Michelle Wie ditches Stanford for LPGA Tour; Bivens celebrates. Also, unusual golf rules and easy driver drills

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"I finally feel like I really earned it!" claimed a relieved Michelle Wie after realizing that she had, in fact, secured a place on the LPGA Tour for the 2009 season. This time there was no exemption, no secure feeling that Wie would just arrive and everyone would cater to her every whim. Michelle was on her own and at the end of a grueling week it felt as liberating as "high school graduation".

Wie has clearly been offered the easy route throughout her career but that isn’t necessarily the best way to attain a goal. It can make you soft, easily distracted and can weaken your determination, as it did to Michelle, being given fifty-three exemptions over the past seven years as well as contracts through Sony, Nike and Omega.

Her drive was replaced with crybaby fits, deciding how best to leave an event and how to blame everyone but herself if the weather or the situation was uncooperative. She was young, claimed the media, urging golf afficionados to be patient and watch as she blossomed into maturity.

Now a new grown-up Wie is emerging, hoping that the ladies of the LPGA Tour who have scorned her in the past will be a bit more accommodating now that she has gone the proper route. She intends to work hard and is "looking forward to people having that high expectation of me."

David Leadbetter made mention that Wie would stick with the LPGA Tour and would not participate in men’s events for at least a few years. Michelle countered his opinion by stating, "I still definitely want to pursue that." It’s not a bad thing to want something but it is in Michelle’s best interests right now to concentrate on the task at hand; that is, making a name for herself on the LPGA Tour.

Carolyn Bivens attempted to maintain her composure mentioning some of the other great players who are going to improve the visibility of the 2009 LPGA Tour. Although Q-School medalist Stacy Lewis was prominently mentioned as she should be, and Michelle Wie’s name was deliberately left off until the end, it was understandable how Bivens must feel relieved that the new year should bring a bevy of deals to the ailing tour.

Perhaps Bivens, Leadbetter and Wie should take this quote to heart by Alexander Pope who stated, 'Blessed is the man who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed'.

This week on our Golf for Beginners show we congratulate Michelle Wie on her LPGA Tour accomplishment with Barry cynically querying if PGA Q-School is next for the recent "graduate". We also have some great golf tips from the PGA website on how to drive the ball better and some unusual rules we found in the 2008-11 Golf Rules Quick Reference Guide.


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Sorenstam, Ochoa and Michelle Wie have the leaderboard covered. Also, where to keep your eye on the ball and playing with better golfers to help your

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Annika Sorenstam has officially begun to chip away at Lorena Ochoa's top Rolex Ranking. A win at the season-opening SBS Open led a "Tiger-esque" charge that has remained strong through her latest victory at the Michelob Ultra Opening this past weekend.

Sorenstam is back in the "feared-zone" once again!

Challengers are falling by the wayside. Even Lorena Ochoa could not keep up on Saturday, pushing herself out of a chance for a Sunday duel with a disappointing 74. It was the first time Ochoa has been out of a visible top-ten spot on the leaderboard since 2007.

Did Sorenstam's charge give Ochoa the jitters?

With a wedding plan in the works and her increasing reliance in other golf interests, are we seeing Annika's final push for glory or the beginning of a new commitment towards "untouchable" status?

I also found Michelle Wie's name on the leaderboard. She was in her usual "cut" position, a spot which seems to be more comfortable a fit as times goes on. "I just feel really rusty" claimed Wie who needs to borrow more than an oil can from the Tin Man in order to elevate her game...maybe an infusion of Annika's blood?

Where Wie's game is stagnating, other LPGA rookies seem to be coming on strong. Na Yeon Choi is eyeing the Rolex Rookie of the Year Award loading up on points over her nearest competitor. Oh, I'm sorry...I thought Michelle Wie was in the race too but...that's right...she never went to Q-School and qualified like the rest of the Tour!

This week Golf for Beginners discusses the challenges that Michelle Wie faces and wonders whether or not her constant disappointments as a professional golfer have helped her grow as a person.

We also offer up a few easy golf tips. One simple visual we offer is where to focus your eyes when hitting the ball for best contact. Another is the role a golf companion has on your game. Is it better for you to play with better golfers or those who play more on your level?

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Mickelson, Els flop at Masters despite Callaway I-Mix help, Tiger Woods putter lets him down, high or low it's all in your setup and how to read a lie

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The hype surrounding the possibility of two drivers in his bag didn't help Phil Mickelson's bid to win a third Masters Tournament. Both Els and Mickelson fumbled around to get "the perfect fit" this week, combining Callaway I-Mix heads and shafts depending on their particular "game plan". Mickelson claimed that the course length urged him to carry two drivers but my belief is that Callaway needed Phil to promote these clubs which seem to work more for a professional than the average "Joe".



It didn't work. Mickelson should have toyed with an extra wedge in his golf bag as he intended to on Tuesday and Els should have probably flown out to Las Vegas to visit with his newest instructor, Butch Harmon, directly after being cut on Friday.

Complaining of bad posture, a collapse at the top of his swing and too much hip and shoulder turn, Els should have realized before the Masters that it's not a change in golf equipment that was needed but rather a parting of the ways between he and David Leadbetter.

Moral of the story for all golfers; it's not the arrow, it's the Indian...

I guess the next question should be, "When will Callaway Golf debut a putter with adjustable head and shaft technology for conditions like "blade-drag" or help with overspin? Tiger Woods may be just the buyer for it!

As for this week's Golf for Beginners podcast, we discuss Mickelson's use of the Callaway I-Mix technology. Our show also contains a few easy tips from Phil Mickelson, one of which deals with how to hit your golf ball in different types of lie. Our other "Lefty" golf tip describes what setup to the ball determines its trajectory.

Finally, a hearty congratulations to the UNBEATABLE Lorena Ochoa who is now officially "one-up" on Tiger Woods this season!


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PGA of America President Brian Whitcomb chats with Golf for Beginners about the McGladrey Team Championship

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PGA of America President Brian Whitcomb joins forces with Golf for Beginners this week to spread the word about an exciting tournament designed especially for us, the amateur golfer!

The McGladrey Team Championship is the opportunity for golfers with a verifiable USGA handicap to compete on a national level promoting teamwork and cameraderie as two of its goals.

Teams of three golfers each will first qualify locally through August. Then, a PGA Professional golfer will join the group for the Sectional Qualifiers which begin in September culminating in a National Championship to be played October 20-22 at the famed Pinehurst Resort in N.C.

Approximately fourteen thousand golfers signed up for the inaugural Championship and attendance is expected to double. Women, who only made up about 4.5% of last year's total entrants (650), are expected to easily top 15% of the total number of competitors!





Brian's personal take on the McGladrey Team Championship is that it "blends the competitive spirit and bridges the relationship between the PGA professional and their members and guests that they're playing with as well as the fraternal and social side of this great game."

The sponsors slogan, "With the right team, anything's possible" along with the PGA of America's ideology to increase the public's desire to "play more golf, and ensure accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere," are also dominant principles behind this successful recurring event.

Team McGladrey asked LPGA golfer Natalie Gulbis, Masters Champion Zach Johnson and PGA Tour fan favorite and XM radio show host Chris DiMarco to also join forces with this event "because they capture the very same qualities we strive to achieve with all of our client engagements – integrity, excellence and passion."

Listen to this week's show to find out more about this exciting best-ball team tournament.

Choose your teammates today and sign up at: pga.com/teamchampionship.

The best of luck to all who enter!

Barry said he's got a "trick up his sleeve" to win the McGladrey Team Championship. Find out what that is and hear Brian's response on our podcast!


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How to play positive, Leadbetter's long distance putting and could you live with a tainted trophy?

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During last year's Honda Classic one caddie remarked to another, entirely off-the-cuff, that his player used a certain golf club off of the tee. PGA Tour golfer Mark Wilson wound up calling a two-stroke penalty on himself after finding out about this infraction, thus proving to viewers the importance of playing by the rules. In spite of losing the two strokes he still won the tournament (in a sudden-death playoff), and with his integrity intact!

Wilson continued, "The rules should be held in high regard by every player."

With the honor of the game at stake, some people may find Rule 8-1 to be a bit illogical noting that you must still hit the shot no matter what help you receive in selecting a club. Other common rules infractions I regularly behold on the publinks include improper ball marking on the green as well as failing to hole out.

Do golfers really want to abide by the rules or simply use whatever guidelines they remember hoping they don't get caught? Everyone remembers the Wie/Bamberger incident forcing a DQ on Michelle?

The fact that the enforcement of the game lies predominantly from calling penalties on yourself, I have noticed that golf is one sport where players really want to keep the competition above-board!!!

As the great Bobby Jones once said, "When you cheat in golf, the only person you're cheating is yourself."

Greens at the WGC Accenture Match Play Championship are an average of 90 feet which means long putting was the order of the week. Although Tiger Woods' putting was dynamic throughout the contest, David Leadbetter helps us get closer to the hole (and even sink a few) with an easy reminder on this week's Golf for Beginners podcast.

We also offer a few simple mental game tips to instill a positive mindset!


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Can Tiger Woods sell you a birdie in a bottle? Also, the no-backswing swing and finish in balance!

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Tiger Woods has endorsed many products in his illustrious career, from American Express cards to the Nike Sasquatch driver. Woods' likeness appears in his own video game with EA Sports. He drives a Buick in advertisements for General Motors and wears his Tag Heuer watch proudly in print media.

It's about time Tiger Woods added an energy drink to his stable of goods, isn't it? Who better than Gatorade, a driving force in the burgeoning athletic beverage industry, to help make it a golf course staple!

But will this new "birdie-in-a-bottle" (as Barry calls it), scheduled to make it's debut in time for spring golf season, make a splash or will it fizzle? Will it fly off of the shelves at local publinks snack shacks, devoured by amateur golfers who believe that Tiger Woods knows hydration? Does Gatorade believe that their new collaboration will also interest and attract non-golfers who are familiar with their Performance Series, specifically designed to keep athletes fueled during competition?

Or will the $100 million being risked by Gatorade fall short of expectations, like American Express found out when the ends didn't justify their means!

Gatorade feels that Woods is a prime example of fitness. And yes, Tiger even went through sweat analysis through the Gatorade Sports Science Institute, because, as you see when you watch Gatorade commercials, any athlete on their roster has to have a high sweat index to quench his thirst with their electrolytic nectar. Just watch Gatorade pros Michael Jordan or Eli Manning during their respective games and you'll know what I'm talking about.

This week's Golf for Beginners podcast queries the success of the new Gatorade Tiger. We also discuss the new "no-backswing swing" and discuss a simple drill from Mike Vardeman which should help you attain a better balanced finish position.

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

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Will Phil Mickelson's absence from the BMW Championship hand Tiger Woods the FedEx Cup, can the driving range hurt your game and redress at address

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This weekend the news on the PGA Tour wasn't necessarily that Tiger Woods won his fourth BMW Championship, his sixtieth event or even that he is close to overcoming Arnold Palmer's record but, rather, that he has all but locked up his bid for the FedEx Cup. For all of his grumbling in the past few weeks where Woods wanted to see the $10 million purse stacked up in cash at the first tee of the Tour Championship because as Tiger claimed, "I may not be around to collect it", there were no complaints yesterday as it was learned that only three golfers have a real shot at the deferred annuity next week.

The other two hopefuls will be wishing for a miracle this week at the elite thirty player field.

With Woods, Mickelson and Stricker as the only three players to have a real chance to win the FedEx Cup with a long shot stretching out to K.J. Choi and Rory Sabbatini, you have to wonder if the other twenty-five even want to show up knowing there is only about $1 million at stake during this final season tournament. With the outrageous purses growing exorbitantly each year, the only guys that seem to be interested in playing weekly are the golfers on the European Tour and those players with a fear of losing their card at the end of the season. Stricker hasn't seen a hefty payday in 146 tournaments (eleven years since he's won in the U.S.A.) so he's one of the few grinders looking forward to events with such payouts. Rory Sabbatini is just yearning to kick some Tiger butt, but is his trash talk the best part of his game?

On the other hand, not playing in the BMW Championship probably cost Phil Mickelson the FedEx Cup. If Mickelson wins the Tour Championship and Woods places second, Phil will lose the trophy, and the $10 million, by just twenty points! I wonder how that's going to sit with Lefty (and coach Butch Harmon), knowing that he won two of the four events and still came up short!

Perhaps Ernie Els said it best, "We love what the tour has done for us but we just need to get closer to the big decisions, because then we won't get into problems down the line."


Here is what the FedEx Cup boils down to this week:

If Woods wins the Tour Championship, he takes the Cup, the money and the glory of being the first to win this event.

If Mickelson wins this week, he has to hope that Woods doesn't finish in second place or Woods wins by twenty points.

If Stricker wins this week, he would take the FedEx Cup because he already won the Barclays, placing well enough in all four events to clinch the trophy.

K.J. Choi and Rory Sabbatini have an outside chance to win the FedEx Cup if Tiger Woods doesn't finish in the top-fifteen. What's the chance of that happening?


This week Golf for Beginners not only discusses backlash from top PGA Tour players about the FedEx Cup but also gives you some easy golf tips meant to help you both at the driving range and on the course. For example, what should you do if you are standing uncomfortably over the golf ball for what appears to be an inordinate amount of time? And, can any good come out of pounding golf balls at the driving range?

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)"

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Mickelson surpasses Tiger Woods, Michelle Wie proves publicity trumps merit, easy slice fixes and other quick tips

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While watching the Deutsche Bank Championship final round, I had an unsettling feeling that Phil Mickelson was going allow his lead to slip away as soon as Tiger Woods began his ascent. Isn't that his modus operandi when placed in a pressure-cooker situation?

Tiger's pawprints were never felt as his putter let him down and Mickelson remained in control going head-to-head with "the great one" despite his double bogey "miscalculation" at the twelfth hole. With Phil now leading in the FedEx Cup standings, could he snatch the ten million dollar purse from Woods, considered to be the favorite for this cup? Maybe Woods could use a bit of help from Butch Harmon! Surely a secret or two about Phil could help Tigers' cause, or could it?

This week, Golf for Beginners cheered Mickelson to victory. We also discuss (click to listen) the interest the new 2008 HSBC Womens Champions event has in Michelle Wie, offering her an exemption in spite of the fact that all of the women golfers were offered a position based on their top-thirty status. I'll bet that ticks off more than a few of the qualifiers! Michelle has no victories but she does have what the tournament desperately needs; that is, a wealth of publicity. We therefore ask the question, "Does publicity trump merit?"

There are a few factors to consider while making your decision. For example, this event will be held in Singapore where the mention of MW's name is followed by swooning kids and more television cameras than those that cover stateside LPGA events. The event is new and the publicity could help several women's tours with the results trickling past the Duramed Futures Tour and Asian Tours even, one day, as deep as the amateur level.

The winner would also be crowned "Champion of Champions" as in the HSBC Men's event scheduled in November in which Phil Mickelson pledged to attend (more important than next week's BMW Championship?) Wouldn't it be interesting for MW to finally win this crown, putting all doubts of her ability to rest? As Barry likes to point out about Michelle Wie, "you'll see her name at the top of the leaderboard. All you have to do is flip it upside down!"

An invite to Leewood Country Club over the weekend prompted us to offer up a few golf tips from our round. We discuss the dreaded slice (who doesn't have trouble with this problem?) as well as sidehill lies and fixes for when you find the thick rough.


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.

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This podcast is supported by Golf Canada's WestMyrtle Beach Golf and Florida Golf Travel.

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Wie flops again: new excuses needed for British Open, links golf tips and correct grip pressure

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A lower back injury two months ago forced Natalie Gulbis to reassess her golf swing. She had to take a month off and change her posture to compensate for the strain. Michelle Wie's wrist accident has forced her into a rehabilitative state which has, unfortunately, cost her more than a few cuts at inopportune times. This trauma has also changed the public's perception of the girl once considered to be the LPGA's answer to Tiger Woods.

Natalie Gulbis stepped up and was ressurrected at the Evian Masters this weekend, becoming a first-time Rolex winner. Michelle Wie is still struggling to compete aptly although finally making a cut after a year's worth of trials and tribulations. Two injuries with two separate and distinct outcomes. One golfer became a winner due to her injury, the other becomes more frustrated over time.

This week Golf for Beginners discusses Michelle Wie's uneasy level of comfort. How can she play well for two days with an injured wrist and then falter during the final two days? We don't believe her problems are totally related to her injury anymore but rather becoming a psychological issue, the battle to win rather than just compete.

Next stop for the LPGA (and Michelle Wie) is St. Andrews G.C. for the Ricoh Women's British Open. The Old Course is considered by some to be the "home of golf" and a links-style course, completely different than the parklike grounds of the Evian Masters Golf Club in France. This challenge will certainly prove the mettle of all the women on tour.

As Tiger Woods has stated before, "To win at St. Andrews is the ultimate."

We also give you a golf tip on how to keep your grip comfortable on the club during a trying round of golf. Grip is probably the one aspect of "G.A.S.P" that can save, or ruin, a round of golf!

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.

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This podcast is supported by Scotland Golf Tours and Florida Golf Travel.

Mickelson implodes despite Harmon's instruction, Leadbetter helps create wedge spin and dealing with overly chatty golfers

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Butch Harmon has really helped Phil Mickelson achieve a better golf game. Because of his tutelage, Mickelson has rallied to victory and earned several top ten's on the PGA Tour. Even Lefty's driving accuracy has improved. Well, up until the Scottish Open.

Was it the driver that let Phil down once again or was it the mental pressure of playing head-to-head against little known European Tour pro golfer Havret, the Frenchman who had nothing to lose and everything to gain?

This week we discuss Golf Digest Magazine's ranking of the top fifty instructors and give you a an easy golf tip on the driver from number-one teacher Butch Harmon. Harmon's golf tips have helped Mickelson and they can help you too!

Number-two ranked golf instructor, David Leadbetter, helps us with another important part of the golf game, namely wedge play. We found a simple tip from Leadbetter which can help you put spin on the ball when you need it.

Did you know, Mickelson's average clubhead speed for pitch shots is 87 miles per hour?

Finally we offer possible solutions to an overly chatty golfer who joins your group without ruining your own concentration!


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Think like a professional golfer, 14 putters in your bag and tips for escaping the rough

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The rough can be very rough! That's not just a play on words either! Just ask professional golfers at a tournament like the U.S. Open and they will probably just shake their heads while remembering a shot that buried deep into the thick stuff and the feeble attempts made at dislodging that ball in a single stroke.

This week Golf for Beginners gives tips for saving strokes from the rough with the help of a 2003 Golf Magazine and golf instructor Mike Lopuszynski.

We also discuss using different golf clubs in lieu of your putter. Remember, you have fourteen clubs in your bag, each with varying amounts of loft. We'll help you decide which iron (or wood) is better for situations you may encounter. Try being creative!

Finally, do you think like a professional golfer or are you stuck with an amateur outlook? Dr. Richard Coop's advice will have you thinking about your target and not sweating over that little white ball in front of you.


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Woods and Mickelson's coaches give golf tips on the fat shot, Leadbetter on putting and Bobby Jones wisdom

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Butch Harmon and Hank Haney's heavyweight contenders for the first ever FedEx Cup failed to produce results at this year's U.S. Open and hoist the coveted trophy. Woods came so close yet could not seize any opportunities and Mickelson was eaten up and spit out alive, never even witnessing the fast, tricky greens of weekend competition.

Some Phil fans might be disappointed over Lefty's whining commentary after 2nd round action but, in retrospect, there were plenty of golfers at Oakmont this weekend who were tossing their sticks around in disgust. Abyssmal etiquette abounded!

As for Tiger Woods, the U.S. Open seemed almost like a repeat of this year's Masters tournament, with Woods playing golf in the final group and taking it on the chin from relative unknown Zach Johnson.

The only player under par in the final round, Angel Cabrera, showed mettle and fortitude and should be heartily congratulated for standing up to Goliath!

This week Golf for Beginners compares the teaching methods of both Harmon and Haney in relation to hitting the ball fat and discuss a great practice drill we found in Golf Digest Magazine.

The best putting drill I recently rediscovered came from our visit to Turning Stone Resort and Spa. We compare it to a golf tip from David Leadbetter in another segment of our broadcast.

Finally, we take a quote from the great Bobby Jones who won four U.S. Open Championships. Who can teach us the true spirit of golf better than this worthwhile competitor?
Continue sending 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.

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U.S. Open pressure, Butch Harmon's nerve-busters, Ogilvy's concerns and is this Mickelson's year?

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U.S. Open week is one of the most highly anticipated times of the year for both professional golfers and fans alike. Where the Masters is like a "spring fever" wake-up call to all golfers, this second major of the season has the PGA Tour pros in fine form, ready to take on all competitors as well as a golf course which proves to be a real "tester".

Geoff Ogilvy related a bit of his concern for both the greens and longer holes at Oakmont in a recent pre-tournament interview. Last year's winner talked in particular about both the six hundred yard par-fives as well as the long par-three eighth hole. The interview sparked interest in a discussion on how the amateur should tackle the longer par-three's through practical course management. It's not all about bombing the long drive, you know!

The pressure will be on all of the great players this week so we also relate a few golf tips from Butch Harmon on "how not to choke". We found these nerve-busting thoughts in the pages of a Golf Digest Magazine. Hopefully Harmon has been offering up drills to Phil Mickelson on this subject so we don't see a repeat at this year's U.S. Open. Let's also hope that Phil doesn't use his sore wrist as an excuse if he doesn't make the grade. That just wouldn't be right!

Finally, Barry and I give you our U.S. Open picks. Naturally, being a huge Lefty fan, I'm rooting for Mickelson once again. Listen in to hear Barry's selection and how we came upon our decisions.


Continue sending 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.

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Palmer tells us why Tiger Woods beats Mickelson, a golf tip for kids and more!

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Arnold Palmer believes that Tiger Woods is "every bit as aggressive as Phil (Mickelson)" in the June issue of Golf Digest Magazine. There is one difference, however, which gives Tiger the edge. Find out on this week's episode of Golf for Beginners.

In the same interview, Palmer gives us a simple putting tip which Barry questions in certain circumstances. When should you give yourself the option of playing it safe and when should you make sure you drain the golf ball in one shot?

We also discuss the proper form for hitting out from under a tree, commonly known as the "low shot". Practice this shot and you'll get out of trouble and back into the fairway in fewer strokes.

Continue sending 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)"

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Sorenstam needs Wie for Ginn Tribute, Big Break's Cindy Miller gives slice advice and Q-Link review

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This week, Golf for Beginners discusses the Ginn Tribute hosted by Annika Sorenstam. Although Michelle Wie has accepted a sponsor's exemption at the end of May, we wonder if Annika Sorenstam's back injury" will prevent her from playing in her own event. Will Michelle Wie's wrist be mended one-hundred percent in time to compete? And, could Sorenstam be depending on Michelle Wie's fame to contribute heavily to the gate? This might be a good time for Annika to shift focus onto her many other projects, allowing the younger ladies to take the reign's over at the LPGA.

Lorena Ochoa and Julieta Granada tied for second place at the Corona Championship (held this past weekend) and continually gain ground in the rankings, honing their skills, waiting patiently for Michelle to emerge from her self-inflicted cocoon. Can Michelle Wie finally prove herself to the many people who believe her to be just a "flash in the pan"? The latest Rolex Rankings place Wie in the twentieth position but she's going to have quite a struggle as she pushes past these women who have been playing regularly on the LPGA Tour.

We also review the Q-Link bracelet. I have been wearing the Q-Link for over a month now, hoping that the claims of both heightened energy and increased focus would work for me. Lorena Ochoa and Charles Howell III are just two of the many tour players who are confident that this technology has assisted them in times of stress and distraction.

Ochoa stated, "Since I started using my Q-Link, I have won three times and I feel calmer in tough situations. It really makes a difference under pressure."

Are these just endorsements or does this bracelet really work? Listen to this week's broadcast and I'll give you my findings.

One of this week's golf tips comes from Cindy Miller. Miller was a contestant on both Big Break III:Ladies Only and again, albeit briefly, on the Reunion show. Her simple tip will help those of you who slice. Try this one at the practice range!

Continue sending your golf questions and comments to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

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

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