Is Your Driver To Blame for Lack of Distance or Is It You?

Both driver and golf swing can be to blame for lack of distance off of the tee ...here's why.

During the course of a conversation with my teaching pro, Dale, I mentioned that I need to find ways to increase my driving distance. I am just not getting enough length off of the tee to put me into striking distance for more birdie opportunities. 

We investigated my golf swing and yes, my kinematic sequence is off so I am practicing driving more from my legs but there also seems to be a problem with the length of my driver shaft.

Dale measured me - and my Callaway X2 Hot driver - and found that my driver shaft is too long - Dale is about 6'2" and his driver shaft measures out at approximately 1 1/2 inches shorter than mine!

What impact can a too-long driver have on the average golfer?

According to Dale, and to PGA Tour professional Bubba Watson, the length of your driver can affect your distance off of the tee. Where you might think that the longer the shaft the more distance off of the tee, the opposite is true.

"Trying a longer shaft is a popular suggestion these days, but most players should, if anything, try a shaft half an inch shorter than what's in their driver. (The average, off-the-rack driver shaft today is 45½ inches)", writes Bubba Watson.

 "Tiger Woods at his longest used a relatively short 43½-inch driver, with a steel shaft to boot. You'll find it easier to hit the sweet spot with a shorter shaft, and you can go after tee shots without losing much control."

 What else can you do to a driver in order to get more distance?

Golf instructors believe that a higher lofted driver will increase your launch angle and provide you with more carry and roll.

Where these two factors (shaft length and loft) should help improve distance with your driver, it is also important to have a teaching professional look at your golf swing as the problems may not lie with your driver but with your angle of attack.

According to PGA Pro Mark Crossfield, "the way you deliver the club to the ball also has a massive effect on launch and spin."


Is it your driver or is it you? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section of this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

What Will It Take to Win The Masters? #golf

Poor performances in previous golf events, nagging physical ailments and a fear that Augusta's bite will be ferocious are just a few of the elements in play before The Masters plays out next week. So, we ask our readers...what will it take to win The 2015 Masters Tournament...mental supremacy...physical toughness?

After a recent practice round, Tiger Woods is still undecided about whether or not he will attend The Masters; the internet is abuzz...should he? Nagging doubts, MC's and loss of touch are enough to make the back hurt even more!

While Tiger Woods is unsure of his game and physical condition, contenders like Jason Day are now using positive self-talk to gear up for the first major of the year.

Brimming with confidence, Day mentioned that his failures have made him stronger. Although there is, and will always be, pressure, the Aussie is learning how to handle it, focusing on diet, short game and an improved positive outlook.

Rory McIlroy, a 2015 Masters favorite, is looking forward to an elusive career grand-slam win next week, in spite of the albatross of a 2011 loss at the event...we'll not go into details here as golf fans must surely remember that horrifying collapse.

The good news for McIlroy is that, despite throwing a golf club into the water at Doral and negative self talk about his putting woes, he has mental pictures of fantastic finishes at the two final 2014 major events. Calling upon mental images of success will be needed next week although McIlroy will also need putting mastery in order to succeed - the physical act of rolling putts into the cup on Augusta greens is just as important.

"They're the toughest we face all year," McIlroy mentioned to Golf.com. "I don't know if it's intimidation; it's just you gotta think about them more. It does play on your mind more than other courses."

At the beginning of this golf blog we asked, "What will it take to win the Masters Tournament" and now we want to hear your answers.

Golf Digest places the green jacket on the golfer who can accurately bomb a great drive while finessing a putt into the cup. a man who remains in great physical shape while having a positive mental outlook....reads like a description of defending champion Bubba Watson?

Who is your pick to win The Masters and why? Voice your opinion on this Golf for Beginners blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners with hashtag #MastersWinner!

photo: Masters.com, linkslifegolf.com

Good Ol' Southern Boy Bubba Watson Hits The Masters Big Time - Why Me?

Golf for Beginners blog loves to hear the opinions of our readers and followers, so when this article by Spencer Blohm was submitted, we just had to print it! Thanks again for sending in your blog. If you want to submit an opinionated blog to Golf for Beginners, email Stacy at golfforbeginners@aol.com or DM on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

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For the second time in three years, Bubba Watson, the thirty-five year old from Florida, has won The Masters, making him the fastest golfer to win two green jackets. His score of three-under-par 69 put him on top of twenty-year-old phenom Jordan Spieth and Jonas Blixt, who tied for second after a close race for most of the tournament. Watson’s triumphant victory has earned him the praise of many celebrities and golf fans, as you can see in these Tweets compiled by ViralHeat.

What a superb performance @bubbawatson. Happy to see you to you win your second Green Jacket at a tournament that we all love @The_Masters.
— Gary Player (@garyplayer) April 14, 2014

What are you gonna do with 2 Green Jackets, @bubbawatson??? Congrats Bubba!!! :D
— Jordin Sparks (@JordinSparks) April 14, 2014

.@bubbawatson What a great player you have turned out to be but also, what a great guy! Congratulations on another fantastic Masters win.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 14, 2014

            Despite his win, it wasn’t a perfect game for Bubba Watson, with many of his shots being called questionable. 

His first birdie putt missed the mark on the second hole, putting Spieth in the lead, but they were tied when Spieth also pissed his birdie putt on the eighth hole. By the 13th hole, Spieth was tied with Blixt for second, with Watson leading the group three-up with another four to play. However, on the 15th it looked like it might be over for Watson as his ball landed dangerously close to the water. But the 16th, 17th, and 18th all went off without a hitch and Watson emerged the victor. 

After his final putt, Watson’s 2-year-old son Caleb rushed onto the green for a Kodak moment you couldn’t plan if you wanted to.

            After his professional debut in 2003, Watson was a largely overlooked player during the late 00’s with his highest finish in that period being a 5th place slot at the 2007 U.S. Open, his first professional championship tournament. However, with the new decade came a renewed game and his first PGA Tour win at the 2010 Travelers Championship. That same year he came in second at the PGA Championship. He progressively improved in 2011 with second and third PGA Tour wins at the Farmers Insurance Open and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans.

It was 2012 that proved to be Watson’s year. The golfer, who boasts to have never taken a golf lesson, dramatically improved his game, jumping from 38th in the Masters in 2011 to the winner in 2012. In fact, his two Masters wins are the only two wins Watson has out of his twenty-five total entries in the big four golf championships. He himself cannot believe his own success telling the L.A. Times, “Why me? Why Bubba Watson from Bagdad, Florida? Why is he winning? So I just always ask the question, why, why me?"

            It’s a triumphant moment for a golfer who has played most of his career in the shadow of Tiger Woods. He’s a sort of anti-Woods in fact, when it comes to public persona. His down home, Southern family man personality is a stark contrast to Woods’ flashy lifestyle. Despite the enormous boost to his profile, and bank account, that these recent wins have brought him, he’s still stayed true to his roots through this sudden success. In fact, to celebrate his 2012 win, he bought the original General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard and restored it. It would appear that even after all this success, Bubba Watson is still just a good ‘ol Southern boy.

And The Masters #Golf Hat Winners Are...

The 2014 Masters is now in the record books with Bubba Watson as a two-time winner - and the victory was well-deserved!

With his win over a stellar golf field, Watson takes home a $1.6 million payout, the coveted green jacket, a lifetime invite (which he already had from 2012) and probably more TV time than any other winner on Tour this year. That's a mighty fine bounty.


As you know, Golf for Beginners (and @Golf4Beginners on Twitter) were given two Masters Golf Hats as Giveaways to help spur on an already exciting first major tournament of 2014 and have chosen our winners of one women's and one men's Masters hat.

And the winners are...?

@Golf4Beginners #mastersladieshat I would love to win because it would be an honor to wear this hat on the course showing ladies love golf!
— Leeanna (@LeeannaF13) April 9, 2014

AND...

@Golf4Beginners #MastersMensHat I just lost my job and would love Masters hat! I am pretty sure it would cheer me up
— Mike Hallee⛳ (@HalleeGolfman) April 7, 2014

CONGRATULATIONS! I will be direct messaging you both on Twitter and announcing via this blog which will also go out to my social networks. Thanks to MMOGolf.com for supplying The Masters Golf Hats!

Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on the Golf for Beginners blog.

Is the Tiger Woods, Mickelson Battle for TV #Golf Supremacy Finally Over?

With Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson debuting their PGA Tour golf games at the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, fans are anxiously awaiting the Battle of the Tried-and-True Superheroes ...or are they?

Online conversations are conflicting about where the most TV action will come from this week- Golf Channel's Facebook page has a proud Tiger Woods accepting his 2013 Player of the Year Award along with Jordan Spieth (Rookie of the Year) with Woods contemplating a new entrant onto the battlefield, "It's going to be fun for a number of years battling it out," Woods was quoted as saying at the ceremony.

With Spieth and Woods teeing off with Jimmy Walker on Thursday, this pairing could most certainly turn into a future Sunday moment...although both Woods and Spieth have their work cut out for them with a pair of even scores on day one.

Expert picks mainly have Tiger Woods as the golfer providing the most action and as the winner this weekend but Woods and Mickelson, "the two biggest stars of their generation" as Fox News aptly states, may not be the only attractions worthy of prime TV time....could Stewart Cink be the man to watch?

Two long hitters, Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson, will certainly give viewers the action they seek as they tee-off along side of Aussie Jason Day. You can always expect a few fireworks from both left-handed golfers - Mickelson nearly chipped in from the parking lot to make birdie at eighteen while Watson had some chip action of his own on hole number two at Torrey Pines' North Course.


You never know when a new battle will brew or the excitement will kick up a notch - Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are both great golfers but new rivalries can happen in a heartbeat to create an infusion of excitement into the sport.

Without picking Woods and Mickelson, which golfer do you think will provide the most drama at Torrey Pines this year?

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

Tiger Woods To Win The Masters? You Can Bet On It!

There is no doubt that the latest US Masters odds has Tiger Woods as the heavy favorite to win but golf blogger skeptics don't necessarily agree.

Although an oddsmaker takes into consideration as many statistics as possible to create a point spread with an equal number of people poised to bet on either side of the line, there are still variables to take into consideration when it comes to betting on any contestant. 

In the case of Tiger Woods, for example, he comes in ready and eager to win The Masters with three victories under his belt so far this year. 

Woods is also very comfortable playing at Augusta, having won four green jackets at the same venue over the course of his career. 

Woods has won several tournaments over-and-over again because he was comfortable on that particular golf course.

Tiger Woods, Winner at The 2013 Masters?

His 2013 statistics are impeccable: Woods is the FedEx Cup points lead, number-one in the World Golf Rankings and the overall event money winner. In my opinion, where Tiger Woods stats should be weighed and measured is in his putting prowess; Woods is number-one in strokes gained putting and, as most people know, solid putting is the key to winning in golf. Drive for show? Woods ranks 145th in driving accuracy but is it more important to drive for show or putt for dough?

On the flip side, Woods has not won a major in nearly five years with his last Masters win in 2005. Younger players are no longer daunted by his prowess on the fairways. He has showed chinks in his armor and is getting older to boot. Tiger's outbursts of anger don't help his game and, in my opinion, he could use an adjustment to his old laser focus.

Woods is not the only golfer to participate in the first major golf event of the year but, judging by the hype throughout the internet, you would think The Masters is a one-man show!

What are McIlroy and Mickelson's Masters chances?

Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson are tied for second place by most oddsmakers, in the case of Paddy Power, outright odds for both stand at 11/1. 

Although Rory was a betting favorite in the 2013 Shell Houston Open, he cited a lack of events played as his reason for his inconsistency. "I need competitive golf and I need committing to targets." 

That being said, McIlroy has stumbled in his opening round at the Texas Valero Open, the primer to The Masters. If Rory does win this week,  the odds are still against him. 

Only two players have won the week before the Masters and then gone on to win at Augusta: Sandy Lyle in the Greater Greensboro Open in 1988 and Phil Mickelson in the BellSouth Classic in 2006.

Mickelson Odds are good but he's uncomfortable

Is Phil Mickelson popularity still carrying him? With a single win under his belt and only one top-ten finish, Mickelson's 2013 record doesn't offer promise to any fan willing to take a gamble on Lefty. 

He's still a fan favorite, a three-time winner at Augusta and, with a new golf driver and his new claw grip on his putter, Mickelson is seeing a resurgence in his short game... but Phil is concerned about the week off prior to the Masters. "I'm not used to taking a week off before a major," Mickelson commented. "It's not my preference."

What about the rest of the Masters field?

With an abundance of exceptional talent entered into this year's Masters Tournament, a bettor would be hard-pressed to easily determine the winner at Augusta. 

While power rankings suggest that the victor might come from the top three picks of Rory, Tiger or Phil, there are a number of "dark horses"  to consider; golfers who have made rumblings during the events they played in to be recognizable and favored. 

Last year's winner, Bubba Watson, is mostly visible due to his hovercraft golf cart, Keegan Bradley has a hot  belly putter and Justin Rose would certainly be solid choices for those fans who didn't want to go with the status quo. 

Stewart Cink, who currently ranks at 125/1, shared the lead at the Shell Houston Open and previous Masters winners, Vijay Singh (175/1) and Mike Weir (500/1) are also interesting selections for those who are considering picking their winner from long shots who have Masters wins under their belts.



Who is your pick to win The Masters? 
Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on our Facebook page.



photo credits: golfweekrankings.com, sbnation.com, golf for beginners

What to Wear If You Are Playing in The Masters #golf

With The Masters on the radar of sports and fashion enthusiasts worldwide, I received a note filled with "fashion picks" from Function 18, a UK-based golf apparel website which promises the same cutting edge look and performance as the professionals on Tour. That being said, here are Function 18's selection of who will be the most chic Masters golf apparel trendsetters.

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With excitement now building for April’s Masters Tournament, we are taking a look at some of the most stylish players taking part in this year’s event with golf fashion experts “Function 18”. We’ve weighed up their golf swings and statistics, but which of this year’s players will win in the Masters Style stakes?

Ryo Ishikawa
Watch out for Japan’s Ryo Ishikawa at this year’s event, known for his bold and stylish outfit choices whilst gracing the greens. Although his style may not be everyone’s cup of tea, it’s a breath of fresh air to see this young player experimenting with colours and prints - we’re big fans of his signature red and white ensemble.

Bubba Watson
We are keen followers of Bubba Watson's exciting and aggressive style of play! At this year's Masters, having signed a new clothing contract with Oakley, we will see him with a variety of new looks to suit his playing style. Function 18 stocks a wide range of Oakley clothing, including a range of items Bubba himself has been spotted in, including this great Oakley Fade Polo shirt from only £32.99.

 

Jason Day
The stylish young Australian is definitely a key player to watch in this year’s tournament; in fact, it will be pretty hard to miss Jason Day on the Augusta fairways. Contracted to wear the bold and bright Adidas Fashion Performance collection, we’re looking forward to seeing him wear some of the key pieces from the brand’s new spring/summer collection. 

Ian Poulter
Ian Poulter’s attitude to fashion is always fun and playful. He continues to wear his own IJP Design collection which focuses heavily on the tartan trousers, but his recent Puma shoe and belt deal has seen him showcase some of Puma’s bright, eye-catching products. Past style choices have seen him team bright yellow puma golf shoes with green check trousers; we certainly have to commend him on his confidence! Function 18 has a great range of Puma and IJP Design products are available if you want to try and re-create Ian Poulter’s interesting look. And, be sure to check out his limited edition Masters Putter Cover.

Tiger Woods
Never one to disappoint in the Majors, Woods' look is always clean-cut, fresh and modern. With young Rory McIlroy snapping at his heels, Tiger still remains a great style ambassador for Nike and his signature plain polo shirts and traditional neutral golf pants are an easy look for spectators to try themselves. Look out for red on the last day!

Rory McIlroy
Originally not one to stand out for his golf fashion, it will be interesting to see if McIlroy's new £120 million Nike sponsorship deal will give him a boost in the golfing style stakes. The Nike clubs don’t seem to be helping his game much but we have already seen him in some exciting brown/green colour combinations and we can’t wait to see more. (editor's note...with Rory McIlroy's game being compared to Tiger's at every tournament, now we can compare clothing too!)

The team at Function 18 is looking forward to the Big Masters Event in April and will be spotting the latest golf fashion trends to hit the greens in 2013. View all the latest spring/summer golf clothing for 2013 now online at function18.com.

About Function 18

Function 18 is a specialist golf apparel website offering affordable, niche garments that will set you apart from the rest, both on and off the golf course.

Function 18 has over 10 years of experience buying designer golf clothing for our UK wide network of golfers. We are able to bring to you a collection of both golf and high street brands and promise you the cutting edge look and performance that the fashion-conscious player demands.

Website: www.function18.co.uk     

Email: info@function18.com

Telephone: +44 (0) 1254 915664

Picture Credit: Function18.com has supplied the pictures for this golf blog.

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How Match Play Golf Gives Old Man Par a Stroke

Is the art of Match Play lost on golfers in the U.S. or do we simply prefer every stroke to count?

In a recent GolfWeek article, Brits such as Ian Poulter prefer "the oldest form of golf" to stroke play because it boils down to "just me against the other guy rather than the rest of the field." Bubba Watson, on the other hand, believes that "it should be everybody gets up there and tries to shoot a score."

Even Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, after their first round departure from the WGC Accenture Match Play Championships, decided to "settle the score" in a match play format although the two games ended all square.

Amateurs should probably take a tip from Poulter, McIlroy and other golfers from across the pond and rotate a game of match play into their weekly foursomes. Where it is probable, at the end of a four-day professional tournament, that stroke play will ulitmately lead to the "best" player and score, the game is not necessarily all about score for amateurs. As Henrik Stenson said about match-play format, "It's very clear what you need to do...You just have to play better than your opponent."

Here are a few reasons to opt for a game of match-play golf instead of stroke play the next time you are out with your golf buddies:

1. There is a different psychological approach to Match-Play: 

* Less stressful throughout the game (until the end if you're dormie, for example).

* Seeing your score on the card in stroke format may cause you to count strokes instead of focusing on your shot.

2. Easier to score without having a scorecard.

3. Head-to-head competition versus playing for par.

4. A playing opponent can legitimately concede your putt.

5. Focuses your attention to the adventure of a single hole when standing on the tee box. Each hole becomes its own mini-game.

6. You can make match play more fun by adding a wager per hole (skins game).


Try Match-Play the next time you go out with your friends and leave Old Man Par in the Clubhouse!


As a postscript, in my opinion it is a shame that as of this article, the Sybase Match Play Championship will no longer be an event on the LPGA Tour.


Voice Your Opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and friend on Facebook.

Should Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson be automatic Ryder Cup picks?

With three tournament wins this season for Tiger Woods and top ranking in the FedEx Cup rankings, exclusion from the Ryder Cup would be out of the question. For Phil Mickelson, however, an automatic qualification should not have necessarily been clear-cut.

The eight official automatic 2012 Ryder Cup picks not made by Team USA Captain Davis Love III are (not necessarily in order of popularity):

1. Tiger Woods:  Three wins in 2012 but struggled most recently at the PGA Championship and in the majors in general. Of course Tiger's "C" game is akin to most tour players' "A" game.

2. Phil Mickelson: One win at the ATT Pebble Beach Pro-Am, M/C three times and slid in to 14th place on the money list with a lackluster season. Perhaps it's time for Mickelson to turn in the spikes for cleats?

3. Bubba Watson: A Masters win this season and being top-8 in the Official World Golf Rankings makes the second lefty on the list more of a shoe-in than likeable Phil but cuts at both the Memorial and the U.S. Open (when the pressure was on) makes Bubba questionable as well.

4. Jason Dufner: This was definitely Dufner's year with wins at the Zurich Classic and at the HP Byron Nelson. Second place at the Crowne Plaza Invitational with a follow-up 4th place at the U.S. Open makes Dufner a rising star on the PGA Tour.

5. Keegan Bradley: Aside from being a very likeable fellow, Keegan is also a solid golfer and good clutch player. He also recently won the WGC-Bridgestone and just tied for third place at the PGA Championship. Right now, he's hot.

6. Webb Simpson: Winner of the 2012 U.S. Open....enough said.

7. Zach Johnson: Two wins this season and 4th on the PGA Tour money list. Johnson's stats include ranking 11th in putting and second place in strokes gained in putting.

8.  Matt Kuchar: Cut from the PGA Championship but first in top-10 finishes this year and 9th in scrambling from the rough on the PGA Tour.

These players are Team USA's representation at the Ryder Cup and I will be cheering them on to victory and to getting the Cup back onto US soil. Team Europe won the 2010 Ryder Cup matches by a score of 14.5 t0 13.5. Team Europe will most likely include Rory McIlroy and Luke Donald but the final decisions are to be made after the Johnnie Walker Championship.

Tiger Woods may not have won a major and may have struggled this season to regain his form but he still shows signs of progress and remains a strong contender for Team USA. Mickelson will once again have to prove to himself, more than to his loyal fans, that he still has what it takes to compete against the up and coming golfers on the PGA Tour.

The four final spots for Team USA 2012 Ryder Cup will be chosen on September 4th with Captain of the Love boat considering Hunter Mahan, Steve Stricker (one of my personal favorites and the golfer who almost bumped Mickelson off the Ryder Cup team) and Jim Furyk who Love said were "high on the list." The Wyndham Championship this week may be a deciding factor for Brandt Snedeker and Bill Haas. Love said, "we want to see how they play. Obviously, we don't have to go tell them that they are under the gun."

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

Posted via email from stacysolomon's posterous

photo credit: ClubCorp.com

Does the designation of British in The Open diminish the Championship?

I don't understand what all of the hullabaloo is about regarding adding the term "British" to "The Open Championship" yet it seems to be a sticking point for some golf fans.

When I posted this question on my Golf4Beginners Twitter page, "British Open or The Open Championship?" the responses came at me fast and furious. 

There were those folks who were adamantly against adding the term "British" such as @ray_matthew, " according to the R&A it's #TheOpenChampionship end of story" and the @Mobitee golf rep who said, "The Open Championship is what's on their site so that's what it's called."

While it is true that The Open Championship has officially been in existence since 1860, people on this side of the pond add "British" simply as an identifier to assist the more casual fan and is in no way, in my opinion,  a sign of disrespect nor does it lessen the importance of the event.

 hat being said, when I questioned the group as to how Golf Channel and NBC Sports continually preface The Open Championship with "British", @Matt_Dart91 responded, "Just because they work in TV doesn't mean whatever they say is correct. It's The Open, nothing else." 

Tiger Woods and Bubba Watson are two PGA Tour golfers who use the term #BritishOpen both with hastag and conversationally:

Tiger Woods, on his official website states, “You can have so many different weather conditions. You just don’t know. That’s one of the unique things about the British Open and why it’s my favorite Major championship.”

Tweeters who agreed with Tiger and Bubba were equally as vocal on the subject:

@rdjames01 commented, "I call it the British Open because I live in the US! Drop the country when you are from there!" and @LVGolfInsider who stated, "official name for sure is The Open Championship but leaves room for confusion here in States...Name Confusion for casual fan, speaking as one who writes about the game..."

@MilesDowsett claimed, "It's obviously The Open as it was the first one and thus oldest.....case closed."

But is the case really closed? Just because Ford was the first mass produced automobile, does that make it "The Car" with all other autos having name designations?

 In my opinion, I think anything that identifies a tournament to attract the most viewers is good for the game. I guess whatever makes the fans tune in is the best name for The Open Championship. Would I officially change the name of this major tournament? No, but I personally like adding "British" to the name. When I hear the name "The Open" I often wonder which Open?

“What’s in a name?

That which we call a rose      

By any other name would smell as sweet”  …Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare.

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

Posted via email from stacysolomon's posterous

Now that Bubba Watson has won the Masters, what will he do for an encore?

Although millions of golf fans tuned in to The Masters tournament, it was most likely to see Phil Mickelson attempt to win his fourth green jacket. As Lefty's chances faded, another left-handed golfer stepped into the limelight to steal his thunder.

To many fans, Bubba Watson's victory in a sudden death playoff is now begging the question, "What will he do for an encore?"

Will Watson become a "folk hero" as David Letterman and the latest Sports Illustrated portrayed or will he fade away, as Devil Ball Golf queried, "with fourteen different winners in the last fourteen events and twelve of those being first-time winners, the odds are not good."

Speaking of majors, the U.S. Open being played at the Olympic Club will be a proving ground for Bubba Watson. The Lake Course will "create narrow chutes on several holes that might present a problem for Watson on his tee shots," mentioned golf writer Ron Kroichick.

Bubba Watson's goal is to have (at least) ten wins but as ESPN golf analyst Justin Ray stated, his next major may not come at the US Open. Although the 'other' Lefty may be "in the mix", "the past four Masters winners not only went winless on the world's two premier tours the rest of their green jacket seasons, but they combined for just twelve top-ten finishes the rest of the way."

I would like to think that Watson has a bright future in store as long as he can focus on golf and control his temper. Just closing your eyes and hitting it hard, as Bubba stated, doesn't win tournaments.

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

Rory McIlroy, a Chandler-Slam and other hot 2011 U.S. Open golf topics

Surely the hottest buzz during the 2011 U.S. Open was in response to Rory McIlroy's tremendous golf game but there were other side stories that kept the media, and fans, humming. Here are a few memories from the 111th U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club.


1. A Chandler-Slam?  Rory McIlroy's stupendous comeback after a misstep at the Masters to become one of the youngest U.S. Open champions set the stage for a possible 2011 Chandler-Slam. Andrew "Chubby" Chandler's stable of top-notch golfers has given him a few major wins including last year's Open winner Louis Oosthuizen and 2011 Master's Champion Charl Schwartzel. Could Lee Westwood grab this year's "British Open" or will McIlroy's confidence carry him through the rest of the season?


2. The next Tiger Woods?  McIlroy will have to win quite a few more tournaments to be placed in the same league as Woods, but leave it to the media to make comparisons to get fans' juices flowing. In majors it's still Tiger Woods-14, Rory McIlroy-1.

McIlroy perfecting the Tiger Woods fist pump

3. If Tiger Woods makes a comeback, can he compete against a younger group of golfers?

Tiger Woods' physical (and mental) issues could prevent a comeback. His body is not recuperating as easily as when he was Rory's age. The youth, talent and mental strength of McIlroy may have the Tiger by his tail.


4. European Tour and Asian Tour globalize the U.S. Open. During the U.S. Open, there were questions as to whether or not an American would finish in the top-ten; if not, it would have been the first time since the early 1900's that an American could not rise to the occasion. During his reign, was Tiger Woods so overpowering as to leave a gap in the strength of the PGA Tour? European/Asian Tour players did not have the same distraction week after week.



5. Fashion sense (?) Bubba Watson's camoflage pants ; you either loved them or hated them but either way, fans had something to say about them. Come to think about it, pink pants were stylishly worn by Ryo Ishikawa but similar threads donned by Davis Love III didn't go over well, especially by a man who rides a custom chopper.


Finally, during the NBC opening sequence of the final round of the U.S. Open, a few words were noticeably left out of the Pledge of Allegiance. Although hosts apologized for the "under G-d" mis-hap, it was an unfortunate bloop (?) to make but still not as bad as Christina Aguillera's rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner."


Photo Credit: Washington Post, Huffington Post, Blog.Syracuse.com

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Bubba Watson: America's newest golf and fan favorite?

An article in The Palm Beach Post, "He's Bubba Watson, he's American and he's becoming a big time player," made Tom Petty's song "Freefalling" come to mind:

"She's a good girl, loves her mama
Loves Jesus and America too..."

Gerry "Bubba" Watson is fast becoming both a USA and PGA Tour 'best hope' as a young number-one player most likely to grab the top spot in the Official World Golf Rankings.

Although it will take time to 'rule' the rankings and push past European Tour golfers, I was curious as to why Bubba is fast becoming a fan favorite.
 

Can it be his social media conversation that engages fans? Although Watson's tweets are less than memorable, he still currently lays claim to over 122,000 followers. Bubba also shares videos with the fans and answers questions ...but he's no Ian Poulter!

Bubba Watson Twitter profile? Christian, Husband, Pro Golfer who enjoys giving back to help others grow in life! Your welcome.

A link from Twitter to Facebook simply leads a user directly to the Bubba Watson Facebook page (over 18,000 strong) which shows affiliations with great American charities,
"The Ronald McDonald House Charities, The First Tee of Northwest Florida, University of Georgia, PGA Tour, The Birdies for the Brave and The Green Beret Foundation."

Bubba may not be the great communicator that helps drive Lee Westwood or Ian Poulter's fan base, so it may well be his golf game that draws the crowd.


Watson has become a solid Tour golfer. After his second victory of 2011 came last week at the Zurich Classic and his third overall on the PGA Tour, fans are starting to cheer Bubba.

Avid golf fan and Yahoo contributor Mark Paul gave a sense of the typical fan feelings about Bubba, "He is a popular golfer because of his style of play. But he is also becoming popular for his quality of play."

Brett Martel , writer with the Associated Press added, "The lanky lefty's unorthodox swing and awe-inspiring power were already a draw."

In my opinion, being a left-handed golfer with a huge "down the middle" drive certainly helps Watson stand out in a crowd. Combine these attributes with his Mickelson-esque family involvement and his determination to become a better man and Bubba has all the makings of a PGA Tour standout.

Bubba was considered a bit of a "hothead" earlier in his career, "My wife, my caddie and my trainer would say my attitude's in the right spot," Watson said. "This week, I won [by] not getting down on bad shots, just staying focused on what I'm supposed to be doing."

"All the bad boys are standing in the shadows...", Tom Petty, "Freefalling"

Perhaps it was the ability to manage his anger which turned around Bubba's golf game placing him in a position to win. "If I'm going to support kids and do charity work, that's not a good example to lead on a golf course," relayed Bubba. "So I still have backwards steps, but hopefully I take two forward when I take one back, and so far it's working." Sounds like Watson has finally stopped freefalling and is starting a forward motion which may make him unstoppable.

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