Phil Mickelson uses special driver at the U.S. Open

Phil Mickelson isn't fooling around this week at the >U.S. Open. He came to Winged Foot with a strategy. He had created a single driver "that was a bit shorter and had a little bit more stable head". Still a bit dissatisfied, Mickelson feels more comfortable with the "fade driver" that he "used at Augusta".

Not only has he removed a driver but his three-wood as well.

Lefty has also included another "wedge" because as Mickelson stated Tuesday in the USGA media center:

"...a new 64-degree wedge to help get it out of this rough with a lot less bounce and to help me hit higher, softer bunker shots. Because the bunkers are so deep here and there's so much undulation on the green, I want it coming in as soft as possible."

Mickelson's golf tips can help anyone's game. He really is a master out of bunkers and out of the short rough near the green. The average golfer can benefit from a solid golf game from within 100 yards.

Podcast: Take the Golf Digest challenge, golf tips on improving aim and posture and Barry dodges another email "bullet"

Click here to listen.

Improve your game by taking the advice of the best golf professionals in the world! Hank Haney, Butch Harmon, Phil Mickelson and more give golf tips based upon your game. Sign up for free playing lessons at golfdigest.com/challenge.

One of our listeners voices a greivance against Barry for the harsh words he called one of his playing partners on last week's podcast.

We also offer up golf tips on aim and posture.

Keep 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.

Sorenstam versus Wie: the ratings tug-of-war, American Express' Women's Golf Week and golf tips on staying cool

Click here to listen.

This is the week that we've all been waiting for. Will Michelle Wie qualify for the U.S. Open at Winged Foot and play golf alongside the top PGA players in the world?

We also consider Sorenstam versus Wie for a Celebrity "Ratings" Deathmatch. Why hasn't Annika stepped up and attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open?

ESPN will update Wie's progress every half-hour and The Golf Channel will have a special on Michelle on Monday evening. I guess they understand who gets the big ratings!

Attention all women! This is OUR week! Go to Play Golf America, find out which course is hosting American Express Women's Golf Week and attend! There are 565 facilities taking part this year offering a variety of activities from clubfitting and equipment demonstrations to golf apparel fashion shows and contests. I'll be playing scramble format at Pelham/Split Rock Golf Course in the Bronx and I hope to see you there!

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Go Red for Women, helping women to understand and defeat heart disease. Every woman counts!

Barry and I also offer up our usual "slew" of golf tips. Playing happy golf takes on even more importance when you're playing people with whom you don't get along!

We also include some fun facts about the U.S. Open.

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

Subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed: http://feeds.worldgolf.com/stacy_solomon 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.

Podcast: Golf tips for slow play and how to muzzle the "mad dog" in your group

Click here to listen.



This week's podcast is personal! Both Barry and I got a bit agitated over several less-than-nice people who played with us (and we're being kind) so we try to help our listeners by answering the question, "What do you do if you're stuck playing with a grump?"

Playing golf behind slow moving people can change a nice four-hour round into a five-and-a-half hour nightmare. We dole out some golf tips on how to both speed up slow play and how not to be angered when you're the person playing behind the turtles up ahead.

And a bit of golf trivia. Do you know who created the sand wedge?

Send all golf questions to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

You can also subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or subscribe through iTunes.

We hope everyone played lots of golf this Memorial Day weekend!
Any holes-in-one?

Podcast: We've gone cellular, mental game tips, golf etiquette and...no Sybase Classic interviews from us thanks to the LPGA

Click here to listen.

Last week we gave some tips on the mental game. This week (as promised) we offer a cerebral tip that everyone can use.

Common courtesy and decorum are not taught in most schools but if they were Barry and I probably would not have to discuss the basics of golf etiquette. This is not for beginners only…everyone should listen and wonder if they are guilty of these faux pas.

Our golf podcast has grown so much in popularity that the Mobile Broadcast Network on Nextel/Sprint has contracted us to join its list of downloadable programs. We're now happy to also bring you our weekly broadcast via cellphone!

If you are a Nextel/Sprint subscriber and have an internet connection, simply point your phone's browser to http://www.mymbn.com/podcast/ and click on "sports casts". You can also sign up to receive the latest Golf for Beginners podcasts by going directly to http://www.mymbn.com/podcastmbn/ and entering your cell phone number. Our station number is 1955. Please let us know if you were successful as this is really new and we would like to report on it's progress.

Keep 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.

And the new media marches on, almost everywhere except at the LPGA. Perhaps one day we'll get those media credentials. They can't continue to ignore us forever.

Podcast: The Mental Game: sports psychology made easy

Click here to listen.

Perhaps the most important facet of the golf game that separates the amateur from PGA tour professionals is the pros' ability to perform under all kinds of stress. Learning how to deal with the mental aspect of the game (and I don't mean through hypnosis folks) will not only save strokes on the course but can effectively enhance all aspects of your life.

Barry and I are not professional instructors but some of the golf tips we bring you this week comes from one of the most qualified experts in his field, Dr. Rick Jensen. Dr. Jensen is not only the founder of the Performance Center at PGA National Resort and Spa but has also taught touring pros on the LPGA, PGA and Champions Tours.

It doesn't matter how advanced or how new to the game you are, we believe that these tips are essential for good play. Take these thoughts with you, have fun and play good golf!

Send all golf questions to golfforbeginners@aol.com.

You can also subscribe to our weekly podcast through this RSS feed: http://feeds.feedburner.com/golfforbeginners or subscribe through iTunes.