Here’s a clip from Phil Mickelson’s short game DVD where he demonstrates an amazing chip shot that any golfer can master. The shot creates enough backspin to spin a ball right back off the green!
Monday, September 7, 2009
What’s In The Bag – Nick Watney. New Titleist Equipment in Watney’s Bag for the Playoffs. The Irish Examiner SpinDoctor
Full name: Nicholas Alan Watney
Born: April 25, 1981 (age 28)
Birthplace: Sacramento, California
Height: 6 ft 2 in
Weight:13 st
Turned professional 2003
PGA Tour Wins: 2
Nationwide Tour Wins: 1
Watney was born in Sacramento, California. He played his high school golf at Davis Senior High School in Davis, California. He played collegiate golf at the California State University, Fresno where he was a three-time All-American golfer. He turned professional in 2003, following in the footsteps of his uncle, Mike Watney, who played on the PGA Tour in the 1970s. In 2004 Watney played on The Nationwide Tour, winning the season-ending Nationwide Tour Championship Watney to earn qualification for the PGA Tour.
In 2007, after two years of slow progress, Watney won his first PGA Tour title at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. This victory took him into the top 100 of the Official World Golf Rankings for the first time. He got his second tour win at the 2009 Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego with a one stroke victory over John Rollins. Watney now lives in Las Vegas, is coached by Butch Harmon and known affectionately as “Rube” after the ultra polite Rube in the film Major League 2.
What’s In Nick Watney’s Bag
Special thanks to Rick Veitch, my man in Titleist.
Bloggy Underfoot: Is Tiger Burned Out?
The first thing I do on a Sunday night when analysing the next week’s upcoming PGA event is to check whether Tiger Woods is in the field. Unless there is a major on the horizon or a major endorsement contract involved it seems Tiger doesn’t do two weeks in a row. Maybe Tiger’s modest playing schedule is why he can put in such a supreme effort every time he tees it up. Woods is fresh whilst the jaded journeymen in the field wilt.
If you saw a racehorse with form of 1-1-2-2 you would be likely to back it, wouldn’t you? Not including last night’s Deutsche Bank result, that run is Tiger’s form since missing the cut at The Open. Fantastic figures by all accounts, but not when it comes to Woods. Looking back at Tiger’s performances in 2009, there is a common thread running through his stats where he has not won:- putting.
At Cabrera’s Masters early in the season, Tiger finished four shots back, having taken four three-putts during the week. Interestingly he also finished four shots behind Lucas Glover at the US Open having also struggled on the greens. At the USPGA Tiger missed a bucket load of putts to almost gift the title to Y.E. Yang and at Liberty National we saw Tiger do something never before witnessed by human kind- miss a six foot putt on the 18th for glory. “I putt a lot on memory”, Tiger said of his putting woes, perhaps implying that because they hadn’t used the New York course before, he was at some sort of disadvantage.
The real problem now with Tiger may be enthusiasm. After a year away from the game in 2008, he has come back and possibly over-golfed 2009. Granted he has won several regular tour events but a season without a major is surely demoralising for Woods and that adrenaline that surged through his forearms during major season has now run dry. His demeanour at The Barclay’s seems to back that up and though he shot 63 in the final round in Boston, the three preceding rounds were thoroughly ordinary by Tiger standards. He seems as if he just does not want to be out there at times.
It will be interesting to see how Tiger fares in the coming weeks being that there is no let up in his schedule. He is pencilled in to play twice in the next three weeks and then the Presidents Cup. Is the Tiger merely napping before roaring again or has he gone into hibernation until next Spring? Watch this enclosure.
The Doc’s Rules Quiz
Just for fun this week, have a go at our rules quiz. Questions from “999 Questions On the Rules of Golf”, by Barry Rhodes.
Q1: True or False? When taking relief from an immovable obstruction a player may not clean his ball.
Q2: True or False? The wall or lip of a bunker not covered with grass is part of the bunker.
Q3: True or False? Apart from when a ball is in motion, a player may always ask for another player’s ball to be lifted if she considers that it interferes with her play.
Last weeks answers:
Q1: True or False- A player may brush aside sand in the area where he is about to drop his ball under the Rules. False. Decision 13-2/11.
Q2: True or False- As a player reaches the top of his backswing on a tee shot the ball falls off the tee. He completes his stroke topping the ball just five yards forward. There is no penalty and he must play the ball as it lies. Answer: True. Rule 11-3.
Q3: True or False- A ball is visible in casual water but a player cannot retrieve it. Unless the player can positively identify the ball as his he must treat his ball as lost outside of the casual water. Answer: False. Decision 25-1/1.
Note: The player is not obliged to use unreasonable effort to identify his ball. In either case, as the original ball is not immediately recoverable another ball may be substituted.
Dr. and The Medic: Chipping Yips
Problem
You shank, top, or hit the ball thin because you jerk the club or the clubhead is taking an upswing instead of a downward blow.
Cure
One of the most common causes of the yips is anxiety from anticipating how you will contact the ball. Instead of focusing on preventing the yips, you need to think about a specific aspect of your swing. The key is to relax your arms and concentrate on something else; such as keeping your weight onto your forward leg, maintaining clubhead angle for proper loft, keeping your hands ahead of the ball or limiting your wrist movements.
Therapy
Place most of your weight onto your forward foot with the ball towards the back of your stance. Preset the loft of the clubface and make sure that the angle is the same when you finish the swing. Allow your hands to lead the clubhead throughout the shot. Avoid trying to scoop the ball by sliding the clubface under it; instead, you need a downward blow and limit wrist movements. Another great way to fix the yips is to change the sensation you get in your hands at contact. Try chipping a squash ball, this will change the way you feel the impact and will relax your arms with a little humour. Then return to using your golf balls.
I Want One Of Those: TaylorMade Raylor Rescue Review
The Taylormade prototype rescue wood used so successfully by Kenny Perry this season is now set to hit the shops. The “Raylor” rescue wood will be available in lofts of 19° and 21° and is said to be the dogs when it comes to getting out of deep wet rough, or Irish winter fairways!
The Raylor is designed with a slightly sharp and pointed leading edge that TaylorMade says allows golfers to slide the face through the grass and onto the back of the ball more effectively. In addition, the sole of the clubs is shaped like a ship's hull, sloping upward at the sides. These two features reduce the area that would normally hinder the club in the rough by 23%. “It’s the ultimate weapon for getting out of the rough” say Taylormade. Not applicable for those who already own the ultimate weapon for avoiding the rough.
Tailored Shorts: Annika’s Baby, Kenny and his Caddy, Jeff and Suzann Win Big and how the Irish fared last week
Another Major For Annika
Congrats to Annika Sorenstam and Mike McGee on the birth of the daughter, Ava Madelyn McGee. Apparently baby Ava asked for a towel and a five iron minutes after her arrival into the world. This new arrival was announced on Annika’s blog:- “Mike and I are happy to announce that I gave birth to our little girl at 3:30AM this morning. Ava Madelyn McGee is six pounds 10 ounces and 19 inches long. We are all doing well and we truly appreciate the support we have received. We are VERY excited about our new addition and will keep everyone posted in the coming weeks. Thanks!” Speculation is now rife that Annika will return to the LPGA tour sometime next year. Former Solheim Cup team-mate Catriona Matthew won this year’s Women’s British Open only eight week’s after giving birth.
A Perry Ugly Affair
The news that Kenny Perry released Fred Sanders, his longtime caddy may have come as a surprise to those inside the ropes but the manner in which he did has certainly shocked them. Sanders claimed he learned about getting his P45 through Perry’s agent. Surely that’s the equivalent of dumping a girlfriend by text; it’s just not Kenny! Perry’s son Justin is now set to take his bag for the playoffs and President’s Cup having caddied at the British Open and The Barclay’s. Interestingly on both occasions where Justin has caddied for Dad, he finished tied 52nd. Hardly a good omen, but some might say just desserts after an ugly break-up!
Weekend Winners- Jeff and Suzann
Jeff Sluman came from six shots back on Sunday at Pebble Beach to successfully defend his Walmart First Tee Open title. A hole in one on the fifth hole helped Sluman to a 4-under 68 and a two-stroke victory. The six time PGA tour winner has now won three times on the seniors tour. Meanwhile European eyes were smiling on the LPGA when Norwegian Suzann Petterson claimed a five shot victory at the Canadian Women’s Open. Before her victory, Petterson had been a long winless streak finishing runner-up six times with19 top tens. Petterson attributed her victory in part to an encouraging text received before her round from Tiger Woods.
Paddy Watch- How the Irish Fared
| European Tour- Omega Masters | |||
| Finishing Position | Name | Score | Prize Money € |
| T7 | Rory McIlroy | -12 | 48700 |
| T17 | Paul McGinley | -9 | 26400 |
| T32 | Graeme McDowell | -6 | 14920 |
| T60 | Darren Clarke | -1 | 5600 |
| 66 | Gareth Maybin | +1 | 4600 |
| Missed Cut: Gary Murphy, Shane Lowry, Michael Hoey |
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