When will Tiger Woods win again?

Source; celebrity738.blogspot.com

The question is asked every time that Tiger tees it up, when will he win again? There are plenty of opinions on this subject. So, I felt like it was time to weigh in.

There are plenty of theories as to why he is not winning. First, the obvious personal challenges he has faced over the past eighteen months. We all know how difficult the game of golf is when your mind is focused let alone when there are distractions. The second common theory is that he is trying to find his golf swing and has a new coach Sean Foley. While there is probably some truth to that, when has Tiger not been tinkering with his golf swing? The point is he always has and probably always will be as he tries to improve.

For me, it is pretty simple, Tiger will win again when the putts start dropping like they used to. How many times over the past fifteen years have we watched Tiger make putt after putt when it mattered? How many times have we seen him hit the golf ball all over the course, yet, get up and down time and again? How many times have we seen Tiger make a putt that is extremely difficult? Remember the putt at the TPC a few years ago when Tiger made it on seventeen from nowhere?

This past weekend at Doral he showed signs of the “Old Tiger” when he only needed 25 putts in the final round and shot 66.

I can hear it now from my growing reader base, how can you propose a theory like that? How does Tiger making a few more putts make that much of a difference? In a “game of inches”, the difference between winning and losing IS subtle. Check out Tigers’ putting average for the past five years including 2011 year to date. I have listed a table below to demonstrate the stats. His putting average has been inching up every year which has shown in his tournament results.

Tiger has never been a great driver of the golf ball. What I mean is he has always been long but never terribly accurate. That is no different today than it was five years ago. However, five years ago he would find his way out of trouble, get the ball on the green and sink a putt. Today, he may still miss the fairway, he may still get the ball on the green, however, once or twice per round the putts are not dropping. That is difference between winning and a top ten.

There is one last point I would like to make on this subject. Anyone who has watched Tiger and followed his career closely knows he is a very calculating, structured person. As it relates to his golf game, he does not do things by chance. So, if you do not think he is struggling with his putter, then why would he switch putters mid way through a WGC Golf Championship? That is what he did last week at Doral when he used a different Nike Putter for the third and fourth rounds.

Tiger Woods PGA Putting average (pgatour.com)

2011 1.780
2010 1.751
2009 1.743
2008 1.735
2007 1.733

When do you think Tiger will win again? What will be the difference in his game?

Honda Classic, Why win when you can cash in

source; thinkgeek.com

I was watching a portion of the Honda Classic last weekend when I realized Rory Sabbatini had a sizable lead and would probably not lose the tournament. So, I switched it off and went to the gym assuming that he had it wrapped up. I got back and switched the TV back on just to see if that was the case and suddenly his lead had shrunk to two shots. I was not sure what happened but had to watch the finish. I played PGA National last year and had fond memories of “The Bear Trap” which ate my lunch. That’s when NBC was kind enough to provide me with the idea for this post. The camera switched to Charles Howell III as he was finishing the event and Johnny Miller said “Charles Howell III has won twenty million dollars on tour but only won a few tour events.”

HMMM, there is some food for thought, has golf become so rich a sport that winning is really not that important. I am not knocking Charles Howell III or any player for that matter; I do not know them or their level of motivation. I am sure they are all trying to win each week when the step on the first tee. However, what about the preparation that goes into becoming a world class golfer that wins tournaments versus just cashing big checks. Let’s face it, if you have twenty million to your name how hard are your going to practice? Are you going to stand on the putting green under the hot Florida sun and work on your stroke?

Which brings us to another question, how would previous generations have handled this very fortunate development? We have all read and heard stories of Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson driving from event to event hoping to cash a check to pay for the food, hotel and gas to get to the next stop? Ben Hogan was famous for his work ethic and practice. He often said the game could be found in the dirt. Meaning, you had to dig it out of the ground by beating balls on the practice tee. Would he have worked as hard if instead of trying to win gas money he could just jump on a private jet and go to the next tour event?

We have all heard the stories of how hard Tiger Woods practices and prepares. It is no wonder why he has so dominated the sport for the past fifteen years. So, I would venture to say that regardless of what era he or Ben Hogan played in, they would still do whatever it takes to win and would prepare accordingly. No amount of money, fame or success would deter them from their ultimate goal which is winning championships. So, I guess what it comes down to is that golf just like business and life has winners and losers. There are those people/players that will win regardless of the circumstances. They will work, practice, prepare and study until they figure out a formula that works for them.

How do you see money impacting the game of professional golf? Do you think it has changed or effected the player’s motivation or desire to win?

Jack Nicklaus, Great Champion

I ran across the article today on Golf.com titled “Golf has never had a greater champion than Jack Nicklaus” by Michael Bamberger. Ironically enough, I just got back from a business trip to Columbus, Ohio. While driving through Columbus last night, I passed the Jack Nicklaus Museum on the campus of Ohio State University. As most golf fans know, Jack grew up near Columbus and played his college golf at Ohio State University. As I was passing the museum, I told myself that I really need to stop in there one of these days and check out all the cool stuff inside. I can only imagine there are tons of great photos, trophies, clubs, etc.

Anyhow, to the real story at hand, which is: what makes a great champion?

When I think of professional golf and great champions in the modern era, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer are the first two who come to mind. I realize there are many others; Hogan, Snead, and Watson, just to name a few. However, since Arnold grew up less than thirty minutes from my hometown and Jack only about four hours away, I guess they stand out a little more to me than the others. In addition, since the dawn of golf on TV, these two gentlemen have defined the sport and dominated the coverage. Jack was, and still is, a great champion on so many levels. Below are a few thoughts as to why I believe he was one of the greatest champions to ever play the game.

• Other players claim that Jack was gracious in defeat. If you were fortunate enough to beat him, he would shake your hand, look you in the eye and congratulate you.

• Greg Norman said he learned how to lose from Jack. What he meant from that, I believe, is that Jack knew how to lose with grace and Greg learned that. Remember the embrace with Faldo at the 96 Masters? That loss had to sting, yet, Norman handled it like a champ.

• Nicklaus inspired millions of players around the world by his play as well as his book “Golf My Way”. Vijay Singh credits that book for making him the player he eventually became. For a guy who won more tournaments in his 40’s than any other player, that speaks volumes.

• Who can forget the 86 Masters, when Jack won the tournament with a back nine charge shooting six under thirty to take the title for the sixth time at age 46. Only a GREAT champion has the nerve to do that.

• Jack has fielded endless questions since Tiger was 18 years old about Tiger breaking his record. Jack has never avoided the questioning and in all of the interviews I have ever seen, he has never avoided the questions, always giving a sincere answer.

• When Jack was playing the tour full time, he always told his wife Barbara that he would never be away from home for more than two weeks in a row unless the family traveled with him. It’s sometimes hard to believe that the greatest champion of all time has that kind of commitment to his wife and kids, prioritizing them above golf.

I wanted to end with a bang and that last one describes Jack as a great champion. Perhaps, Tiger can learn something from Jack in the family department. Oops, too late. Tiger has already three putted that one.

Read more: http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,2056523,00.html#ixzz1FaDX7800

source;midwestsportsfans.com



Grand Cypress Orlando, FL Course Review

Grand Cypress is a Jack Nicklaus Signature Course. The course has four nines; North, South, East and New Courses. A few days ago, I played the North-South courses; it was an enjoyable round.


The first thing you notice when driving into the facility is the water. There is water all over the golf course so bring a lot of balls. I took a sleeve of Pro V’s and managed to get through the round without buying more. At $18 per sleeve, I was not too excited about dropping $6 per ball.

There is a very nice practice facility to hit a few balls and warm up before your round. They also have a food and beverage cart floating around with plenty of snacks, drinks and very good sandwiches.

The blue tees on the North and South courses are very playable. There is a set of championship tees behind the blues and will stretch the course to near 7,000 yards. Most holes offer generous landing areas on the opposite side of trouble. In typical Nicklaus fashion there are plenty of left to right holes with forced carries.

A few of the holes have very sharp doglegs to the right with a significant carry across water. Jack’s course design gives you the chance to shave as much as you want off of the hole, but you’ll need to carry the ball anywhere from 240 to 270 yards. If you successfully carry the water, you will have a very short approach shot. If you play safe and away from the water, there will be a very long approach shot into the green. As with most Florida courses there are many bunkers and Bermuda grass greens. The greens are a modest speed, which you would expect from a resort course. Because the greens have a significant amount of grain, you have to pay attention to the direction of the grain or will have a long day on the greens.

The clubhouse has a fully stocked pro shop and golf attire is required. I did not have my clubs and rented Nike woods and irons. Even though the shafts were stiff, the driver shaft was not stiff enough. It took about six holes to get used to the flex; so if you are a low handicap player or a player with a lot of speed you will need to slow it down. Otherwise, be prepared for big hooks like I did on the first few holes. In addition, the golf carts have a very sophisticated GPS system with flyover views of each hole before you get to the tee. This really helps to speed up play and there is no need to walk around trying to determine a yardage.

For after the round the clubhouse has a very nice lounge where you can get some great food and drinks.

Overall, it was a very good experience and I would definitely go back to Grand Cypress again. If you are in Orlando and are looking for a very nice resort course, I do recommend Grand Cypress. I know you will enjoy the round and the facility.

Source; fcwtgolf.com Grand Cypress Golf

Tommy Two Gloves Gainey

I wrote two posts in the fall -- one titled; Where Have All The Characters Gone and the other called Golfer Nicknames. Tommy Two Gloves Gainey seems to capture the essence of both posts. You have to root for a guy that wears two gloves while playing his round and embraces the handle Two Gloves.

Tommy burst onto the golf scene a few years ago as a contestant on the Golf Channel’s reality show Big Break. He wears two gloves while playing because of his days as a baseball player growing up. He certainly is not your typical PGA Tour Player, which is one reason why people follow him and cheer him on. He does not have a polished, traditional golf swing. He does not dress like he just stepped out of the pages of Golf Digest’s fashion section. He does not speak like he has a Harvard education. However, what he does do is play the game with passion, his way, and it is exciting to watch. I believe this is another reason why the average fan pulls for players like Tommy Gainey. They can see themselves in these types of players. Anytime a PGA Tour player is a bit unorthodox and has success, every fan says to the themselves “if that guy can do it so can .I. Players like Boo Weekley, John Daly and Rocco Mediate are of a similar mold. They may not look, sound or act perfect all the time but that is what the fans want to see. Fans can relate to a player that is more like them.

I believe Tommy Gainey will have a good career on the PGA Tour, not due to his talent but due to his drive, motivation and passion for the game. He obviously has talent; no one gets onto the PGA Tour by accident. However, what keeps them on tour is preparation, dedication and motivation. Like any other job or profession, success oftentimes comes down to the intangibles. Are you willing to put in the practice? Are you willing to learn, grow and stretch? I believe Tommy has all of those qualities.

I hope Tommy remains on tour for many years to come because the PGA Tour needs players like Tommy. No offense to the perfect swing, perfect-look players but they are not all that exciting to watch. However, what is exciting to watch is a player with a homemade-looking golf swing coming down the stretch on Sunday with a chance to win a tournament.

What type of players do you like to watch?

Martin/Getty Images

Tierra Del Sol Golf Resort Aruba - Course Review

I had the opportunity to play the Tierra Del Sol Golf Club this past week while in Aruba. Tierra Del Sol was designed by American Golf Course Architect Robert Trent Jones II. It is the only 18-hole Championship Golf Course in Aruba. The resort is on the north side of the island and lies along the coastline. It offers some spectacular views of the Caribbean and several high vantage points to take advantage of the sights. I would recommend bringing the camera along if you play the course as you will have the opportunity for some nice photos. Or, in my case I brought my wife who is my official vacation photographer. The course is a short five to ten minute ride from the main high rise hotels area of Aruba. So, if you are staying in the northern part of the island near Palm Beach it is a quick trip.

The resort offers not only golf but also accommodations on the property should you wish to rent a home or villa during your stay. Tierra Del Sol has a full clubhouse and well stocked pro shop. They have everything you might need including; shorts, shirts, balls, rental clubs, etc. In my case, I forgot my socks so had to pick up a pair. I was even able to rent some stiff shafted Nike woods and irons for my round which was pretty impressive. Most courses only offer regular shafts in rental clubs. There is not much in the way of locker facilities so show up to the course prepared to play in golf attire.

The course does not offer much in the way of practice facilities either. The website indicates a full length driving range but I was reaching the end of it with a 3 wood and it is downhill so it cannot be more that 250 yards in length. The driving range is little more than a pasture with some sparse, rough grass on a sand base. If you show up preparing to beat a bunch of balls to loosen the muscles you will be sadly disappointed. They also have a very limited putting and chipping area. However, it is sufficient to warm up and take a few swings.

The course itself offers four sets of tees and measures 6,811 yards from the Championship. That may not sound terribly long but it is - for one good reason. Wind, wind and more wind. If you ever read anything about the island of Aruba you will quickly learn it is a windy place. In addition, the island itself is a desert landscape. So, that results in a golf course on the coast, with cactus and very few trees completely exposed to the wind. The wind blows at 15-20 mph constantly and can gust up to 30 mph at times. So, that is an element you need to be prepared to face. Most holes offer very generous landing zones off the tee to help compensate for the wind.

The wind even effects putting. Since the greens are Bermuda you have to factor in grain as well as the wind on every putt.

Overall the course is very playable and is challenging enough to play more than once. So, if you are staying on the resort property or in a nearby hotel you will enjoy playing this course and taking in some amazing vistas.

Enjoy

http://www.tierradelsol.com/



2011 Golf Goals

As January gets under way it is goal setting time. I usually lay out my personal, professional, financial and golf goals for the year each January. In 2010, like most years I achieved some of my goals and missed others. There are usually a few “left over” goals that seem to be on the list every year. One that seems to make the list each year is to improve my lag putting. I learned in a management class a long time ago that if you write down your goals you are more likely to achieve them. So, since then I have been doing so and it has become part of my New Year routine.

Here are a few of my golf related goals for 2011 and some other good ideas. If you have never set goals before, take some time, reflect on what you would like to achieve this year and write them down. At the end of the year it is fun to see what you achieve or accomplish versus what you still need to work on. The key to this exercise is to periodically look at your list to make sure your focusing on the goals. Use your own results to see if this is a good tool you can add into your life for improvement.

Some of the goals may be general

• Improve my lag putting

• Reduce three putts

• Focus on the shot at hand, stay in the present

• Turn pars into birdies, bogies into pars, double bogies into bogies, avoid the big number

• Focus on hitting the fairway off the tee

Some of your goals may be more specific but they may also require that you keep some stats

• Improve average score from 85 to 82

• Reduce your handicap from 15 to 12

• Get up and down out of the greenside bunkers 33% of the time

• Average less than 34 putts per round

Other Goals may include personal achievements

• Win your club championship flight

• Enter three competitive events in 2011

• Get some lessons from your PGA Professional

• Take a golf trip with some friends

• Read some instructional books or magazines

• Commit to practicing your short game for at least two hours each week


What are some of your golf goals for 2011?