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.

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 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!.

Nike begs Michelle Wie, Just Do It...PLEASE! Also, golf tips for body rotation and wrist hinge

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Although Nike is still standing behind Michelle Wie even after her horrendous showing at the Samsung World Championships, her agent, Greg Nared, apparently has parted company with both Wie and the William Morris Agency.

It is understood that an agent who quits is quite common, but, in my opinion, Nared should be given a raise for hanging around Camp Wie for as long as he did (one year, so far her worst!). He consulted with Wie on the sixteenth hole of the Ginn Tribute where Wie was dangerously close to an all-time high score of 88 and I'm sure he was also mulling about his decision as Wie showed a thirty-six stroke difference between her score and winner Lorena Ochoa's final tally. The William Morris Agency, unfortunately, cannot shake Wie from its roster as the parental units would only sign with the agency if the contract was not based upon Wie's performance.

At least Michelle Wie was proud of herself "for not giving up this whole week". I wonder if Nared feels the same way.

Carolyn Bivens' optimistic belief in Wie makes me feel that she should manage a career which is currently winless in forty-one pro women's events. "It was unrealistic to expect any player, at any age, to enter the LPGA and dominate right away," the LPGA Commissioner stated. "… It's way too early to give up on her, and it's way to early to know what kind of career she will have."


Besides our Michelle Wie summation, Golf for Beginners also offers up some easy golf tips on the pivot and the wrist hinge, two essential parts of your golf swing.


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 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!.

Natalie Gulbis outmaneuvered by Michelle Wie, the importance of the impact zone and the divot

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Michelle Wie has finally slipped below the top-fifty golfers on the official Rolex Rankings.

Obviously, Samsung World Championship officials have not had the opportunity to view the latest rankings because, if they had done their homework, I'm sure they might have discussed an alternate approach to the teenager who was given this special exemption.

Does Michelle Wie deserve an accolade designed for an elite field consisting of the defending champ, the LET money leader, the four major championship winners and the balance of the top-twenty on the money list?

But, then again, put yourself in her position. Would you give up your spot in a tournament so that Natalie Gulbis can have a shot at $250k? Not likely.

Gulbis would have been the twentieth entrant, if not for Michelle Wie's special exemption. Annika Sorenstam recently turned down a special invitation given to an active World Golf Hall of Fame member (and five-time winner of this event) because she didn't want to take a spot from a deserving golfer.

Hopefully, Michelle Wie will not disappoint, but, as Barry mentions when asked about his thoughts on the teenager, his answer is always the same. "Want to see Michelle Wie's name on top of the leaderboard? Just flip it upside down!"

Other features in this week's Golf for Beginners podcast include golf tips from the latest Golf Digest magazine. We talk about Bobby Clampett's basics which include achieving proper impact and taking a divot. Barry also discusses his round and how tips from last week's podcast helped reduce the amount lost in his weekly Nassau.

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!