Golf, But Not As We Know It!
On a trip to New Zealand I noticed with amusement that a few towns advertise cliff top driving ranges as tourist attractions. That is driving ranges where you hit the ball out to sea. At some of them there is a floating target and cash prizes. At others you just do it for fun.
But hey, in some towns in New Zealand there really isn’t that much to do. So you take your thrills where you can, right?
Well, it seems the Kiwi fascination with mucking about with golf does not end with encouraging you to drive into the ocean (which, come to think of it, must throw up some pollution problems). Because now GolfCross is here in Britain – and it really is mind bending.
GolfCross is golf crossed with rugby. The Kiwi’s are so attached to their national game that even a game of golf seemed too long to go without a fix of the oval ball. So now you can play golf with an oval ball.
I’ll admit that the first time I saw a rugby ball shaped golf ball I thought it was just a joke (I bought two so at least I found the joke funny) but in actual fact it is the required equipment for a real sport.
According to the website of the sport in the UK, GolfCross is:
“golf in everything but shape. It’s played over a course just like golf, using the same clubs and the same basic rules, only two things are different; the shape of the ball and the shape of the target. Like rugby, GolfCross is an aerial game with a target that’s raised above the turf. Golf’s round hole, set in the ground to receive the rolling ball, is replaced by a new shape, a rectangular goal suspended in mid-air to trap the flying ball.â€
So essentially with your usual golf clubs you hit a rugby shaped ball into rugby posts that have a net in the back of them. The concept seems mind blowing to me – but there’s more:
“the ball is virtually impossible to slice or hook, players will have the advantage of hitting cleaner, straighter shots at a far higher percentage than trying to hit a round ball off the ground.â€
Not only does this game toy with your basic concepts of shape but it also promises to make you a better player. With some success according to European Tour Pro, Greg Turner:
“GolfCross is the same game but with a less physical element and a much greater thinking element than golf itself. It employs most of the same skills, it just tweaks more than anything the degree of each of those skills. I can’t see why anybody who played golf at all, who could hit a ball at all, wouldn’t come out here and have a lot of fun.”
So there you have it. A new game for the new millennium and, with courses sprouting up across the UK, there is very little reason why you can’t give it a go. I plan to try it out on a course attached to a proper golf course. It’s there, I think, that GolfCross will find its niche: as a happy diversion between the stresses of the eighteenth hole and the excesses of the nineteenth!
Another Major Season Ends With A Minor
And so the major season ends for another year. 2007’s big four will be remembered for a variety of reasons. Zach Johnson, Angel Cabrera and Padraig Harrington clinched their first major wins. If they are to be breakthrough wins only time will tell.
But at the USPGA it was a return to form. Tiger was the story and he duly collected the 13th trinket in his march towards the Golden Bear’s crown.
Some have said that Tiger winning is dull. But let’s be honest, some people just don’t like success. If you become so myopic to his achievements that you can sit stubbornly po-faced during an exhibition of golf like Tiger’s 63 last Friday then you are following the wrong sport.
Watching Tiger in that form is surely to appreciate that you have the privilege of watching a once in a lifetime force of nature. George Best in his pomp at Old Trafford, Mohammad Ali stinging like a bee. Two of sport’s greatest that I was too young to have ever seen. But we have read the legends – just as future generations will read the legend of Tiger Woods long after he has surpassed his great hero and left the world stage.
So carp not at Tiger, instead relish the beauty of a sport that can have a superstar that is so far ahead of the rest of the field but whose dominance of the big ones extended to only one out of four in 2007. Golf defies dominance in a way that other sports do not: Tiger’s ‘real’ Grand Slam remains, for now, a pipe dream.
Golf, however, in some of its more untouched corners remains a sport much enjoyed by doomsayers and stubborn drones. So if they need a moan, how about this? The Majors that we get so worked up about every year are a fallacy.
The Open. Fair enough: the biggest tournament in the country that gave the world the game deserves its status. The US Open. Same: the national open of the country that drove the game to where it is today is, undoubtedly, a biggie. The Masters. OK: the smaller, closed field makes the case harder to argue, but sport needs romance and mystique and Augusta brings them to the table in spades.
Which leaves us with the weakest link. Because the USPGA ain’t a major. Never was, never should have been but somehow is. Step forward the great Arnold Palmer.
Because it was Arnie who invented the modern major season. Back in the 1960’s when Arnie’s Army carried Palmer to the heights of golfing that stardom that few people had dreamt possible, he sat down with a journalist called Bob Drum and created a challenge that he could chase to feed the imagination of his fans and sponsors.
Enter the concept of the Grand Slam. The great Opens on either side of the Atlantic got the nod straight away. The Masters (“too pretty to ignoreâ€) was allowed. Which left a space. Arnold eventually settled on the PGA and used Drum to whip up support for the notion.
Which is fine in a way I suppose. Everything has to start somewhere. And ideas have come from far less auspicious places than an Arnie Palmer cocktail session.
But it seems a shame that Tiger chases a record Jack set that includes the most minor of majors. Played at the wrong time of the year on courses that don’t always set the heart beating the PGA is the one you want on your CV as an after thought.
There are better tournaments in America. And the global game of golf could surely find another great stage in another continent. Because it seems a shame that each year the great spectacle of the majors should finish with a tournament that, even when Tiger lights it up, is an anti-climax.
Perhaps now is the time for Tiger to hold up his hands and say “you know what, the real Grand Slam shouldn’t include the PGA Championship.†It wouldn’t be too much different to what Palmer did all those years ago after all.
Tiger Closes Major Season with No. 13
When talking about Major titles, there can be no more appropriate incongruity than Colin Montgomerie and Tiger Woods.
Those two are at the extremes of the Major tournament scale. Monty for his lack of Major success and Tiger for continuing to rack up the titles. It is especially worth sparing a thought for Monty when Tiger goes a few Majors without winning, just like he did at the US Masters, US Open and British Open.
Woods apparently suffered a slump of form by not winning any of the first three Majors of the year. How many professionals would love to finish second, second and top 10 at Augusta, US Open and British Open?
And then, of course, conclude the slam season by winning the PGA Championship, as Tiger has done.
So, when the urge comes to dismiss Woods, remember Monty, the so-called ‘best player never to win a Major’ and the man, who like many, would trade all their professional victories for just one of Tiger’s 13 Majors.
Woods secured No. 13 at Southern Hills over the weekend, successfully defending his PGA Championship title and ensuring he goes yet another year with at least one grand slam tournament victory.
He also ended the streak of first-time Major winners after Zach Johnson triumphed at Augusta, Argentina’s Angel Cabrera won at the US Open and Irishman Padraig Harrington claimed the British Open.
Woods is now only five adrift of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 titles, with the word “only†being relative. After all, for Monty and most others, five is a lifetime achievement and then some.
For Woods, it is only a chapter of his story. And you’d think after so much success, that he would be used to that winning feeling.
Not for Tiger. It was another sweet day for the American, with the presence of his two-month-old daughter Sam making it even more special. He said in an Associated Press article:
“That’s a feeling I’ve never experienced before. To have her here, it brings chills to me. I was surprised she was out here, to see her and (wife) Elin there. It’s just so cool.â€
Woods, though, admitted he nearly threw it away, having turned a three-shot overnight lead into two-stroke victory. However, he held his nerve at the right times to thwart the charge of Woody Austin and South African Ernie Els.
Woods, who equalled the Major record with a 63 in the second round, closed with a 69 to finish at eight-under-par for the tournament while Austin recorded 67 to end up two strokes back.
Els concluded with 66 to finish a further shot back, having suffered for his 72 in the opening round.
Woods has now won more Majors than the rest of the top 10 in the world combined and is ahead of Nicklaus in terms of pace. Nicklaus won his 13th Major at 35 while Woods is 31.
As for Monty, he finished 42nd with seven other golfers, including Harrington, with every Major bypassing him lessening his chances of eventually snaring one of the big four.
And with Woods still around, there are not many left to share around.
Check Out The Tiger Trap!
Check out this great video I found on YouTube of Tiger Woods in a relaxed mood playing for fun and challenging unsuspecting golfers to a nearest the pin competition – winner takes home a Buick Rainier!
It seems so real but then one of the ‘camera’ men runs right through the screen and the golfers at 2:42 ! Real or Fake you tell me.
Fun video nevertheless …
Mickelson Ready to Make HSBC Debut
As Phil Mickelson wonders whether or not his wrist is 100 per cent at the US PGA Championship, Asian golf fans will certainly hope that he is full fit by November.
Lefty scored 73 in the first round, eight strokes adrift of leader Graeme Storm. Though his wrist felt good, a series of poor shots on the back nine meant he was unable to make an impact at the top of the leaderboard.
Mickelson is a notoriously reluctant traveller, which is why organisers of the HSBC Champions tournament in Shanghai, China are clucking over the American’s decision to play in their tournament from November 8-11 at the Sheshan International Golf Club.
He joins regular Asian visitor Ernie Els, Vijay Singh and Sergio Garcia as one of the big names in the tournament.
The former Masters and PGA Championship winner said on the Asian Tour website:
“I’ve been looking at a way of including this event in my schedule and am delighted that this year I will be there. I would really like to win an international title of this magnitude, especially as I will be competing against so many great winners from the different Tours.â€
The tournament, though it doesn’t carry Order of Merit points on the Asian Tour is still the richest in the region with US$5 million in prize money.
Organisers are trying to lure star players, but prize money is not going to be enough to sustain such an exercise.
After all, US$6 million and over events are common on the US PGA Tour and a Tour regular does not need to travel half way around the world to earn less money.
It’s all about appearance money in this case, with players such as Mickelson pocketing a tidy sum, often well over the winner’s prize purse, just for attending these tournaments.
Though there are no Order of Merit rewards, the tournament is backed by a number of important bodies, with the European Tour, Asian Tour, PGA Tour of Australasia, the Sunshine (Southern Africa) Tour and the China Golf Association all providing sanction.
While it is a truly international tournament, it needs players to willingly compete, without the lure of appearance money, to provide the required credibility.
Tiger Tunes Up for PGA Assault
It is hard enough winning one tournament on the PGA Tour, let alone two in a row. So, is winning a week before a Major a blessing or a curse?
How many times have we held up a pre-Major winner as one of the favourites only to see him fail to make the cut.
Then again, there is Tiger Woods, who cruised to an impressive victory at the Bridgestone Invitational at Akron, Ohio.
His five-under-par 65 in the final round silenced Sabbatini, who Woods also beat in Wachovia earlier this year, after which the South African said the world number one looked as “beatable as everâ€.
Woods finished at eight under 272 for an eight-stroke victory, with Sabbatini and England’s Justin Rose finishing tied for second at 280.
Tiger brushed off Sabbatini’s challenge both on the golf course as well as in his words. He was quoted in an AP story as saying:
“Everyone knows how Rory is, and I just go out there and just let my clubs do the talking. I won both tournaments.â€
It was Woods’ third Bridgestone title in a row and sixth overall. He goes into this week’s final Major of the season, the PGA Championship, as overwhelming favourite, which is a bit of a redundant statement given the fact that he’s a favourite to win any tournament he plays in.
But it all points to Tiger at Southern Hills this week, not only because of his victory at Firestone but also because he doesn’t want to go a season without at least one Major title.
Woods failed at the US Masters, US Open and British Open this year and would be eager to close out the Major season with number 13 and bring him closer to Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18. Woods said:
“The whole idea was obviously to win this event but to be playing well going into next week. I feel I made some nice strides this week, and I feel very good going into next week.â€
While Woods goes for yet another Major title, Mexican Lorena Ochoa celebrated her first when he won the Women’s British Open at St Andrews, the first time the Home of Golf opened its fairways to professional female golfers.
She closed with a one-over-par 74 to finish at five-under for the tournament, beating Lee Jee-yong and Maria Hjorth by four strokes.
Her victory also hit home in Mexico, with the country’s president Felipe Calderon offering his personal congratulations and hailing Ochoa as a role model for Mexican youth.
It was her fourth victory of the season and 13th on the LPGA Tour and silenced the critics who said she would never win a Major title. She said in an AP article:
“This is my fifth year on the tour and my first time ranked number one in the world. And there were a lot of people saying that I wasn’t good enough or that I couldn’t win a Major or when am I going to win a Major. And I have always taken all the comments and understood very well because I didn’t win. I think that now it’s a big step forward. I did it and there’s no more to say.â€
Asians Among Euro Contingent For PGA Championship
A recent article on the European Tour website highlighted the “record number of European Tour members†competing at this year’s US PGA Championship, the final Major of the year at Tulsa, Oklahoma.
It claims to have 48 golfers due to take part at Southern Hills Country Club from August 9-12 but some of those names have a distinctly Asian flavour to them.
And being a great supporter of Asian golf, we are claiming these guys. They include Indians Jeev Milkha Singh and Jyoti Randhawa and Chinese golfer Liang Wenchong.
Korea’s YE Yang is also part of the crew, no doubt keen to link up with his high-flying compatriot and PGA Tour member KJ Choi, who had a top-10 finish at the recent British Open and is also an Asian.
Asian golf has made huge strides over the past few years. However, the reality is, that golfers from this part of the world will not be taken seriously until one of them wins a Major.
Ignoring the fact that Tiger Woods is, in fact, half Asian, there does not appear to be many golfers from the world’s largest continent who can make that Major breakthrough.
Choi definitely is one of them. He has won six PGA Tour titles, including two over the past few months, and has the game and the mental strength to triumph in one of golf’s most prestigious tournaments.
Jeev, himself, said that Choi’s performance at the Open in Carnoustie was an inspiration to other Asian players. He was quoted in a Reuters article as saying:
“There is a lot of talent in Asia and I think in the near future you will see a lot more Asians winning worldwide in the big events. They feel that players like KJ and others who are doing well on different tours can do it and therefore why not them? It’s a good thing to have that in yourself, to believe that if someone else can do it, why not me?â€
Jeev, who has had some notable victories in Europe over the past year, is also one of those golfers who could give Asian its first Major winner.
Golfers such as Jeev and Choi were groomed on the Asian Tour. Fijian Vijay Singh, many years back, also once used Asia as a base from where he honed his skills.
However, it’s time for less talk and more action. Asia has some of the best and most spectacular golf courses in the world. It’s time we can say the same about our golfers.
Sergio Faces Greatest Challenge
As young Patrick Harrington asked his daddy if he could put ladybirds in the Claret Jug he had no idea that eyes of the world were on him.
But as daddy celebrated, one man knew only too well that he had strode onto a global stage and blown his lines. Sergio Garcia looked like he wanted to put the ashes of his dreams inside that famous trophy. And then throw it into the Barry Burn.
Afterwards Harrington spoke of the prospect of defeat, of being unsure if he could have played again. On the 72nd hole he had stared down the barrel of a “Van de Velde.†Somehow he had managed not to pull the trigger. If nothing else Harrington deserved every last rumble of applause, every last chorus of a rather slurred Molly Malone for the dogged determination that dragged him through his wobble into the water.
But, and whisper it in the clubhouses of Ireland, did the right man win? I respect and admire Harrington. I am genuinely delighted for him and hope he wins more majors. Still though I hear an evil voice whispering niggling doubts about what happened to European golf in that thrilling dénouement.
Before the Open began Colin Montgomerie spoke of the need for a European world beater to come along, win a major and open the floodgates for sustained European success. In short Monty was calling for another Seve.
For all his talent, his desire, his dedication, his charm, does Harrington fit the bill? Or is it the mercurial, frustrating, delightful, unpredictable Spanish Ryder Cup warrior that would be the more fitting heir to the great Ballesteros. Does Harrington, the highly skilled artisan have the spark to light a powder keg of European glory? Or would a flash of Sergio’s artistry have been more likely to begin a sustained period of major success – both for himself and for Europe?
Time will, of course, be the only measure of this theory. But how painful Harrington’s words must have been for Garcia. He had led for the majority of the tournament. Harrington thought he had blown it on the final hole. Most thought Garcia had won it by the time he teed off on day four. If Harrington had worried that he may never have recovered how does Garcia feel now? Another major, another chance. But, in the end, he wilted in the heat of the battle.
Where does Sergio go from here? Tiger Woods is not alone in feeling that Garcia should have won majors by now. But with each disappointment the final hurdle becomes harder to negotiate. Will it be easy to forget Carnoustie in 2007 the next time he leads a major?
Harrington has his place in history. Garcia must now prove he can forget and recover. If he can’t, then his own shot at immortality will be missed as surely as he missed that ten foot putt on the final hole.
Golf is a game of fine margins – when the chance comes, shaving the hole is no better than missing by a foot. Now is the time for Sergio to show that he will not be content with the career of a nearly man – few people remember the men that only shaved the hole when faced with the prospect of greatness.
Summer of Golf Provides Sunshine in the Gloom
Sports and marketing. The curse of the modern era. The English Premiership is the “Greatest Show on Earth!†Lewis Hamilton is the “British Tiger Woods.†So it was inevitable that the last month would be Scotland’s “Summer of Golf!â€
No matter that any use of the word “summer†is somewhat ironic with the weather pretty much remaining the meteorological equivalent of a slap in the face with a wet fish. Or that every season in the – marketing lingo again – “home of golf†is dominated by the game.
But let’s forgive the gurus at Visit Scotland. Because the golf, unlike the weather, has been unforgettable.
If we could write our own scripts? Well, we can’t – and please allow me a bit of US bashing here – but it’s gone the way a lot of us would have liked to imagine it if we were in the business of penning romantic fantasies.
First Loch Lomond. Gregory Havret, not even a household name in his own chateau, stares down the great Mickelson on the bonny banks and beats him at the death. How he deserved to drink the champagne that was poured over him on the final green.
Then Carnoustie, the course rehabilitated in the eyes of the golfing world, and another play-off. This one even more special:it’s two Europeans. Irish eyes are smiling, Spanish eyes are crying but the Europeans are coming.
Then down the east coast. Muirfield, and this time the US roars back. But Tom Watson is a legend in these parts anyway. Almost an honorary Scot in fact.
And now we are back over the Forth Bridge, our summer of golf apparently as endless as the task of painting that Victorian wonder, for the Women’s Open. Played for the first time at the most famous links in the world.
Early reports suggest we’re in for a cracker. The players seem to be drinking in the history, the atmosphere of St Andrews firing them up to give Scotland’s glorious golfing extravaganza the perfect send off.
And when it is finally all over, all we will be able to say is “thank you and haste ye back.â€
The Circus Is In Town – Hip Hip Hip Hooray!
There is something magical about the circus coming to town!
No I’m not talking about the Big Top and CoCo The Clown, but instead the LPGA, Ladies European Tour and The Ladies Golf Union.
Whilst 27 Open Championships have be held at St Andrews, this will be the very first time a Women’s British Open has been held on the most famous of links. It truly is an exciting time for all the players as they dream of winning a Major at “The Home of Golf”.
Ron Sirak, golf writer for Golf World writes a great piece on how one of the 150 starters will take a slice of history at this year’s Ricoh Women’s British Open.
I for one know I will be fortunate to be one of the spectators taking in the action as play starts at 06:30 tomorrow. Do I follow Paula Creamer off at 06:52, Lorena Ochoa at 07:03, Cristie Kerr and Natalie Gulbis at 07:14, or Michelle Wie ? Tough decision – answers on a postcard!
This short 47 second video was taken today (1st August) during practice at the 2007 Ricoh Women’s British Open and shows the 1st and 18th fairways, The R&A building, “The Links” road running parallel to the 18th, Hamilton Hall on “Golf Place” road behind the grandstand, the West Sands in the distance and the tented village beside the 1st fairway.
Watson Turns Back Muirfield Clock
The names were big enough for a Major tournament. Tom Watson, Mark O’Meara and Nick Faldo were among the star elements who took on Muirfield in the Senior Open Championship.
Faldo, at 50, was making his debut and was the co-leader after the first round. In the end, it was American links ace Watson who triumphed, capturing his 13 Major in regular and senior tours and his third Senior Open title.
Watson, who was battling O’Meara and Stewart Ginn over the final round, emerged victorious by one stroke after closing with a 73. That gave him a four-round total of level par 284.
Only one from the top three managed to break 70 all week, and that was Ginn, who scored 69 in the third round.
The Australian finished tied for second with O’Meara, who shot 72 on Sunday. Faldo, who scored 68 in his opening round, finished tied for 14th with Japan’s Kiyoshi Murota at eight over par.
Watson, who raised the trophy in front of a record crowd for a Senior British Open, admitted in an article on the European Tour website that he drew inspiration from his Muirfield victory in 1980. He said:
“A lot of the same thoughts came back. The tee shot at 12, the tee shot at 18. I birdied the 11th in 1980 and again today. That gave me a lot of breathing room. In ’80 it gave me a five or four shot lead, and today it gave me a three shot lead. It was a big deal.â€
As a journalist, the one and only time I came across Watson was at the 1997 Dunlop Phoenix tournament in Miyazaki, Japan.
He won the tournament and then gave a horde of local and international journalists a rollicking time in his press conference. Watson came across as courteous, erudite and confident.
He had that certain look in his eye … the look of someone who has earned respect rather than demanded it. And indeed, the respect he has earned has come not only from his golfing prowess but his personality.
One young golfer fast earning respect is Argentina’s 26-year-old Andres Romero, who triumphed at The Players’ Championship of Europe at Gut Kaden for his maiden title on the European Tour.
Romero, who came close to winning the Open Championship at Carnoustie, has rocketed to 29th on the world rankings from 114 in only two weeks.
Romero, whose compatriot Angel Cabrera won the US Open last month, won by an impressive three strokes, scoring 19 under for the tournament. Denmark’s Soren Hansen and England’s Oliver Wilson were tied for second.
In Markham, Ontario, American Jim Furyk won his first PGA Tour title of the season when he successfully defended his Canadian Open title.
Furyk struck seven-under-par 64 in his final round to edge Vijay Singh by a single stroke, having trailed the Fijian by three shots after the third day’s play.
His final round included a hole-in-one at the 13th hole, the third ace of his career after earlier birdieing two of the first three holes.
Playing Golf With Your Hero
A couple weeks ago, Jin Young Pak, one of my students, had the good fortune of living a life-long dream — she played golf with her hero. After two solid rounds at the Jamie Farr Classic on the LPGA Tour, she was paired in Saturday’s last group with Se Ri Pak.
Now, I don’t think it’s possible for westerners to comprehend just how big Se Ri Pak is in Korea. And what she has done for a generation of Korean young women who have followed her lead to the LPGA Tour. When in Korea, Se Ri must either walk around in disguise or plan on getting mobbed. In fact, her caddie and coach both need bodyguards when in Seoul because they too are famous in this golf-crazy culture. So you can imagine, when a young Korean LPGA rookie gets the chance to play with Se Ri Pak — it’s a huge deal. And especially so for Jin Young, who once waited in line for hours to get Se Ri’s autograph at a junior clinic in Korea.
Because of this situation and my closeness to it, I thought it would be interesting to talk about the dynamics that comes from playing golf with a hero. After all, we’ve all done it in some degree. Maybe not at the level of Se Ri and Jin Young — but we’ve played with our club champion, boss or some other larger than life figure — who made the round a little something extra. And with that something extra, comes a pressure that can often cause some really poor golf, which can ruin an otherwise memorable day.
So what to do when playing with a hero? I will give you the same advice I gave Jin Young the night before her round with Se Ri, which I think helped her through what could have been a very nerve-wracking experience.
First, when playing with a hero — embrace it! Usually it means you’ve done something well in life or business if you’re playing with someone you’ve admired greatly. In Jin Young’s case, she was in 2nd place at one of her first LPGA events — so this was a good thing. She needed to remember that. She was in front of 120 other girls – all heroes in their own right. So, before she played the next day with Se Ri, Jin Young needed to believe it was deserved. She didn’t win a lottery to play with Se Ri. She had worked hard for years and this was one of the perks of that hard work. So first thing — pat yourself on the back for being in that position.
Second, when playing with a hero — be yourself! I’ve seen a lot of people over the years transform personalities based on who they’re playing with. If your hero is a Lee Trevino type player — but you’re Nick Faldo type player — don’t all of a sudden become Mr. Talkative. Keep to the things you do well. And if the way you focus is different from your hero — so what — stay true to yourself. Getting out of your comfort zone is the quickest way to have a bad hero experience. When it’s your turn to hit — stick to the routine that got you there.
Third, when playing with a hero — don’t be afraid to learn. Usually another golfer is a hero because they do things you admire. Take this first hand opportunity to learn how they do the things you admire so much. This doesn’t mean playing the round as a fan instead of a fellow competitor. It just means paying attention. I’ve learned as much playing with golf pros I’ve admired as I’ve had hitting thousands and thousands of range balls. So pay attention when they’re hitting shots and managing their game. Normally what you will find is the best players keep it simple.
Fourth, when playing with a hero — engage in conversation when appropriate. Again, this is a golden opportunity to learn from your hero. When I talked to Jin Young after her round — she said Se Ri gave her some great advice. Se Ri said to work smarter not harder. That for a long career, Jin Young should learn to hit balls for 2 hours intelligently, as opposed to 5 hours aimlessly. Now, I have been telling her that for 3 years — but Se Ri’s advice was the needed confirmation. Since that round, Jin Young only talks about smart practice – not harder practice. I almost want to send Se Ri a thank you card.
And lastly, when playing with a hero — don’t set high expectations. Play your game and stick to your game plan – not theirs. You’re not there to impress them. You’re there to play golf. I remember a great lesson I learned from a hero of mine as a young pro. I was playing the mini-tours in Florida and had a great first day. I was in the last group on the second day (the last of the tournament) and paired with Doug Weaver, who at that time was the best mini-tour player in Florida. He won everything. Well, I hung in there okay — but ended up playing the last 4 holes four over par. After the round, I went up to Doug and apologized for my bad play. I told him I was sorry he had to witness that terrible display. He looked at me and smiled — then put his arm around my shoulder and said something I’ll never forget. He said – “George, I don’t care.” He said the quicker I learned no one else was worried about what I was doing — the better off I would be. He wasn’t mean about it, just honest. He said we could have a beer after the round — but when playing, he had too many other things to worry about besides my bogeys. That lesson is still one of the best of my life. So remember, your hero will not worry about your poor shots — just theirs. They’re not critiquing your swing and wondering how you got paired with them. They are playing their own game, which is one of the reasons they got to hero status to begin with.
So, next time you have the chance to play with a hero — go for it! Good luck!
St Andrews Opens Its Doors To Ladies
History will be made next week when professional female golfers are allowed into the clubhouse of the Home of Golf, St Andrews, for the first time as competitors.
It has been a long time in coming, but as golf gradually sheds its image as a stuffy pastime for elite gentlemen, yet another male bastion is being dismantled.
Some of the best female players in the planet from the LPGA will travel to Scotland for the 2007 Women’s British Open, and the New York Times highlights the story of a special woman who will be joining the hordes.
Not to compete, but to witness the fulfillment of a dream that started when she won the Ladies’ Amateur British Open Championship in 1948 at Royal Lytham and St Annes.
Louise Suggs, 83, a founding member of the LPGA, was wondering when more doors would open for female golfers, not only in Britain but elsewhere in the golfing world, and particularly when it came to the Royal & Ancient, the sport’s governing body outside United States.
She was quoted in the NYT article as saying:
“I think this is the beginning of a revival, sort of, for women’s golf. I hope so, anyway. In the back of my mind, I always thought if the ladies were ever allowed to play the Old Course in a tournament, we’d have it made.â€
Unfortunately, 59 years is too long for any decent golfer to wait. Still, better late than never and the fans in Scotland can now look forward to some of the best players of the current generation gracing the famous Old Course.
Senior Faldo Returns to Muirfield Memories
As an 18-year-old, Nick Faldo was awestruck by Tom Watson and the way the American would hit the ball during the British Open at Carnoustie.
More than three decades later, the relationship between the two golfing legends have changed significantly. No longer is Faldo the inspired kid and Watson the role model.
This week, they are peers, fellow pros and playing partners at Muirfield, the place where Faldo won two of his Open titles and the course where he makes his debut at the Senior British Open.
It is more than 10 years since Faldo last won a Major title, the US Masters, and at last week’s British Open in Carnoustie, he failed to make the cut.
The 50-year-old doesn’t do much playing these days, with his expertise usually more sought in the commentary box, designing golf courses or helping to groom the next generation of golf stars, be it from Britain or Asia.
As such, he is not confident about his chances of becoming the new kid on the block, as far as seniors are concerned, anyway.
As he said in an AP article:
“I have been busy with TV and course design visits across Europe and America.This my longest season of golf – two weeks – in the year. I can go on memories, but I still have to hit the golf ball. These guys have played probably 20 tournaments this year. I have played two weeks.â€
Still, if it’s memories he wants, there’s no better place to look than Muirfield. In 1987, Faldo made 18 straight pars in the final round to win the tournament. In 1992, he beat John Cook for another Open title.
Preparing For The Ricoh Women’s British Open At The Old Course St Andrews
This afternoon I shot into St Andrews to shoot a short video of the preparations for the Ricoh Women’s British Open At The Old Course, St Andrews. As you can see, whilst grandstands and the tented village are being erected plays continue as normal in the glorious Scottish sunshine!
The Championship starts on Thursday 2nd August, but no doubt I will be walking around the course for the practice rounds. This will be the first time “The Home of Golf” has hosted a Championship for women professionals and it’s sure to be a fantastic event with all four days covered on TV.
The all star line up includes Karrie Webb, Michelle Wie, Natalie Gulbis, Lorena Ochoa, Annika Sorenstam, Suzann Pettersen, Paula Creamer, Se Ri Pak, Cristie Kerr, Laura Davis and Beth Daniel.
Find out more about the Ricoh Women’s British Open here.