Guide for Beginning Golfers

I can’t even say his name let alone acknowledge his victory at the British Open but Oostuizen’s  performance and final total score of -16 speaks for itself. The next player, Lee Westwood, finished seven shots back  at -9 which is an indication of how well  Oosthuizen really played for this prestigious tournament at the world’s oldest and most revered golf venue, St. Andrews. I have to admit this years Open was a bit boring for golf fans in the United States as the top American player, Sean O’Hair finished at -6, ten strokes back and tied for seventh place. None of our players even sniffed at  a chance for the top three spots, which is unusual for the U.S. team.

Tiger Woods, who has not yet returned to true form, struggled with the putter and had to settle for a tie for 23rd with a -3 finish total on Sunday. John Daly, who was on the leader board on Thursday with a first  round sixty six, Stewart Cink, last years winner in the Open over Tom Watson, and Phil Mickelson, a fan favorite, all shot plus one and tied for 48th place, which is not so impressive for these U.S. players. I had high hopes for Phil Mickelson coming into this championship but he his play has been less than stellar since his Masters victory in April of this year.

The British Open has been the second major golf tournament in a row where the European and other top world players have stymied the United States from the leaderboard. In the U.S. Open in June, the top three places went to McDowell, the barely known Frenchman,  Havret and Ernie Els from South Africa. The outcome and lackluster performance by the American players in these last two major venues does not bode well for the U.S. in the coming Ryder Cup championship in September of 2010. Corey Pavin, the captain for the U.S. has his work cut out for him if the Amercian team is to be competitive enough to win this years Ryder Cup. I wish them the best of luck as they may surely need some this year. Our players had better get to the golf range and start hitting golf balls to prepare for the challenge they face ahead.

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The world’s top golfers gathered for the 110th playing of the prestigious American PGA Tour event, the U. S. Open. Pebble Beach is one of the top golf venues in the country located in Monterey County, California maybe second only to Pine Valley Golf Course  in New Jersey. Pebble Beach was long renowned as the #1 or #2 golf course in the country and the world for an extended period of time and will always be a favorite of tour pros and amateurs alike. This years set up at Pebble Beach was one of the toughest tests of golf skills for the PGA Tour Pros in recent history.
I was hoping for a Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson battle for the championship on Sunday, but three foreign born players, Graeme McDowell, Gregory Havret and Ernie Els held off their charge and finished one, two and three respectively leaving the world’s two top players tied for fourth and no trophy for the United States in 2010. Dustin Johnson, an excellent American golfer, who was playing lights out through Saturday could not handle the heat on Sunday as he collapsed under the pressure shooting an 82 and finishing tied for 8th.  Dustin held the lead over eventual winner, Graeme McDowell, by two shots at the start of the final round and seemed to have tamed the beast but he gave back shot after shot in the final round as Pebble Beach showed her fangs and bit back. During the final round it appeared as if the players were all going backward and the title would go to the golfer who could best hold on for dear life. The final scores tell the tale of how difficult Pebble Beach was playing, as even par won the event, when these players can shoot between 12 and 20 under par under normal golf tournament conditions.

Tom Watson, a fan favorite, showed his tenacity as he hung on for a tied for 29th place finish. Tom could have finished tied for 27th had he made a short putt on the 18th hole but he let it slip off to the side as he was not the only player at Pebble Beach to miss on the short grass. There were three putts from inside two feet at this years Open. Tom Watson can still hit golf balls with the best of them as he bested the likes of VJ Singh and Stewart Cink, who just edged him out at last years British Open. Can this be Tom Watson’s last U.S. Open? In my opinion, I would have to say he is not yet done and we’ll see him back next year. Congratulations to Graeme McDowell on his victory as he held on for one stroke lead over Gregory Havret, the frenchman, who finished plus one and solo second place.  Next up – The British Open! Happy Golfing to All!

For the past  few weeks my golf game has hit the skids. I have played my last few rounds like I never held a golf club before. Maybe not quite that bad but not too far off target either. In golf, as in other sports,  you can’t let it get you down. There are highs and lows in all stages of life and a persons golf game is not impervious to being subjected to this roller coaster ride of ups and downs.

In fact someone once said, “The consistency of golf is the inconsistency of golf” and truer words were never spoken. Golf can be a roller coaster ride of emotions, even during the same golf round. On one hole you may score a par, birdie or perhaps even an eagle if you are skilled enough but the next can be a bogie, double or even triple bogie if you lose concentration and make an error in your golf swing thoughts or mechanics.

When I go into a slump with golf, I find the best method for an expedient recovery is to lay off for a week or so and then schedule a session at the golf range to help regain the confidence in your swing. Hitting golf balls at the range will help, at least it works for me. Remember, don’t despair if you lose your golf swing temporarily for it will soon return. Happy Golfing to All!

Since Tiger Woods joined the PGA Tour in 1997, his ultimate and maybe only real goal was to tie and then beat the record of the greatest golfer who ever lived, Jack Nicklaus. He may still accomplish this feat but he has a longer and more difficult road ahead as he has allowed himself to succumb to the many temptations and pleasures of super stardom. His extracurricular activities have sidetracked him from his once illustrious goal of becoming the best golfer in the world. I can understand to some extent what he might be going through but that is no excuse for his actions. He is not the only superstar golfer or superstar in any sport for that matter, who has ever found himself in this situation, but how a person handles the temptations is the mark of a true superstar. When any person has been gifted enough to be elevated to such a high position and constantly under the public eye and scrutiny, they also take on the responsibility to become a proper role model to the to their many fans, both young and old alike. You cannot always have what you want because it is there for the taking even though you may feel entitled. A single man may have gotten away with these actions, even though a bit over the top even for the single crowd, but a married man with a beautiful wife and two wonderful children, who allows himself to succumb to this type of lifestyle may in fact have an illness or addiction of some kind.

I’m sure Jack Nicklaus,  Arnold Palmer and many of the other tour professionals have found themselves in a position where they could have easily given in to similar opportunities for sexual misconduct or other indiscretions of the flesh. I think that most males, contrary to popular belief will remain loyal to their spouses, even under the most tempting of circumstances. This action or rather non-action is what separates true greatness from the pretender. This is a valid point of contention for whether Tiger Woods can ever be the golfer he was lauded to be just a few years ago. Tiger Woods was the golf hero to a new generation and was also admired by golfers and fans from any era as his skill at golf was perhaps second to none.  In reflecting about the real history of this great sport, golf was created as a gentleman’s game. Tiger’s dalliances and many indiscretions have now ostracized him from this category. It is a true shame as I was one of his admirers and fans but Jack Nicklaus has now taken that place for good in the number ONE position in golf history, at least in my book. 

Whether Tiger Woods beats Jack Nicklaus’s record or not he will no longer be remembered as the greatest golfer who ever lived but only as the golfer who was able to win the most majors or tournaments, if he can still achieve this goal. I can still see Jack hitting golf balls on the course as if it were yesterday and I remember the Masters of 1986 very well where he was victorious at age 46 . Phil Mickelson has a better chance than many to take over the number one spot in the modern day era of golf but he must make his move now if he will ever come close to the best of the best. Jack Nicklaus will also be the first one to readily admit that although there have been many great golfers, Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Tiger Woods and the like, but the only golfer who ever can come close or even exceed his status in golf history is Bobby Jones. In his seven years as a golf professional he won 13 majors, which may very well stand forever, or at least as long as Joe Dimaggio’s 56 game hitting streak. Try beating that one Tiger. Happy Golfing to All!

In my opinion Tiger Woods has a very long hard road back. He may never reach the pinnacle of success that he could have achieved had it not been for the revelation of his mere mortal existence. Prior to the incident last November and the exposure of his sex addictions, his many dalliances while married, and his self imposed isolation from the PGA Tour, he had been placed on a pedestal by his peers, fans and the golfing public. His immeasurable feats while on the golf course and his ability to intimidate his opponents in competition made him appear superhuman to most.

Since his arrival on the golf scene in 1997, and his dramatic win at The Masters, where he beat all comers by 12 shots, he has exuded superior golfing skills to the other players on tour. Over the last few years Tiger has seemed out of sorts at times and faltered during competition where that would have never occurred prior to that time. It became blatantly and painfully obvious during the PGA Championship last season when he lost to Y.E. Yang on the back nine on Sunday after being in the lead after 54 holes. It has now become clear what caused the lack of concentration and his unprecedented collapse at the PGA. His distraction and pre-occupation with his personal life has exposed his shortcomings and frailty to his peers and he has let the door open for another great  player to potentially fill that void. Great people and players rise to the occasion when the opportunity arises and he provided that possibility to happen.

Despite his shortcomings it will be no easy task to dethrone Tiger Woods as the # 1 golfer as he is still a great player no matter what turmoil has befallen him in his personal life. Besides his divorce proceedings which are underway and his neck injury which caused him to withdraw from The Players Championship, he has just split with his long time golf coach, Hank Haney.  The split was initiated by Haney and understandably so. Tiger will have an uphill battle to regain the justification of  his place in golf immortality but also to reacquire the respect of his peers, his at one time many fans and his sponsors. His ability to hit golf balls is perhaps matched by no other, but it takes more than skill to make a man the gentleman he is supposed to be in order to participate and compete in this centuries old game of golf! Happy Golfing to All!