Great Golf Tournaments This Weekend

Whether you're a golf beginner or just a fanatic (I am both) you will appreciate both the amount and type of golf that is being played this weekend.

In LPGA news, Annika Sorenstam will be defending her trophy at the ADT Championship being played at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach. This is the season-ender for the LPGA tour and it is usually an exciting competition. Last year Annika needed a playoff hole to crown her the champion (her third win at this event). Only the top-thirty golfers on the official money list will be on hand to grab their share of the $1 million purse.

What is also interesting about this tournament is that Sorenstam will be going against golfers who are about ten years her junior. The girls are getting younger and are playing terrific golf. Between 19-year-old rookie Paula Creamer who won twice this year on the LPGA tour as well as having two international wins and the effervescent Natalie Gulbis (22) who is being trained now by Butch Harmon (Tiger's previous coach) I think the LPGA is going through changes that will affect it's future and dominance for years to come.

Just wait until next year when Michelle Wie (now just 16-year-old) and Morgan Pressel start competing! Of course starting these youngsters out so early has its drawbacks. For example Morgan Pressel has turned her nose up at college to begin her new career. Looking back, Christina Kim who won just last week at the Mitchell Company Tournament of Champions, left high school to turn professional and got her GED instead. It worked for her as this is her second win in two years. (Click here for our golf-for-beginners podcast 11-13-05 which relates to this article)

Another interesting tournament this weekend is the WGC World Cup Championships being held in Portugal on the European Tour. What is so interesting about this event is the format. For those of you who are beginners, this event will give you an intro into the different types of competition if you don't feel like playing a simple stroke-play format. The first day the teams (another interesting part of the tournament is that it is in team format)play a four-ball format with foursomes being played on Friday. It's back to four-ball on Saturday and foursomes again on Sunday.

Look for David Howell playing alongside of Luke Donald. As you may remember Howell recently won the HSBC Championship with Tiger Woods in the field. Sergio Garcia and Padraig Harrington will also be among the players.

Hopefully there will be many of us who can get a round of golf in before our seasons end due to snow or cold. This way we can make a few golf memories of our own!

Golf for Beginners Podcast 11-13-05

We are really happy with our latest Golf for Beginners Audio Show, Episode 4, 11-13-05

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This week's commentary is about how Tiger Woods was soundly defeated by European Tour player David Howell at the HSBC Tournament. Christina Kim, winner of the this week's LPGA Mitchell Tournament of Champions, is congratulated and we help solve a problem for one of our listeners in our email section. He questions whether it is better to learn about irons or woods first and we help him to understand the best way to practice his game.

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And, thanks to all who listen!

Tiger gets Trounced

The opening of the 2006 European Tour season wasn't the kind of beginning that Tiger Woods expected.

Sheshan International Golf Club in Shanghai was supposed to be Tiger Woods' first win in China. Instead the number-one golfer on the PGA Tour suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of relative unknown David Howell. Although during the HSBC Champions Tournament Tiger Woods remained in contention he could not polish off Howell nor intimidate him.

Of a very large total purse of $5 million dollars, Howell received in excess of $800,000 while Tiger took a second place check of around $550,000...still not bad for a weekend's worth of golf.

Usually, when the Tiger is breathing down the backs of his competitors they often fold. Instead, David Howell turned the tables on Woods, marching out in front of Tiger after each of them hit their respective shots. And birdies were flying, although not from Woods but from Howell. Howell managed to birdie four of the first seven holes but had his blips on the eighth and ninth.

Tiger on the other hand had more trouble than expected and could only achieve two birdies on the front nine but wound up giving one back. In my opinion, Tiger's putting was letting him down this weekend. The greens were undulating and Tiger was also missing those easy putts, the ones from within five feet. Missing putts is the surest way not to score. Just look at Vijay Singh. He wasn't reading the line well and had trouble sinking the short ones too.

Howell took advantage of Tiger's troubles by pushing forward in spite of the fact that Tiger still could rally and decisively claimed two additional birdies on the back nine which would eventually lead to his exciting victory.

Even though it was a late round of golf I managed to stay awake because of the thrilling victory claimed by Howell.

Photo Credit: © Getty Images.

Where Do You Put Your Ball Marker?

What kind of ball marker do you use?

I personally like my gold Sackegeweya dollar but I will also use one of those new, shiny quarters floating around. There are so many people who swear by a coin which they found on the floor that eventually won them a tournament or an heirloom which was special to someone they once knew. Some people don't even know what markers they use to hold the spot for their golf ball. They take whatever they find out of their golf bag, right down to the tee they used at address.

While watching the HSBC Championship in Shanghai, China last night I heard that Colin Montogmery places his ball marker in his back pocket when he is done marking his golf ball. That got me to thinking that I, too, place my ball marker conveniently in my back left pocket.

I do this for convenience. My glove is on my right hand (I'm a left-handed golfer) so it's easier for me to reach into my back pocket to grab my marker.

Some people put their ball marker in their front pocket. I personally don't like doing that as the pants I'm wearing usually have this slightly tighter, uncomfortable band across the top of the pocket which rubs against my hand. Sometimes my ball marker drops back out of my hand and back into my pocket.

My husband regularly places his marker in his front pocket.

So where do you place your ball marker when you're done using it? Bet you never thought about it before!

Photo Credit: © Unknown.

our first podcast

Golf for Beginners Podcast 11-06-05

Check out our latest Golf for Beginners podcast from November 6th. We talk about the terrific Annika Sorenstam and give some great golf tips!

Email us with your questions and comments at golfforbeginners@aol.com.

Golf for Beginners Podcast 10-30-05

Check out our second golf for beginners podcast from October 30th. Our audio syndication this week talks about consistency and staying even-tempered.