Travis Fulton Blog: Hard work key again for Villegas
By Travis Fulton, Director of Education, TOUR Academy
Travis Fulton is the Director of Education for all TOUR Academies nationwide. Over the years Fulton has worked alongside and learned from numerous GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teachers including Scott Sackett, Todd Sones, Craig Shankland and Martin Hall. These accomplishments and education have put Travis in a lead role with the TOUR Academy Brand where he has been a key figure in the overall performance and vision of the TOUR Academy brand. Travis comes from Kellogg, Idaho, where he had a stellar playing career in high school as well as college. In 1998, Travis won the Pacific Northwest Athletic Conference title. Full Bio and Article Archive
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Oct. 1, 2008: The Columbian Express wins again
What Happened
Camillo Villegas wins again at the TOUR Championship presented by Coca Cola. Villegas needed one extra playoff hole to defeat Sergio Garcia for his second PGA TOUR title this year.
With Vijay Singh guaranteed the FedExCup and the $10 million first-place prize before play even started this week, the race was for second place in the Playoffs. With the win, Camillo not only secured $1.26 million for the win, but another $3 million from FedEx for finishing solo second! Not a bad week's work, if you can get it.
Villegas was on fire Sunday, carding a 66 to make up the 3-shot lead Garcia held at the beginning of the day. By not being eligible for last week's Ryder Cup, Villegas perhaps took advantage of a fresh body and mind to go low on Sunday and capture the title.
Taking a page out of Vijay's book from a few weeks ago, Villegas took the attitude that he too was a great putter. This approach, like Vijay, led to a variety of putts that just seemed to find the hole all day on Sunday. Sometimes it just seems so easy.
What Can We Learn
Like Singh -- Villegas is one of the hardest workers on the PGA TOUR. It has been quoted that when playing for the Florida Gators, Camillo was not only the hardest worker on the team, but one of the hardest workers in the school's history. This of course is a big statement considering all of the great players the Gators have fielded over the decades.
There is no substitute for hard work, not only when trying to play golf for a living, but in any line of work. At the TOUR Academies, I always enjoy seeing the development of the youth at the junior high, high school and college level. Most of these young men and women want to play the TOUR someday and look up to players like Villegas and try to copy all of their habits. What's important for these kids -- and perhaps the rest of us -- to learn from Villegas is the value of hard work and persistence.
Here are a few things to think about if you or one of your kids has aspirations to play the TOUR one day:
• Hard Work -- To be a professional golfer, you must put the time in. This means everything from the time you spend at the practice facility with hours of ball striking and short-game shots to how you take care of your body and mind away from the course. Remember, on TV, we only see the final product. This level of play is a result of the tremendous amount of work these athletes have recorded over many years.
• Independence -- Having a great support staff is important in any sport and it's no different with golf. It's important as a parent to be supportive of our kids as they pursue their dreams. However, it's also important these kids understand it is up to them to prepare to get the job done. Golf will teach anybody about the independence needed to be successful, if you let it. The lessons learned through this journey will only help shape the future of any athlete. There are no excuses, it's up to the player.
• Tournament Experience -- Gaining experience in tournament play is a key component to any player's development. Playing with your friends is a completely different experience than playing in tournaments. As Bobby Jones said, "There is golf, and then there is tournament golf."
You will learn a lot about yourself when the heat is on under tournament conditions. The trick is to play in tournaments where you can have success but also push yourself against stiffer competition from time to time. How a young player responds to failure is a critical part of the learning process and it is an area where his or her support team can be very helpful in turning negatives into positives.
Villegas is a great example of growing up with the game and demonstrating not only the positive effects of hard work, but the independence of a young Colombian finding his way in America and the endless tournament experience he gained not only in college but climbing the ranks through the mini tours. Villegas should be an inspiration for us all as his success on the PGA TOUR has been earned in all the right ways.
Just Because
Well, it is hard to believe the TOUR Championship is in the books. Where does the time go? This is the final blog of the year with only the Fall Series left to play. It has been great to have the opportunity to share some insights on the PGA TOUR and how the world's greatest golfers do what they do. I know I have enjoyed reading your questions and hopefully my answers have helped your game.
With the off-season just around the corner, this is a great time to work on your games. With TOUR Academies all across the country, we would love to have you visit for a golf school or some private lessons and help you improve your skills for 2009. For more information on the TOUR Academies please visit our website at www.touracademy.com
See you in a few months.
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What Happened
It is finally over. The United States defeated the Europeans in the Ryder Cup for the first time since 1999. It seems like yesterday watching that amazing comeback the Americans displayed at The Country Club in Brookline. Arguably, the 1999 Ryder Cup was one of the greatest comebacks in sports history, but yet, so much time has passed since these heroics.
Well, the streak has ended, and the American team -- and I emphasize "team" -- have finally put all those "ole, ole, ole, ole" chants to rest. Going into the week, the Americans, on paper, were certainly the underdogs. With Tiger Woods out -- and six rookies on the squad -- many of us didn't know what to expect.
Like all year on the PGA TOUR, the youth continued to surface at Valhalla, led by the confident Anthony Kim. The young American's performance was tremendous, and none bigger then the 5&4 defeat Kim put on Sergio Garcia on Sunday. Rookie sensation Hunter Mahan was also fantastic, scoring a team-high 3 ½ points for the American team. Fellow rookie Boo Weekley fired up the crowd and carded 2 ½ points of his own.
What Can We Learn
It was great to watch the rookies do so well. So many questions coming into the week on how they would hold up to a more experienced European team. I think the rookies have answered these questions and have a lot to be proud of. It wasn't just the young rookies that excelled at the Ryder Cup though. The veterans also showed up to play and provided great leadership.
Captain Paul Azinger broke his team up into three groups -- one group -- labeled the "aggressive personalities" -- had Phil Mickelson, Kim, Mahan and Justin Leonard. The second group -- "Kentucky" -- had Kenny Perry, J.B. Holmes, Weekley and misfit Floridian Jim Furyk, while the third group -- "emotionally quiet" -- had Steve Stricker, Stewart Cink, Ben Curtis and Chad Campbell. An interesting approach taking twelve men that usually don't play in a team atmosphere and placing them in small groups with the type of personalities similar to theirs.
In any sport you play, a team can come together in so many ways. Often times, you lose your star player to injury and everything seems dim and unlikely. Remember when Drew Bledsoe went down for the New England Patriots? Their star quarterback went down and everything doesn't look good. No worries. Enter Tom Brady, and three championships later, all is good.
Ironically, the Patriots find themselves in the same boat again this year with Brady going down in Week 1. No worries. Enter Matt Cassell, and the Pats are 2-1. Like the Patriots, this American Ryder Cup team was challenged with the injury bug to the world No. 1, Tiger Woods. Although you never want to lose your best player, perhaps this helped the Americans rally and think about the overall "team" early leading into the Ryder Cup.
This American team had some strong leadership. Any great team needs leadership -- guys that understand what it takes to get the job done. These players are people that lead in there own way both on and off the playing surface. These are the guys that the youth can look up to, inspiring everyone to work harder and do more for the team. This year, Jim Furyk and Justin Leonard seemed to be these guys. Leonards bulldog personality seemed to really get things going and inspire great play. On the other hand, the focused and low-key Furyk seemed to keep everyone grounded and working hard right up until the end. These two veterans were key leaders for this United States team.
With great leadership, you can now set a good example for the youth. With six rookies on the team, leadership was critical as Kim, Mahan, Weekley, Curtis and others were all ready to go. I loved the Kim and Mickelson match-up. Kim, the fearless competitor I think really pushed the talented Mickelson in team play. The veteran lefty really looked focused and determined during the team competition.
Hunter Mahan, another young gun, was impressive all week. After watching Mahan, I couldn't help but thinking how much his game and personality is like Leonard. Again, this was a great pairing, as Leonard brought out the best in the rookie. The great play of Kim and Mahan set the stage for the rookies early on Friday, laying down confidence for two more rookies in Weekley and Holmes in the afternoon formats. Both Boo and J.B. seemed relaxed and again the perfect compliment to each other firing up a tired crowd in the afternoon team competitions.
With good leadership in place and the young guns contributing, every good team needs some role players. Great teams need theses key role players that contribute in different ways. These people don't want the spotlight but very quietly contribute and play a major role in the final score. How about Chad Campbell and his two points and Ben Curtis with 1 ½ points? I felt a big match in this Ryder Cup was the halve Saturday afternoon between Curtis/Stricker vs. Garcia/Casey. A match that didn't look like we would win on paper but very quietly, we halved.
Finally, every good team needs that feel good story. "Let's win won for the Gipper." This year, let's win one for the Kentucky boy -- Kenny Perry. Remember when the Steelers beat the Seahawks in the Super Bowl and all we heard about for months was Jerome Bettis going home to Detroit? Sorry if I seem a little bitter being a Hawks fan, but players playing in front of their home fans is great inspiration and perhaps just exactly what you need for that extra edge. Kenny Perry was outstanding all week -- he was inspiration all week and carded a huge 2 ½ points capping a great 2008 year for the Kentucky boy.
Just Because
At the end of the day, it was a team effort as all twelve Americans contributed at least a half a point. In year's past, no one ever questioned the ability of these players as they continued to get defeated since 1999. Again, going into this week no one questioned that all of these players are very talented golfers. However, this year was different as you could really see all week just how much this team was coming together. Good leadership in place, young guns ready to go, role players in place and Kentucky spirit all over. The players wanted to be there and they wanted to there as a team.
I miss team sports, there is nothing like coming together as a team to accomplish a goal. I compliment Paul Azinger and the United States team for a job well done and giving golf perhaps a needed little boost heading into the THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola next week.
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Sept. 9, 2008: Inside Camilo's classic short-arm swing
What Happened
In his third full season on the PGA TOUR, Camillo Villegas finally gets his first win. The 26-year-old Colombian shot a final round 2-under-par 68 to capture $1.26 million at the BMW Championship in St. Louis.
Villegas went wire to wire to capture the title at Bellerive. Villegas was solid all week in all phases, and showed real grit on Sunday. After veteran Jim Fuyrk took the lead on the front nine on Sunday, Camillo stepped it up on the back nine. First, at the 12th hole, he sank a big par putt to protect his one-shot lead and then made back-to-back birdies at No. 13 and No. 14 to open up a three-shot lead heading into the home stretch.
This win positions Villegas for a shot at the second-place FedExCup prize of $4 million, which will be awarded at the season-ending THE TOUR Championship presented by Coca-Cola. First prize of $10 million will be awarded to Vijay Singh, as all the Fijian has to do is not miss his tee times at the final tournament of the year in Atlanta, and the second annual FedEx Cup is his.
What Can You Learn
I was very excited to see Villegas earn his first win. He is one of the hardest workers on TOUR, and the flashy Florida Gator has now officially arrived.
Like so many of today's young players, he demonstrates many of the components the modern golf swing has incorporated. Two of these moves show up during his backswing where he makes a good turn, yet produces a short arm swing.
Villegas lacks neither strength nor flexibility when it comes to his overall physique. With a physically-fit body, Villegas gets the most out of these two components by blending his body motion with his arm swing.
You may have noticed when Camillo takes his backswing, he makes a big shoulder turn supported by a stable lower body, but only allows his arm swing to travel to just above his right shoulder, stopping the shaft short of horizontal.
Good Turn: Camillo does a great job during his backswing to load his upper body over a stable right leg. His shoulder turn allows the left shoulder to work down and across towards his right shoe allowing him to stay in his original spine angle.
With a shoulder turn that rotates more than 90 degrees and a lower body that barely moves, Villegas' strength is clearly evident. With very little hip turn, the differential between his hips and shoulders is large and impressive and, as a result, creates a lot of power with these big muscles.
For the typical golfer, creating this type of differential between the upper and lower body is not realistic. With that said, it is still efficient to turn more from the hips to help promote a better shoulder turn.
The key: The body must stay in its original spine angle throughout the backswing. With the upper body mass moving over a stable trail leg -- and not towards the front leg -- the body is "loading" properly. If you can turn your shoulders 90 degrees and your hips roughly 45 degrees, then you are making a very good turn.
Short Arm Swing: Often, golfers relate the length of arm swing to overall power production resulting in a very long and "loose" swing. This actually causes a power loss and inconsistent contact.
In addition to a great turn, Villegas does a great job keeping his arm swing in sync with his body. I often reference this move as a "short arm swing" because you will only see the shaft reach a "three-quarters" position with the hands reaching just above the trailing shoulder. At this position, it is much easier to maintain a power-producing position with the lead arm and to maintain a powerful full wrist hinge.
Just Because
You know for seven months I waited and talked about football in anticipation for the 2008 NFL season. So many offseason free agent moves, new draft picks and coaches has gotten me excited like so many others for this year's season. All through the off season I waited in anticipation for Week 1 -- and big things to happen.
Like every other year, I got there early on Sunday to get my small table and TV so I can watch the Seahawks. I was wearing my freshly-cut new gear represented with a retro style T-shirt and an old cap from way back just for good luck. As always, it was good to see the usual fans I have been seeing every week over the last seven years, fans of all sorts from all over the country ready to watch their teams for the first time.
After the 38-10 smackdown the Buffalo Bills put on my Seattle Seahawks, I sat there wondering why I put myself through this. After telling my friends just how good we are going to be this year, I had to take the punishment of phone calls and texts just like every other loss. I know it is only one game and it's a long season, but for some reason this loss really hurt and I find myself wondering what type of further punishment lies ahead.
Another performance like that from the "Hawks" this week, and I think I'll be playing golf every Sunday.
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Sept. 2, 2008: How Singh regained his confidence on the greens
What Happened
Some very low scores were posted this week as the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup continued at the Deutsche Bank Championship at the newly-renovated TPC Boston. From a near-59 by Tim Clark during the third round to a flawless 63 by Vijay Singh on Labor Day's final round, TPC Boston was giving up some very red numbers.
What a difference a few weeks makes, as Vijay Singh has done a complete 180 with his putting. His shaky, steering motion from a month ago in Akron -- where he won the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational -- has turned into a magic wand. This win is Vijay's 34th on the PGA TOUR, now moving him one ahead of Phil Mickelson.
Vijay credited his huge improvement with the flatstick to a change in attitude this week. All week Vijay told himself, "You are the best putter in the world." After watching the three long birdie putts on the back nine drop during the final round, I was convinced Vijay was certainly the best putter in the world this past Monday.
This win puts Vijay in the driver's seat for the FedExCup and the $10 million dollar first place prize.
What Can We Learn
Clearly, Singh and Sergio Garcia are very comfortable being paired together. You can see over the last two weeks just how relaxed both of them are feeding off of the positive energy and good play of each other. This environment has really helped Vijay over the last couple of weeks.
What appeared to be rock-bottom for Vijay a while back with his putting, has -- at least for the moment -- rebounded to an all time high. It's amazing what a little change in attitude and some positive energy can do for somebody on the golf course.
It has been incredible what Vijay has accomplished on the PGA TOUR since turning 40. As a player passes 40 on the PGA TOUR, very seldom do they continue to improve and continue to win on a regular basis. Not only has Vijay been able to maintain his powerful ball striking and effective short game but he's been able to maintain his lean figure and, psychologically, continue to believe in his ability to win.
This belief system perhaps has never been challenged more then this year for Vijay. One of the more difficult things to do in golf is to believe and trust what you are doing on each shot. It seems simple on paper but for those of us that play golf regularly, we know this can be very difficult.
Have you ever read a putt from every angle and then quickly changed your mind once you got over the putt?
How about lining up an approach shot where you look at that target and you feel as if you are aiming way right or left, but then go ahead and hit it anyway?
Another fun one is when you have a good round going and you get to the remaining stretch of holes and then suddenly start thinking to yourself, "Well, even if I bogey the last three holes I will still shoot..."
It's amazing the games your mind can play and I would bet all of us have been in the situations described above. My advice is to take a page out of Vijay's new mental approach. Focus on your attitude and belief system, just like Vijay. It is important that your attitude is positive and that you believe in what you are doing in all phases of your game from the drive off the first tee to the final tap in on the 18th hole.
Here are three ideas to help improve your attitude:
1. Establish a game plan
Develop a plan with the help of an instructor for all phases of your game. Remember, improving at golf is a process.
We can all get better. With an organized game plan, it really helps your attitude and belief system to keep you focused on where you want to get to.
2. Time vs. expectations
Managing the amount of time you dedicate to your game versus your expectation level is very important.
The smaller the gap between how much time you have dedicated versus your expectation level will only lead to more enjoyment on the course. One of the biggest detriments to your attitude is when your expectation level is not balanced with the proper amount of preparation time and a proper game plan to match.
3. Challenge yourself, but create success, too
Play golf from different tee blocks. One week, challenge yourself from the back tees -- do this when things are going well and your attitude is positive and up for the challenge. Then mix it up a bit, the following week play one tee block up or maybe even two or three.
Play the course from a shorter distance where you hit different shots and put yourself in a situation to shoot great scores. Learning to play at a challenging length is healthy, but so is playing the game from a distance where you can go lower than normal and make some birdies.
Just Because
This just in. Vijay just dropped another 50-foot bomb from across the green. I've never seen so many long putts go in.
It has been a real treat watching Singh and Garcia play over the last two weeks. Some great ball striking and hot putting by two of the games greats is what these playoffs are all about. As a fan, I found that before the playoffs began I was getting frustrated because very rarely were we seeing the duels down the stretch from the game's top players.
Speaking of playoffs, college football is finally here. Can't wait for another controversial voting process to see who plays for the national championship this year. I still believe to this day that if the NCAA had a playoff system for Division I-A Football, it would be the single most exciting tournament in the country! That is all I am going to say about for the rest of the year.
We're now in the home stretch. See you from St. Louis next week.
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Aug. 27, 2008: Pressure points in Singh's swing
What Happened
Well, the Playoffs are here and The Barclays was the scene for the first eliminations. A couple of former Barclays champions found themselves in contention again on Sunday, as Vijay Singh outdueled Sergio Garcia for his fourth career Barclays win.
Both players shot a final round 1-under par 70 to get into a playoff with Kevin Sutherland. After a 27-foot bomb from Sergio dropped on the first playoff hole, Vijay answered by holing a 26-footer of his own to tie. He then defeated the two-time former champion on the next hole with a tap-in birdie.
This win is Singh's 33rd of his career on the PGA TOUR. After a lackluster first six months, the Fijian has turned his season around with his second win of the year and is currently in the driver's seat towards the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup's $10 million top prize.
What Can We Learn
After Vijay won at the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational three weeks ago, I was able to discuss the more classical golf swing of one of the game's best players. It was great to get some feedback from readers of this blog as well as our students at the TOUR Academies on how Vijay's swing is different then some of the young guns that define the modern swing employed by today's youth.
However, I found it interesting that much of the discussion was related to Vijay's unique move with his right hand after impact.
If you haven't noticed, look closely during Vijay's swing on how his right hand comes off the golf club during post-impact. This move is not one that Vijay is attempting to create, but rather, one that just happens and usually has little effect on the shot's outcome.
With that said, I would not recommend anyone allow their right hand to come off the grip during post-impact or at any point during the swing. The effect of the right hand staying attached to the club's handle -- more specifically the left thumb -- is one that we promote at the TOUR Academies and makes up one of four pressure points that could be applied during the swing.
One of the keys in golf instruction is the concept of pressure points. Applying pressure in the proper areas influences the correct alignment of the club shaft, clubhead and the clubface. One of these critical pressure points should be applied from the heel pad of the right hand to the left thumb for a right-handed golfer.
This pressure point feels like a "pushing" effect from the trail arm through the right heel pad to the left thumb. This pressure point stabilizes the club shaft and keeps it angled toward the target at impact.
The importance of the shaft being tilted forward at impact is irreplaceable as it allows for the clubhead to move downward through the impact zone. Vijay loses this pressure point after impact, however, it is recommended that a player maintains this pressure point all the way through the bottom of the swing to ensure consistent contact.
A second pressure point in the right hand comes from the index finger, or "trigger finger." A good grip will see a bit of separation between the index finger and the thumb. This pressure is felt when the clubhead's weight is resting on the trigger finger from the top of the swing all the way to impact and even beyond -- another term used for this is clubhead "lag." Every PGA TOUR player has significant lag in their swing.
The other two pressure points worth noting are applied through the left side. The first is felt through the last three fingers of the left hand. These fingers should feel as if they are rolling under during impact. The effect of this pressure point is to promote a flat left wrist and deliver a square clubface at impact.
Finally, the fourth pressure point comes from the attachment of the left arm to the side of the body. This is very noticeable with PGA TOUR players, as many of them will practice with a head cover or towel under their left arm pit to reinforce this pressure point.
This pressure keeps the arm swing moving with the body's rotation. If the left arm is not attached through the impact zone, the body rotation will stall out and you'll lose the first pressure point (right heel pad to the left arm) resulting in a less than ideal scooping action.
You will see Singh often practice with something under his lead arm to train not only proper timing between the arms and body, but a more stable right hand during post-impact.
Just Because
Well, it has been a crazy couple of weeks for me with not only a much anticipated vacation but the arrival of the never-ending Tropical Storm Fay. After a short week off for me, I am now ready for the race for the FedExCup and the much anticipated Ryder Cup.
In addition to some great fall golf on TV and on the links - it is finally football season! Enough said.
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Aug. 13, 2008: How Padraig hits his lob shot
What Happened
Coming to a major near you soon -- The Paddy Slam! How about Padraig Harrington? He played some determined golf on Sunday as he fights back and wins the PGA Championship. This is now Padraig's third major championship out of the last six and back-to-back to close the 2008 season!
With the absence of Tiger Woods, no one has gained more than Harrington. The intense -- but under control -- Irishman has now positioned himself with the same number of major championships as the world's No. 2 -- Phil Mickleson.
Harrington was an amazing 8-under par over the weekend, carding back-to-back rounds of 66. After a lackluster start on Thursday, Harrington picked it up with better focus and hydration, as rumor has it he was dehydrated after the opening round.
With proper fluids, great ballstriking and sensational putting coming down the stretch -- dropping a 12-footer for par on the 16th, a 10-footer for birdie on the 17th and a 16-footer for par on the 18th -- Harrington found himself with another major championship trophy.
What Can We Learn
Sunday's performance around the greens from Harrington was some awfully good stuff. The guy was amazing out of the bunkers and absolutely sensational with the lob shot from the heavy rough at Oakland Hills. There were so many shots that not only ended up close to the pin, but looked as if they were going to go in.
The lob shot is such a high-risk shot that takes not only good technique, but a tremendous amount of practice and confidence. All PGA TOUR players are certainly capable of hitting this shot, but some use it more often then others. When successful, it is certainly one of the more exciting shots to watch.
At the TOUR Academies, instruction in the lob shot is one of the most popular requests we will get. It is a fun shot that allows any player to demonstrate their ability to take a full swing and only hit the ball a short distance.
The risk is apparent when we attempt to demonstrate this shot and catch more of the ball then we should. Suddenly, that lob looks more like a 5-iron shot. However, it is those few times we do pull it off like Harrington did at the PGA that keep us coming back.
So what are the secrets?
First, there are different levels of risk when approaching a lob shot. The key is we want to add loft to the clubface so we can launch the ball as high as possible. Here are three things you can do to add loft to the clubface at address.
1. Lean the club shaft slightly away from target and position the body so the club's butt end points at your belt buckle. This will preset the ball forward in the stance.
2. Open the clubface slightly as well as your body line.
3. Take a weaker grip than normal by rotating the hands farther to the left (for a right-handed golfer).
When applying the three setup characteristics above, I would recommend starting with only No. 1. This will effectively increase the loft of the clubface and produce a higher shot. If you need more loft, then add No. 2.
However, I would be careful with the clubface as the more you open it, the smaller the effective hitting surface at impact. Finally, if you are feeling very bold then add number three as well. With the grip weakened, the clubface will rotate even farther open during the backswing creating maximum loft -- I usually only recommend No. 3 to the more advanced player.
As you progress through the three setup characteristics above, the lob shot swing will begin to evolve. The best way to describe the lob shot swing is "long and lazy." Long in the sense that the arm swing is full in both directions while "Lazy" describes the sense of heaviness in the arms and the slower than normal feel of the body rotation. It is important that your arms are not tense when attempting this shot. Instead, view your arms as if they were heavy ropes. Any tension in your arms will ruin any chance of pulling off the lob.
• Article: Be long and lazy to master bunker shots (new window)
The body plays a key role as well. You may have noticed with Harrington on Sunday at the 16th hole that when he was faced with this lob shot he kept his upper body very still. Minimizing the shoulder turn promotes the arms falling back to the same spot they started from making solid contact probable.
Depending upon the severity of the rough and how far you want to hit the lob, the rate of turn with the upper body will need to match up. With all that said, this shot takes a tremendous amount of practice so if you're planning on winning three majors of your own, get a large bucket and head to the pitching green.
Just Because
Well, the 2008 majors are in the book, and I thought for a while I had picked the final winner in last week's blog (J.B. Holmes). J.B. held the 36-hole lead and was right there heading in the final round, but he struggled on Sunday afternoon.
The PGA TOUR now turns to the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup and the Ryder Cup. I must admit, I am very excited about the Ryder Cup this year and even without Tiger Woods, it will be a great event. The Europeans are certainly playing very well with another strong performance last week with not only Harrington but also Sergio Garcia who finished runner-up and the underrated Henrik Stenson who finished tied for fourth. With home field advantage this year for the USA, it should be very interesting.
Finally, I want to give a quick shout out to the USA Olympic team. I am borderline addicted to the Olympics this year cheering on the athletes. I never thought I could get so excited to watch the sport of swimming, but with phenomenal athletes like Michael Phelps, I find myself wanting to jump in the pool and swim a few laps.
On Monday night, the 4x100m freestyle relay was unbelievable. Down nearly a full body length heading into the last leg, Jason Lezak kicked it into full gear and came back to win it for the Americans defeating the over-confident French. Seriously, every hair on my body was standing up when Lezak touched the wall first. It was one of the most amazing comeback stories of the year.
USA! USA! USA!
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Aug. 6, 2008: Vijay provides a lesson in hip turn
What Happened
Sometimes I think we forget that Vijay Singh is 45 years old because he has made winning look easy since he turned 40. But over the past 18 months, Singh has not hoisted a trophy until this week when he won his first World Golf Championship title in Akron, Ohio.
The Bridgestone Invitational win gives Vijay a remarkable 20 wins in his forties, and 32 for his career on the PGA TOUR -- the most ever by a non-American. Although it wasn't pretty on Sunday, Singh was able to do just enough to squeak by Lee Westwood and Stuart Appleby.
The always-difficult Firestone Country Club was once again a great stage for the best players in the world. With narrow fairways and Vijay launching bombs off the tee, we were treated to some patented Vijay body-leans to the left as he steered his ball around the course.
With perfect conditions, Vijay averaged 316 yards (ranking: fifth) off the tee which allowed for some precision iron play where Singh hit nearly 71 percent of his greens in regulation (Ranking: tied for fifth). Even with numerous birdie opportunities, Singh never really got it going with the flatstick, as he struggled with the long putter, converting only nine of 19 putts between four to eight feet in length.
With dismal putting stats like this, Singh was fortunate to get back into the winners' circle. He should never let the end of that putter touch his belly again.
What Can We Learn
I have always considered Vijay a throwback classical ballstriker with his very active body motion and long arm swing in both directions. This motion is such a contrast to the modern swing you see in most of the younger pros today, where the body turn is more compact, leading to a shorter arm swing.
Some of the characteristics that Vijay and many of the classical swingers have are good examples for most golfers. For example, watch how Vijay uses his hips during his backswing to allow his body to coil, create depth with his hands and arms and deliver the clubhead along an inside approach back to the ball.
Like so many of the classical swingers, Vijay has a very active hip turn during his backswing. Often I hear students say that they think they should minimize their hip turn. With today's instruction, there is a lot of talk about shoulder turn, but often very little about hip turn. So what can adding some hip turn do for your swing?
First, it encourages a better shoulder turn. Many golfers are not physically capable of turning their shoulders enough without more hip turn than they are making now.
In fact, if your hips don't turn, then your right hip (for a right-handed golfer) will be too high during the backswing, leading to a sway or the dreaded reverse pivot. Either of which leads to poor, inconsistent contact. Allowing the hips to rotate approximately 45 degrees will allow the shoulders for most golfers to rotate a full 90 degrees resulting in a nicely-coiled backswing.
Secondly, some hip turn will create some much-needed depth in your swing. Depth is when the lead arm and hands travel behind the body during the backswing. With most players erring too steep with the plane of their backswings, creating depth is critical. A good checkpoint to make sure you're swing is deep enough is to use a mirror.
Once at the top of the swing, your left arm should be covering the right shoulder if you were to view from the target line. However, when adding depth, make sure you don't drag the clubhead too quickly inside the target line. Instead, it should move up and in gradually as the hips and shoulders rotate.
I often use the analogy of starting a lawn mower. When you pull the cord, you pull it up first and then back behind you. When using this same motion, the hips will get out of the way and create the necessary room to swing to the proper depth.
Finally, with the body coiled with the proper depth in the backswing, it becomes much easier to approach the ball from inside the target line. You may have noticed on Sunday that Vijay was swinging significantly from in-to-out on his downswing, especially with the driver. Oftentimes, Vijay's error is to swing too much from the inside, leading to the big block to the right -- hence his post-finish lean to the left.
Hip turn creates an important chain reaction. Letting the hips turn allows for a greater shoulder turn, which creates more coil of the upper body. With a stronger coil the left arm and hands can travel deeper behind the body which, in turn, makes it easier to deliver the club head from the inside and generate solid contact and more power.
Just Because
Well, we have arrived at the final major of the year -- The PGA Championship. I would have to say this year's tournament is as wide-open as it has been in a long time. First, you have no Tiger Woods, which immediately opens it up to the rest of the field.
One could argue that the experienced veterans will prevail this year. Vijay Singh seems like a logical choice if he can get his putter rolling. Then there's Kenny Perry, who has three wins this summer. Remember, Steve Lowery won earlier this year, and no one has been more surprising in 2008 majors than Rocco Mediate. Phil Mickelson looks as if he's once again close to playing some great golf and I think Stuart Appleby or even a Justin Leonard could make some noise this year.
So what about the younger crowd?
Like most, I'll give you an argument beginning with Anthony Kim -- he seems poised and ready for his first major to go along with his two wins earlier this year. Padraig Harrington could make it three of the last six majors, or the newly acquainted Chez Reavie could make it two wins in three weeks. Look out for Sean O'Hair, like Mickelson his game is getting closer or, maybe, it is finally Sergio's time? The PLAYERS winner has had a good year, but it could turn to great with a win at Oakland Hills.
So many options and angles for debate -- it is simply flat-out wide open. So who do I think will get it done in Michigan? Well, I'm taking J.B. Holmes. I can see it now, J.B. in his Sunday orange shirt holding up the Wanamaker trophy.
It should be a great week!
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July 31, 2008: Chez Reavie reminds me of Zach Johnson
What Happened
Well, a new name emerged on the PGA TOUR this weekend at the RBC Canadian Open, as Chez Reavie won his first title. The Arizona State graduate held off another ASU alumnus, Billy Mayfair, to win by two.
Reavie went wire-to-wire at the soggy Glen Abbey Golf Club, hitting a staggering 78 percent of his fairways which allowed him to take full advantage of the lift, clean and place rule that was being used due to the wet conditions. Once in the fairway, Reavie continued his consistency, hitting 75 percent of the greens in regulation. With accuracy off the tee and onto the greens, Chez was able to overcome the distance he gave up to much of the field.
It seems week after week, we have been talking about the modern recipe these days of bombing it off the tee with efficient and timely putting in order to win. This week was different. Reavie, who reminds me of Corey Pavin, used finesse and control all week to overcome bombers and prove -- once again -- that there are other ways to get the job done.
This win for Reavie earned him a cool $900,000, which is more than he had won in his entire PGA TOUR career.
What Can We Learn
No Kenny Perry or Anthony Kim this week? I must admit I am running out of things to talk about with these two, so Reavie is a welcome addition to this week's blog.
Reavie, who stands 5-foot-9 with a medium build, is a little easier to relate to for most of us. His body, golf swing and clubhead speed are not overpowering, but both are consistent and efficient in its own way.
I would compare Reavie's golf swing to 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson's. Similar in build, both Chez and Zach play with a closed clubface in their golf swings. Although not the norm on the PGA TOUR, both of these players set the clubface in a shut position at the top of the swing, which affects how they will hit the ball.
With the clubface closed at the top, both players hold off the release of the clubhead, creating lag on the downswing and allowing for the lower body to rotate aggressively through impact.
With players of medium build, this combination of increased lag with an aggressive lower body will generate more power (and everyone on the PGA TOUR has plenty of power, just some more than others).
Most amateurs in today's game will err on the side of an open clubface at the top of the swing. This open clubface at the top usually leads to compensations on the downswing to overcome the ball curving to the right. So many times at the TOUR Academies, we will teach players with an open clubface to shut the face -- like Reavie and Johnson -- so they can learn the combination of lag and proper body motion through impact.
With that said, it is not wrong to have an open clubface at the top of the swing, as many PGA TOUR players do. Good examples would be Ernie Els and Corey Pavin. However, what is different with these talents is they can still manage to swing along the proper swing plane on the downswing, with sufficient lag in the clubhead and the proper amount of rotation in the clubface to square the clubface at impact.
This is a mouthful, I know. When you are only playing once a week, as most golfers do, this is a lot to ask of your swing.
So my message to you is: Realize how important the clubface positioning is during the swing. Yes, it is relative to each player as some may need to open it a little bit, but most of us need to favor a closed position to maximize our distance and accuracy.
This clubface position at the top of the swing will have a big effect on your downswing and how you will hit the ball. Take some video of your swing to see where your clubface position is at the top of your swing and how it is affecting your downswing and impact conditions. From there, you can determine if you need to close the clubface like Chez Reavie to increase your chances of creating solid contact with plenty of power.
A good checkpoint to use at the top of the swing is to evaluate the clubface position relative to the lead forearm (left arm for a right-handed golfer).
If the clubface is parallel to the lead forearm at the top, then this would be considered square. If the clubface is facing towards the sky, this would be considered closed and finally if the toe is pointing down at the top of the swing, this would be open. Again, creating an environment between square to slightly close is recommended for most players.
Just Because
Well it has been awhile, but I must talk about football this week as we are getting closer to the kickoff of the season. As golf nears its final major at the PGA Championship, the NFL is ramping up and getting ready for Week 1.
August is such a great month for so many reasons, especially because it serves as a clean slate for all 32 NFL teams. Hope and expectations are so high for all fans as they analyze exactly what needs to happen for there team to win it all.
As most of you know already I am big Seahawks fan from growing up in the Northwest and, yes, I am -- like all other fans -- running my mouth these days explaining to everyone on the East Coast that not only do we have an NFL football team in Washington, but we will make another run to the Super Bowl.
All we have to do is control the line-of-scrimmage, don't miss any tackles, force a lot of turnovers, run the football, stretch the field when needed and limit our penalties. You heard it hear first.
Super Bowl 42 Prediction: Seahawks 35 Jaguars 17.
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July 23, 2008: How Padraig bombed his fairway woods
What Happened
Even without Tiger Woods in a major championship for the first time since 1996, the 137th Open Championship did not disappoint. I -- like the rest of the world -- was absolutely shocked when 53-year-old Greg Norman showed up on the leaderboard heading into the weekend. The veteran businessman/part-time golfer, who admittedly plays more tennis these days than golf, showed us all that he still has what it takes to compete on the biggest stage in the game.
Taking a two-shot lead into the final round Norman -- like so many others -- struggled with a 77 making way for the defending champion, Padraig Harrington, to steadily climb to the top of the pack. After making three bogeys in a row to finish the front nine, Harrington got it going on the back nine with two birdies and a timely eagle on the 17th to win his second Open Championship.
What Can We Learn
Harrington's stellar play on the back nine on Sunday was fun to watch. The difficult links style of golf is no mystery to him, as his experience showed.
You hear professional golfers talk about all they want to do is get in position to win on the back nine on Sunday. And Harrington was just that -- in position to win heading into the back nine. After parring the first three holes on the back nine, Harrington sprinkled in birdies on holes 13 and 15 and then hit that remarkable 5-wood into the par-5 17th that turned into the blow that put Norman down on the canvas at the end of another major.
The old trusty 5-wood came through as he launched it into the howling wind, landing it perfectly on the front of the green for a convincing eagle. At the TOUR Academies, we get many questions about how to hit fairway woods. So how did Harrington do it?
The first thing: Understand the angle of approach. You will notice when PGA TOUR players hit fairway woods, they still hit down on the ball, allowing for the loft of the fairway wood to lift the shot. Although the angle of approach is not as steep as that of an iron, the clubhead still needs to be moving downward when striking a fairway wood. Controlling this angle of approach into impact is the key to striking solid fairway woods.
Oftentimes, when working on fairway wood shots with students, I hear their analysis that the clubhead should be traveling upward or horizontal at impact. This approach can lead to poor impact conditions resulting in inconsistent ball flight.
The first step to generating the proper angle of approach is to setup properly. Here are the keys to check:
1. Ball Position forward (one ball-width inside of your left heel)
Ball position is critical, as it places the ball just before the swing's low point. This will promote the club head to strike the ball just before the low point assuring a descending blow through impact.
2. Hands in line with the clubhead
Positioning the hands in-line with the clubhead allows for a player to hit down but not to where the club head will stick in the ground. One of the most common errors at address with fairway woods is positioning the hands too far forward of the club head.
3. Tilt the upper body slightly away from target
With the upper body tilted slightly away from the target, your head will be behind the ball. This again helps to promote the proper angle of approach into impact. Get this angle correct and -- while I can't guarantee you'll be making eagles -- you will see more consistently solid shots and more power.
Just Because
Was it just me or could you not see the golf ball on TV at the Open? I have never in my life said, "Where's the golf ball?" after so many shots. The wind was certainly brutal, but jeez, that was a struggle just trying to track the golf ball -- tough on ratings.
Secondly, Kenny Perry almost won again at the U.S. Bank Championship back here in the States. As I mentioned last week, I just don't understand why Perry didn't attend the Open. I understand there are commitments that these players have, but I would bet U.S. Bank understands with their placement opposite a major, that if Perry would've said,
"Hey, I am the hottest player in the planet and I think I can win my first major this week," they would've been okay with it.
After all, it is one of the four biggest tournaments of the year and I think with his style of game and how well he is executing -- Kenny Perry may have given Paddy a run for his money.
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July 16, 2008: How to use the Hinge and Hold chip
What Happened
Kenny Perry is as unstoppable as the hero in a summer blockbuster now playing at a Cineplex near you. On Sunday, he won his third tournament of the year on the PGA TOUR by capturing the John Deere Classic. Perry closed the deal again on Sunday as he defeated Jay Williamson and Brad Adamonis in a one-hole playoff after both Williamson and Adamonis dunked their approach shots in the water at the difficult 18th at TPC Deere Run.
The consistent trend of long drives and timely putting continues to be the recipe for Perry winning golf tournaments. His current three-win stretch over five tournaments is what Perry did five years ago, when he won three times in four starts.
Ironically, in 2003 Perry averaged 295 yards off the tee, which is the same exact number he is averaging in 2008. These long drives were on full display at the John Deere Classic as Perry was bombing his patented high draw, with 72 percent of them finding the fairway.
With long drives and improved accuracy, Perry continued to take full advantage as he has been doing all summer with his efficient iron work, where he is now ranked ninth on tour in Greens in Regulation at 68.11 percent. In addition, Perry has used timely clutch putting, which kept him in it on Sunday for his 12th career PGA TOUR win.
What Can We Learn
Like so many TPC layouts, at TPC Deere Run you see lots of little challenging short chip shots around the greens. I tell people at our academy at Sawgrass, when you play TPC Sawgrass, you will have the hardest seven-yard shots of your life. Not only is it difficult to get the ball close -- but under certain circumstances, it is difficult to keep it on the green.
Although TPC Deere Run is not TPC Sawgrass -- this year, once again, we saw a lot of difficult short chip shots around the green. This week, I want to share some insight on how to hit the short chip from a good lie and also from the rough.
First, the definition of chipping is a short shot with more roll than carry. The goal of chipping is simple - fly the ball safely onto the near side of the green and rolling towards the target.
To do this consistently, setup to a chip with the clubshaft a little more upright and forward at address -- at the TOUR Academy we call this routine up four degrees and then over four degrees. Once you establish the shaft angle, then stand to the handle by positioning your body where the butt-of-club is pointing just left of your belt buckle.
You will notice the ball position at this time is slightly back in the stance and your shoulders are square to the target -- not open. With the shoulders square, it will be much easier to keep the club shaft on plane with the proper body support.
During the chipping motion, keep the wrists quiet using just your shoulders as if making a putting motion. With the hands quiet and firm, the club shaft will return upright and forward assuring a slightly descending blow at impact.
Support the clubhead moving down by rotating the upper body towards the target. Again, with the shoulders square at address, feel the lead shoulder stay relatively level as it rotates through impact, rather then moving up and if the shoulders were open at address.
Oftentimes, we have the same exact shot but the ball is buried in the rough. This is a shot at the TOUR Academies we call a Hinge and Hold situation, but it still lives within the chip shot family because once again, we want a low running shot. To hit the ball consistently out of the rough, we need to increase the angle of approach so the clubhead gets down into the rough and below the ball.
The setup for the Hinge and Hold is the exact same as the standard chip, except we don't lean the club shaft more upright. The clubshaft is still four degrees forward at address with the ball position slightly back. However, when the ball is in the rough, it is recommended you preset your weight slightly forward at address to help support the necessary downward angle.
For the Hinge and Hold, you will see TOUR players immediately hinge their wrists with a short arm swing. Most golfers that attempt this shot out of the rough have too much arm swing and not enough wrist hinge. Focus on moving your arms back less but with more wrist hinge. A good hinge will set the clubhead just above the hands at the completion of the backswing. On the downswing, keep the wrists firm so that the shaft returns to impact leaning toward the target.
Todd Jones: An equation for better chipping (new window)
Just Because
The standard chip and Hinge and Hold are two good shots for any course, but they seem to show up a lot on the challenging tournament courses in the TPC network. Another place you will see these shots is across the pond in Europe. Oh yeah, there is a tournament this coming week called "The British Open" or just "The Open" if you live anywhere outside the United States. Something tells me we will be seeing lots of low running shots around those greens.
I must say I am shocked that Kenny Perry is not going to the British Open. I understand his commitment to the goals he set at the beginning of the year, but it just doesn't seem right for him to not make the trip to the United Kingdom this year, especially since he's generally played well in recent British Opens. As good as he is playing, Kenny Perry would simply be the favorite at Royal Birkdale.
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July 9, 2008: Kim keeps it on-plane
What Happened
Who is going to be the first young gun to step up in the absence of Tiger Woods?
How about 23-year-old Korean-American, Anthony Kim?
The AT&T National hosted by Tiger Woods was the site of this week's PGA TOUR event at the famous Congressional Country Club just outside Washington D.C. Kim put on his own holiday weekend fireworks show with his second win in five starts.
Kim made up a three-shot deficit on Sunday with a sizzling final-round 65. This win positions Kim as the only American under the age of 25 to win twice in a single season since his childhood idol -- Tiger Woods -- accomplished the feat.
This week was another example of how power, along with making a boatload of putts, has become the current recipe to winning tournaments on the PGA TOUR. Kim was eighth in driving distance, averaging 301 yards off the tee but only 141st in driving accuracy at 60 percent. With plenty of length, Kim took full advantage with his putting, finishing 20th at 1.760.
What Can We Learn
When I watch Kim hit a ball, the first thing that comes to mind his how perfectly on-plane his swing is throughout the entire motion. The geometry of Kim's swing is about as simple as it gets. This simplicity allows him to get a lot out of his game in all areas.
One of the benefits that Kim reaps is power. At 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds, power is not the first thing that comes to most people's minds when thinking about Kim's game. However, his swing is deceptively powerful and was on full display at the 7,255-yard Blue Course at Congressional.
How does someone without a large frame create so much power?
There are numerous power sources in the golf swing that can help to generate additional clubhead speed through the hitting area. One of the biggest power sources in the swing is the ability to create and maintain lag. The concept of lag is a component that Kim displays in spades in his powerful motion.
Players of a shorter stature with less weight need to be able to maximize there ability to produce lag (good examples are Charles Howell III and Sergio Garcia). With a perfect swing plane, Kim is able to create and maintain lag, resulting in a ton of clubhead speed that is consistently applied to the back of the ball.
Clubhead lag defines the condition of the clubhead trailing the hands in the golf swing. This condition allows for the clubhead to move on a downward angle into impact and beyond to the low point while retaining the maximum clubhead speed. The low point is defined as the outside of the lead shoulder.
It is critical that the clubhead continues to lag and move down not only to impact, but beyond all the way down to the low point. This will allow for steady acceleration during the downswing, assuring reliable distance control from shot after shot. It is absolutely imperative that clubhead lag is present to be a good ball-striker.
To accomplish lag, your trail wrist must be bent. For a right-handed golfer, if your right hand is bent back at the wrist then you have created an angle between the right forearm and the clubshaft. This angle is defined as hinging the wrist and should be created during the backswing. The key, once hinged is to hold on to this angle as long as possible during the downswing resulting in a forward-leaning club shaft at impact.
When training a bent right wrist at impact, we recommend at the TOUR Academies to start with small swings. You need to be able to control the clubhead and shaft with small swings first, then add speed to those smaller swings and increase their length. When done correctly, you will be surprised how far the golf ball will travel with such a small swing due to the lag of the clubhead.
Fulton: Sustain the down for better ballstriking (new window)
Just Because
Anthony Kim has brought up much discussion this week at the TOUR Academies on what it takes to make it on the PGA TOUR. Kim shared some great insight this week on some of the things he has learned over the last year that has helped him make it on the PGA TOUR.
This year has been a tremendous year for young players like Kim. However, it is truly amazing just how many young great golfers there are they never make it onto the PGA TOUR.
I run into players all the time that after you watch them hit golf balls and play, you find it hard to believe they can't make it. Last week, I was able to stop by home and see my family and friends in northern Idaho.
I ran into Ernie Hill, a golfer I grew up with in the Silver Valley who is still after his dream of playing professional golf. Currently, Ernie is competing on the Asian Tour and jumping around in the United States like so many others, just waiting for that stretch of great golf at the right time that could change their lives.
That day, Ernie posted an 8-under 64 at the Pinehurst Golf Course -- six shots higher then the course record 58 he posted last year. These fearless displays of golf are just more examples that at the end of the day -- with or without Tiger -- it takes extraordinary talent to even get a chance to play on the PGA TOUR!
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July 2, 2008: Perry's greenside bunker tactics
What Happened
The outstanding play of Kenny Perry continues as he wins in Michigan at the Buick Open. The PGA TOUR veteran continues his inspired play to make this year's Ryder Cup team by winning for the second time in 2008.
This win will surely lock up his position to represent the red, white and blue and play in front of his fellow Kentuckians in September.
Perry fired a final round 66 to finish at 19 under par, and that was just enough to hold off Woody Austin and Bubba Watson. This was Perry's 11th win on the PGA TOUR and one would think he is likely to pick up more before the season ends as he is now third behind only Woods and Mickelson, respectively, in the FedExCup race. Among these 11 wins, eight of them have come since Perry turned 40! Perry will be 48 when he tees it up at the Ryder Cup at Valhalla -- a place where he nearly won the 1996 PGA Championship.
Once again, Perry was consistent this week with his ballstriking off the tee and into the greens, but it was his putter that sealed the deal. The overall solid play produced 25 birdies and an eagle. The eagle came on the 14th when Perry holed a long greenside bunker shot.
What Can We Learn
The 14th hole at Warwick Hills was the scene for some great shots. Not only were players giving it a little extra off the tee trying to drive the green on the short par 4, but it also showcased some creative short games, especially from the massive bunkers surrounding the green.
On Sunday, there were two great bunker shots from the leaders coming down the stretch. One from Perry that was approximately 20 yards from the front bunker to a back flag and the other from Austin that was closer to 10 yards but with virtually no green between him and the hole. Two very different bunker shots that were executed perfectly down the stretch. Here is how they did it:
First, Perry was faced with a scary long greenside bunker shot. You know the kind: You make a big swing, catch the ball before the sand, and watch it whistle over the green while it's still gaining altitude. To avoid this result, Perry dialed down the bounce angle on his wedge and reduced the effective loft to help the ball fly farther than for a normal greenside blast with the same basic swing.
When creating this impact condition, the setup really writes the script. You may have noticed when Perry set up to this shot, he set the clubface and his body nearly square to the target. With his alignments relatively square, the shaft angle at address was just slightly forward with the ball position towards the middle of his stance.
For this length bunker shot, Perry executed it perfectly with an arm swing that was fairly long in both directions supported by an upper body that turned through the shot and towards the target. Impact was slightly behind the ball. allowing for plenty of height and distance - a great setup with the proper technique that resulted in a very timely eagle hole-out.
Shortly after Perry's masterful long greenside bunker shot, Woody Austin hit his ball further up in the same bunker and closer to pin-high. With the ball deep in the bunker, Austin was faced with a shorter shot, but one that needed plenty of height and spin. When hitting a short bunker shot, it is important to maximize the bounce and loft on the wedge.
When creating this impact condition, once again, it will be your setup that strongly influences the result. You may have noticed when Austin set up in the bunker on the 14th hole, that he set the clubface and his body very open relative to the target. With an open clubface and stance line, the shaft angle was vertical to angled slightly away from the target at address. This allowed Austin to position the ball a bit more forward in his stance.
Because you must move the club through a significant amount of sand even on this shorter bunker shot, the shot still requires a long arm swing in both directions but with more speed initiated by the upper body turning through the shot and towards the target. Austin executed the set-up and technique perfectly and got up and down from a difficult situation.
When you find yourself in a bunker, remember this checklist to best handle your situation:
| Greenside bunker recap | |||||||||||||||
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Just Because
It was another good weekend of golf as the Buick Open staged an exciting finish, and the U.S. Women's Open showcased yet another very young talent. Inbee Park, 19, became the youngest ever to win the Open.
I always think that we don't give these young athletes enough credit for what they accomplish. Think about the situation: 19 years old, and she just captured the United States Women's Open. It's absolutely amazing. The mental discipline, toughness and maturity they display both on and off the course are amazing.
I can't help but think about what I was doing when I was 19. I probably woke up around noon, had a little lunch, went to a couple of classes, played some intramural basketball and then worked on my golf. I like to think I had a lot figured out back then and really worked hard on my game, but seriously - winning a major championship?
Think of all the different things that go on in your life during this time, from the people you meet, situations you get yourself into, distractions, temptations, options, etc., etc., and on top of all this...go out and win a United States Open!
Oh, to be 19 again.
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June 26, 2008: Belly putter boosts Cink
What Happened
Stewart Cink continues his fine play in 2008, winning the Travelers Championship by one shot over defending champion Hunter Mahan and Tommy Armour III. This was Cink's second title at the Travelers Championship, where he recorded his first PGA TOUR win in 1997. Coming into the week, Cink had recorded six top-10 finishes in 2008, so it was nice to see him finally close the deal and get back into winners' circle for the first time in four years.
This win now puts Cink in some very lofty company. He is now third in the FedExCup points and third on the money list behind Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, respectively. His solid play all year has put him in contention every week.
With Tiger now out for the year, Cink now has a great opportunity to win his first major. Keep in mind that he finished tied for third at the Masters and tied for 14th at the U.S. Open, where he shot a sizzling 67 on the final day. With an all-around ranking of second on the PGA TOUR, one would think that he has a real shot to take home one of the final two major championships of the year.
What Can We Learn
When you look at Cink's stats, you will see another textbook example of the type of game that we are seeing more and more on the PGA TOUR these days. This style has two main ingredients: Awesome power and deft putting.
Currently, Cink is ranked 30th on the PGA TOUR in Driving Distance at 294 yards. Although Cink is long, he's not always accurate -- he is only ranked 140th in Driving Accuracy, hitting just a little over half of the fairways.
On the PGA TOUR, if you are going to miss fairways, then you better be busting it close to the 300-yard mark to allow yourself a more controlled short iron approach shot. Fortunately, Cink does this and takes full advantage of the shorter approach shots. He is currently fourth in Greens in Regulation.
Cink generates a lot of clubhead speed with his 6-foot-4 frame and his long swing with his driver. In addition, he sets up to the ball perfectly to maximize his power. One of the things that we can learn from Cink is how he tilts his spine away from the target at address.
At the TOUR Academies, we call this secondary spine angle -- this angle allows for the spine to tilt slightly away from the target. When doing this, the pelvis to counter-balances by moving slightly towards the target. Spine tilt positions your head behind the ball and encourages better alignment with the shoulders. This angle will definitely help you gain distance off the tee.
Another reason for Cink's success this year is his putter. Currently, he is 22nd in putting at 1.763 Putts per Green. Since changing to the belly putter, it seems as if he has instantly become one of the best putters on the PGA TOUR. Like some other prominent players, Cink made the change to the belly putter, and it has absolutely made him a better putter.
Belly putting has become more popular over the years with the success of those who have used it on the PGA TOUR. Students often ask if they should try it, too. The theoretical advantage of belly putting is that it creates a more on-plane putting stroke because one end is anchored to the belly, side or sternum. This would promote a free, uninterrupted motion of the putter head with less manipulation -- or steering -- with the hands and arms.
However, feedback tells us that a lot of players lose feel when using a belly putter. Although the stroke may improve as described above, distance control becomes a bigger challenge. Of the two, distance control is more vital to becoming a good putter. Although you are seeing more belly putters on TOUR, I don't think it will ever be the majority because of this tendency to sacrifice some feel.
With that being said, I do think the belly putter can improve stroke mechanics for some people. However, I do think one prerequisite is you need to have good feel for distance control if you do decide to make the change.
Just Because
Well, summer is here, and the golf season is in full force. People are playing golf now all across the country except for one guy: Tiger Woods. Just in case you were stuck in Antarctica for the past week and didn't have access to television, radio, phone, newspapers or smoke signals, Tiger is out for the season with his left knee.
I must admit, I am a bit bummed out knowing that there will be no Tiger dramatics in the near future. Oh well. I am still looking forward to the rest of the year. With two more majors, the FedExCup race and the Ryder Cup, there will be lots of drama from the best players in the world.
With the first half of the season now complete, the key word for the PGA TOUR players for the second half is "opportunity." Who will take advantage and win the two remaining majors of the year with no Tiger in the field? It is wide open as we get ready for the British Open in a couple of weeks.
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June 19, 2008: How Tiger managed his pain at Torrey Pines
What Happened
What seemed like a lopsided heavyweight boxing match on paper turned into the heavyweight fight of the year: Rocco vs. Tiger.
Let me first give out major props to Rocco Mediate. The 45-year-old veteran put on a show for the ages and won over the support of many. If someone on Thursday morning would've told you that Rocco Mediate will battle Tiger Woods for 91 holes for the U.S. Open title, you would've said, "Sure, and I'm going to win this week's lottery."
All week with Mediate on the first page of the leaderboard, I kept waiting for him to fade away like so many others have when Tiger is near. Not only did Rocco not go away - he kept fighting and moving forward. Rocco never flinched, and he battled the world's top player all the way to the end.
With Tiger three strokes ahead with eight holes to play on Monday, Rocco made three straight birdies to take the lead again. Rocco matched Tiger shot-for-shot until the 91st hole where he made bogey, resulting in Tiger's 14th major championship.
Not sure what else there is to say about Tiger Woods. The guy is simply amazing and by the end of his career will be the greatest of all time by every conceivable measure. This week at the U.S. Open was just another example of how great he really is -- and he added a new layer to the legend by winning on one leg!
What Can We Learn
It was painful at times watching Tiger battle the pain in his left knee during his swing. The left knee is certainly critical during the swing, as it supports the straightening of the left leg as it braces for impact. All the speed that is being delivered to impact is absorbed by the left knee and leg as the club reaches the ball.
Tiger was clearly struggling with the pain. Not knowing when there would be sharp pain, it is only natural to favor the knee and compensate during the swing. What Tiger did to help the left knee was to go to a left-to-right shot -- especially off the tee.
When hitting fades, it is not necessary to get the clubface back to square at impact. Even though the body is still shifting and turning to impact, there is less stress to the left knee as it is not as important to completely post-up up the left side to hit a successful fade.
This, of course, is always a reliable option when you have the upper-body strength to hit a fade 305 yards like Tiger. More on this next week.
Tiger's ability to hit the ball left-to-right is a shot he has learned to hit as often as right-to-left. His ability to shape shots in all directions at different trajectories is a result of the swing changes he has made over the last several years with his swing coach Hank Haney.
Article: Breaking down Tiger's swing (new window)
If you watch Tiger warm up before each round, you will see him go through at least nine different shot shapes while preparing to play each day. These swing changes, like all others Tiger has made over his career, has continued to move his swing mechanics in the right direction to create even more versatility in his game.
I have always admired Tiger's attitude towards instruction. Here, you have the best player in the world, and all he wants to do is get better. He has always been willing to make changes to his swing, short game, or any area that will make him better.
He is not afraid to change and not afraid of any situation on the course no matter what might happen if he makes a mistake. His physical talent is always in the spotlight, but I have always been a bigger fan of his attitude, approach to the game and willingness to be a student that has allowed him to continue to get better every year.
Just Because
What a great U.S. Open! I want to compliment the USGA for a job well-done setting up the golf course. I thought it was very difficult, but very fair. The different length cuts of rough were great as it allowed the players to advance the golf ball appropriately.
The fairways were great, and the greens seemed to be spot on -- a little bumpy in places, but they accepted a good shot from the fairway, but not always from the rough.
Furthermore, I thought it was great how they moved up the tees on occasions to encourage aggressive play, which was certainly exciting to watch. Lots of uncharacteristic things for the USGA but, I believe, added tremendously to the overall excitement of this year's championship.
The only disappointment was they couldn't give Rocco a trophy, too!
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June 11, 2008: Explaining Leonard's comeback
What Happened
A name from the past is back on the radar screen as Justin Leonard wins for the second time in Memphis at the Stanford St. Jude Championship. The feisty Texan used consistent play all week to win for the 12th time on the PGA TOUR.
Ironically, Leonard played the first two rounds with last week's winner, Kenny Perry. Like Perry, Justin Leonard is focusing on this year's Ryder Cup and he has made it very clear that he wants back on the team. (It's hard to believe it's almost been a full decade since Leonard's monster putt on the 17th green at The Country Club helped secure the last United States victory in the event.)
When Leonard dropped a 19-footer on the second playoff hole on Sunday, I couldn't help but think to myself of that putt he made at the Ryder Cup years ago to help the U.S. seal the deal on one of the most amazing comebacks in golf history. Remember Leonard running across the green, arms up in the air with the entire team going crazy? It has been a long time since we have seen that type of excitement. Perhaps more of this is ahead.
Nevertheless, U.S. Ryder Cup captain Paul Azinger has already motivated these guys to get back on track -- Kenny Perry, Justin Leonard and perhaps this week at the U.S. Open, we will see another hungry veteran rise to the top.
What Can We Learn
The history of Justin Leonard's game has been well documented. In 2001, Leonard signed on with swing coach Butch Harmon to help him with his swing. Their mission was to not only get Leonard to hit the golf ball longer, but with more consistency. To do this, Leonard made some significant swing changes.
First, Butch worked on getting Leonard to improve his over all posture, especially by creating more tilt at address. This tilt with the upper body angled away from the target allowed Leonard to set up more behind the ball and load up better during his backswing. This tilting action positioning the head behind the ball is not uncommon for PGA TOUR players and should be one that is duplicated by amateurs.
Secondly, Butch adjusted how Leonard used the clubface. By getting the clubface in a more square position at the top, Leonard was able to use less hand action at impact and more body rotation through the hitting area. This concept of hitting the ball with your bigger muscles (body rotation) versus your little muscles (hands) is a staple for most PGA TOUR players today as it generally allows for greater consistency swing after swing.
Most amateurs try to use their hands to manipulate the clubhead through impact disrupting the proper impact conditions. If a golfer can learn to first get the clubface square at the top then they have a chance to be more passive with their hands to impact encouraging the proper body motion just like the PGA TOUR players.
These changes have helped Leonard and made him a better ballstriker. However, over the last two years things had shifted back in the wrong direction, as his game hit an all-time low. In 2007, Leonard let Butch know that he was going to go back to the teacher that had been his coach since childhood -- Randy Smith.
So what's different now?
Much of Leonard's talk about his swing these days is less mechanical and more feel-oriented. Since the recent coaching switch, Leonard has made his grip a little stronger to once again get the clubface back to square. Although there is nothing dramatically different in the way of his swing, Leonard seems to be thinking with a much clearer mind and a better feel for his swing. This simplicity in approach has gotten him back on track.
Leonard is not the first to change coaches and he is not the first to come and go from two of the best instructors in the game -- Butch Harmon and Randy Smith. At the end of the day, it is difficult to maintain long-lasting teacher-student relationships. Sometimes in golf you just need a change or another opinion -- just another parallel to life in general.
Another opinion may not even mean making physical changes, but rather it can simply reinforce your confidence or create a higher level of comfort that translates into more confidence on the course. So much of golf instruction these days is not only being proficient at the technical side and getting students to physically move in the right direction but also to provide the necessary coaching to boost the student's performance in a variety of other areas.
Just Because
In today's world of golf instruction, we have specialists now that focus specifically on all of these related areas. At the TOUR Academies, we call these areas "The Four Cornerstones of Improvement:
• Swing Instruction
• Club Fitting
• Fitness
• Mental Conditioning
The next time you go to a PGA TOUR event, notice all the people that surround these great players. These individuals usually include a swing coach, equipment representative, fitness trainer, sports psychologist and perhaps others that make up "Team Tour Pro." All of these specialists are in place to help the athlete perform at the highest level.
Taking all of this into consideration and understanding just how hard it is to compete on and stay on the PGA TOUR -- there is going to be turnover as there has been for Team Leonard. It's nice to see this shuffling of the deck has paid dividends for Leonard and I'm sure a lot of fans would love to see him wearing the red, white and blue in September at Valhalla.
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June 4, 2008: Kenny Perry's old-school power
What Happened
Kenny Perry joined Tiger Woods as a three-time winner of the Memorial after shooting 69 on Sunday. Just two weeks after his disappointing playoff loss at the AT&T in Atlanta, Perry continues his terrific play and finally gets his 10th career win on the PGA TOUR.
This win for Perry is a big boost to making the Ryder Cup team. U.S. Captain Paul Azinger made comments early in the year that a player will probably have to win a tournament to get on this year's Ryder Cup squad.
With the win, the 47-year-old Perry takes a huge step towards solidifying his spot on the team, which he has said is his main goal for the season. With Perry playing in his seventh consecutive tournament this week in Memphis -- without showing any interest in the U.S. Open next week -- I would say he is focused on playing in September at Valhalla -- just two hours from his hometown of Franklin, Ky.
What Can You Learn
Historically, Perry has been a very streaky player. When he gets it going, he excels in all areas. Last week was a great example, as Perry finished in the top 10 for driving accuracy, greens in regulation and putting.
Perry's golf swing is one that looks a bit odd in comparison to many of the other great golf swings on the PGA TOUR. Although it has been an efficient motion for him over the years, there are two components that change the dynamics and appearance of his motion. These components are noticeable in the way Perry uses the clubface and swing plane throughout the swing.
Let's begin with the clubface, since what you do with the clubface generally determines how you will use the swing plane. At the top of the swing, Perry sets the clubface in a closed position. This is a result of Perry's relatively strong grip at address. With the clubface closed at the top, Perry has to hold off the rotation of the clubface through impact by maintaining his wrist angles longer and rotating his body aggressively through the hitting area. If he doesn't do this, he would miss the shot to the left because the clubface would remain closed at impact.
This motion -- when done correctly -- can create a lot of precious lag in the clubhead, resulting in a descending and accelerating blow through impact. Even at 47, Perry clearly is not lacking power, as he averages 294 yards off the tee.
With Perry's clubface closed, the swing plane has to respond. The first thing you will notice is Perry's position at the top of the swing where he gets the club shaft crossed over; this is when the club shaft is pointing to the right of the target.
This is considered less than ideal, but not necessarily a shot-destroyer. With the clubface closed, Perry has the green light to re-route the club and then drive the clubhead down from the inside allowing the ball to start gently to the right of the target and then draw back to the left.
Although this type of swing is still effective, you are seeing less of it among the younger players on the PGA TOUR. In today's world of instruction, the modern swing sets the clubface square at the top with the club shaft on plane -- this is when the club shaft is pointing at the target line. This type of precision at the top only makes it easier to meet the proper impact conditions consistently. Clearly, you don't have to be perfect at the top to be consistent, but the closer you get, the easier it will be.
At the TOUR Academies, we like to use players like Kenny Perry as examples because most of the time we are trying to fix an open clubface at the top of our student's swings, which results in a swing plane that is usually too steep and approaches the ball from outside the target line. The result: A big fat slice. For most of our students, a strong grip and a closed clubface at the top is a highly recommended first step to curing their banana ball.
Generally, we are trying to take a slicer and turn them into someone who draws the ball. This will not only change the ball flight, but will build in numerous components that will help the swing to create more consistency and more power.
Next, we work on adjusting the club face from the closed position to square. This step will minimize the draw and will complete a tremendous swing improvement for any student.
Just Because
As we approach the mid-way point of the 2008 PGA TOUR, I thought it would be fun to provide some stats on where the best players in the world rank among their peers. With summer here and golf season in full force -- where does your game stack up to the best?
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May 27, 2008: Phil's swing changes paying off
hat Happened
When Phil Mickelson approached his golf ball deep in the trees on the 18th hole on Sunday at Colonial Country Club, I thought to myself: "What a great example this is going to be for on-course instruction next week at the TOUR Academies. He will simply punch the ball back into the fairway, minimize the damage and save par, forcing a playoff."
Right?
Wrong.
Once again, Phil makes it difficult on all of us who teach the game to convince our students that drawing a wedge out of thick rough, off a downhill lie up and over the towering trees is probably not the wisest option. However, on cue, the world No. 2 pulled off a shot that won him his 34th PGA TOUR tournament and gets my vote for shot of the year so far. Video: See the shot 
What Can We Learn
Well, I would love to teach all of you how Phil Mickelson hit that spectacular shot on the final hole, but I won't. Trust me: It will save you some strokes. However, I do think it is appropriate to talk about the swing changes Phil has now mastered over the last year. These swing changes have helped Phil become a better ball-striker and could help you too.
With Phil in contention this week, there were a lot of questions at the TOUR Academies about his golf swing and the changes he has made over the last year. These changes, implemented by swing coach Butch Harmon, have made Phil's swing much more consistent.
The first step to creating more consistency is to get the setup correct. Phil's fundamentals at address are much better now than they were a couple of years ago. First, his body alignments are definitely more in-line to the intended ball flight.
Having the body parallel to the target line, instead of open, allows Phil to easily work the golf ball in both directions. However, the biggest benefit to getting aligned properly is when you miss a shot, it won't be as bad as if you were aiming elsewhere. Phil's misses have definitely tightened up.
Secondly, Phil's posture and balance are more athletic at address. His blend of bending from the hips and knees is better distributed so his weight is over the ball of the foot versus the toes. Also, Phil has squared up his back foot. With no flare in the back foot, Phil is promoting a much more stable trail leg to turn around during the backswing.
With the setup adjustments mentioned above, Phil is now making a golf swing that is more compact. What makes it compact is the fact that the lower body is less active during the backswing and supporting what is happening with the upper body in both directions.
Before, Phil's left hip used to be very active and it would ride too high during the backswing, creating a sway to the outside of the back foot. This type of lower body activity increases the length of the arm swing and promotes a more upright angle of approach into impact. This combination of the body, arms and club creates a difficult situation to return the club back to the golf ball on a consistent basis.
Now, Phil's left knee is staying bent during the backswing. With the support of the squared left shoe, his left hip is rotating closer to horizontal. This improved lower body motion allows the arm swing to be shorter and a bit deeper behind him. His arm swing has definitely shortened up to the top of the swing allowing for a more repetitive and consistent path back to the ball.
Finally, I must comment on Phil's follow-through as well. At the TOUR Academies, we are strong advocates of not only a shorter arm swing to the top of the swing, but also to the finish. This more abbreviated finish tightens up the relationship between the arm swing and the body through the hitting area allowing the club head to sustain the down longer for maximum compression. This is clearly represented with Phil's approach shots with his irons.
Just Because
I think it is fantastic that the two best golfers in the world are students of the game and are not afraid to make changes. Like so many others, I look up to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson for their excellent play on the golf course, but I truly respect both for their constant efforts to get better.
Over the years, Tiger Woods has made significant changes in his game. Butch Harmon has certainly played a key role in Tiger's development and now Hank Haney is continuing to improve the game of the best player on the planet.
Phil Mickelson is also not afraid to make changes and it was fun this week to discuss some of his most recent swing changes. First, it was Rick Smith who helped Phil become a great player, and now Butch Harmon and Dave Pelz are helping the talented left-hander get to the next level and give Tiger a run for his money.
What's consistent with both of these players is there commitment to continual improvement. Both Tiger and Phil have a detailed plan in place and are working on specific things that are going to improve their games each and every day. They both realize that the commitment to improvement is a big part of the joy of playing the game.
What is your plan for improvement?
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May 20, 2008: Imada's amazing wedge game
What Happened
After losing in a playoff last year at the AT&T Classic, Ryuji Imada certainly had a feeling of déjà vu as he stood on the 18th tee at the TPC Sugerloaf last Sunday preparing for another playoff. But this time, Imada reversed the outcome by defeating Kenny Perry on the first hole thanks to some "tree-rific" luck.
Imada used great wedge play along with a hot putter all week to finish the tournament at 15-under par. Imada was first for the week in putting averaging only 1.636 putts per hole which now puts him in a tie for eighth on this year's PGA TOUR.
This win is another chapter of an up-and-down year for Imada. Early in the season, Imada was runner-up to Tiger Woods at the Buick Invitational and tied for second at the PODS Championship. However, coming into Atlanta, Imada had missed four of the last five cuts. Nevertheless, Imada is now third in the FedExCup Standings.
What Can We Learn
One of the reasons Imada has been inconsistent this year has been his ball striking - he's currently ranked 140th overall on the PGA TOUR. Imada is not long off the tee (currently 153rd) or accurate (currently 127th), which usually is not a great combination. Furthermore, he is only ranked 79th in greens in regulation.
Usually, when you look at those types of rankings you are not dealing with a player who is among the top five on the money list. So how does he get it done? Answer: Exceptional scrambling.
Imada knows how to get the ball up and down from all over the place. Currently on the PGA TOUR, he is ranked sixth in scrambling and tied for eighth in putting.
His wedge game is a blast to watch. He can hit a variety of shots from around and into greens from every imaginable distance. He uses the clubshaft and clubface beautifully based upon what type of lie he has and what trajectory is needed. Here are a few examples on how to master some key short game shots just like Imada.
1. Low Trajectory with some backspin: Set the club shaft slightly forward at address and stand to the handle -- position your body so the butt end of the club is pointing at your belt buckle. Clubface can be square or slightly open for more spin. Let your weight favor your front foot 60/40.
2. Medium Trajectory with some backspin: Set the club shaft vertical and stand to the handle. The clubface can be square or slightly open for more spin. Your weight should be balanced 50/50.
3. High Trajectory with backspin: Set the club shaft tilted slightly away from the target at address and stand to the handle. The clubface should be slightly open with your weight again balanced 50/50.
After making the correct set-up, execute each of these three shots with these swing keys:
Takeaway: Start the club away by swinging the arms back and hinging the wrists. For shorter shots, keep the upper-body centered over the ball with very little shoulder rotation. For longer shots, allow the shoulders to turn to create more speed. What is most critical, is that the club head works upwards through the hinging of the wrists while the lower body remains relatively quiet.
Downswing: Allow the club head to swing down into impact recreating the same club shaft and face alignments as at address. Support this motion by rotating the body to the finish position.
All three shots use a different club shaft and clubface angle for different trajectories and spin. When practicing these shots, develop distance control by balancing the length of the swing with the rate of your body's rotation. A longer swing with faster rotation will -- of course -- hit the shot farther.
Just Because
Kenny Perry certainly got a bad break when his ball hit a tree and rolled into the water on the first playoff hole in Atlanta. That was one of those moments where golf just doesn't seem fair.
Over 150-plus acres, so many unexpected and unfair things can happen, but I guess that is what makes the game so interesting.
After all, it is a game where you can play great all day but yet not score very well and then the next day play poorly and score fairly well.
Think of all the opposites as well in the game. When learning to play this game better, it can be a challenge learning in order to get the ball to go up, you must hit down. If you swing up, the ball goes down.
Another difficult one to overcome is alignment. The more you aim right of the target, the more the ball will go left; conversely, the more you aim left of the target, the more the ball will go right. There are so many opposites in the game that make it so interesting.
But, my all-time favorite that I really never understood and seems backwards to me is when you make a hole-in-one, you have treat everyone else.
Just doesn't seem fair to me.
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May 13, 2008: Sergio's new approach to putting
What Happened
Well, THE PLAYERS is in the book, as Sergio Garcia got it done on Sunday to win the biggest event of his career. Under extremely windy conditions most of the week, Garcia used exceptional ball striking and much-improved putting to win for the first time in three years on the PGA TOUR.
The blustery Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass became a survival test for the best tournament field in golf. Every year, the Pete Dye masterpiece provides a playing field with high demands for hitting fairways and greens as well as a steady short game. This year was no different, as you had not only the younger guns -- led by Sergio bombing it off the tee -- but also the savvy veterans like Paul Goydos holding their own around the greens.
In the end, it was the youth again maintaining their winning ways, as Sergio, at the age of 28, became the ninth under-30 player on TOUR to win so far this season. Sergio led the field in driving accuracy at 76.8 percent, but more importantly, he made the key putts when he needed to on Sunday.
What Can We Learn
I think it is only appropriate that this week we discuss Sergio Garcia's putting. It has been well- documented over the years that Sergio has struggled mightily with his putting. In fact, it is this negative attention that has only continued to contribute to the frustration for the world's 10th-ranked player. This week, it was much different for Sergio as he looked more confident over the putter -- so what was different?
The difference for Sergio Garcia at THE PLAYERS came down to improvement in two areas: Approach and attitude.
Sergio's new putting consultant, former PGA TOUR player Stan Utley, has done a nice job in turning around Sergio's approach to putting. I have heard Sergio refer to the difference in his mechanics as if he is "trying to draw the putt."
This feeling is not unheard of when a player changes the route of the putter head to one that is more of an arcing motion versus a straight back-and-through line. It was noticeably different that Sergio's putter head was tracking on a slight arc, rather than along the target line.
What's important to understand is that a putter shaft sits on angled plane, therefore, the putter head needs to move on a slight arc in order for the putter shaft to stay on-plane. With the putter shaft on plane, this will promote a more consistent contact on the putter face, leading to better line and distance control.
The theory that says you should make a straight-back and straight-through motion along the target line would not be on-plane. Although this method has dominated the world of putting for many years, it seems tour players as well as teachers are becoming more in tuned geometrically on what the putter should be doing.
When a player for the first time allows the putter head to move slightly left after impact, this can feel very different than if they have been moving the putter head down the target line. Allowing the putter head to move back to the left would be the proper release of the putter head. This effect can certainly give a player the feeling of "drawing" the putt.
However, don't confuse the release of the putter head with that of the putter face. The putter head is different then the putter face. The putter face should stay square to the arc of the putter head -- this can be accomplished by keeping the hands passive throughout the stroke. The putter head will feel as if it is opening and closing relative to the target line but the putter face should stay square to the arc.
Don't confuse the putter face with the putter head. The putter face is the front portion of the putter head just like the human face is the front portion of the human head -- two different things.
Finally, Utley has improved Sergio's attitude about putting. You could hear the confidence in Sergio's voice when he spoke about his putting. He is beginning to believe in what he is doing and that he can be a great putter. This type of attitude is mandatory to becoming a great putter. Now that his approach and attitude have improved and he's hitting the ball as well as ever, Sergio could have an even bigger win ahead this year.
Just Because
All this talk about putting just makes a person want to go out and work on the stroke. Before you do, I want you to make sure you are doing a few things at address first. If you set-up correctly, then it is easier to move the putter head on its natural arc. This natural arc will allow a player to be more instinctive on the green rather then mechanical.
At the TOUR Academies, we call the set-up the five lines at address. These five lines will greatly promote the proper motion of the putter head, just like Sergio.
Article: The five lines of putting (new window)
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May 6, 2008: It was simply time for Kim to win
What Happened
The youth movement continues on the PGA TOUR, as Anthony Kim won his first title at last week's Wachovia Championship. In a dominating performance, Kim won by five shots over Ben Curtis.
Kim shot a sizzling 16-under par to set a new tournament record on what has been a difficult test at the Wachovia. At the age of 22, Kim is now the youngest winner on the PGA TOUR in nearly seven years.
Anthony Kim used bombs off the tee, radar-like approach shots and a steady short game to get the job done. Perhaps, his experience from just two weeks ago at the Verizon Heritage, where he was in the final group on Sunday gave him the experience needed to hang on for his first win.
This win by Kim was very impressive. Sometimes when players win for the first time, you are not sure if they will become one-hit wonders. However, at only 22 and with the skill set he already possesses it is hard to imagine he won't become a regular winner.
What Can We Learn
Over the last few weeks, I have made many comments on how the youth on the PGA TOUR is beginning to figure out how to win. Perhaps, with Tiger on the disabled list, this has given the young guns an opportunity to win and build confidence.
Whatever the case may be, it is exciting to watch this next batch of great young players begin to surface. With Anthony Kim's victory this week, the PGA TOUR has already seen eight wins this year by players under the age of 30.
What impresses me the most about the new generation is just how fundamentally sound their swings are. Anthony Kim is another great example of a young player who learned the game the right way.
By the "right way," I mean fundamentals first. Sure, it makes a big difference to learn the fundamentals at a young age; however, these same fundamentals are something we can all learn regardless of our age. At the TOUR Academies, we always begin with the fundamentals at address - these fundamentals entail Grip, Posture, and Alignment.
These three fundamentals are crucial on playing consistent golf. If a player can grip the golf club properly, establish the correct posture and align themselves to their target, then they have a great chance to hit the ball to their target.
What's important to understand is no matter how a player sets up to the ball - they will figure out through repetition how to get the ball around the golf course. But when a golfer uses flawed fundamentals, compensations will be made during the swing and this usually leads to inconsistent contact and less than stellar results.
For example, at the TOUR Academies, we spend a lot of time on the grip. The function of the grip is to help produce a square clubface at impact.
Anthony Kim and many TOUR players grip the club in a manner that positions the clubface at the top of the swing in a square position. If they can get the clubface square at the top of the swing, where the angle of the club face matches the left forearm, then they have a great opportunity to deliver the clubface consistently square to the target at impact.
However, most amateurs grip the club so that it results in an open clubface at the top of the backswing. Through repetition, we all figure out the appropriate compensations on the downswing in order to hit the golf ball straight some of the time, but with improved fundamentals you can increase your ability to square the clubface on more shots.
A general rule of thumb is if your golf ball is curving right; turn your hands to the right on the grip. Conversely, if you golf ball is curving left, turn your hands to the left on the grip.
Article: Improve Your GPA (grip, posture, alignment)
Just Because
With spring finally here, TOUR Academy on the Road made its first stop of the year at Victoria National Golf Club in Evansville, Ind. This Tom Fazio design is a spectacular golf course set in the heart of the Midwest. Victoria National is currently ranked No. 1 in Indiana and 22nd overall in the United States by Golf Digest. After playing the golf course a couple of times, I quickly realized just why this is.
This golf course is a major championship type of golf course, just two years ago it was the host to the 2006 USGA Senior Amateur Championship and in June this year it will be the host to the AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions. If you love golf and are looking to add a golf course to your resume, check out Victoria National.
Speaking of great golf courses, my favorite of all time is on display this week at THE PLAYERS Championship. The twists, turns, bumps and humps of TPC Sawgrass will be on center stage this week to challenge the toughest field that will be assembled all year on the PGA TOUR.
You don't want to miss this one, as it's always one of the best finishes in golf.
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April 30, 2008: Byron would've been proud
What Happened
Hello again, Texas, as the PGA TOUR rolled through with its second tournament of the year in the home of beef brisket with the EDS Byron Nelson Championship at TPC Four Seasons at Las Colinas. A tournament that always draws a great field saw one of the game's rising stars Adam Scott pick off his sixth PGA TOUR victory.
Scott overcame difficult conditions to defeat former U.S. Amateur champion Ryan Moore in a three-hole playoff by draining a 48-foot bomb to seal the deal. Struggling to get the flat stick working all day, Scott finally got one to visit the bottom of the cup when he needed it most. It wasn't pretty on Sunday, as difficult winds and a reworked (and tougher) golf course made it a five-plus hour survival test.
This was Adam Scott's second win of the year worldwide, as the 27-year-old continues to climb the ladder among the game's elite competitors. This win is just another sign of how Scott's game is steadily improving and maturing each year.
The biggest improvements have come in his short game. Scott's growing confidence around the greens is evident and one would think if he can match this same level of confidence with the putter, he has a chance to challenge the two best players in the world -- Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.
Also, props to Ryan Moore -- also in his 20s -- as he played well all week but couldn't find a birdie in the playoff. As I mentioned a couple of weeks ago after the Masters, the youth movement is beginning to surface -- not only competing well, but winning. It was Trevor Immelman at the Masters as he held off the world's best player, and now Adam Scott at the EDS Byron Nelson.
What Can We Learn
At the TOUR Academies, we often hear people say they'd like to copy Adam Scott's swing. Adam's golf swing is one that is certainly appealing to the eye, as he makes it look nearly effortless.
One of the reasons it looks so easy is his ability to blend his body motion with his arm swing. Adam is a great example of how the body, arms and hands should work together throughout the swing. When done properly, the overall appearance looks smooth and in-sync.
A question we're often asked is "Of the two: body or arms/hands, which is more important?"
The answer can vary, depending on whom you ask. There are many methods that would favor the body while others would lean more towards the arms and hands. At the TOUR Academies, we like to focus on what we call "The Big 3," the club face, club head and club shaft. Learn how to control these three components during the swing, and you can achieve the proper impact conditions. To achieve a good impact, some players may need to focus on the body, while others need to concentrate on the arms and hands. Let me explain.
1. Club face alignment
Arguably, the most important of the three is the clubface and it is probably the biggest weakness we see, as roughly 85 percent of amateurs hit the ball with an open clubface. If you are struggling with an open clubface where the golf ball curves to the right or conversely closed and to the left, then more than likely you will need to focus on the motion of your hands and arms.
2. Club shaft/Club head path
I packaged these two together to keep it simple. After the clubface, it is important to evaluate the club shaft and club head path. If you are struggling with the path, whether too steep or too flat, it is important to determine if a faulty body motion is causing the problem or if the motion of your hands and arms is to blame.
At the TOUR Academies, we like to use video because it helps identify what the "Big 3" are doing. Through a simple analysis, you can then determine if you need to focus more on your body motion or the motion of your arms and hands. Making improvements in the right area begins to blend the two together moving you one step closer to an extremely efficient golf swing like Adam Scott's.
Just Because
Growing up in Northern Idaho, I didn't get to attend a lot of PGA TOUR events. However, when my sister graduated from the University of Montana, she moved to Dallas. I was always excited to visit her as our family planned our trips around the EDS Byron Nelson Championship.
I must admit, at the time I didn't know a lot about Lord Byron, but I can remember seeing interviews with him and thinking to myself, "What a cool guy." Since that time, I've learned more about him I have a much better appreciation as to just how great of a golfer and person he really was.
Byron Nelson accomplished so much and has had an effect on virtually everyone who has played the game of golf over the past seven decades. At this point in my life, I look back at attending his tournament as a child, watching him on TV and how he helped me continue my pursuit of a life in the game.
In addition to watching golf this weekend, I was fired up for the NFL draft. The draft is one of my favorite events to watch, as it always feels like Christmas in the spring as I watch the Seahawks pick players. Once again, Seattle got some good players, but they also had some real head-scratchers. One pick that made me sit in my chair and think for awhile was our sixth round pick: A long snapper from San Diego State.
A long snapper?
Still thinking.
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April 22, 2008: Blocked shots: It happens to the best
What Happened
Can you hear me now? Can you hear me now?
Yes sir Boo, we can hear you now after your second consecutive win at the Verizon Championship in Harbour Town on Hilton Head Island. Boo Weekley finished at 15-under par to win by three shots over Aaron Baddeley and Anthony Kim at this week's PGA TOUR event.
Weekley used rounds of 69-64-65 to build a three-shot lead heading into Sunday and then struggled with his swing on the final day carding an even-par 71. Boo admittedly following the final round, stated he only had his "C" or "D" game on Sunday. However, he used some timely wedge play and solid putting to hold off the field to win his second tournament on the PGA TOUR.
All week and especially on Sunday the crowd was behind Weekley with loud cheers of "Boooooo"!! After the win, Boo stated, "I wanted to do the Moonwalk or Belly-roll."
I must admit, I was little disappointed that he didn't, as that would of certainly been a capper to a great week. I can see it now, Boo wearing the plaid jacket, dip in and belly rolling across the 18th green. Can you hear me now?
On a serious note, the win now elevates Boo to a different place as he becomes a real contender for the FedExCup as well as a legitimate choice for the Ryder Cup. If there was any chance they would play at Harbour Town, I can assure you Mr. Weekley will be on the team. Boo has now joined Davis Love III and Payne Stewart as the only players to win at Harbour Town back-to-back.
What Can We Learn
At some point in our golfing career, we could all relate to the struggles Boo was having with his driver. Boo battled an annoying right shot off the tee that cost him distance and accuracy. Boo managed the swing he had on Sunday well enough to get him around the golf course to win.
When TOUR players struggle off the tee, the shot usually goes to the right. This is the case with amateurs as well. At the TOUR Academies, most amateurs we see will miss their shots to the right as well.
However, there are some differences in why a better player misses right versus the typical amateur. Let me explain.
When a TOUR or better player misses to the right, it is usually because the path of the clubhead is coming too far from the inside on the downswing. When this occurs, the ball will start off line to the right, resulting in a block. This push effect is fixed by feeling the clubhead more out in front of the body during the downswing, allowing the club to move more to the left of the body after impact. This is something that numerous TOUR players work on to avoid blocking their shots to the right.
When the typical amateur misses to the right, it is often because the clubface is open at impact. When this occurs, the ball will curve too much to the right. This curvature to the right is fixed by getting the clubface to close by either a change in the grip or better use of the left hand during the swing.
With the clubface open, amateurs will usually compensate by swinging the clubhead more from the outside on the downswing causing a shot that starts left, then curves right due to the clubface being open. Unlike the TOUR player fix, this fault will need to see an improvement in the clubface position first, then an improved clubhead path that works more from the inside to compliment the improved square clubface angle at impact.
If you are missing to the right, make sure you understand if you need to fix the clubface or the clubhead path, or possibly both.
Just Because
I must admit, I really enjoy listening to Boo Weekley speak, as you never know what exactly is going to come out. The filter -- for the most part -- is off, and what you see is what you get.
His use of the English language is not the easiest to follow, but his personality is one that is needed on the PGA TOUR. No script: Just a good-old Southern boy with genuine actions and words.
He is a guy that most of us can relate to. In some ways, it feels as if Boo is taking the place of the fading John Daly as a crowd favorite. He's the hometown underdog that reminds you of your neighbor. On the surface, you would have no clue he is a very successful professional golfer that has made millions. He'd rather be fishing or hunting like some many of us, but instead, he has to go to work.
Although I don't know Boo, he is a guy I would like to meet. He seems like a positive and fun guy you would just like to hang out with. He doesn't seem to have very many concerns as he just rolls through life doing the best he can while helping others.
Remember last year at the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill when he and his playing partner Tom Johnson approached the second green. Johnson was on the green, but elected to chip because of the shape of the green. He chipped the ball, forgetting to tell his caddie to tend the flag. The ball rolled up to the flag where Boo hurried and grabbed the flag so Johnson wouldn't incur a penalty.
Well, unfortunately, the rule states that Johnson didn't authorize Boo to tend the flag resulting in a two-shot penalty for Boo. An unbelievable example of sportsmanship, but yet, Boo got penalized. After the ruling, Boo looked at the rules official and said graciously, "Thanks, I have learned another rule in the game of golf."
That boy is "fixin" for good things to come.
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April 15, 2008 Blog: Driving dominance
What Happened
Well, the first major of the year is in the history books and -- finally -- we have a major winner under the age of 30. South African Trevor Immelman, 28, wins the Masters by three shots over Tiger to win his first major.
It was just four months ago when Immelman was diagnosed with a tumor on his back, which he had to have immediately removed. Amazingly, he stands before the world as the Masters champion, and the first from South Africa since his idol Gary Player won 30 years ago.
Sunday was like an episode of Survivor when high winds and firm greens made it very difficult for the players chasing Trevor to move up. Immelman's final round of 75 was the highest final round score for the champion in Masters history.
With a comfortable lead most of the day, Immelman admitted he was not watching the leaderboard and really never knew where he stood until the final walk up the 72nd hole, when he realized he was up three. That final walk was enjoyed with Brandt Snedeker -- another relatively young challenger at 27 -- who struggled most of the day on his way to a 77.
What Can We Learn
What can we learn from Trevor Immelman?
Ballstriking, ballstriking and more ballstriking. It was neat to see the swing of Trevor Immelman showcased at Augusta National. Trevor's golf swing is a great example of how an efficient swing can create accuracy and power. Check these stats out from Augusta:
• Driving Distance: 287.5 yards (T4)
• Driving Accuracy: 85.71 percent (1)
• Greens in Regulation: 70.83 percent (T2)
Not too shabby. What really stands out in those three stats are the two about driving. To be in the top five in distance and accuracy is really saying something about Trevor's swing and how it held up all week under intense pressure.
What I like about Trevor's driving is not only his swing, but his setup. Trevor is perfect at address, which helps provide power and accuracy.
Driver setup characteristics:
• Ball is positioned forward in stance -- off forward heel
• Driver shaft perpendicular to the ground (not tilted forward)
• Tilts slightly with the upper body away from the target
• Shoulders are square to the target line at address
This setup allows the driver to be swung on a plane that is relatively closer to horizontal. Most golfers swing the driver too much up-and-down on a more vertical plane, resulting in a loss of power and accuracy. This setup will promote the proper angle of approach into the ball resulting in more accuracy and a lot more power.
Just Because
I must admit it was not the most exciting Masters I have ever watched, but I believe it was one that was good for the game. After all, we had two young guns in the final group of a major looking to hold off the most dominant golfer of all time. Snedeker struggled, but Immelman got the job done.
It really frustrates me to listen to the media and others that choose to not celebrate this win by Immelman. After all, we have been living in a world that Tiger has been dominating with so many questions about who would finally be able to challenge Tiger. Finally, the youth arrives and defeats the world's best at a course that Tiger is supposed to dominate, and yet, most are still not happy and search for another direction.
One of my favorites is, "Trevor shot 75 on the final day, which isn't really that impressive." Impressive enough to put on the Green Jacket. Enough said.
Another one of my favorites is: "If Tiger would've had his A-game, he would have won." I agree, Tiger didn't, and perhaps one of the small reasons he didn't was because of the excellent play of Immelman and the lead he had built.
Another: "If Tiger would've birdied the par 5s on Sunday, he would have won by one shot." True, we could also say that if Immelman would've parred the 16th, then he would've won by five shots!
This type of reasoning could go on and on. Tiger won 13 majors because after 72 holes he had the lowest score -- he did what he needed to do. Immelman won his first major because after 72 holes, he had the lowest score. The fact is, he did what he needed to do.
Celebrate Trevor Immelman. He earned it by beating the world's most dominant athlete under very difficult final round conditions. Those are the facts.
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April 8, 2008 Blog: One shining moment
What Happened
Hats off to Johnson Wagner, who won the 2008 Shell Houston Open with a gritty performance in th final round. After watching and listening to Johnson Wagner all week, it was nice to see him hold off Chad Campbell and Geoff Ogilvy on Sunday.
Johnson shot a final round 71 to finish at 16 under and win his first PGA TOUR tournament. The win earns Wagner a spot in this week's Masters, as he flew immediately to Augusta on Sunday night.
Before this week, Wagner was struggling, missing six of his last nine cuts, good for only 193rd on the money list. So Thursday was just another tournament and a day to get off to a good start -- right?
Wagner tied the course record with a 63 to get things rolling on Thursday. Wagner was on fire and continued the great play, going wire-to-wire to take the first place prize of just over $1 million.
Johnson finished 4th in Greens in Regulation and 10th in Putting for the week -- top tens in these two categories is always a great combination. In addition, Johnson was 17th in Scrambling which included 80 percent on Sand Saves. More on this later.
With Johnson Wagner filling the last spot, the stage is set as we approach the first major of the year -- The Masters.
What Can We Learn
Have you ever noticed just how easy PGA TOUR players make it look out of the greenside bunkers? Their confidence out of greenside bunkers is truly remarkable, especially considering how difficult the greens can be. I have always enjoyed watching the techniques of these great players and learning how they use the loft and bounce of the golf club to their advantage.
As I mentioned earlier, Johnson Wagner finished at 80 percent in Sand Saves for the week, but who is leading the PGA TOUR for the year?
1. Justin Rose, 81.25 percent
2. Paul Stankowski, 72.73 percent
3. Camilo Villegas, 70.73 percent
4. Scott Verplank, 69.57 percent
5. Chris Riley, 66.67 percent
One of the biggest gaps between a professional and an amateur golfer is sand play. PGA TOUR players will often aim for the greenside bunkers, where even the thought for some amateurs creates a tremendous amount of fear. The key to a greenside bunker shot is to use the loft and bounce of the golf club properly.
Bounce is the difference between the leading edge of the golf club and the trailing edge as measured in degrees. Most sand wedges will have 10-12 degrees of bounce, which means that the trailing edge of the club is 10-12 degrees lower than the leading edge.
The bounce of the golf club will help the club slide through the sand instead of dig. This feature allows the clubhead to bottom out before the golf ball.
To promote bounce as well as loft during a greenside bunker shot, here are a few setup characteristics to get you started:
• Set club shaft perpendicular or slight away from the target at address
• Stand to the handle -- butt of club points at (or just left) of belt buckle
• Open clubface slightly
• Ball position slightly forward
• Weight slightly forward
Article: Long and lazy in greenside bunkers
Just Because
Two American sports traditions will take center stage this coming week.
1. The Masters.
I enjoy the Masters for so many reasons. It is, of course, the first major of the year. The combination of the golf course, the history, the unofficial beginning of golf around the country and of, course, that signature music they play on TV.
You know what I am talking about -- Dave Loggins...."Augusta". It gives me goose bumps just thinking about it.
I always enjoy watching the Masters on TV -- the golf course looks absolutely amazing. I would enjoy attending the Masters but I have to tell you, the Masters on my new Samsung HD is tough to beat.
2. The Final Four Championship Game
This week is also the finals for the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. Memphis and Kansas certainly entertained on Monday night and -- thank goodness -- bring an end to my embarrassing bracket I filled out a couple weeks ago.
What a great game it was with Kansas taking the title -- everybody now -- "One shining moment, you reached for the sky, one shining moment (long hold)."
What a great week it is going to be. Now, if that snow would just melt back home in Northern Idaho -- you know, bounce will work in snow as well. For light-powdered snow. use more bounce and for firm compact snow use less bounce.
Hang in there, my family and friends.
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Learn More: TOURAcademy | Got a question? Send Travis an email
April 1, 2008 Blog: Baird's unusual putting stance
The Zurich Classic of New Orleans is once again the stage for a first-time winner on the PGA TOUR. This year, it is Andres Romero, a 26-year-old from Argentina. After an opening-round 73, Romero turned up the heat with 69-65-68 to win by a shot over Australian Peter Lonard.
Due to the fact that players played in the same pairings for the final two rounds due to the rain delays on Saturday, Romero posted his 13-under par early and then waited nearly three hours until the final group finished. Call it superstitious or just how times are changing, Romero sat on the lead in the clubhouse shuffling through his iPod waiting to see if he won. Hard to imagine Hogan wearing headphones in the locker room listening to Sinatra.
First, it was Woody Austin and Nicholas Thompson coming to the 18th. Unfortunately for Woody, it was not to be as he carded a double bogey 7 to cap a disappointing back nine. Thompson, on the other hand finished bogey-bogey on the final two holes wiping out his chance for a victory.
Romero survived his first two challengers as he purchased the new one from Nelly Furtado.
Next, it was Peter Lonard's turn -- who seemed to have it all under control coming down the stretch. However, with a bogey on the difficult par-3 17th and a disappointing par-5 on the last, Lonard was eliminated leaving Romero the last man standing, or was that sitting?
The win for Romero earned him more than $1 million. That should keep the iPod full of new tunes for the rest of the season.
What Can We Learn
A name that has been appearing on the leader board from time to time this year is Briny Baird. Baird has played very well early in tournaments but has struggled on the weekends, as he did again this week in New Orleans finishing with 71-74.
This week at the TOUR Academies, I had a lot of questions about his unique putting style, so I thought I would discuss his method.
Briny uses a unique stance where the left foot is forward of the right foot at address as a drill first. When doing the drill, Briny putted very well, so he decided to take it on the course. At the TOUR Academies, we use this drill quite often, not only for putting, but for short game shots as well.
The benefit of this address position is it gives the golfer the proper feel of how the shoulders and head should work from impact to the finish. One of the biggest errors in putting and the short game is to come "up and out" where the lead shoulder elevates moving the head away from the target before impact. This motion with the upper body moves the putter head off plane forcing the hands to try to save the putt. With the left foot forward it puts more emphasis on the shoulders to stay level through the hitting area allowing the head to remain steady and the putter head to stay on the proper plane.
If the left foot is forward and you come "up and out", you will loose your balance - usually falling away from the target. Try this drill with putting and for some short game shots and I think you will find solid contact as well as better direction control.
Just Because
Who was the biggest name in sports this weekend? No, not Tiger Woods but how about Stephen Curry! I have to tell you, it has been awhile since I was that excited to watch a college athlete during the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Stephen didn't disappoint either as he dazzled with his unbelievable skills on the hardwood leading Davidson to a near Final Four birth. The kid was flat out awesome!
Also this weekend, I made it down to the Champions TOUR event -- The Ginn Championship in Palm Coast, Florida. Just a short drive from Jacksonville is Hammock Beach and the spectacular Ocean Hammock Golf Course. It was a fun couple of days that was highlighted when I caddied in the pro-am for a friend. What originally was a favor turned into a full time job caddying for he AND his playing partners.
• "Hey Trav"
• "Can you get my pitching wedge?"
• "Read this putt for me."
• "How far is it to the end of the tee blocks?"
• "Towel please!"
• "How do you play this shot off Bermuda grass?"
• "I wanted Unsweet!"
I need some rest -- see you next week after the Tour's first stop in Texas.
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March 25, 2008 Blog: The clubface's role
Thank goodness for helicopters, as I was able to make it back for my 2 p.m. lesson at World Golf Village on Monday. It was certainly a long and tiring week at Doral, as everyone battled the Florida thunderstorms all weekend long.
Well, allow me to be the first to ask the question -- What is wrong with Tiger Woods? A fifth-place finish this week at the World Golf Championships-CA Championship ends his five-tournament winning streak on the PGA TOUR.
I am only kidding, of course, as I thought to myself on Sunday that perhaps Tiger was a little tired from his amazing heroics one week ago at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard. However, during the Monday finish, Tiger -- taking his cue from the best drama directors in Hollywood -- made it very interesting by quickly closing the gap to within just two shots of eventual winner Geoff Ogilvy.
Ogilvy used great play all week and a timely chip-in on the 13th hole during the final round to propel him to his fourth win on the PGA TOUR. The young Aussie held off a star-studded field to win his second World Golf Championships event.
What Can We Learn
It was only a matter of time before Ogilvy found himself in the winner's circle again. It is fitting his fourth win on the PGA TOUR came at a tournament where patience was key, as Mother Nature offered all kinds of delays, forcing the Monday finish.
Geoff's swing is a motion I would consider more of a timing-based swing that is reliant on consistent rhythm and tempo for optimum performance. I say this because of the way Geoff uses the clubface during his swing. The goal of the clubface in any swing is to arrive square to the shot's intended starting direction at impact.
To do this, a player has three options in the way they can use the clubface during the swing.
1. Square-to-Square -- This means a player will set the clubface square at the top of the swing and then maintain the square clubface back to impact.
2. Closed-to-Open -- This means a player will set the clubface in a closed position at the top of the swing and then open the clubface back to square by the time the club reaches impact.
3. Open-to-Closed -- This means a player will set the clubface in an open position at the top of the swing and then close the clubface back to square by the time the club reaches impact.
Of these three options, Ogilvy rotates the clubface "open to closed". At the top of his swing, you will notice how the toe of the club points straight down. When the toe points down, this is an open position.
Although I wouldn't recommend this clubface position to most amateurs, PGA TOUR players often times benefit from an open clubface at the top of the swing because it allows them to use the club's loft more effectively. This use of the loft helps them to hit the golf ball higher with long irons, as well as control spin and distance with their wedges.
The down side to an open clubface at the top is you have to close it the same amount back to impact, which ties in the element of timing.
For the PGA TOUR players that open their clubface at the top like Ogilvy, their hands are educated enough to close the club face properly on a consistent basis. However, when their timing is off, even the best players can miss the ball both left and right. They either didn't rotate the face enough, resulting in the ball missing right, or they over-rotated the face, resulting in a ball that misses left.
Unless you play a lot of golf, I would recommend trying to get the clubface square at the top or even a little closed, if you struggle with a slice. A square clubface is when the clubface at the top of the swing matches the angle of the left forearm, while closed at the top will see the clubface looking towards the sky. A good example of this would be Jim Furyk or Retief Goosen, as their clubfaces have a tendency to be slightly shut at the top of the swing.
Just Because
I hope everyone had a great Easter Weekend watching the best golfers at Doral as well as some fantastic college basketball all over the country. You know there really is nothing better then March Madness. It is just a thrill to watch the little schools take on the power conferences. Some of the upsets that have certainly ruined my bracket. Thanks, Duke.
Oh, have you tried the new "Red Drive from Gatorade Tiger? Good stuff! Gatorade states, "This drink will allow for advanced hydration (fluids and electrolytes) and carbohydrate energy to fuel athletic performance. The drinks will be positioned to capture the unique qualities of Tiger that have led to 64 wins on the PGA TOUR."
Sounds good to me, if I could do half the things Tiger can do on the golf course I would drink ten a day.
Well, I better go as the Tavistock Cup is starting on The GOLF CHANNEL. Rumor has it that Tiger is a +13 handicap on his home course at Isleworth? That is crazy, and it means that he would need to give me 14 shots if we played a match.
Wow. Another Gatorade please.
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March 18, 2008 Blog: Tiger's new compact motion
What Happened
This just in: Tiger Woods is a very good golfer.
Unbelievable indeed was Tiger's 64th PGA TOUR career win at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard at Bay Hill. This win fittingly moves Tiger past The King and into a tie for career victories with "The "Hawk," Ben Hogan.
Tiger sank his only putt longer than 20 feet for the entire week on the 72nd hole to beat Bart Bryant by one. This win is now his fifth at Arnie's tournament as well as his fifth consecutive win on the PGA TOUR since last fall.
Bryant played very well all day, keeping the heat on Tiger and forcing the world No. 1 to beat him in dramatic fashion on the last hole. When Bryant couldn't convert his birdie on the 18th, you just knew what was coming when Tiger arrived on the final tee.
We have seen it time and time again from Tiger, a big stage is set and he performs at the highest level. It just doesn't matter what the situation is:
• Tied for the lead with one to play...doesn't matter.
• There is a 170-yards carry over water...doesn't matter.
• Pin cut back right on a shelf...doesn't matter.
• Wind swirling and blowing hard...doesn't matter.
• The world is watching. You get the picture.
It seems the more difficult the situation, and the bigger the stage, the more Tiger is able to focus and get the job done. He wins in so many ways at all types of venues. He is simply the best, and now only Nicklaus and Snead have more wins.
What Can We Learn
The one thing that impresses me the most about Tiger is his continuing effort to get better. It has been no secret that over the years, Tiger has searched for knowledge that will better his game.
Whether it is equipment, instruction, fitness or the mental side, Tiger is willing to do what it takes to get better.
When looking at Tiger's swing, there are so many things you could talk about and learn from. His swing has become simpler over the years, allowing him to more easily repeat consistent golf shots.
The one area where this is most evident is with his precision iron play. Tiger's blend of distance and accuracy with his irons has countered his sometimes-erratic driving. It also sets up endless birdie opportunities.
The position I really like in Tiger's current swing is the position of the clubshaft at the top.
I say the "top" of swing, but really, with his irons, this is closer to a three-quarters position. At this point, you will notice how the shaft is not parallel to the target line, but rather still pointing at the target line.
This is one position that Tiger has improved upon over the years, where he used to get the clubshaft a little crossed over.
With the shaft in a more laid-off position at the three-quarter backswing position, the clubface is also in a better position. At this point during the swing, you will see the clubface slightly to the right of the shaft and resembling the same angle of the left forearm. This clubface is square, and once again, an improvement he has made over the years.
With the shaft on plane and the clubface square, Tiger can be very aggressive on the downswing. He can also shape shots in any direction he chooses.
Just Because
What a great week it was in the world of sports. I mentioned a couple weeks ago that March Madness is one of my favorite times of the year. It is at this time that are we introduced to this year's Cinderella that we can adopt and fight the top seeds. Championship week was certainly off to a good start with some crazy upsets across the county.
I thought to myself, "With all these upsets in the world of college basketball, maybe we will see one in golf this week." When Bart Bryant showed up on the leaderboard over the weekend, I thought to myself, "Tiger is going to get upset this week."
I was wrong.
How about this upset in women's college basketball: top-seeded Utah (16-0 in the conference) loses to Colorado State (0-16 in the conference) in the first round of the conference tournament.
Have you ever heard anything along those lines before? That is unbelievable. That would be like Chris Berman beating Tim Herron in a first round of a tournament.
Anyway, the brackets are set, and with so many talented teams in college basketball this year -- anything can happen, and probably will.
2008 Cinderellas
West Region: Western Kentucky. With a nickname like the Hilltoppers, how can you not cheer for them?
South Region: Austin Peay. You heard it here first.
East Region: Boise State. They are not just a football school. They can bounce it around a little bit.
Midwest Region: Gonzaga. Never forget where you came from. Go Zags!
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March 11, 2008 Blog: O'Hair shows how to sustain the down
What Happened
Stewart Cink fell back, and Sean O'Hair sprung forward to win the PODS Championship at Innisbrook. After 63 holes of solid golf, Cink lost four shots over four holes on the back nine to give way to O'Hair on Sunday.
O'Hair carded a final round 69 to win his second PGA TOUR tournament of his young career.
With high winds most of the week and a difficult Copperhead golf course, O'Hair relied on his efficient golf swing and a good old-fashioned pep talk from his father-in-law to get the job done. For the week, O'Hair finished second in total driving and fifth in ballstriking to keep pace throughout the difficult conditions and eventually win the title.
What do we make of Cink? After losing the title match 8 and 7 to Tiger Woods at the World Golf Championships-Accenture Match Play and now finishing poorly on Sunday at the PODS Championship, Stewart seems so close -- but yet so far away.
What Can We Learn
It was great to see Sean O'Hair play well this week at the PODS Championship. Since O'Hair's arrival on TOUR in 2005, I have enjoyed his game from his first win at the John Deere Classic, to his near-win last year at THE PLAYERS Championship.
| Sustain the down | |
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When evaluating Sean's game, there are really no weaknesses. His short game is solid, with a full swing that is not only powerful -- but compact.
His golf swing demonstrates a great combination of distance and accuracy that we all can learn from. A key position to pay attention to with Sean's swing is his controlled, abbreviated finish.
This finish was best-represented with his accurate iron play this week.
You may have noticed over the years that the abbreviated finish has become more apparent. Many players have really shortened there arm swing not only in the backswing but the finish as well.
This abbreviated finish allows the players to "sustain the down" through the hitting area ensuring solid contact, as well as keeping the club shaft on plane. This type of finish really allows a player to control trajectory, spin and distance.
To achieve a more compact finish like O'Hair's, here are a few things to think about:
1. Keep the clubhead down. This is best achieved by keeping the trail wrist bent through the hitting area. When abbreviating the finish, don't worry about the up, but rather sustain the down. The clubhead will swing up on its own.
At the TOUR Academies, we see that most amateurs allow the clubhead to swing up too soon, resulting in poor impact alignments and a very high finish with the hands, arms and golf club.
If you struggle with this and want to lower your finish, just take the approach that there is no up -- just down.
2. Go with it. If you plan to sustain the down, then the pivot will need to support and go with it. Abbreviating the arm swing doesn't mean the pivot stops.
In fact, there is more emphasis on the body to have weight on the lead foot and rotate -- opening up to the target. This effort will support the down and take the hands, arms and the club shaft back to the inside of the target line.
For a right-handed golfer, this finish will feel less down the target line and more to the left.
Just Because
In case you haven't heard, Brett Favre retired from the Green Bay Packers this past week.
I must admit I have mixed emotions about this. One side of me is saddened that the NFL has lost one of its best players and personalities it has ever seen, while the other side of me is a little relieved, as I have grown tired of Favre and the Pack eliminating my Seahawks from the playoffs what seems like every year.
So what's next for Favre -- perhaps the game of golf?
I can see him now at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am next year slapping George Lopez in the butt after a big drive and then tackling John Daly from excitement after Daly's third consecutive birdie.
Favre would be good for golf, just like he was good for the game of football.
My favorite Favre moment was a story I heard about him early in his career. The team was watching tape early in the week on the opponent going over their defensive packages.
Coach says, "Now, let's take a look at some nickel defensive packages.".
Favre turned to his backup and said, "What does nickel mean?"
Thanks for the memories, Brett!
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Learn More: TOURAcademy | Got a question? Send Travis an email
March 4, 2008 Blog: Els' tempo never gets old
What Happened
The "Big Easy" wins one for the good guys this week at the Honda Championship as the PGA TOUR rolls into Florida for the month of March. South African Ernie Els shot a final-round 67 to win by a shot over England's Luke Donald. The win was Ernie's 16th on the PGA TOUR, but it was certainly one of his most satisfying, as it was his first in four long years.
During this stretch,we have seen the world's third-ranked golfer lose a number of tournaments in dramatic and painful ways.
Earlier this year in Dubai, you may recall Ernie blowing a four-shot lead on Sunday to Tiger Woods; this was sealed when Ernie's fairway wood came up short in the water on the final hole.
Last year, we saw Boo Weekley hole back-to-back chips on the 17th and 18th at Harbour Town to beat Ernie by a shot. He has had some definite missed opportunities over the years, and I just kept thinking to myself that perhaps this could be another.
First, what seemed like a good bunker shot from Mark Calcaveccia on the 15th just kept rolling and found the water.
This gave Ernie the outright lead, eliminating Calc from the race and only leaving Donald to fight for the win.
After a good shot on difficult par-3, 17th, it seemed possible Luke was going to birdie the last two holes, resulting in another tough loss for the big guy. However, once again, Luke failed to birdie, and then missed another birdie chance on the par-5 72nd hole.
It worked out for Els and all the emotions from this long winless stretch finally came out during his post-round interview.
What we can we learn
Watching Els hit a golf ball never gets old. He definitely makes the golf swing look smoother than should be humanly possible with his tremendous blend of rhythm, balance and power.
So how does he do it?
Els's swing is a great example of blending the motion of the body with the swinging of the arms and hands. The body motion is defined as the pivot, and if you want to have this same type of rhythm, balance and power, the pivot must follow the proper sequence:
Load. Shift. Rotate.
This sequence allows the body to move fluidly and support the motion of the hands and arms throughout the swing.
Oftentimes, you will see a pivot that is out of sequence resulting in a player trying to move their arms and hands independently to create speed and power. Els' backswing, or "loading" phase of the pivot, is one of the most impressive in the game.
Smooth tempo starts with a backswing that will allow the body to build and store power. At the TOUR Academies, we like to do drills without a golf club that teaches a student how to get their body into their ideal "loaded" position. These drills create the proper feel for how the body should work.
Todd Jones instruction: Prime the pivot for more power
Just Because
Well, as we cruise into March, things are just beginning to heat up. March is such a great month as the Florida Swing continues with the PODS Championship, Arnie's tournament at Bay Hill and another World Golf Championship at Doral.
In addition to some great PGA TOUR golf, we gain an hour of daylight so we too can play more golf in the south (sorry, Northerners) and finally, we all will be treated to the greatest tournament in all of sports -- March Madness.
I always thought it was amazing on how the same association could host the greatest sports tournament in the country and also the worst? The NCAA has certainly got it right with college basketball, when 64 colleges will go for the title
However, they continue to bogey every year with college football. Can you imagine if college basketball crowned their champion like college football does?
Anyway, March is here so get ready for some great golf as well as some great college basketball.
Go Zags!
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Learn More: TOURAcademy | Got a question? Send Travis an email
Feb. 26, 2008 Blog: Tiger's influence creeping into workplace
What Happened
The Accenture Match Play Championship is one of my favorite events on the PGA TOUR. It is part of the World Golf Championships, which were added to the TOUR 10 years ago.
The objective: To bring the best players in the world together more often each year. This year, the Accenture Match Play Championship was no exception as the very best golfers gathered to participate in single elimination matches in the Arizona desert where, over 18 holes, anything can happen.
Anything can happen? You have to appreciate the idea and sense of optimism for all participants looking to knock off the world's greatest golfer Tiger Woods. Early in the week, I was thinking maybe this is the event that will slow Tiger down, make Tiger seem human and beatable.
On Wednesday afternoon on the back nine during his first match, it looked like it was going to happen. J.B. Holmes was 3-up with five holes to play, as Tiger was really struggling. However, like so many times before, Tiger flips the switch and rolls off three birdies and an eagle over the last five holes to win 1-up. It was as good a match as you'll ever see, and it was only Wednesday!
On Friday, here comes a charging Aaron Baddeley, who throws 10 birdies at Tiger. Ten birdies! Ten! Good enough to win, right? Not against this guy -- Tiger wins in 20 holes! Again, Baddeley makes 10 birdies out of 20 holes and loses.
How is that possible?
Over the weekend, K.J. Choi and Henrik Stenson played well but were eliminated leading to the finale against an outgunned Stewart Cink. Most impressive to me about Tiger's win is that he will work his tail off all this week because he wants to do whatever he possibly can to play even better in the next event.
His pursuit of perfection is scary at times.
What Can We Learn
There is so much we can learn from Tiger Woods both on and off the golf course. I am a big Tiger fan and find myself not only cheering him on but trying to do so many things like him. For example, often times with my own game I try to swing like him, hit impossible short game shots like him, I even stopped my downswing mid-way down the other day for no apparent reason. And it's not just me either.
I see thousands of golfers at the TOUR Academies all across the country doing the same things and much more. For example, a student this weekend asked me, "How do I hit the Tiger 2-iron stinger?" We discussed and went through all the components -- I even threw in the patented twirl of club at the end.
I hear teachers using him as an example all the time, from how he walks, how he talks to even how he blinks -- (we try to draw the line there). Nevertheless, Tiger Woods has taken over and has left us all speechless.
By the way, he is winning tournaments at twice the rate of the other greatest players in the history of the game with a 29 percent winning percentage for his career! Tiger has an effect on not only everybody he plays with but everybody who is watching as well. He is contagious and makes things seem so easy to the point that we too can do things like him.
In today's sports world that is infested by the endless saga of steroids and HGH in baseball, cheating in football and gambling in basketball -- it is truly refreshing to have the golf led by someone that surely seems to avoid the shortcuts and the temptations to relentlessly focus on developing his skills to a higher level every day of his life.
Just Because
All right, enough about Tiger -- what else happened this week? First off, I would like to give some props to Paula Creamer and her great comeback win this week on the LPGA Tour. This is Paula's fifth win on the LPGA Tour, as she is really beginning to look like the next great American woman golfer.
The LPGA is looking stronger then ever with the exceptional youth movement led by Paula and Lorena Ochoa and the savvy veterans including Annika Sorenstam and Karrie Webb. The LPGA is getting better every day and you should be watching.
Brian Gay won the Mayakoba Golf Classic in Mexico on Sunday as well -- this was his first win in 293 starts on TOUR. Brian won by two shots over Steve Marino and three over Matt Kuchar. Seems like just yesterday when we were watching Matt and his dad smiling after every birdie and bogey at the Masters.
Finally, I am sure most of you caught some of the Oscars on Sunday night. I just can't get into the Oscars as I always feel so out of touch with what is going on. Most of the time, I have never even heard of the movies and know very little about the actors - When did that movie come out? Who is that actor? Never heard of this song? Probably just not my thing. I did, however, catch Tilda Swinton accepting her award. What happened there?
No time for movies here at the TOUR Academy. The Florida Swing is next!
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Feb. 19, 2008 Blog: Phil wins West Coast race
Sunday, Feb. 17, 4:30 p.m. ET:
This week, let's take a look at how things play out in real time on Sunday.
This past Sunday, the PGA TOUR was Lovin' L.A. at the Northern Trust Open with a pair of Arizona State grads -- Phil Mickelson and Jeff Quinney -- seven shots clear of the rest of the field as they approach the 12th hole.
It's a two-man race in California with the "Great American Race" roaring along in Daytona Beach, Fla.
5:23 p.m.
What happened: Quinney just tucked his shirt under his left armpit.
What Can We Learn
You will often see PGA TOUR players pinch part of their shirt under their lead arm -- Vijay Singh and Padraig Harrington are both good examples.
A TOUR player does this before they hit a shot because it solidifies the pressure between the upper lead arm and the chest. This pressure ensures that the swinging of the lead arm works in unison with the rotation of the upper body.
If the lead arm comes off the chest then the body and the arm swing will likely become disconnected. Great drill if you are struggling with pushes or hooks.
Just Because
76 Laps to go at Daytona...Go!!!!.. OK. Back to golf.
6:05 p.m.
What Happened: Quinney pushes a short left-to-right par putt on the 17th, giving Mickelson a three-shot lead. His once-hot putter has checked out and left town.
What Can We Learn: For a right-handed golfer, one of the most difficult putts is a short left-to-right putt. So many times you will see a golfer hold the face square to the hole into the through stroke, rather then allowing the putter head to release back to the left.
A good drill for this is to pinch your shirt under your lead armpit. It's not only a good drill for the full swing, but for the short putts as well.
Just Because: I often cringe as an instructor when I hear someone say, "Swing the clubhead down the target line." This image usually leads to pushed shots and forces the hands to become overly involved to try to save the shot.
The reality is that club head is moving in a circle and along an inclined-plane relative to the target line. The club head is on the target line for just a brief moment as the club swings through impact. This is why pinching the shirt under the lead arm is good because it helps to ensure that the club head moves back to the inside after impact as the body continues to rotate.
6:22 p.m.
What Happened: Phil Mickelson wins the 2008 Northern Trust Open. This is Mickelson's 33rd victory and puts him in 13th place for wins on the PGA TOUR. Mickelson used his magical short game and some crunch-time bogeys down the stretch by Jeff Quinney to win by two.
What Can We Learn: There is so much we can learn from Phil's extraordinary technical skills. However, Phil makes it difficult for us instructors at times with his often overly-aggressive shot selection.
At our golf schools at the TOUR Academies, we take our students on-course and discuss how to break the hole down and choose shots that are most likely to produce the lowest possible score for that golfer's skill level. Phil -- on the other hand -- often chooses shots that contradict this strategy.
Even with a two-shot lead with two to play, Phil pulled the driver out and blasted it up a narrow alley, where a long iron or a fairway wood would have allowed for a wider landing area.
Nevertheless, he nailed the fairway. It was another example of how Phil plays, but perhaps not how the majority of us should play if we're trying to shoot our lowest possible score.
Just Because: 495 miles in the books in Daytona and 72 holes complete in California. I must admit I have never been a big racing fan, but will tune in now for the last few laps of the Daytona 500.
Until next time, I will leave you with a prediction -- Ryan Newman will win!
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Feb. 12, 2008 Blog: How to build consistency
Learn More: TOURAcademy | Got a question? Send Travis an email
More help from Fulton: The other GPA
What Happened
Another week, another playoff.
You know I am not talking about the BCS -- but rather Steve Lowery's win over Vijay Singh at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in scenic Pebble Beach.
Lowery, at the age of 47, capitalized on a slew of birdies over four days, as well as an uncharacteristic collapse from Vijay, where Singh made three straight bogeys during the back nine on Sunday.
Lowery's birdies were the result of a hot putter -- he was second for the week at 1.59 putts per hole.
This was Lowery's third win and his first since 2000 when he won the Southern Farm Bureau Classic in a playoff over Skip Kendall. He sure seems comfortable going into overtime!
What Can We Learn
Last week, we were treated to a playoff between J.B. Holmes and Phil Mickelson at the FBR Open and this week, surprisingly, neither made it to Sunday at Pebble.
Have you ever played really well one day or one week and then just couldn't do anything right the next? Of course we all have. That is what makes this game so difficult and such a mystery at times.
When students arrive at the TOUR Academies the biggest request is, "I want to be more consistent." We instructors hear you, and apparently so do Holmes and Mickelson. Sure, there is always some let down after a tough battle, but their up-and-down performance at Pebble Beach is another example for all of us just how difficult consistency can be to achieve.
Here are two ideas to be more consistent with your game:
Schedule time to practice and play. PGA TOUR players schedule time to practice, and play and so should you. Every time you go to the golf course you don't always have to play a round of golf.
Set time aside to work on your short game and full swing. Work on the areas that need the most help, whether it is something in your full swing, putting, chipping, bunker play, etc. Improve your weaknesses, and this will make your game more consistent.
Be fundamentally sound: Having proper fundamentals only makes proper execution easier to achieve. The fundamentals entail Grip, Posture and Alignment (GPA). These three components make up the foundation for every shot.
If any of these three are incorrect, then some type of compensation will be needed which leads to more inconsistency. At the TOUR Academies, we are big believers in the fundamentals of the address position -- it is the foundation of our "building block approach."
• Fulton: Building the basics of grip, posture, foundation
Just Because
During the AT&T, I happened to notice the struggles of one of my favorite sportscasters - Chris Berman. And after watching a few of his drives, it became apparent that he didn't get the nickname "Boomer" on the golf course.
What I like about Chris is not only his great personality that seems to relate with all viewers, but we share the same love for the Seahawks.
In all the years I have never seen Boomer pick against the 'Hawks -- thanks Boomer! On a serious note, Chris has been with ESPN since the beginning in 1979, and week-in and week-out has been entertaining viewers like only he can.
That is consistency.
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Feb. 5, 2008 Blog: Belly putter useage on TOUR
Learn More: TOURAcademy
More help from Fulton: Sustain the down for crisper shots
I'm Travis Fulton, Director of Education for the TOUR Academies and beginning this week I will offer my insights on a variety of PGA TOUR-related topics. Each week I will break down the week's activities in three categories:
• What happened?
• What can we learn?
• Just because
This unique column will give readers an overview of "What happened?" at the tournament and "What we can learn?" from it. The third topic...."Just because," will be a random topic, idea or thought that has no limitations and should be fun. Let's get started.
What Happened
J.B. Holmes wins the FBR Open at TPC Scottsdale with his long drives and efficient putting.
When you take a 302-yard average off the tee with a hot putter (Holmes was second for the week in putting), you've got the formula to win any tournament.
And how about Holmes flying his 3-wood 290 yards in the final round?! It is truly amazing how far these guys can hit a golf ball. Can you imagine standing on the 17th tee at the TPC of Scottsdale -- all 332 yards of it -- and being in between clubs? Do you step on a 3-wood or just smooth a driver? Tough call.
J.B. defeated Phil Mickelson in a playoff to take home his second FBR Open title. It wasn't easy -- J.B. struggled most of the final round but really pulled it together with a late birdie to tie Phil and eventually get into the playoff.
J.B. showed some real patience and mental toughness through his struggles. At times, he seemed to be very uncomfortable with his swing. Nevertheless, he held it together and got the job done, mainly because he was able to rely on his hot putter in the playoff.
What Can We Learn
What about that hot putter? Was it just me or was belly-putting on center stage on Sunday? Both J.B. Holmes and Charles Warren (solo third finish) used the belly putter.
Belly putting is an efficient way to putt. Although not conventional, it is growing in popularity. Remember Stewart Cink just a week ago? He finished third at the Buick Invitational with a belly putter -- 10 shots behind Tiger. Maybe Tiger would have won by more had he used a belly putter.
Want to try a belly putter?
If so, my advice is to be fitted for it. At the TOUR Academies, we like to get students looking good with the five lines at address first. The five lines at address allow a player to be fit for a more standard length putter.
• Related instruction: Learn more from Fulton about the five lines of putting
From there, you can then take the measurement from the end of that putter to a comfortable spot near the belly. This will give you the correct length belly putter based around the proper fundamentals (five lines). This combination will give you the best chance to move the putter head on its natural arc.
Just Because
What a great day of sports on Sunday. I must say it wasn't my most productive day in the world around the house, but it certainly was fun to watch my two favorite sports -- golf, of course, and football.
I love football and I must say I was very happy for Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin and the rest of the New York Giants. What a great game it was with the last-minute drive to beat the undefeated Patriots. Although I was tired of hearing about the 1972 Dolphins as much as the next person, it was neat to see Peyton's younger brother get it done on the biggest sports stage in the world.
Often in golf, we are treated to great family moments after a player wins. It is not very often in football do we as fans get to see these same family moments. On Sunday night though, it was great to see the superstar older brother in Peyton Manning cheer and show such genuine passion and affection for his little brother Eli. Great stuff all around.
I'll be back next week with a look at the goings on at Pebble Beach. See you soon.
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