Every player across the world is constantly looking to improve their game, no matter if they’re a regular player or just enjoy a weekly round at the local course. When watching the professionals take to the course on TV, or if you’re lucky enough to go to a live tournament, it’s awe inspiring to see them play.
We can all learn something from the world’s best golfers. Below we take a look at some of their best hints and tips to get you striking the ball, and holing your putts, better than ever before.
Short game supremacy
One of the most memorable victors this year was Japanese player, Hideki Matsuyama. The 29-year-old became the first player from Japan to win a major when he won the 2021 Masters by one shot.
Matsuyama’s mastery from around the green is a real feature of his play. But how does he do it? You will see him try to keep his clubface level when chipping. Keeping his right wrist straight, the left bends and allows a better angle to create a shot which has a high trajectory and a soft landing. Matsuyama also keeps his knees flexed throughout the swing, ensuring that he doesn’t bob up and down, that could be a real approach shot killer.
Hit the greens with envy
Tiger Woods is obviously synonymous with success, even when he’s not playing. He recently gave support to the US Ryder Cup team as they dominated their opponents from Europe. So, who better to get the inside track to finish each hole confidently? Woods says preparation is absolutely vital and not only in practicing the putting action itself. Although not the most glamorous of training regimes, it’s helpful to know the greens. By having advance awareness of things like hole placement, breaks on the surface and even the direction of the grain. It gives players an extra confidence ahead of walking to the green. Allowing you to be fully prepared and concentrating on your putt.
Delivering with the driver
Jon Rahm’s strength and ability with the driver sets him apart from his contemporaries. Coming off his first major victory at the U.S. Open, he’s already been tabbed as a favorite for the Masters when the 2022 major season kicks off. Though it’s quite early as of this writing, the sports betting section on Ladbrokes has already posted official odds for the 2022 Masters, and Rahm is out in front.
The key to the Spaniard’s growing success is in his short and powerful swing. By not thinking what his hands are doing, he concentrates on moving his torso, arms and club together. Knowing instantly if it’s a good backswing by feeling it in his right hip, Rahm then loads up the weight on his right foot and thigh. Following that with a hard push into the ground on his downswing, Rahm generates the power to unleash the drives that so many want to replicate.
Photo Credit: Forbes
Avoiding the bunker blues
Rickie Fowler has been known to hit some spectacular shots from the green-side sand, arguably none more so than the one which saw him hole out from 50 yards at the 2016 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship. So, how does the flamboyant Californian do it?
He recommends having a wide stance, placing your feet shoulder-width or further apart. Then with an open clubface, and 60-70% of your weight on the front foot, swing through the ball and keep going a little more. Fowler keeps his right knuckles facing the ground throughout the shot, helping the club glide through – rather than digging into the sand.
Photo Credit: Golf Digest
There you have it, thank you for reading. Don’t forget to keep an eye on our home page here at intothegrain.com for news, reviews and more tips to help you improve your game.
The Masters Tournament is coming, and this year the anticipation has ramped up to levels not seen in years. Why? Tiger Woods is back and playing well. Ticket sales are through the roof as they always are at the Masters, but what’s really telling is the ticket prices. I saw that one person was selling two weekly grounds passes for over $20,000! The thing is, they’ll probably get it. That’s what some in the media call the “Tiger Effect.”
I’m especially excited for the Masters this year because not only are some of the young guns like Justin Thomas, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson playing well, but Tiger and his old rival Phil Mickelson are also playing well in early 2018. There should be plenty of excitement at Augusta National Golf Club this year.
The Odds
It’s now time to check the odds and see who’s favored to win. I think we all know who the betting favorite is by now, right? Not so fast Tiger Fans…
Golfer
Odds
Dustin Johnson
+800
Tiger Woods
+900
Justin Thomas
+1000
Jordan Spieth
+1100
Phil Mickelson
+1400
Jason Day
+1600
Rory McIlroy
+1600
Jon Rahm
+1800
Justin Rose
+1800
Bubba Watson
+2000
Rickie Fowler
+2000
According to Sports Betting Dime, Tiger Woods may be the fan favorite to win another Green Jacket, but Dustin Johnson has the best odds at +800. Tiger Woods’ odds are at +900 and Justin Thomas is currently at +1000.
Predictions
If you are a frequent visitor to this website, you may recall that not too long ago I predicted Rickie Fowler would win a major this year. I still like Rickie to finally break through, and he’s my personal favorite to put on his first Green Jacket on Sunday evening. If you are the betting type – at +2000 odds one would be getting a pretty good return on investment…
Now that Christmas has passed and we start looking forward to the new year, I think 2018 will be a good year for golf, and like usual we’ll start it off in Orlando at the 2018 PGA Merchandise Show. The level of participation and overall vibe we get from the show can give one a good idea of how the year will go. There’s always lots of hope and lots of hype, but in my opinion it still comes down to golfers and how often they tee it up with their friends. In the end, the success of this game depends on people, not products. With that in mind, here are my bold predictions for 2018.
Rickie Fowler Will Win a Major
2018 will be Rickie’s year. I predict that he will finally win a major tournament. He finished 2017 by winning Tiger’s tournament – The Hero World Challenge – in The Bahamas against a small but very strong international field. On the PGA Tour he enjoyed career highs in Top Tens (11), Top 25s (17) and Prize Money ($6,083,197). He also had the second lowest scoring average on tour at 69.083 and led the tour in sand saves at 68.66%. he’ll be pushed hard by good buddies Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas, but I think he’ll use their previous major victories as motivation to join the club.
New Drivers, Prices Pushing $500
It should not come as a shock to anyone that most of the major golf companies will have new drivers for sale in 2018. Naturally, all of them will offer more forgiveness, better control and more distance. The driver is, of course, the most oft changed club in our bag and the promise of a few more yards to gain an advantage on your playing partners is often too attractive to pass up. That’s why the bulk of marketing dollars from companies like Callaway and Taylor Made go into driver sales. While the physics of hitting a golf ball has hit a scientific wall due to limits imposed by the USGA, companies are turning to more advanced materials and adjustability to sell new drivers that can be tuned specifically for each golfer. These changes are also pushing prices higher, and we’ll see the $500 mark become pretty standard for a new driver in 2018. Sadly, it won’t help, but more on that later.
Golf Participation Will Continue To Evolve
According to the National Golf Foundation (NGF), the number of people who played golf on a real golf course in 2016 fell 1.2 percent from 2015 to 23.8 million. Given statistical margin for error, these participation numbers have been more or less flat for the last decade. But the way in which we are measuring golf participation is changing. The NGF is now saying that defining golf participation only as playing 18 holes on a regulation course is too limiting. Thanks to the success of facilities like Topgolf and indoor golf simulators, the NGF was able to add more than 20 million off-course “participants” to the game of golf. 8.2 million of those people never stepped foot on a golf course. Most people that go to Topgolf don’t identify as golfers, but the NGF counts them anyway. If you hit a golf ball with a golf club, to the NGF you are a golfer. However you define it, in 2016 the number of beginning golfers grew 14 percent over 2015 – an all time high. And for the first time in five years, the number of “committed golfers” also grew. If you are reading this, you are probably one of the committed crowd. However you count, it seems the game of golf is seeing increases in participation, and that’s a good thing.
Tiger Woods Will Get Injured Again
Sorry Tiger fans, but you knew this was coming. He looked great at the Hero World Challenge about 3 weeks ago, but it remains to be seen how his surgically repaired back & knees will hold up. We’re talking about a professional golfer who’s had four knee surgeries, four back surgeries and injured his achilles in both legs. Twice. I believe the game of golf is better when Tiger is prowling on Sunday leaderboards, but at this point in his career I just don’t think his body will allow him to compete at the highest level for much longer. Let’s hope he has at least one good major run in him before his body fails him and he’s forced to retire, but expect him to spend some time in 2018 nursing injuries yet again.
I’ll Break 80 as a Righty & Lefty
I’ve played golf seriously since 1990 and I’ve managed to maintain a scratch or better handicap for almost 20 years, so obviously the first part of that prediction is a no-brainer. A plus handicap golfer like me will break 80 at least 90 percent of the time. But the second part will be much more difficult. I used to play left-handed more regularly before I moved to Florida in 1997, but since then I’ve played golf left-handed exactly twice, and it wasn’t pretty. My best round as a lefty was an 83, but that was about 25 years ago. My latest effort with a new lefty set I just scraped together last week was a confidence crushing 96, although I was very rusty and only playing with 11 clubs. I still need to find a driver, 5-wood and 3-hybrid for my lefty set. The goal of breaking 80 left-handed is quite ambitious, but I think I can do it with some practice. I’ll be chronicling this journey right here in the coming months.
New Clubs Still Won’t Help Your Game
That $500 driver you just bought with the fancy adjustable hosel and movable weights? You know, the one that promised more distance and forgiveness? It won’t really help your scores. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. Even if that new driver really did give you more distance, the improvement likely won’t be noticeable, and your scores won’t improve. Why not? Because you still suck at chipping and putting, that’s why! The golf marketing machine has led you to believe that the driver is the most important club in the bag, but at best you’ll only use it for 14 shots on a regulation golf course. Despite all the advancements in technology the average golfer still shoots around 100. If that sounds like you, driver swings account for less than 15% of your score, and shots with the wedges and putter account for more than 65% of your score. That $500 is much better spent on lessons for your short game than on the shiny new driver.
USGA vs Amateur Golfers
I’m part of the growing number of amateur golfers that love the game and want to see if grow but are becoming frustrated with the direction the USGA is taking the game. When it comes to the rules of golf, we want to see things get simpler and help us play faster. While the USGA and PGA have given us some half-assed initiatives like “Tee it Forward” and “While We’re Young” to help the pace of play for amateurs, they continue to allow players on the professional tours to get away with 5+ hour rounds. When it comes to the rules of golf, we amateurs also keep getting the shaft. A couple of the biggest rule changes we’ve seen recently were squarely aimed at professional golfers, but didn’t really make a difference and instead have negatively impacted the amateur game.
The groove rule change in 2010 was designed to make it harder for professionals to control the ball out of the rough, placing a premium on hitting fairways in an effort to combat the “bomb and gouge” playing style of the Tiger Woods era. It didn’t work of course, as equipment companies countered with higher lofted wedges, more precise CNC machined grooves, shafts designed specifically for wedges that produce more spin, and softer golf balls with more advanced core and cover materials that spin more. The only people that suffered with this rule change were of course amateurs. Not possessing the athletic ability or club head speed to impart spin on the ball like a pro, the wedge game became that much more difficult for the rest of us because of a rule change made with less than 1% of golfers in mind.
The next major rule change banned the use of anchored putters. Everyone knows at least one person who used a “broomstick” or belly putter prior to the ban. Again aimed largely at the professional tours, the USGA and R&A were scared that an anchored putting stroke was an unfair advantage over the un-anchored stroke, even though PGA Tour putting statistics didn’t support that argument. They imagined entire generations of young golfers growing up with belly putters and decided they weren’t having it, so they banned the use of any putting stroke where the club is anchored to your body. How did it work? Well, I know a guy that still uses the putter, just not anchored. He says his putting hasn’t gotten any better or worst since the ban. An other guy I know using a long putter is a tournament level golfer but quit playing USGA sanctioned events in protest. At least those touring professionals can’t take advantage of anchored strokes any more even if it hurts amateurs everywhere. So how did the anchoring ban work out anyway? Well, the two best putters on PGA Tour Champions in 2017 were Berhand Langer and Scott McCarron. What do they have in common? Yeah, you guessed it. They both use a long putter. Nice work USGA.
I’m being pretty hard on the USGA, but it’s not all bad. In fact, the list of proposed rule changes for 2019 are very good, and I think they’ll make the game a little quicker, a little simpler and more enjoyable. It’s a good start for sure. Now, if we can just talk about making divots be treated as ground under repair…
The 2015 Players Championship is being held this week at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. Every year when The Players comes around, the conversation seems to gravitate towards the iconic island green 17th hole. Many players’ tournaments have ended here in a watery grave, and a few have virtually sealed victory on the ultimate risk-reward hole. With that in mind, here are some facts and figures about the hole leading up to the start of the tournament on Thursday:
It’s April and the 2013 Masters Tournament is just around the corner. Ever since my pilgrimage to Augusta National in 2010 I have had a level of appreciation for the tournament and its incredible venue that you simply cannot get without going there. Like the majority of golf fans out there, I’ll be watching the tournament on TV at home this year.
On the golf course and in the 19th hole bar, the discussion of who the favorites are is heating up. It’s hard to ignore the inevitable Tiger Woods discussion this season, as he has won 3 tournaments already and regained the number one ranking in the world. But don’t be so quick to make him your favorite just yet. Every time that Tiger has won 3 tournaments in a season heading into the Masters, he didn’t win it. Not only that, but he hasn’t won a major in 5 years and hasn’t won the Masters since 2005! Nevertheless, Woods is a 3 to 1 favorite to take the tournament with Ladbrokes.
My personal picks are Keegan Bradley (25 to 1) and Ian Poulter (40 to 1). I think both guys have the game to take home the green jacket, especially Bradley, who has shown his consistency lately by breaking into the top 10 in the world rankings. He has the length and ball flight to tame the course. Poulter’s tenacity and short game mastery will serve him well on the slick putting surfaces of Augusta National. If he can get some momentum going, watch out!
Who are your picks to win the green jacket this year?
Has Tiger Woods’ Ex-Wife Elin Nordegren Found Love Again? According to the New York Post, Tiger Woods ex-wife Elin Nordegren is said to be dating Jamie Dingman, the son of an American billionaire. Dingman previously dated Bridget Moynahan, who is the mother of Tom Brady’s baby. Tiger and Elin have both been very secretive about their relationships and life in general post-divorce. It has been said that Elin purchased an estate less than ten minutes from Tiger’s massive Jupiter residence to be close for the kids. This is the first reported dating activity for Elin since the very public Tiger Woods sex scandal that led to the divorce.
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Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren have announced their divorce today, ending months of speculation about their future together. In many eyes it was inevitable that the two would split, with the only question being “How much will she get?”
In a statement on his website, Tiger wrote: “Elin Nordegren and Tiger Woods confirmed today that they have divorced. Judgment was entered today in Bay County (Florida) Circuit Court dissolving the marriage. The Judgment provides for shared parenting of their two children.”
There was also a joint statement issued calling attention to the couple’s two young children: “We are sad that our marriage is over and we wish each other the very best for the future. While we are no longer married, we are the parents of two wonderful children and their happiness has been, and will always be, of paramount importance to both of us. Once we came to the decision that our marriage was at an end, the primary focus of our amicable discussions has been to ensure their future well-being. The weeks and months ahead will not be easy for them as we adjust to a new family situation, which is why our privacy must be a principal concern.”
Of course, the financial terms of the divorce have not been made public, and given Tiger’s efforts to keep his private life guarded from the media, we may never know what those terms were. Even if divorce proceedings are a matter of public record in the state of Florida, any private settlement is kept confidential. While nobody can be sure, it’s pretty certain that the two signed some sort of prenuptial agreement. Woods has earned nearly $100 million in prize money alone on the golf course, but his earnings on the course pale in comparison to his earning off the course. It is reported that Woods made around $70 million in 2010 alone in off-course endorsements and other business dealings.
Elin Nordegren is 30 years old and made a name for herself as a model before meeting and eventually marrying Tiger Woods. Her father is a prominent journalist in Sweden and her mother is a high-ranking government official, and it is rumored that she recently bought a mansion on a private island in her native country of Sweden, along with her twin sister Josefine.
Perhaps now Tiger will be able to narrow his focus and get back to playing his best, but only time will tell…
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According to various tabloid sources, the divorce we all knew had to happen is close to actually happening. The London Sun is reporting that Elin Nordegren will benefit from the richest celebrity divorce settlement ever, netting at least $750 million.
As part of the agreement, Tiger Woods will keep his future girlfriends away from the kids, and in return Elin Nordegren can’t speak out publicly over her former husband’s reported affairs, The Sun says. In other words, she can’t write a book or go on Oprah to talk about Tiger’s extramarital affairs.
According to the report, Divorce papers will be signed in Orlando next week. Nordegren will get sole physical custody of the kids – Sam (3), and Charlie (1). They will however split legal custody. Tiger will keep his estate on Jupiter Island, while Elin will get the home at Isleworth in Windermere, where this whole debacle started last year. Nordegren also reportedly purchased a home in Sweden with her sister early this year.
Tiger’s personal issues have been reflected in his golf game, as is often the case with this game. Golf is one of those sports where a clear and composed mind is essential to high performance. The more distractions you have, the harder it is to focus on playing championship golf.
This is all rumor and speculation of course, but with tabloid reporters monitoring the Orange County clerk’s public records, as soon as the papers are filed we will know!
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This week’s quick hits covers a variety of topics, including the Golf Channel’s popular Big Break series, Lorena Ochoa’s retirement and final tournament, Rory’s 62, Ryo’s 58 and more. Tiger is vulnerable and Phil is hungry in more ways than one. Read on!
The Golf Channel’s popular Big Break series returns this summer with Big Break Sandals Resorts. Filmed at the Sandals Emerald Reef Golf Club at Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas, this years competition will feature women aged 23 to 32 seeking to gain exemptions on the LPGA and Ladies European Tour, along with cash and other prizes along the way. Most of the ladies in this year’s show play professional golf on the Duramed Futures Tour, which is the developmental circuit for the LPGA Tour. Since the series started several years ago it has become more and more commercial, with various products and companies being featured as sponsors. As annoying as this is, it shouldn’t take away from the competition. The show was taped in February 2010, and the cameras were rolling all day and all night, to capture more of the off course interactions than previous shows. With 11 beautiful and competitive women all staying in one ocean side villa, there may be some fireworks! (I’m not saying, just saying)
The series will premier on the Golf Channel on June 21, 2010.
Lorena Ochoa played her last competitive round of golf at the Tres Marias Championship in Morelia, Mexico last weekend. Ochoa, who since announcing her retirement has been showered with praise and thanks from players and thanks for everything she has done, will not be eligible for the LPGA Hall of Fame unless they change the rules. She would have to play golf for 3 more years to meet the requirements. The LPGA Tour needed Ochoa in the wake of Annika's retirement, and now without Lorena around someone else will have to step up and become the face of the struggling tour. In a sign that the LPGA Tour still has some things to learn, Lorena's last tournament wasn't even televised in the US. At least we got to see Annika go out in style at the US Open. Perhaps the LPGA and Ochoa should have planned it out better.
Rory McIlroy almost went home early last week at the Quail Hollow Championship, making the cut on the number at +1. He then took the tournament by storm, shooting 66-62 on the weekend to win going away. His 62 on Sunday was a remarkable round, and it left second place finisher Phil Mickelson with nothing but good things to say about his round. Phil shot 68 and got lapped. even more impressive was Mcilroy's finish, going 5 under on the last five holes. If you watched CBS' telecast, you heard them constantly tell us how the "Green Mile" was such a tough finish. Frankly, I got sick of hearing the announcers say "Green Mile" about 20 minutes into it. I'm sure somewhere Tom hanks was smiling. McIlroy will no doubt make the European Ryder Cup team, as he sits in second place in the points. Even if he didn't make it on points, what captain would be foolish enough not to pick him? Oh, did I mention Rory is only 21?
If you thought Rory McIlroy's Sunday 62 was the best round of the day, you would be wrong. In fact, Rory's 62 wasn't even close to the best round. Japan's young star Ryo Ishikawa dropped a smooth 58 on his fellow competitors on Sunday to walk away with a victory on the Japan PGA Tour. Playing on a shortish par 70 layout in Nagoya, Japan, Ishikawa started the day six shots back of the leader Shigeki Maruyama but made 12 birdies to record a five-stroke victory at 13 under par. "It's absolutely unbelievable, I don't know where all those birdies came from," said Ishikawa. "Seeing my score improve by 12 strokes at the end... it's like a dream." Maybe it's fitting that the guys he beat, Shigeki Maruyama, once recorded a 58 in US Open qualifying. It's the lowest score ever shot on a major tour. Oh, did I mention Ryo is only 18? What do they put in the water over there?
Phil Mickelson is closing in on Tiger's number one world ranking. If he wins the Players Championship this week and Tiger finishes outside the top five, Phil will overtake Tiger as the best player in the world. I think Tiger will miss consecutive cuts for the first time in his career. In yesterday's practice round, Tiger hit the ball into a water hazard five times in nine holes. Doesn't look like he's figured it out yet. Phil is hungry for another victory - and also for doughnuts it appears. After winning the Masters, Phil donned his green jacket and drove the family to Krispy Kreme for some breakfast... Classic.
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It’s Sunday at the Masters, and going into the back nine Tiger, Fred Couples, K J Choi, Lee Westwood and Phil Mickelson are all in it. It doesn’t get much better than that. I just wanted to share the following video from Saturday Night Live, in celebration of the Masters!
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Nike Golf has released a new commercial featuring Tiger and the Voice of the late Earl Woods speaking to Tiger. It’s the first new commercial with Tiger since the now infamous transgressions… I’m not sure what to think about it or what the point of it is, except maybe to humble Tiger in the eyes of the fans. Watch the video and let us know what you think of it!
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View of the 2nd (left) and 7th greens at Augusta National Golf Club
It is pretty safe to say that most golf fans will go their entire life without ever setting foot on the grounds at Augusta National Golf Club for The Masters. The biggest reason for this is that it’s so hard to get tickets. Tournament badges have not been available to the public since 1972, and are only available to those who are already on the patron list. Even the waiting list was closed, so no applications for tournament badges are being accepted. As far as the practice rounds go, they are sold in advance by application only. If you want a chance to go see the practice rounds in 2011, you must write to the Masters and applicants are randomly selected and notified in September. Masters tickets are not supposed to be resold, but it isn’t uncommon for people who will not be attending to sell their badges for several thousand dollars each. Folks, it’s a tough ticket.
This year a friend of mine was given four passes to the practice rounds by someone, and I was lucky enough to be invited to tag along! It was my first time at Augusta National, and the experience was one I’ll never forget. The first thing that struck me as I entered the gates past the security checkpoint is the level of organization and the condition of the grounds. People say Augusta National is a mecca for golf, and they aren’t lying. It’s like Disney World on steroids, the efficiency with which this tournament is run. Nothing is ever out of place, nothing is done randomly, and everything has a place and purpose at the Masters.
Before I even stepped foot on the golf course I noticed that everything around the clubhouse and concessions is meticulously maintained. From the fresh paint on buildings and fences, perfectly sculpted bushes and hedges and blooming flowers, green grass bordered by beds of pine straw and ageless pines, magnolias and oak trees, the facilities are so well maintained it’s almost eerie. Staff members dressed in yellow coveralls walk around constantly with garbage picks at the ready, such that a piece of garbage carelessly tossed on the ground doesn’t stand a chance.
One thing you never see on television are the concession stands where patrons can buy food and drinks, and the merchandise stores. Set back in the woods away from the golf course, and out of the way of camera angles sit the various food stands. Where most golf tournament gouge the spectators for $8 burgers and $5 beers, the prices for food at The Masters are so low it makes you wonder what’s the catch. I bought a Ham & Cheese on Rye ($1.50) with a Lemonade ($1.50) and was left wondering why I had so much cash left over! The most expensive item on the menu is Import Beer, at $3.50. The food and drink prices are something that never gets any publicity, but it really should. Maybe this is just Augusta National’s way of thanking the patrons for their loyalty, or perhaps this is a genius marketing ploy to get you to spend more of your money buying shirts, flags, mugs, belts and ball markers!
The gentleman in front of me at the souvenir shop spent about $750, and many others spend well over $100 on merchandise that is only available on site for one week a year. Another service that is provided to the patrons is a bag check service that allows you to leave your purchases to be retrieved at the end of the day so that you don't have to carry them all over the place. They could certainly charge people and make a lot of money, but the service is provided for free. Another freebie that you wouldn't expect is parking. If you show up early and park in the main lot adjacent to the property, there is no charge. It's only the greedy business owners up and down Washington Road that charge for parking.
We spent most of the day on Monday wandering around the grounds and watching whoever was in the area. To start the day we walked up to #8 green to catch Tiger and Fred Couples playing up #8 and tee of on #9. We then walked down to Amen Corner to catch them playing 11, 12 and 13. Fuzzy Zoeller pulled a young boy out of the crowd on 12 and bet Ian Woosnam $100 that he would hit it on the green. The youngster calmly stroked Fuzzy's 3 wood on to the green. Apparently, 12 year olds don't know it's supposed to be a tough hole! Woozy handed Fuzzy a $100 bill to pay his debt, and Fuzzy proceeded to hand it to the kid. After all, he earned it! After that we went to #16 to watch the groups skipping balls across the water in accordance with the traditions of the practice rounds at Augusta.
I have always been a traditionalist, so for me the best part of the day was getting to watch Ben Crenshaw roll balls across the 2nd green with his legendary putting stroke. Making a smooth stroke that would have hit the ball 4 feet on the local muni's greens, I watched as the ball rolled slowly about 30 feet down a hill, break left about 3 feet, and come to rest gently against a pencil his caddy had placed there. 3 times in a row. It may sound insane, but the ball seems to dwell on the face of his putter, and he seems to simply guide it towards the hole with perfect speed every time. Much like Masters Tournament founder Bobby Jones' golf swing, there is nothing remotely violent about Ben Crenshaw's putting stroke, and that is why I love watching him putt.
Without further ado, I present to you my photo gallery of the 2010 Masters Tournament Monday Practice Rounds. One thing worth noting is the size of the galleries. While the number of people allowed on the grounds is limited, it is certainly a much larger gallery than Monday at any other tournament! The crowds following Tiger and Fred were the largest of the day, but with that exception, access to the players was very good and there was always a place to get a good view of the action. Enjoy!
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Intothegrain.com’s crack news team has learned that Tiger Woods will return to professional golf at the 2010 Masters Tournament on April 5. Ok, we don’t have a crack news team. And we learned of it on ESPN.com, but still… It’s important! After months of seclusion, problems with his marriage and personal life, and a stint in rehab, Tiger will finally come back to his first love – kicking people’s asses on the golf course. Sorry Elin, you have always been second fiddle to golf in Tiger’s world.
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"The Masters is where I won my first major and I view this tournament with great respect. After a long and necessary time away from the game, I feel like I'm ready to start my season at Augusta," Woods said in a statement, according to ESPN.com. There is no doubt that Tiger's new advisor Ari Fleisher had a part in the decision.
"The major championships have always been a special focus in my career and, as a professional, I think Augusta is where I need to be, even though it's been a while since I last played. I have undergone almost two months of inpatient therapy and I am continuing my treatment. Although I'm returning to competition, I still have a lot of work to do in my personal life."
The last time we saw Tiger playing golf was way back on Nov 15, 2009 when he was down under playing (and winning) the Australian Masters, his 82nd win as a pro. I'm sure the people that handle the press at Augusta National will have their hands full for the next few weeks!
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Ari Fleisher, the former press secretary to President George W. Bush has been hired by Tiger Woods to help re-shape his image and plot a comeback to competitive golf. Since leaving the White House, Fleisher has started a company called Ari Fleisher Sports Communications to help athletes “…handle the bad news and take advantage of the good.” The company’s website states “The way the press treats athletes and sports executives has become increasingly adversarial and conflict-driven. Athletes who are trained to give it all and leave it on the field now face a public and a media that demand more.” Fleisher recently helped St. Louis Cardinals Hitting Instructor Mark McGuire with his public admission to using steroids. He also counts Major League Baseball, the NFL and the Green Bay Packers as clients, and College Football’s Bowl Championship Series has also turned to Fleisher amid a push to eliminate the BCS in favor of a playoff system.
Woods and Fleisher reportedly have been working on how to properly handle Tiger's comeback, and the speculation is that it will happen at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando, a short drive from where he lives, on March 25. Other reports suggest that he may start with the Tavistock Cup on march 22-23 at his home course and community of Isleworth. Earlier this month, his good friend and neighbor Mark O'Meara stated that he wouldn't be surprised if Tiger returned at the Tavistock Cup, which has small and very private galleries and isn't open the the general public. Since making his public apology, there has been much speculation as to when and where Tiger Woods would return to golf. According to a source at the New York Post: “They were in his living room this week going over a strategy for how to handle Bay Hill in two weeks.”
Where as Bush political adviser Karl Rove was frequently referred to as "Bush's Brain", perhaps now his former colleague Ari Fleisher will become known as Tiger's Brain?
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This article was originally published on June 29, 2009. I thought it would be a good time to update it with some new links and republish it for people to re-discover in case you had not seen it before. Enjoy!
For many, hybrids have changed the way we play golf. I have been experimenting with hybrids for several years and they have made a definite impact on my game. I am able to hit par fives in two with greater frequency now, and hitting a long shot out of tall rough is much easier. I have carried two Adams Idea Pro hybrids for a few years now – A three (20 degrees) and four (24 degrees), but I find myself swapping them out with long irons on many occasions. For one, I tend to hit them too far. While this may sound like a great problem to have, I end up with a 20 to 25 yard gap between a five iron and my four hybrid. I tend to play courses the measure 7000+ yards, so I decided to take out the overrated and hard to hit 64 degree wedge and put the four iron back in the bag. For all intents and purposes, the four hybrid is really a three iron, and the three hybrid is really more like a two iron for me. As my game evolves I find myself looking for a two hybrid to bridge the gap between my three wood and three iron, and I have taken the four iron back out of the bag to make room for it. Adams has since introduced the new Idea Pro Black hybrids which will be more playable for better players, so I’ll have to give those a try.
The other issue I have with hybrids is the inability to hit the so-called "stinger". Tiger Woods may have made this shot famous since turning pro, but I was hitting it back when Tiger was playing with Mizuno irons and wearing a goofy straw hat. The Stinger is typically a long iron shot that flies very low and rolls a long way. On a dry fairway, I am able to hit my two iron over 250 yards while never getting more than head high. It is a great shot to have in the wind, in dry conditions, or even when the pressure is on and you need to hit a fairway. Hybrids, with their much lower center of gravity and greater perimeter weighing, hit the ball much too high for an effective Stinger. This is the main reason why Tiger says he has not yet adopted hybrids. He claims they hit the ball way too high for him.
Hybrids are indeed very easy to hit, and compared to my long irons they hit the ball higher and straighter, but they aren't always the answer. If you know when and where to use them you will get the biggest benefit from their technology, but don't throw away your long irons just yet!
In case you want to learn it, check out my article on how to hit the stinger. Once you master the shot, it will become your go-to shot in the wind and pressure situations!
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There is no doubt that the statement Tiger Woods read to the world on Feb 19, 2010 will be replayed, analyzed, critisized, praised and more for the coming weeks or months. It may even go down in sports history as the turning point in a fall from grace, or a new start to a career that has become larger than life. Only time will tell. If you want to revisit the video of Tiger’s apology, here it is!
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On a more comedic note, former porn star Joslyn James called press conference immediatly after Tiger's to demand a direct apology. Now, this strikes me as increadibly selfish and very "hollywood". Not to mention that I think it absolutely hilarious that a porn star would fall in love with Tiger while having an affair! Hello Joslyn, wake up and smell the latex! Enjoy the video:
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Tiger Woods seen running near his home at Isleworth in Windermere, Florida
Tiger Woods has come out of his self-imposed exile and will speak Friday, Feb 19 about what has transpired in the last three months and what his plans are for the future. The world will be watching, and the world will likely be disappointed. Tiger will reportedly speak from a prepared statement for about five minutes and will take no questions from the media. In fact, the media isn’t even allowed in. They will be covering the “event” from the Sawgrass Marriott convention center in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, about a mile down the road from the PGA Tour HQ, where Tiger’s statement will take place.
The timing of his statement has been questioned and criticized, taking place on in the middle of the Accenture World Match Play Championships, rather than on a Monday, which is usually a travel day on the PGA Tour. Accenture was the first of Tiger’s sponsors to drop him when the sex scandal broke. Is this a jab at his former sponsor? I doubt it, but some have questions. Ernie Els told Golfweek magazine after Woods’ announcement that his statement was “selfish.” “I feel sorry for the sponsor. Mondays are a good day to make statements, not Friday,” he told the magazine. “This takes a lot away from the golf tournament.”
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Tiger's statement has been orchestrated in White House style, with a few select friends and media members attending, but the rest of the mob forced to cover it via video. In other words, Tiger is ready to make a statement but he doesn't want to answer the tough questions. The questions everyone seems to want an answer to. Tiger has been very consistent throughout his career in declining the media any access to his personal life, and it doesn't look like he's about to change. Tiger is know for doing things his way, and it doesn't appear that he will let the media change him.
It's relieving that Tiger is finally coming out and speaking about the scandal that has dominated golf and his life since Thanksgiving of 2009, but I'm afraid this isn't over. You see, Tiger isn't about to reveal the deepest darkest secrets of his life on a public stage. His statement on Friday will no doubt leave people with more questions than answers, and Tiger will have to deal with the media circus every time he steps into the public for some time. That is, until he wins another major...
Here's a great video from Stephanie Wei of Weiunderpar.com that shows you the kind of outrage some media members are feeling about the timing and details of this announcement:
Alex Miceli Calls Tiger Gutless from Stephanie Wei on Vimeo.
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The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that Tiger Woods may return to golf at the Tavistock Cup at his home course of Isleworth. Citing a source “who works for the Woods family,” TMZ.com reports that the virtually exiled Woods is making plans to tee it up next month at the Tavistock Cup. The Tavistock Cup is a made-for-TV shootout in a Ryder Cup style format between the posh Orlando clubs of Isleworth and Lake Nona. Both private communities are home to several of the worlds top golfers, pro athletes and entertainers, among others. The competition is set for March 22-23 and the Golf Channel will broadcast it live.
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There has been much speculation about when Tiger Woods would return to professional golf, with reports of his return at the up coming Accenture World Match Play Championships being squashed by his long time caddy and close friend Steve Williams. His return for the Tavistock Cup makes perfect sense for Tiger, as the event is very private, with only a few hundred spectators and no admission for the general public. Instead, the event is attended by members and residents of the respective clubs along with a few special guests and sponsors.
Being that access is very limited, the tournament organizers will surely have control of what media outlets are allowed to cover the event, and who they have access to. Given that he hasn't been seen in public since Thanksgiving of last year, the media has been frothing at the mouth for the time when Tiger would come out of his self-imposed exile and finally answer questions about his extra-marital affairs, the events of Thanksgiving night, the sex addiction clinic, etc.
The limited access for the public and media and the fact that the event is being played in his back yard are two compelling reasons why Tiger Woods may indeed make his return at the Tavistock Cup. One thing's for sure, if it happens, the Golf Channel might possibly see it's biggest ratings ever. That is, until Kelly Tilghman opens her mouth.
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We haven’t written about Mr. Woods and his little personal drama in some time, and frankly it’s been nice. But as the speculation about his whereabouts and return date continue to mount, it seems there has been a newsworthy event recently that we feel obligated to cover. It seems like Tiger’s wife Elin Nordegren, who was going to file for divorce according to many reports, has spent some time with Tiger at a sex rehab clinic in Mississippi.
Of course, since all hell broke loose on Thanksgiving weekend the media have been watching Tiger, Elin and anybody else in the Woods entourage like hawks. Tiger has proved quite elusive to the media, sneaking around of friends’ private jets and disguising himself like Hollywood stars often do. The latest report had Tiger holed up in a Hattiesburg, Mississippi sex rehab clinic called The Pine Grove Behavioral Heath & Addiction Services Treatment Center. Many have expected a divorce, but a source said “the marriage is not over, they both want to save it”. Elin has been at the center for an unknown amount of time, somewhere between 5 days and a week, and is there purportedly to take part in the treatment with Tiger.
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The center has had tight security in the past few weeks as stories broke of Tiger's attendance. A private security force has apparently been hired to protect Elin from the media while in town. I would say that this is a good sign for Tiger and family. It seems he is willing to do whatever it takes to save his marriage and family, even if it means more public humiliation and ruthless questioning from the media. Oh, wait. He hasn't addressed the media. Hmmm.
When Tiger does return, the media circus will no doubt be a huge distraction to him and everyone around the tournament he shows up at. Some have suggested that he should call a press conference before his first PGA Tour event to weed out the throngs of questioning and at least make the tabloid media happy. Considering he has basically stonewalled the press up to this point, Tiger's best option to me is to call a press conference and answer any and all questions for as long as it takes to clear the air. It will be tough for him, but get it over with and at the end of the day you can close the book on the "transgressions" and move on with his golf career. Then, when he shows up at his first tournament of the year, he can answer just golf questions. Now, let the speculation begin as to where and when El Tigre will return!
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Oh, it seemed like so long ago when Tiger Woods crashed his SUV into a tree on Thanksgiving weekend. Do you remember where you were when you heard the news? OK, so it wasn’t a life changing event – at least not for most people. But for Tiger and what’s left of his family, it may well go down as the turning point in his life. We don’t know yet if that turn is for better or worst. Some people hope he falls from his place atop the sporting world, and others are ready to help him back up on his pedestal.
Many media outlets have used the story as a way to get rich, and the timing of the cover shot for the latest issue of Vanity Fair magazine is no exception. The image portrays Tiger in a way we’ve never seen him, as kind of a bad boy. If the timing of the photo appearing was a coincidence, I might accept it, but the fact that the pictures were actually taken back in 2006 and only now have surfaced tells me that Vanity Fair is shamelessly trying to cash in on the story. It seems to be working, because this picture is everywhere.
Tiger meanwhile, is reportedly staying with Cablevision boss Jim Dolan at his mansion on Long Island, NY, where he has been visiting regularly with a therapist who comes to the home to consult with Tiger. There were also reports last month that Tiger was in the Bahamas on his private yacht, and has been flying around on Dolan’s and Nike’s jets to go to and from various places without attracting attention. Indeed, he’s done the best job of hiding from everyone since Osama Bin Laden faded into the mountains of Pakistan.
Is it time for Tiger to come out? Some say he should just come out and talk with the media and get it over with, that dragging this out over months and months will only continue to hurt him. It seems like everyone has advice for the guy, even if we don’t know him or the situation he’s in. Brit Hume from false… I mean Fox News had the balls to suggest Tiger turn to Christianity to fix all his problems. And I thought Glen Beck was an idiot…
No matter what Tiger does and what happens to his marriage and golf career, it’s not only a scary time for him, but for golf. The PGA Tour needs Tiger winning majors and attracting sponsors. For the first time in his career in the public eye, Tiger seems scared and unprepared. If we compare what he’s been through to the culture of criminality in pro sports these days, it seems trivial. Yeah, Tiger cheated on his wife and got caught – so did Bill Clinton. At least he didn’t rape a women as Kobe Bryant was accused of doing, or beat his wife like Kirby Puckett, or fight dogs like Mike Vick, or commit a felony like countless other athletes. Tiger won’t go to jail, but the media have created a jail of sorts for him now. Let’s just hope it’s a short sentence.
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The Masters Tournament is coming, and this year the anticipation has ramped up to levels not seen in years. Why? Tiger Woods is back and playing well. Ticket sales are through the roof as they always are at the Masters, but what’s really telling is the ticket prices. I saw that one person was selling two weekly grounds passes for over $20,000! The thing is, they’ll probably get it. That’s what some in the media call the “Tiger Effect.”
