same reason as Diegel: they were lousy putters and they were looking to improve.  Bernhard Langer -- a fantastic golfer who had the misfortune of acquiring a bad case of the putting “yips” during his heyday in the 1980s – experimented with an anchor putt similar to the one currently used by Adam Scott.


Adam Scott showing off his unique anchored putting style

Other putters past and present who have utilized an anchored shaft putting method include: Rocco Mediate, Johnny Miller, Billy Casper, Orville Moody and Jason Day.

Since the impetus for a pro golfer to adjust his stance to the belly putt has traditionally been a failure to putt well with a “normal” stance, for many years the belly putt had a less-than-sterling reputation.  The belly-putter was an oddity, seen as a desperate move to improve the short game that many golfers who might have benefited from it no-doubt eschewed due to the embarrassment.

That’s changed a lot over the past ten years.  Not only have many tour pros adopted the belly putt, but Dale Pelz –arguably the foremost putting instructor alive today – has for years recommended the anchored putt as way to improve your short game.

Banishment calls

But with increased popularity has come a rise in scrutiny and calls for the PGA and/or the USGA to outlaw the practice either through regulations that limit the length of the putter, or more likely a ban on anchoring the club against any part of one’s upper body.

Opponents of the belly-putt say that anchored putting goes against the spirit of the game, that failure to perform a full swing with a pendulum motion is in contrast with the very nature of the game.

Others say that anchored putting has been around for too long to ban it now, particularly when many younger golfers have been utilizing the style for their entire careers, and sales of long putters on the amateur market have skyrocketed in recent years.

The counterargument to that line of reasoning is that the golfing establishment has made many other rule changes to improve the game over the years, and those who were affected either adapted or were left behind.  As far back as 1895, the billiard cue style of putting was formally outlawed (really!) and the croquet style putting that Sam Snead experimented with in the 1960s was also regulated out of existence.

Weighing the pros and cons

In order for there to be sufficient justification to outlaw something, one must first wonder if it really is giving golfers an advantage.  What is the benefit of the anchored putter?  And are there disadvantages that balance out these gains?  After all, if it is such a tremendous advantage, why isn’t everyone using it?

According to many, the main edge that belly putting adherents gain is purely psychological.  Particularly for those that have suffered from extreme cases of the putting yips in the past, having the top of the club shaft anchored to something gives the golfer the sense that their stroke is more stabilized and less susceptible to anxiety attacks.  Whether this is simply a placebo or something tangible probably depends on the individual, but there are some that argue that the benefits are far more than merely mental, and that posture, pace and rhythm are all significantly improved with an anchored stance.

Yet, there are those that feel that belly putting can be a detrimental in certain instances.  Commentator Johnny Miller, who as a top tour pro piddled around with the belly putter himself, has said on occasion that belly putting removes some of the “feel” from putting, making it more difficult for a golfer to “get in the zone” on their short game.  Others have noted that while the method can help improve consistency on putts within ten feet, longer putts are actually more difficult when using the anchored approach.

My two cents

In my opinion, calls to have the belly putter banned are misguided.  Compared to other golf equipment revolutions in recent years – drivers and balls that enable pros to drive 400 yards, wedges that literally cut through rough – it’s hard to see long putters as an over-the-top advantage, despite what someone like Tiger says.  With the stigma of using the belly putt slowly eroding, we can expect to see more tour pros experiment with the method, but many more will stick to the traditional approach.

And making an adverse ruling against long putters at this junction would be tremendously unfair to those that have come to rely on the method.  There are parallels in other sports for handling these kinds of rule changes; years ago when baseball outlawed the spitball, they “grandfathered in” those that had used the wet pitch for the duration of their career.  But applying that scheme to golf in this day and age would be cumbersome and impractical, a textbook definition of a solution in search of a problem.

But since the debate has heated up and speculation as to what the golfing establishment will do has run rampant in the last year, it would behoove PGA officials to announce their intentions one way or the other.  If they have no plans to ban the anchored putt in the near or long-term future, they should make a proclamation to that effect; otherwise up-and-coming golfers will be in limbo when trying to determine which style to adopt.


Scott McCormick comes from a long line of mediocre – yet devoted – golfers.  He lives in Arizona with his wife Alexis and their two dogs.  When not trying to improve his short game on an office putting machine or following his favorite PGA tour pros on Twitter, he works as a freelance writer for GolfNow, specializing in Kansas Kansas City Golf and Orange County Golf Courses.

photo credit: http://www.linksforlife.com

Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and friend us on Facebook.

Posted via email from stacysolomon's posterous

Is money still a motivator for Tiger Woods, Mickelson at PGA Championship?

Since I could not attend (via telephone) a recent press conference held by Golf Channel with Brandel Chamblee and Frank Nobilo (aka @FrankNobiloGC), I received the transcript in which the analysts spoke about Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson’s dwindling chances to win the 2012 PGA Championship.  Woods has certainly bounced back strong this season from debilitating problems on the home front but his mindset may not be ready for the majors. And what about Phil Mickelson’s chances…Is his crippling illness forcing him out of the game?

 

 

With regards to Tiger Woods’ likelihood to win the PGA Championship, Chamblee spoke about the unpredictability of the Ocean course and Tiger’s past weakness opening the doors to a lot of different players. Frank Nobilo noted that “he's at least been able to contend” and that the Ocean Course, “gives him a little bit of leeway and it's a big golf course.”

 

As for Mickelson, analyst Frank Nobilo pointed to Phil’s arthritic condition forcing a slowdown and having Lefty take life at a more leisurely pace with his family. With regards to Mickelson’s level of play, Frank noted, “there's been more time away from the game this year than ever before.  And you know, physically, he just doesn't look 100 percent. Obviously his game is not sharp.”

 

Chamblee also made mention of Mickelson having to adjust his golf game in light of his slowed swing speed (down from 120 to 116 mph over the past couple of years.) The average golfer’s swing speed, as noted by Livestrong.com, states that Tour professionals average a swing speed of 105-110mph, LPGA Tour golfers “are measured at between 90 and 100 mph” and that, “the average female golfer swings between 60 and 70 mph.” Mickelson still has a healthy swing speed and, as long as his tempo remains fluid, I think he can manage his game.

 

The Golf Channel moderator then asked,

“How long do you think that he (Phil Mickelson) can stay motivated into his 40s, given what he's accomplished, and what's left to accomplish?

 

Brandel Chamblee said that Mickelson is motivated to win a career Grand Slam and still has a chance to win the U.S. Open.

 

Finally, does winning a major championship to these two veteran golfers, and to the rest of the field, have the same meaning as it once did?

 

Chamblee bluntly answered, no, not from a monetary standpoint but yes from a historical one.

 

Historically, for example, “when Shawn Micheel walks by, the first thing you think about is the 7-iron he hit to the final green winning the PGA Championship.”

 

Monetarily it may not mean that much to the higher ranked players, “Anywhere on the Money List, you're making deep seven figure incomes,” said Chamblee pointing out that Luke Donald earned twenty-five million dollars in the past two years without ever winning a major.”

 

Frank Nobilo disagreed, “that's what Tiger Woods is chasing right now.  And guys realize that it is their meal ticket.  People look at Adam Scott not winning, it's cost him about $20 million.”

 

Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and friend us on Facebook.

 

photo credit: sportributor.com

Posted via email from stacysolomon's posterous

Adam Scott moonwalks while Ernie Els takes leap forward to win The Open Championship

Ernie Els showed his true mettle during the final round of The 2012 Open Championship as Adam Scott did the golf "moonwalk", serving up four bogeys in the last four holes of the tournament and ending another major bid. Here are a few pictures that I took while watching The Open hoping to capture the final breathless moments of this third major of 2012.



In his approach to the 18th green, Ernie Els needed a single stroke to induce a playoff with Adam Scott who, although not having a comfortable lead, was still in the lead.

Ernie Els birdied the 18th hole using a joyous fist pump as an exclamation point, probably thinking, at least at this point, that he had a chance at a playoff with Adam Scott.

Ernie Els spreads the good word about his amazing birdie putt on the 18th green while waiting patiently for Adam Scott. I noticed Ernie looking a bit anxious, perhaps wondering if he should practice or nosh on a sandwich; he wound up doing both.

Adam Scott, in the meantime, was walking up the 17th with caddy Steve Williams. Did Steve do everything he needed to as Adam's caddy to help Scott in his time of need?

With not a breath in the air, fans watched as Adam's Scott's chances of winning The Open Championship faded.

This picture of Adam Scott, in my opinion, caputred the agony of defeat. So taken with the sad ending to this tale was SportsBettingOnline which sent out a press release announcing that management was refunding all players who lost money betting on Adam Scott.

"With so many of the favorites including Woods not cashing, it was a good day for sportsbooks. But that wasn’t the case for those who dropped money on Scott,” stated Dave Johnson, head oddsmaker for SportsBettingOnline.ag.  “We feel it’s our duty to refund the players for taking such a bad beat. His collapse was historic and we know the bettors who had him must feel as awful as he does.”

And so the final tally had a reserved Ernie Els taking rightful ownership of the Claret Jug as Adam Scott shook his head in disbelief stating, "I let a great chance slip through my fingers today, and I know it."

PS: The title of this golf blog is dedicated to Sally Ride, the first U.S. Woman to travel into Space. Although Ms. Ride never moon walked, she forever "changed the face of America's space program."


Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and friend us on Facebook.


photo credits: WABCTV

Tiger Woods splits with Stricker after humiliating defeat to Adam Scott

Team USA lost it's only match in first round Presidents Cup action as the Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker pairing were decimated at the hands of Adam Scott and Steve Williams (sorry, I meant to say KJ Choi).


Twelve holes after an obligatory handshake at the first tee Woods commented, "They got off to a quick start, and we just couldn’t keep up."


The tally for Scott/Choi was four birdies, three holes won with par closing out the match when Choi rolled in a 7-foot birdie putt on the 12th hole (7 and 6).

Although in past Presidents Cup action considered a dynamic duo, Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker will split up and form new teams. Woods will be paired with heavy hitter Dustin Johnson and Stricker will connect with Matt Kuchar in order to bring about some magic in second round fourball action of the Presidents Cup.

Even though Adam Scott and KJ Choi made a great A-Team, they too will be split and paired with other International Team members. Adam Scott will be paired with KT Kim while Choi is partnering with Geoff Ogilvy, possibly to give hope to other International players.

Too much pressure for Tiger Woods after shaking the hand of Steve Williams and looking into the eyes of Scott, once predicted to be the NEW Tiger Woods?  Or could it be Stricker was just rusty after shoulder injuries? Alternate shot puts the onus on both players so a different format will bring out the best (or worst) to come.

As a side note: The team of Phil Mickelson/Jim Furyk won but you knew that as Tiger Woods' team was the only one defeated at the hands of the Internationals.

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Greg Norman hopes Adam Scott gives Tiger Woods a Presidents Cup thrashing

A face-off between Tiger Woods and Adam Scott at the Presidents Cup tourney in Royal Melbourne GC would certainly make great "must see TV" but is Greg Norman using the Aussie to unload his own sour grapes?

The Aussies (?...ha) are "sick and tired of losing," said Norman, whose International team hasn't won the Cup since 1998. Furthermore, Greg Norman was "dethroned" by Tiger Woods in the 1990's to become top-golfer in the world. This isn't just a case of "my yacht is bigger than your yacht," this is personal.

"Tiger and Greg don't speak," said a source who knows both men. "There's a lot of animosity between them."

Greg Norman has turned The Presidents Cup into a battle between Australia (not necessarily the "International Team") and the USA. Doing so, however, has had it's ramifications, with Couples now comparing Aussie golfers to Woods.

After Tiger Woods was slammed by Norman, Couples retorted with a comparative dig at Melbourne golfer Robert Allenby.

"Robert Allenby is his (captain's) pick, and Aaron Baddeley, and they're Australians and I think they're great picks,"claimed Couples. "But I think I can sit here and say Robert Allenby hasn't won a tournament in ten years.''

Other Aussies have jumped on the "trash-talking Tiger" bandwagon but members of Team Norman such as Geoff Ogilvy seem spurred on by Greg Norman's personal vengeance against the former world's number-one golfer.

Geoff Ogilvy, for example, does not agree with Team USA Captain Fred Couples' pick, "I'm not going to stand up and say Tiger is a horrible pick, but I'm going to say it's very disappointing that Keegan Bradley doesn't get to play."

Placing Adam Scott against Tiger Woods is also a personal slam against the former world's number one as Scott's caddie, Steve Williams, has said a few bitter words recently about his former boss.

That being said, an Adam Scott - Tiger Woods match would make for sensational end-of-season golf TV and both teams know it, as the Presidents Cup has never been as monumental as the Ryder Cup.

When Norman asked Scott if he had a problem going up against the former world's number one, Adam said, "Not at all. I'll play him and win a point for you."

Presidents Cup action begins Wednesday November 16th. Check your listings and voice your opinions about Tiger Woods on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on Facebook.

 

 

 

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Former Tiger Woods caddie Steve Williams more popular than Adam Scott?

The "unwritten rule" of not talking to golf media was broken yesterday by former Tiger Woods caddie Steve Williams after yesterday's exciting win by his new boss, Adam Scott, at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.

Steve Williams was approached by David Feherty after the final round of the golf tournament and could have said something joyful about Adam Scott's win but instead commented on his own emotional high with an almost laughable countenance condemning his own dismissal by Tiger Woods.

Williams declared, "I've caddied for thirty-three years and one hundred forty-five wins and that's the best win I've ever had."

Steve must have forgotten the seven previous wins at this event carrying the bag for Tiger Woods, or did he? Was Tiger Woods a good boss or is Williams just spewing sour grapes?

"It's the greatest week of my life caddying and I sincerely mean that," Steve Williams concluded.

The gaffe was not taken lightly by former Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger and other professional golfers. Zinger tweeted, "most (caddies) don't, a few do at times when appropriate." He added the hashtag #notapopularguy.

English golfer Chris Wood commented, "Steve Williams taken all the attention off Adam Scott's fantastic win! Played great and nobody is talking about him this morning!!!"

Tennis star Andy Roddick said, "Am I missing something? Was Steve the one actually playing?"

Williams speaks what is on his mind; he doesn't mince words. If the public didn't want to hear what he had to say, then Feherty should not have approached him. On the flip side, Steve probably should have politely turned his interview into praise for Adam Scott for giving him the opportunity.

Since Steve Williams received more shout-outs than Adam Scott heading onto the 18th green, shouldn't he at least been given the right to speak?

Adam Scott said it best, "He's a popular guy around here...It was fun to get support, whether it's for me or him, I don't care, it's the right team."

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Mickelson, Montgomerie, Scott awed by China's future Golf Champions

2010 Valero Texas Open winner Adam Scott had been beaten by a girl before, just not by a 12-year-old. Playing the 17^th hole of the WGC-HSBC Champions Pro-Am, Scott found the bunker and made bogey. Little Lucy Shi Yuting, a thireteen-time winner in three years on the HSBC National Junior Championship, made par.

The significance is twofold, says the writer of this article, Tim Maitland.

 

The other girl to beat Scott was a few years ago and someone called Wie – Michelle Wie – and you can make a note that November 3^rd 2010 was the day when the elite of men’s golf truly came to realise that China is coming faster than they realized.

“These are the Olympic champions and world champions of the future. They’re fantastic! Fantastic!” raved Europe’s Ryder Cup-winning captain Colin Montgomerie after conducting a clinic with some of the younger children from the HSBC China Junior Golf Program.

“They’re proper golfers. They’re not just kids that can hit a golf ball on the range. These are complete golfers at nine years old: driver, putting, and short game!” Monty continued.

“I think in the next 10 years you’ll see a tremendous growth into competitive golf; I’m talking about into the world’s top 100. That’s inevitable. It’s going to happen. We have to accept that. The competition is coming from this part of the world: Korea, China especially. Golf is booming!”

As Monty was saying those words, Mickelson was coming off the course having also encountered Lucy Shi at the 17th, three days after she beat her rivals by 12 shots over three rounds at the HSBC National Junior Championship final.

“She hit a 6‑iron to about 15 feet from the hole, lipped out the putt and made par. She was an incredible player!” said Lefty.

“You could tell right away that she's got a lot of potential to be a great golfer.  She has a wonderful swing, a great short game, great putting stroke.  And at only 12, it's amazing how talented she is at such a young age.  I hope that she continues to develop and continues to play well and improve and become a force on the LPGA.”

Back on the range, Monty was echoing the words of PGA Tour player Jason Dufner who, a year earlier, having done the same clinic exclaimed the Chinese kids he saw were far superior to their equivalent age group in the States.

“Oh of course they are! Way ahead! And of course the work ethic here is different. These kids are prepared to put in the hours it takes nowadays to become very, very good. You can see how they love it. They’re all involved. It’s fantastic and the work ethic here is different to ours,” Monty said, adding that the focus of the kids he saw put him to shame.

“I was a lazy player myself; two or three hours and I was getting a little bit bored. These kids? Six, seven hours a day and just golf! Then they’re studying as well. This is where the future is. Now golf has become an Olympic sport, in this country it can only add to the opportunities given to them and the incentives given to them. They’re well ahead of our youngsters. If it’s a numbers game China wins every time hands down. I’ve had a successful career I suppose and I started at six and I couldn’t even get the ball airborne when I was ten, never mind hit the ball like this. These are golfers!”

Montgomerie’s comments came as the junior championship was celebrating the one thousandth child to compete in the elite tier of tournaments that have been running since 2007.

“A thousand children may not sound like a lot over the four years that we have been investing in the China Golf Association’s programme, but that’s the top of the pyramid,” said Giles Morgan, HSBC Group Head of Sponsorship.

“Below the top of that pyramid, we have had 8,000 children who have come through our summer and winter camps, learning the great game of golf, and below that, at the foundation of the pyramid, we have had 200,000 children touching golf for the first time in their schools’ PE lessons through the HSBC Education Program,” Morgan added.

Thanks to Tim Maitland for his fascinating insight into China's growing golf program.

 

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Tiger Woods cancels Barclays claiming fatigue, Michelle Wie wilts, easy tips from Sorenstam and Adam Scott

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Tiger Woods claims that he is physically and mentally drained after winning both the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and the PGA Championship. The world's number one golfer announced on his website that his body is "spent" and needs time to recuperate.

With good intentions, Woods stated recently that his plan was to show for all four FedEx Cup playoff events but, with little notice, withdrew just prior to the first playoff. I personally don't think it's fair to either the PGA Tour, the sponsors of the event who announced (with regularity) that Tiger is coming to Westchester CC and certainly not to the New York area fans who probably got their tickets weeks ago in anticipation of seeing TW at the Barclays. But it appears that Tiger beats to his own drum now and seeks out tournaments which benefits his sponsors and charities.

Is this fair or should Woods be held to a more strict schedule for this FedEx Cup that he originally touted as such a great idea? He was "given" his own tournament in Washington D.C. this year by Tim Finchem (the Congressional) which seems to have taken the place of the now defunct International; should it now be payback time for Woods?

Not a chance, but Tiger is scheduled to play in the second leg of the FedEx Cup at the Deutsche Bank Championship which also happens to support the Tiger Woods Learning Center. Both the third and fourth playoffs are currently not listed on his schedule.

Another golfer who appears to have "wilted" under tournament pressure is Michelle Wie.

Unfortunately, Wie is fast becoming just another name in a large crowd of golfers catalogued under the "missed cut" section of the leaderboard, this week at the Canadian Women's Open. At least her caddies seem to be improving their status over time as former bag carrier Greg Johnson now loops for Ginn Open champ Brittany Lincicome and David Clark left before this event to carry the bag for PGA Tour's Greg Owen. Of course, with a current standing of 156th, did Clark really make that good of a decision or did he do it just to get away from Team Wie?

For example, does Bo Wie really need to place practice balls on the tee for Michelle? Can't seventeen-year-old Wiesy just bend down and place them there herself?

This week on Golf for Beginners, in addition to the latest about Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie, we also include easy golf tips from Annika Sorenstam and Adam Scott. A flagstick ruling also comes into question.

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"Shiny Tech" courtesy of Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)"

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