Golf for Beginners Podcast 11-20-05

Folks, this is the one podcast of ours which you need to download!

First of all, it's our longest (not that a longer podcast is a sign of a great one). However golf for beginners 11-20-05 episode five is jam-packed with information from the latest victories of Annika Sorenstam and Tiger Woods to the latest putting techniques we found in Golf Magazine.

We also discuss our own Odyssey Two-Ball Putters and take another letter out of the golf-for-beginners mailbag.

If you haven't already subscribed to our audio casts, now is a great time to start!

As winter sets in and there is less golf being played, we are going to fill you with the latest golf tips, instruction and information which will keep you in great form even if you don't keep a golf club in your hands 24/7 (like WE do!).

Stay tuned for more great golf-for-beginners podcasts!

Sorenstam Takes ADT, Woods Wins Dunlop in Japan

So, what else is new? The two super-golfers are tops again!

It doesn't really surprise me that either of the two money-list headliners took accolades at their respective tournaments.

Tiger Woods rallied against Japanese sensation Kaname Yokoo in a playoff to finally birdie the fourth playoff hole at that tournament. Annika Sorenstam led heading into the final round and finished two strokes ahead of Liselotte Neumann and Michele Redman. I wonder if the ladies of the LPGA will ever be able to overtake Sorenstam or will she go down in the annals of history as the one player never to drop below the number-one position on the ADT Official Money List during her "reign"?

Annika Sorenstam has now been victorious in half of all the tournaments she entered this year (10) and has also claimed several other titles along with the season-ender including the Vare Trophy and the Rolex Player of the Year award. She's going to have to expand her trophy cabinet!

But Sorenstam says that she'll focus most of her attention on winning the major tournaments so the Swede might give the other players, such as number-two on the money list Paula Creamer, a chance to move into the top perch.

Speaking of Creamer, the Pink Panther's rookie season has been incredible. She won four tournaments this year, two on the LPGA and two on the JLPGA Tour. Even with this breakout season Creamer's number two money position stands over $1 million behind the Swede!

Millionaires have been created this season on the tour. Lorena Ochoa, Natalie Gulbis, Paula Creamer, Cristie Kerr and Sorenstam have topped the $1 million mark. Gulbis even achieved this feat without a win! As purses increase, so will the ability to earn the big money.

In conclusion, I'm really happy that Annika ended her season the way it began, namely, with a win! Her first victory of 2005 started off at the Mastercard and now she ends her official season at the ADT, the same name that lends itself to the official money list at the beautiful Trump International Golf Club under adverse conditions. Frankly I expected a win from the both of them, both Annika and Tiger. Since they practice with each other, I guess it would be expected that the two would learn something from each other.

PS. I thought it would be interesting to select this shot of Sorenstam holding the trophy at the 2004 ADT Championship. She hasn't changed much now, has she?

Photo Credit: © Getty Images.

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!