Strong Mind of Tiger Woods Will Win The Masters says Daly

A golfer with a strong mental focus on the golf course definitely has an advantage over his or her opponents - but, is this strength of mind enough needed to win The Masters? And, is the golfer on the PGA Tour with the strongest mind still Tiger Woods?

John Daly seems to think so; in a recent interview, The Lion mentioned about Tiger Woods, "I honestly think he has a great shot at winning the Masters this year. He’s got the strongest mind out there, his mental capacity’s like (Jack) Nicklaus  — he can overcome an Arnold Palmer’s army."

Watching the Arnold Palmer Invitational viewers could see Woods' resolve but, he did make one mental error during the final round which, in my opinion, cost him the tournament - pulling out his driver when a 3-wood better suited his situation; A similar mishap occurred during the latter part of the Valspar Championship.

That being said, Woods' resolve to make a comeback is strong and that might be enough to take home his fifth Green Jacket.

It isn't easy to win any major but The Masters' tournament, being the first major of the year and always held at the same venue, holds a mystique, unlike all others. According to a Golf State of Mind blog, in addition to a clear strategy at Augusta, pro golfers also need imagination and creativity, "an incredible work ethic and determination" and the ability "to think clearly in the pressure moments."

Woods is planning his attack on Augusta, from the clubs he will place in his bag to reviewing the greens and his old course notes - if any golfer is ready to take on Augusta during The Masters, it's Tiger Woods.

Bettors and sportsbooks are taking notice; Tiger Woods is one of the top five Masters favorites after consecutive top-five finishes with Woods currently at 12/1 odds, just behind Justin Thomas. Rory McIlroy is the current favorite to win at Augusta National.

Tiger Woods recently said, “when I fully put it together again, when I know my limits, then I think I’ll start winning golf tournaments again.” Think now is his time to win?

The Masters takes place April 5–8, 2018 at Augusta National with a purse of $11,000,000. 
Watch on: CBS, ESPN.

State your case for or against Tiger Woods in the comments section of this golf blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.

Golf Club Demos, Food and John Daly at Myrtle Beach 19th Hole

Each year thousands of golfers descend upon the golf capital of the world for a chance at being named best in their flight - I am happily amazed at the growth of the Myrtle Beach Amateur Handicap Championship.

The tournament which started in 1982 with 682 participants has increased five-fold and is played on such well-known and beautiful golf courses as Caledonia Golf and Fish Club and the Barefoot Courses. Although there is a serious competitive spirit surrounding the Tournament, the focus is on FUN.

Myrtle Beach has around one-hundred golf courses, soft-sand beaches and, from last count, about 1700 restaurants so it's easy to understand why the Amateur Handicap Tournament is so popular year-after year. 

Is it the golf or the fun that brings the players back to the Beach? If you said both, you're RIGHT!

The BEST 19th Hole in the World in @myrtlebeach this week at the World Amateur #golf tournament! Ready, set, GOLF! pic.twitter.com/THZR1yYUDM

— Stacy Solomon (@Golf4Beginners) August 31, 2015

The World's Largest 19th Hole is a golfer's dream with celebrities, music and even a pro golfer in the midst. Taylor Hicks, American Idol winner, entertained, John Daly was mixing it up with his fans and stirring up the cocktails with his new vodka/tea drink (yes, it's another specialty of his) and there were putting and chipping contests, simulators and a line of PGA Tour Superstore booths filled with the latest golf equipment for hitting and testing by the participants.

My neighbor has been talking about the latest Wilson D200 driver and, lo and behold, there was a left-handed club waiting for me to test! My current driver is a Callaway X2 Hot so I went armed to the hitting booth ready to compare the two - here are my findings.

I could feel the "Reactive Face Technology" with every hit - there was definite forgiveness from the club as my shots seemed pretty straight from the get-go. I found the D200 to be very light but, for me, the head seemed to lag a bit (could have been the shaft). Overall a pretty good golf club to test against others when you go to PGA Tour Superstore to get fitted for your next driver. I also tried (and loved) the Ping G30 hybrid; high, straight, sweet-spot shots from the get-go, 

Barry got a hold of several irons too - he found the Titleist AP1 to have the best ball action off of the club face.

Booths each night were filled with a variety of tasty treats from southern barbecue and crab meat wontons to Shocktop and other refreshments. The lines, although a bit long, were quick moving and very chatty with golfers from Tennessee to Wisconsin talking about their day on the links.

I know that the Myrtle Beach World Am is all about the golf but...Thursday was the last night to attend the festivities and I'm getting hungry just thinking about my experience!

These folks (& ME) can't wait to taste tonight's Southern #BBQ at #MyrtleBeach World Am 19th hole! #golf pic.twitter.com/tHKtO2CyM4

— Stacy Solomon (@Golf4Beginners) August 31, 2015 

Have you attended the Myrtle Beach World Am Handicap Championship? Which was your favorite golf course...or was it the 19th hole that took center stage? Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and on our Golf for Beginners blog.


Thanks to Chris King - Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday

Odds of Swan Songs Winning the PGA Championship? #golf

The stage is set for drama at The PGA Championship, Whistling Straits, the last official major golf tournament of the season. This major could be considered a swan song for several golfers and, quite possibly, the introduction of names that were barely on the lips of fans last year. With this golf blog, let us have a look at a few of the elder statesman of the game, defiantly grasping at glory to hold the Wanamaker Trophy before heading to greener pastures.

Born and raised in Wisconsin, fan favorite Steve Stricker was once ranked as the number two player in the World. Now nursing himself back to health after back surgery, Stricker's time on the PGA Tour is limited; he becomes a member of the Champions Tour in 2017. According to Golf.com,  Stricker's odds of winning are 150 to 1 - I hear a swan singing....

One more elder statesman on the PGA Tour who is running out of time and luck is David Toms, whose last winning season was four years ago but who has prior experience winning the 2001 PGA Championship. Paired with Vijay Singh in a stellar field that includes Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson and David Lingmerth, both Toms and Singh have similar odds of winning in the range of 300 to 1.

Hard-living, forty-nine-year-old John Daly, considered to be "every-man" and a crowd favorite, has an Open and a PGA Championship in the back pocket of his Loudmouth pants but, according to Examiner.com, his odds of winning are about 500 to 1. One good thing about watching Daly play is you never know what's going to happen next - #keepingitreal.

Okay, so he's not quite ready for the Champions Tour but, at thirty-nine years old, time is ticking away for the former number-one golfer in the world, Tiger Woods. Although Woods has ten years of play ahead of him on the PGA Tour, the question is, are they going to be winning years or more of the same middle-of-the-pack struggles? Although Tiger's odds are now about 30 to 1, he still cannot be counted out.

Bleacher Report stated about Woods, "The 14-time major champion hasn't finished in the top-10 of any tournament in which he's entered, and that run includes missed cuts at both the U.S. Open and Open Championship."

Any one of these great golfers can win at any time - don't hold their ages or medical issues against them but, with up-and-coming golfers like Jordan Spieth who has won two out of three majors during the 2015 season, it is unlikely that these seasoned players will make a move this week.

Which other golfers should probably hang up their spikes or move on in the fairway of life? Voice your opinion on our Golf for Beginners blog and on Twitter @Golf4Beginners.


photo: fansided.com, jrn.com

After the U.S. Open, why golf fans need the Travelers Championship

After last week's lackluster U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, here are five reasons why you should either watch the Travelers Championship on television this week or take a drive and see it live if you live within a close enough radius of Cromwell, Connecticut (I'm on that two-hour cusp!)

1. The natural beauty of TPC River Highlands golf course and holes 15-18 in particular have been written about extensively and need to be seen to be appreciated. Highlands is the opposite of Pebble Beach, in my opinion, and both are equally beautiful.

PGA Tour on Facebook asked if fans have any tips for the pros playing at TPC River Highlands this week (join the conversation!)

Answers ranged from mine which was more tempered to those who have a "grip it and rip it" mentality.

I said (Stacy Solomon):

Lay-up on #15, go deep to avoid false front on #16th green, consider water in play on #17 & bunker on right of 18th green may be better than facing than facing swale on left.

Seriously PGATour.com, should I really be offering advice to the best golfers in the world?

2. Top PGA Tour golfers like defending champion Kenny Perry, Padraig Harrington and Rickie Fowler will be up-close-and-personal, from the driving range to the putting green.

3. Michelob Ultra 19th Hole Concert Series brings out some of the best local bands in CT. Concerts will be held on Friday and Saturday, right after capping off a great day of golf!

4.  Golf fans disappointed after a lackluster 2010 U.S. Open need a golf  "recovery" tournament.

5. See the new and improved, slimmer John Daly at 185 pounds. Daly's rib injury seems to have passed and he is now working with improved confidence. JD is a great golfer to watch when he's in form but looking into the sun might be better for the eyes as his bright yellow and purple colored outfit can leave you with flash camera spots!

Check the Golf Channel for weekday schedule, CBS-TV for weekend play or catch the action on PGATour.com.

Bizarre Headlines from Tiger Woods to John Daly Cheapen Masters Ambience

Each year during Masters week, the game of golf has been reflected upon in its purest form. Golfers of days gone by were revered, statistics and quotes of incredible shots were remembered and everyone was deciding on the "right" way to make a pimento cheese sandwich.

Do a Google search this week for "Masters" and a more bizarre and less "Southern" feeling emerges.

John Daly has set up his RV directly across the street from the Augusta National parking lot conducting his own business by selling and signing memorabilia to fans. Daly was not invited to Augusta National as a guest but decided to show up anyway, hoping to make more money in sales than from an appearance fee.

There is more Tiger Woods chat than you can shake a stick at since he is the big draw this week and the reason for an 82-person security detail. Partnering with Woods will be K.J. Choi and Matt Kuchar. The big scoop, however, is that former(?) mistress Joslyn James will be headlining her own act in nearby Atlanta.

James is making a special appearance at the Pink Pony strip club during Masters week. The Pink Pony is playing up the Tiger Woods/Joslyn James scenario by offering directions from Augusta National to (another good ole boys) Club and the tag line, "The former porn star will be dancing on the bars while Tiger is hitting pars!"

Two greats of the game are also making their appearance in the news, Fred Couples and Raymond Floyd. Couples thinks he still has a chance to win and Floyd realizes that it's the end of the line and is calling it quits after 45 Masters Tournaments. Couples should consider sticking with the Champions Tour because even though he has won three times this year and placed second, no fifty-year old golfer has ever won The Masters.

This year at Augusta National will certainly NOT be your father's Masters!

Tiger Woods' Masters Chatter takes center stage from John Daly

Which PGA Tour event is being played this week?

Maybe this is just a rhetorical question as anyone keeping track of the PGA Tour can easily find the information but, with the internet and other assorted golf venues clogging up the airwaves with the return of Tiger Woods at the Masters Tournament, I had to go to the very bottom of the Golf Channel website in order to find out that the Transitions Championship is being telecast live today. I guess the Golf Channel must feel that "buzz" sells better than golf.

Even the mesmerizing John Daly, with his own Golf Channel presence and past indiscretions, cannot hold the attention of the public like the current fiasco which surrounds Woods. 

I wonder if Daly is happy that the press is leaving him be for the present or dismayed about his loss of coverage to Tiger?

From "The Biggest Story Ever" which claims that Tiger Woods is indeed not as "big" as the Masters itself (but his story is) to "Things We Won't See or Hear at the Masters" which is basically a litany of Tiger briefings aimed at quelling the Q & A's before they start flying, golf writers are having a field day wondering what to talk about next in order to get as much press out of "The Return" as possible.

Frankly, I'm just interested in hunkering down to my yearly ritual and watching the Masters at Augusta. Knowing in advance that this particular major is known for its southern graciousness and hospitality, I don't think it will be because of the Masters that the tournament turns into a media circus.

As Richard Roeper stated, "With Tiger's return, the 2010 Masters will probably be the highest-rated golf tournament ever -- but that still won't make it the second-biggest event in 10 to 15 years." That is, as Roeper mentioned, unless Woods has the wherewithal to levitate above the golf course and start speaking in tongues."

Let's give each tournament the respect it's due, follow golf for the sake of the sport and leave personal sentiment and proclivities behind closed doors, where they belong!

Check out the Transitions Championship this week on the Golf Channel.

John Daly, Chris DiMarco among golfers playing the Puerto Rico Open waiting game

Today was supposed to be an early start to Day One at the Puerto Rico Open but Mother Nature did not comply. Early rains and a very wet Trump International golf course delayed the resumption of Round One despite all efforts to make the course playable, including a helicopter to blow dry the fairways.

Instead I took an early morning swim in one of the largest pools I have ever seen at the Gran Melia. After un desayuno muy delicioso (it's amazing how you can learn Spanish so quickly here) at the Soleil Cafe, we wandered through the royal gardens, again waiting for word that play would continue but...no luck.

The waiting game is more frustrating for the golfers than for the press or even for the fans. While stretching our legs we came across John Daly who was heading over to Trump International Golf Course. Jonathan Margolies was standing at the front desk with us but not to practice as he unfortunately missed the cut this week.

On the tram over to Trump GC, Chris DiMarco mentioned that he was "bored" and when Barry asked does this happen often DeMarco replied, "this year there have been a lot of weather delays. It's just something you have to get used to."

Vance Veazey's caddie, John, was offering me tips on the mental game of golf. I was curious as to how heavy Vance's bag is and John said, "give it a try", so I did and found out that almost sixty pounds of dead weight is too much to carry for eighteen holes. I give John, and all caddies, a lot of credit!

Crossing our fingers, the golfers should get out by 4:35 pm. Even so, with only about two hours of sunlight left for the day, I don't think that anyone will complete Round One of the Puerto Rico Open today without the help of a flashlight!

Why the Puerto Rico Open is "Must See TV"

Both the Puerto Rico Open and the WGC-CA Championships are being played this week but Doral doesn't quite hold the same "mystique" as in previous years.

With Tiger Woods opting out of another event on the PGA Tour schedule, fans need excitement and the Puerto Rico Open is an event ready to comply!

Here are just a few reasons to tune in to the 2010 Puerto Rico Open this week:

1. This is the only stop on the PGA Tour that lands in Puerto Rico. In 2009, forty-two year-old Michael Bradley landed an 11-foot birdie putt to seal the deal at the 18th hole on Trump International Golf Club. He will be in the field to defend his win.

2. John Daly received a sponsor's exemption. Expect the Lion's clothes to match his colorful spirit. As he said on Twitter, "Changing out grips and Gettin Ready for a great Week at the Puerto Rico Open."

3. Check out some of Latin America's finest players: Rafael Campos, Max Alverio and Erick Morales. The PGA Tour is not all about Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker, now is it?

4. Champions Tour golfers Tom Pernice Jr. and Fred Funk will be in the field. Let's watch Funk's return after knee surgery I don't think Vijay Singh ever really recovered, do you?

Tom Kite, the course designer of Trump International GC, among other great golfers, will also be in the field.

5. Trump International Golf Club, at 7,526 yards, is one of the longest on the PGA Tour. Scores have been so close in the previous two years of the event which leads to dramatic thrills on the 18th green. Views of El Yunque Rain Forest and the Atlantic Ocean are breathtaking!

Puerto Rico is a 3,350 square mile Commonwealth of the USA. Watching this stop on the PGA Tour may just give you the desire to visit the Shining Star of the Caribbean!

The Golf Channel will cover the event from Thursday through Sunday. Check your local listings.

Golf for Beginners will also be on hand in Puerto Rico! Follow along with Golf4Beginners and PuertoRicoOpen on Twitter!

Surely you cannot miss Chi-Chi Rodriguez smacking his ceremonial first tee shot! I wonder if he'll be swinging his golf club like a sword...

Will Tiger Woods be too old to take Olympic gold? Also Harrington on Woods and John Daly limps off course again

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A word within almost every sports column in the United States is that Tiger Woods 'choked' and gave up a 54-hole lead at the PGA Championship to the golfer who stood in 110th position before the Sunday start, Y.E. Yang. Did Tiger choke or only prove that he is human after all?

'Choke' is a strong word to associate with Tiger Woods and it is not supposed to happen to the one golfer that everyone believed to be made of steel, an alien from another planet to many fans. Some may say that he brought his "B" or "C" game to the final round of the fourth major and others may claim that Woods now has chinks in his armor but rimmed putts are hardly the stuff of failure.

A second place finish yesterday makes it difficult to say that Tiger allowed "a hungrier, more focused, more composed golfer kick the stuffing out of him" as written by Jay Mariotti. Let us reserve that visualization for Padraig Harrington whose quintuple bogey forced him to drop his head once again and sigh his way through another event with Tiger in the field.

Should golfers in future events be less fearful in a face-off with Woods?

Five wins this season is hardly a sign that Tiger is slipping off of his pedestal but lacking a major win this season also cautions fans that he can be beaten. Woods doing negative self-talk? That hardly ever happens either and perhaps Tiger is not even aware of it but when he rolls the playback, which he will, I'm sure that Woods will come back stronger than ever.

Fed Ex Cup golfers, BEWARE!

As far as Olympic glory in 2016, I don't think a forty-year-old Woods will compete but, on the other hand, the gold medal would look great in his trophy room. The problem is, could folks stand it if Tiger only came home with a bronze medal?

Golf for Beginners also reviews Padraig Harrington's thoughts on why Tiger should have won the PGA Championship and how any golfer can follow his progression.

We also look at the real reason why John Daly walked off the golf course at the PGA Championship.


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Photo Credit: © Telegraph/AFP

John Daly interview. Also, an environmentally friendly mosquito repellent that works!

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John Daly says that he is finally done with the "drama" in his life, has signed an endorsement deal with both an energy drink company and Loudmouth Clothes and is returning to the PGA Tour at the St. Jude Championship next week courtesy of a sponsor's exemption. He will also attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open. Another major win? Daly maintains that his confidence, his fighting spirit and his "feel for the game" will direct him in a positive direction.

Daly has played solidly in Europe, honing his skills with the assistance of golf instructor Rick Smith and believes he is "ready to play" on the PGA Tour. After the BMW Championship, JD mentioned to the Associated Press, "I'm not going to be (half-trying) like I've done in the past. I know I may not play the tour if something good doesn't happen. It's making me work harder."

John enjoys connecting with his fans on a regular basis through social marketing websites, Facebook and Twitter, tweeting to keep them up-to-date on his life journey. In fact, that is precisely how I met Daly. His responsiveness is precisely why I decided to follow him on Twitter.

After communicating for some time, I asked him if I could email him a few sentences longer than 140 characters. Well, the Lion responded and here is the result of our email contact.


What are you and Coach Rick Smith working on?
Daly: Finish the backswing and shorten my putting stroke.

It seems almost every one on Tour these days pairs a mental coach alongside of swing coaches. Do you have a mental game coach and, if so, what kind of thoughts are you instilling?
Daly: I use my golf coach Rick Smith and we try to set goals and positive re-inforcement.

What charges you up during a tournament?
Daly: Having a good round prior to a tournament start.

How do get rid of negative thoughts during a round?
Daly: Make a birdie.

Are you afraid of anything?
Daly: Snakes, gators and ex-wives.

Golfers always played in funky clothes. Now that you're playing in Loudmouth Clothes, people are taking notice. Do you think its the clothes or that you are wearing them or both?
Daly: Both

Do you think it's becoming a necessity for sports celebrities to connect with their fans or are you just interested in what your fans are thinking?
Daly: I have always been interested in my fans.

Does Twitter fascinate you and why?
Daly: I like that I can send messages direct to my fans and it comes from me.

Do you use other social networking sites?
Daly: Facebook and JohnDaly.com Follow John Daly on Twitter.

A 66 at the Italia Open, good results all around on the European Tour with the BMW PGA Championship just around the corner. Do you feel the European Tour is affording you a way to hone your game for when you are reinstated into the PGA Tour?
Daly: The European Tour guys are just as great as the US PGA Tour guys.

Have you had any conversations with the powers that be on the PGA Tour regarding with which event you will be reinstated?
Daly: Yes, June 1st.

Do you think your suspension was fair and, agree or not, do you think the suspension helped you as a person?
Daly: No, I don't think it was fair at all, further mentioning to the AP, "I don't really feel I deserved to be suspended, but I'm not going to dwell on it. I'm going to turn it into a positive. I'm getting my life back in order and I'm more organized."

Does good golf mimic good life or is one of the qualities of being a successful pro the ability to overcome it (obstacles)?
Daly: Good Golf means a more confident life both personal and in my game.

Right now, if you could choose the Race to Dubai or FedEx Cup which one would you dedicate yourself to and why?
Daly: I would like to do both.

John Daly is currently focusing his efforts on the Race to Dubai where he has a shot at the $1.6 million dollar prize. Daly is ninety-fourth in the standings and only the top seventy competitors are eligible to compete in the season-ending Dubai World Championship. There is plenty of time left to make a move and, with Daly's commitment to his future growing day-by-day, we might just see the Lion roaring in the winner's circle!

Golf for Beginners show also includes a discussion about the new, environmentally friendly Bug Bam mosquito repellent.


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This podcast is supported by GolfCalifornia.com, 1-866-351-1688.

Photo Credit: © JohnDaly.com

Do the Caddyshack and the hole-in-one and don't let your macho get in the way

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With the excitement surrounding "the new and improved" John Daly's return to the PGA Tour and the buzz encircling 2008 Rolex Rookie of the Year Yani Tseng's win at the Corning Classic with an upcoming second major try at the McDonalds LPGA Championship, golfers are getting out onto the course in droves attempting to mimic the shots of the professionals.

More often than not, amateurs are stepping to the back tees and seeing more of the golf course than need be, and this usually refers to the men! Does this sound like you, Mr. Macho? Whereas women, in my opinion, are inclined to play a game of accuracy, men have a tendency to ignore course and slope ratings in favor of the thrill of "tipping it out" with a similar level of ability as from a more forward position.

But, is it such a terrible affair to try your luck from the tips, not worrying so much about which teebox suits your skill level or will it help improve your game in the long run?

If your tee shots are shorter than your opponents, you may not be able to "drive for show" and you may be forced to use longer clubs on your approach to the green. The inability to outdrive your competitor may actually creep into your mental game, psyching you out and forcing you to question your ability.

Commenters on the Golf Channel's discussion boards agree that ego plays a large part in the game of golf. Problems that ensue include overswinging as well making bad course management decisions.

As one analogy stated, "If you were a beginner or intermediate skier would you ski down a double black diamond run? Unlikely.

Most recently I have been placed into the position of playing from the "whites" or men's tees (in many cases) and found that the game changes enormously as you step back. After several attempts of struggling with my long game and mainly woods, I moved forward to the ladies tees and the result was definitive! I actually found myself more self-assured, with my entire game cooperating from tee to green.

I can't hit a golf ball 295 yards just short of the green like Michelle Wie does so my ego is put on hold by keeping home plate at the senior tees!

This week, Golf for Beginners focuses on fun and easy golf exercises to improve core strength and flexibility so that, when you do get out to the course, you will be the Tiger on the tee!


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Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

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

This podcast is supported by GolfCalifornia.com, 1-866-351-1688.

Will PGA Tour booze throw Daly off the wagon? Also, Haney grip tip and Harmon says don't hold back

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PGA Tour title sponsor negotiations are in high gear as a number of agreements will expire in 2010. With a current bailout of six mainstays and a weakened economy looming, options are dwindling despite the aggressive efforts of Tim Finchem.

Crowne Plaza is the most recent sponsor to jump ship two years before its scheduled exit date and takes along with it seven million dollars in endorsement and media commitments. FBR and Ginn are two additional casualties leaving Tim Finchem to bemoan, "We've obviously had, and are having, some bumps in the road."

Temporary declines in attendance also hurt the tour and were to some degree caused by the 2008 absence of Tiger Woods but, since his return, that ship has righted itself.

There are also corporations eager to extend the life of their sponsorship deals as well as new deals on the horizon, forcing Commissioner Finchem to think outside the box when considering any and all offers.

New ideas to help soften a hard-hit Tour? Introduce hard liquor and casinos as sponsors, once thought of as the bane to a sophisticated American way of life.

In my opinion, allowing spirit sponsorships can add a whole new host of problems although the PGA Tour has been loosening up a bit knowing that estimates run as high as fifty million dollars for the Tour if they just change the rules to allow it. But if you amend the rules, accept any and all penalties because of it.

How would fans behave if spirit companies forced a plan on the PGA Tour to offer their liquor during tournaments? Nascar on grass!

But the PGA Tour will have to find a poster child other than John Daly to sell this idea to the public. Daly is svelte and says he's almost totally off the sauce. If hard liquor was title sponsor of events when Daly had committed his egregious activiites, would he still have received a six month suspension or just a slap on the wrists?

On this week's Golf for Beginners show we wonder what allowing hard liquor will do to the PGA Tour. And, if the PGA Tour relaxes its rules, would there be more questionable sponsors lining up in the conga line?



Life without Annika at this year's Sybase Classic is discussed.

Hank Haney also helps us easily fix a slice using the basics of G.A.S.P. and Butch Harmon's golf tip tells us how not to hold back.


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Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes. Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!

Get to know us on You Tube and MySpace and TWEET US on Twitter!

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

This podcast is supported by GolfCalifornia.com, 1-866-351-1688.

Photo Credit: © Fanhouse.com, Robert LaBerge, Getty Images, Businessweek.com

Tiger Woods' billion-dollar record, Daly's down-under, winter golf drills

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Fear not Bill Gates! Tiger Woods will not topple the richest man in the world off of his pedestal! Tiger would require about $57 billion in order to achieve this goal but he is certainly on his way! It has been reported that Woods, even with a bum knee and attending only six golf tournaments this year has made (both on and off the course) an estimated $117 million, bringing his total earnings to just under $900 million.

If Tiger plays equally as well in 2009 as he did last season and picks up another sponsor to offset the $50 million loss of his General Motors contract, there is the possibility that Woods could crack the $1 billion mark by the end of the year.

Even if Woods barely grazed the billion dollar ceiling, it is improbable that he would join Gates on the Forbes 400 as "the price of admission … is $1.3 billion for the second year in a row." Heads up, George Steinbrenner, the Tiger is on your tail!

Prediction as to how Tiger Woods will climb the ranks of the world's richest humans? His "mini-tour" will become the place where the top golfers play for high purses, turning the PGA Tour into a shell of its former self.

While Tiger is busy building golf courses and instituting himself as the harbinger of a new age in sports, John Daly is complaining that this is the "lowest point" in his life. At one point, Daly had enough money to gamble away some $50 million but now the US PGA Tour has suspended John, forcing him onto the European Tour to play in their events.

Daly, who has dived to an unimpressive 736 position in the world rankings, should be grateful for this new opportunity to "reinvent himself". Unfortunately, I think the European Tour would be more appreciative if John would continue his antics across the pond. The Australian Tour offers him a pittance, equivalent to about $50,000 of flights and accommodations (and probably all of the beer that he wants) and, in exchange, receives about $3 million in publicity that they certainly would not have had otherwise!

This week, Golf for Beginners talks about Tiger Woods' ranking both on and off the course as well as John Daly's opportunity for a change of pace. We also offer a few golf drills to practice during the cold of winter.





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Photo Credit: © Smh.com/AP, stopmikelupica.com

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Is unemployment taking its toll on the Tiger Woods team? John Daly flashed by spectator; eyes still burning. Callaway Big Bertha Irons Review

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If you have ever taken an extended leave from your job, you also factor into it that there will be a mess to clean up when you return. Such is the case with Tiger Woods as his "brand" is taking a hit.

Woods' Gillette commercial was a flop so said the British, Buick (GM) decided to end his contract, an outburst from his caddy, Steve Williams, required damage control and today, Padraig Harrington took the coveted GWAA Player of the Year Award. Team Tiger is showing cracks in the armor. What will it take to right the ship? The only solution is for Tiger Woods to get back to work, and soon, otherwise his next scenario could be that he loses his number-one spot on the PGA Tour.

In other news, the camera smashed by John Daly has been placed on eBay in the hopes that the alleged 'space invader' will earn enough to purchase another camera. Should Daly have offered retribution after destroying the spectator's property? So far neither Daly nor tournament officials have offered assistance but that doesn't matter as the current bid is at $500 with interested parties lining up to "own a piece of this very controversial incident".

Golf for Beginners also reviews Callaway Golf Big Bertha Irons made exclusively for women. Forgiveness is key as i-brids are used in place of longer irons. Fat shots are no longer an option as the wider sole glides effortlessly on the turf. The set features distinct Callaway technology which translates into a lower center of gravity creating a higher launch angle and better trajectory to get the ball airborne. I think both male and female golfers can relate to this strategy. I played golf with a foursome that included three left-handed golfers. One player asked me to try the Big Berthas and effortlessly picked a ball clean with a five-iron off the turf with his first shot.



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Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.

Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!

Check us out on MySpace!

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

This podcast is supported by Arizona Golf Packages, 1-866-444-0992.


Photo Credit: © Oldmencrying.com

A new ruling ousts John Daly from PGA Tour event; who's next? Also, how to overcome windy conditions and driving range tips

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John Daly was recently one of the casualties who fell prey to a new PGA Tour edict which punishes golfers on the cut line if there are too many lurking there. His comment about his fate at the Sony Open? "It's a stupid rule."

Whereas this new regulation is probably an effort to speed up play, keeping the event within television programming limits, I wonder if it will detract from the excitement of the game? Consider the following conjecture.

Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson are both getting off to a rough start at the Buick Invitational this week and both are walking a thin line. They wind up tied with a pile-up of players and get cut because there were too many golfers already on the brink. Both are sent packing with their meager winnings and FedEx points.

Are you still going to watch the Buick Invitational without the two big names playing the weekend?

Is it fair that golfers who get cut still collect their pay and receive their points but don't participate? Or is the PGA Tour just spoonfeeding this new rule planning to cut those benefits as well in the future?

Right now it appears that the fans are the only ones who will suffer the consequences of this ruling.

Also in this week's Golf for Beginners podcast, we discuss the complexities of playing golf in the wind along with the assistance of PGA Professional Instructor Ben Alexander. Tips on target practice are also featured.


Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.

Subscribe to our newsletter!
Click Here to receive our archived podcasts and 100's of easy golf tips free!

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

This podcast is supported by Florida Golf Travel.

This podcast is supported by New Roc Harley Davidson, your worldwide parts and accessories distributor. Great rides start here!.

Tiger Woods advice an about-face to Daly's "Golf My Own Damn Way". Also Ernie Els on reading your lie in a fairway bunker

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While PGA Tour leader Tiger Woods and LPGA's number-one golfer Lorena Ochoa maintain a strict workout and practice regimen in order to achieve their highest goals, John Daly's offbeat approach of how to "Golf My Own Damn Way" relies on unconventional wisdom.

He claims he prepared for his Open win by downing ten chocolate-filled croissants. He also loves M&M's and ate twenty packets in a single round. Daly says that your belly is the key to a solid golf swing.

Could you imagine Tiger Woods utilizing this advice? Daly's book is like the Antichrist to Woods' book, "How I Play Golf".

Daly's approach to a solid golf score far from scientific but he does make some interesting points which might help the amateur. And, he's just plain funny. Golf for Beginners realizes that a happy demeanor during your round will offset the occasional poor shot and so this week's podcast is chock-full of golf tips from John Daly's new book.

This is golf's "silly season"...what did you expect?

On the serious side, we also discuss a tip from Ernie Els, found in the pages of Golf Digest Magazine. The fairway bunker offers many challenges because it's not necessarily a shot you regularly practice. This tip on how to correctly read your lie and select the appropriate golf club for the situation will take the guesswork out of your next bunker challenge.


Send your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed:http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes.

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

This podcast is supported by Arizona Golf Packages and Florida Golf Travel.

This podcast is supported by New Roc Harley Davidson, your worldwide parts and accessories distributor. Great rides start here!.

Will Daly's six-pack and Mickelson's roll of the dice challenge Woods for FedEx cup, RedEye i330 laser putter update, deep rough maneuvers and more!

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Even though Phil Mickelson resumed a practice regimen for the PGA Championship, it still wasn't enough to beat (or even compete against) Tiger Woods, who won his thirteenth career major after a sweltering weekend at Southern Hills.

Did practice make a difference for Mickelson or should he have taken the "John Daly approach", going in cold after a diet of casino play and cold beer? Both Mickelson and Daly finished with a +6 after four rounds of play and both appeared to be in good spirits afterwards with Phil claiming, "I don't want to be hard on myself because, for a couple, I wasn't able to make the swings and hit the shots I needed to try to hit," feeling that his Players Championship victory is "what salvaged the year for me."

John Daly, ever optimistic commented, "It was a good week, just take small steps."

Mickelson looked confused and tired. Should he have just said, "the heck with it" and played agressively this weekend? Mickelson would have probably had more fun and may have scored better! Although Daly's approach to Southern Hills finished with the same results, in the end, Daly looked like he played the better game.

So what's next for Phil Mickelson? He says he's excited about the FedEx Cup playoffs but will we see a showdown between Lefty and Tiger Woods? My guess is that Woods will walk away with the ten million dollars although Daly is always an unknown.


This week on Golf for Beginners we give you an update on Barry's progress with the RedEye i330 laser putter, golf tips on dealing with the rough and how to stop topping the ball.

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or through iTunes. Nextel/Sprint cell customers type http://www.mymbn.com/podcast/ in your browser and click on "sports casts". Our station number is 1955.

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

This podcast is supported by San Diego Golf Central and Florida Golf Travel.

This podcast is supported by New Roc Harley Davidson, your worldwide parts and accessories distributor. Great rides start here!.