Euro Tour ships Mickelson back to the US. Are Mickelson, Woods Olympic hopefuls? Rhythm and Rules

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Phil Mickelson has dropped out of the 2009 Race to Dubai because he said he doesn’t have enough time to dedicate to both the European and PGA Tours. With second-rate performances at the two opening Euro Tour events in China, Mickelson may have felt his chances of making an upward move were slipping deciding instead to get out early and “save face”.

Add Sergio Garcia’s leapfrog into second place in the World Rankings and that Tiger Woods may return for the 2009 PGA Tour season and Mickelson is probably more concerned with defending interests here at home than the struggle to climb atop yet another ranking system.

One slip at a time Phil, although Mickelson insisted, "I really don't think about the world rankings right now very much."

Go ahead Phil. Keep asserting that you’re not losing any sleep over your drop in the World Rankings and I’ll bet that, eventually, you’ll start believing it too!

As Barry and I watched the final round of the Barclays Singapore Open, it appeared evident with every failed putt that Mickelson would be relieved to be heading back to the States on his new fourteen passenger Gulfstream conveyance. Life can be really tough on the Tour!

Add to the above an article in the latest Callaway Golf Magazine written by the extremely outspoken Johnny Miller which mentioned, "Who wouldn’t relish the prospect of Tiger and Phil battling it out for individual gold at the Olympics" and the fuel was flamed for this week’s Golf for Beginners broadcast!



Whereas Miller states that golf has gone global, he also mentions that the two men fighting for gold honors would be two Americans…so where then has golf gone global? Also, if golf is approved as a summer sport, it would not be introduced until the 2016 games. Woods would be about forty years old and Mickelson would be about ready to join the Champions Tour. Now, where’s the fun in that, I ask?

Also, with guys like Phil and Tiger going after "gold" every week in the form of million dollar payouts and glimmery FedEx type trophies, an Olympic event would seem more like just another stop on the PGA Tour. Instead, listen to what Golf for Beginners has in mind if golf becomes an Olympic sport!

In addition, we talk about Lorena Ochoa’s belief that a lack of rhythm affected her quest to win her own Invitational. Rules taken from the glossy and easy-to-use Golf Rules Quick Reference Guide about embedded and damaged golf balls, are also featured.

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Can Michelle Wie save the LPGA? Also, one way to conquer a troublesome course and can Stacy bring team spirit to stroke play?

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Michelle Wie didn't make the cut and received no exemptions for the Ricoh Women's British Open this week so what does she do? She shrugs it off and goes Tour-hopping, increasing the box-office revenue at the Reno-Tahoe Open instead!

With a star-studded list of PGA Tour professionals attending the WGC Bridgestone Invitational, tournament directors at the B-List event realized that offering a precious exemption to a relative unknown was tantamount to television suicide, so why not offer the golden ticket to the princess of DQ's and MC's?

Add to that the last minute entry of David Duval and you have a recipe for the highest ratings ever on a Sunday. Could you imagine a final round pairing of Duval and Wie? That's like Frankenstein going head-to-head with Godzilla in a celebrity death match!

With the LPGA struggling to keep several of its its events alive for 2009, it would be a wise idea for Carolyn Bivens to consider giving Michelle Wie a full-blown exemption for the new season. The Ginn Company, primarily a real-estate business, pulls the strings to the tune of $25 million over four yearly events on the circuit. A restructuring due to a downturn in the economy means that the Ginn Tribute will be out of the loop next year. The Safeway, the Fields Open and the SemGroup Championship have also backed out their support of the Tour.

A lack of television exposure doesn't help either, making the climate ripe for Michelle Wie to earn her weight in gold!

This week Golf for Beginners addresses television dynamo Michelle Wie, and whether or not it was a good idea for her to jump ship, leaving the LPGA for greener pastures.

Last week we discussed the three steps to go from beginner to winner. Taking Barry's advice, I wound up winning a team best-ball event, posting a terrific score at Branton Woods in the process. Find out how I did it!

Finally, I offer Barry an easy way to defeat Hudson Hills golf course, where blow-up holes abound.

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

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Ochoa replaces Sorenstam as "Tiger Woods" of LPGA, Ping G10 irons vs Mizuno MP-30 Forged, how to work your waggle and the Ryder Cup on Wall Street

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It was kind of comical (in a purely charming and farfetched way) watching Lorena Ochoa handily defeat her closest opponents wire-to-wire by eleven strokes at the HSBC. Annika Sorenstam could not muscle up the cojones to take her on. Paula Creamer hadn't enough reserves in her tank. And according to Ochoa, "on the weekend I wasn't as good with the putter but I managed to shoot under par every day."

Could Lorena Ochoa be the next "Tiger Woods" of the LPGA Tour?

Woods/Ochoa being groomed for greatness

Perhaps Annika's record prior to 2007 is strong like Tiger's but, if Lorena continues her winning ways, Sorenstam may be just a golf memory, making babies instead of birdies by next season.

Annika Sorenstam had a successful run a few years back, with accolades that included numerous majors, Vare Trophies, mulitple wins in the same event, etc. When one looks at her career, it is worthy of a place in history. But, after an injury sidelined her last year, Sorenstam is now struggling to place second instead of clearing the field like the stallion of yore. Still, some players never even achieve six top-ten finishes in a single season with a healthy back.

But it was Ochoa who compared best with Woods last year. Lorena took home eight trophies; Tiger garnered seven wins including the coveted FedEx Cup.

So hats off to Mexico's Lorena Ochoa whose quick and easy work made the rest of the field look like amateurs in her presence!

As for this week's Golf for Beginners podcast, Barry compared Ping G10 irons to Mizuno's MP-30 Forged irons at the driving range. Find out which golf clubs suited him "to a tee" and which of these two sets might improve your distance and feel!

Also, we offer a golf tip from Hank Haney straight out of Golf Digest Magazine. Find out how you can make your waggle work for you.

And Barry wonders if, after my "audience" with the Ryder Cup, it now has my named etched upon it?


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

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

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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 SGHGolf.com and Florida Golf Travel.

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


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Mike Weir proves Tiger Woods is human and how to save your own round from going downhill

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Tiger Woods scrambled to keep pace in his Presidents Cup singles match against Mike Weir, that is a given. Not many can make a comeback as Woods did on Sunday, rebounding from a 3-hole deficit halfway through the match but Tiger confirmed one thing and that is, it can be done.

Although Woods conceded the final hole handing the win to Weir, he got his round back on track. As Weir acknowledged, "He didn't have his best day and I had my best day. That's the way you're going to beat the best player."

Granted we are not in the same league as either Tiger or Mike Weir so what can the amateur golfer do when floundering during a round? Golf for Beginners gives advice on how to avoid a meltdown in this week's podcast.

As for the "guffaws" made earlier in the week by the International Team about Phil Mickelson, they were silenced as Lefty easily proved his mettle in his singles match against Vijay Singh. Phil was looking to return the joke by wearing longer metal spikes. "I honestly couldn't find any in the locker room," Mickelson claimed. "I thought it would be funny."

This week's episode also offers ideas on how to play your best golf even when there is no time to practice before your round. A David Leadbetter recommendation for controlling distance is 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. 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 Myrtle Beach Golf and Florida Golf Travel.

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