Guide for Beginning Golfers

The 91st PGA Championship was played this year at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. Tiger Woods has been victorious in 14 out of 14 attempts in the major championships when leading or sharing the lead after 54 holes. Tiger game has been sharp over the last few weeks, including back to back victories in the 51st and final playing of the Buick Open, which he has dominated so brilliantly over the years and also the WGC – Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club in Akron Ohio. He beat the field handily by three and four strokes respectively thus dispelling any doubts about his return to true Tiger form. Yang also made some noise and came in alone in 5th place at the Buick, tied for 19th at Firestone and has played well as of late and stood at 110 in the World Rankings until his PGA win, which should put him well ahead of that number.

 I must take a moment to ask, ”What happened to Padraig Harrington?” Having started the day at -6 and in excellent position to make a run at the title, he dropped off the leader board and shot 78 to put himself out of the running for back to back titles and another Wanamaker Trophy. It makes me seriously wonder whether Padraig would have been victorious in last year’s two final majors, the British Open and the PGA, since he has faltered in both the Buick Open and the 2009 PGA when Tiger Woods was in the field. It may be the intimidation factor that exudes with Woods mere presence, which could affect Padraig Harrington’s performance when going head to head with Tiger. There are many players so affected but it did not seem to bother P.E. Yang on the back nine on Sunday, or for that matter at any time in the final round. He play well  thru out the round and his only hiccup came on 17 when he three putted for bogie and left the door open for Tiger. Tiger pulled his approach shot left and in the rough just off the green. His attempt to chip out left him short and he could not convert the par putt to return to -7 and a tie with Yang going into the final hole. I guess you could say he did not  Wan-a-maker, a little play on words there. Yang’s second shot on 18, a hybrid to approximately 8 feet, all but sewed up the title for him. Tiger needed to hit his approach shot stiff if he were to have any chance but instead he over shot the green and again left himself with a difficult shot from the rough to birdie or even par the hole, which he ultimately failed to do. Tiger had to settle for bogie to Yang’s birdie leaving him an unprecedented three shots back at -5. Yang finished at -8, where Tiger had started for the day. When Tiger was ahead by two shots at the turn, I said to myself, “This PGA is over”, but Yang had other ideas. P.E. Yang played well, no two ways about it. It seemed that Tiger uncharacteristically changed his strategy mid-round to a more conservative approach which is atypical for him. He appeared to be protecting his two stroke lead instead of his normal aggressive style and using his unequivocal ability to expand that lead to three, four or even five strokes. He did not appear to trust his game as he laid up on a number of holes and left himself much longer approach shots than Yang and this tactic may have ultimately lent itself to Tiger’s demise and loss of the championship.

I know the missed cut at the British Open did not sit well with Tiger and I’m sure he worked even harder with his coach, Hank Haney, to correct any swing faults in preparation for the PGA Championship. Second place is not a bad spot to be in but unacceptable by Tiger’s standards. I’m sure he would have much rather have today’s headline read “ Tiger’s Wins Wire to Wire Victory in PGA Championship” or “Tiger wins 15th Major” or “Tiger Edges Closer to Jack Nicklaus’s Record 18 Majors and Sam Snead’s all time 82 Victory Record” but it was not to be this time. It just goes to show that even the infallible TIger Woods is human and can lose when the chips do not fall in his direction. This is the fourth straight major with an unlikely victor accepting the trophy. In The Masters, Angel Cabrera held off late charges by Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, who blew opportunities on the final nine on Sunday and Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry, who had it sewed up at the 16th until he bogied both finishing holes to force a playoff in which he lost to Angel. At the U.S. Open, Phil Mickelson was once again in contention on Sunday and playing his heart out for wife Amy who requested him to win, along with David Duval and Ricky Barnes who could not hold on to a 6 stroke lead and who both allowed Lucas Glover to snatch victory right out from under them. Then, an unprecedented performance in The British Open by Tom Watson, who should have and could have won but Stewart Cink tied him on the 18th and handily beat him in the playoff that ensued. Finally, in the PGA, what can I say, Tiger Woods beaten by P.E. Yang on the back nine on Sunday.  Who could have imagined a more implausible ending to the last major of the season, given Tiger’s two stroke lead at the turn. This is the time when Tiger usually makes his move and can catch an opponent with a four stroke lead or more when he turns it on. A Tiger Woods Major victory was not in the cards this year and his continuing quest toward Jack Nicklaus’s record will have to wait until 2010. Please note that Tiger’s season has been very successful, as he is the leading money winner, the leader in the Fed Ex and Presidents Cup standings, not to mention his long standing status as # 1 in the World Ranking which remains intact. His next opportunity will come in the Fed Ex Cup where he can add another victory and move closer to Sam Snead’s all time victory total of 82. Not too shabby from a player who is still somewhat recovering from his ACL knee surgery of last year.

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I have been travelling to Myrtle Beach since 1990 for great golf vacations and for the last four years with my golf buddies, Ferd, Fred, Tim, Dennis, Richard, Peter, and Mike F. on our annual golf trip. Since this was to be our 5th year we decided to try a new venue. After careful review of a number of alternate locations we arrived at Scottsdale, Arizona as this year’s golf destination. It turned out to be an excellent choice and we reserved our time there from March 18th to the 22nd. We were hoping for reasonable weather as the week before our scheduled arrival the temperatures were in the high 70’s, which is perfect for golf. When we arrived the temperature rose into the high 80’s and low 90’s, which is hot but still playable. It is a drier climate so the heat was not as formidable as in the north or southeast where the humidity will make it feel much warmer than it is.

The courses we played were TPC of Scottsdale, Las Sendas, Gold Canyon – Dinosaur, Whirlwind - Devil’s Claw and and We-Ko-Pa – Cholla, my personal favorite. The rates at that time of the year were a little pricey but well worth the cost in retrospect. The last three golf resorts had 36 holes each and we were able to replay another 18 holes on their alternate course, which was most enjoyable and convenient. I have played desert golf previously in Las Vegas in 2002, as I vacationed there with my significant other that year to celebrate my 50th birthday, but this was different. The red rock mountains and varied rock and cactus formations and shapes, respectively, were incredible. The green fairway grass against the colorful mountain backdrops, were breathtaking and I enjoyed every minute of the trip. We stayed at the Xona Resort Suites, which was centrally located and had excellent accommodations for a reasonable price. The elevation changes on Gold Canyon’s Dinosaur course were most incredible and the views from some of the higher altitudes were magnificent. After golf each day the restaurant and night life scene was hopping. We enjoyed Maggio’s family style restaurant, which offered so many pasta, fish and meat specialties that it was hard to choose and at all you can eat prices. We also enjoyed Capital Grill, another one of my favorites there. The only downside to this trip was the time of the flight from Newark, N.J. which was over five hours and I was seated against the fuselage with no window. I always request a window seat when I travel because I enjoy taking pictures of the aerial views of the mountains, lakes, canyons, rivers, the beautiful sunrise, sunsets and sometimes even the cloud formations so this seating arrangement was claustrophobic to say the least.

We normally go with a group of eight golfers, but this trip one of my good friends, Ferd, decided to invite a few acquaintances from San Francisco, Chris, Frank, and Dave. We also asked another associate from Philadelphia area, Richard, to join us and round out the third foursome. There was some interesting golf banter and comraderie between the new invitees and the former two groups of foursomes. Everyone got along great and the golf, good food and good times were par for the course. As terrific a time that was had by all, I will still opt for Myrtle Beach as my first choice of golf venues, but Scottsdale, Arizona is definitely a close second. If you are planning a golf trip or vacation, you cannot go wrong with either destination. The amount of choices for excellent golf and accommodations at either venue is unlimited and include many options for after hours’ entertainment. For more information you can check on line at either myrtlebeachgolf.com or scottsdalegolf.com to find some information to help you start planning your golf trip. Have lots of fun, enjoy your trip, and Happy Golfing to All!

The British Open was the third major of the year that did not end the way I would have scripted it. The Masters had an improbable winner in Angel Cabrera when Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were in the hunt and let it slip away on the last few holes and Kenny Perry, a 48 year old, had it all sewed up until the last two holes, which he bogied and opened the door for Angel to win in a playoff. In the second major of the year, the U.S. Open winner could have easily been Phil Mickelson, who was playing his heart out for his ailing wife Amy but he could not hold on Sunday and lost out to Lucas Glover, and now Tom Watson, one of the greatest golfers who ever lived, loses to Stewart Cink in a playoff that didn’t have to be.

Tom Watson had given the fans so many thrills all week and after the first round, even though tied for the lead, most of the golf authoritarians had already written him off and said he had virtually no chance for victory. Tom Watson had other ideas and I was rooting for him all the way. He kept coming back and even after four bogies in a row during one of the rounds, he bounced back with birdies and pars when he needed to and fought his way back into the lead. His play was reminiscent of the Tom Watson I so fondly remember when in his prime in the 70’s, and where at this very venue in 1977 he faced down Jack Nicklaus, the greatest golfer who ever lived, for the final 36 holes and beat him by a shot.

After a valiant effort for all four rounds, the 18th hole of the final round turned out to be the defining hole of the tournament. Tom Watson was leading by two shots going into the 18th hole and a par would have clinched it for him. But again at the British Open the improbable happened, Stewart Cink birdied the hole and Tom bogied to force a playoff. Tom hit his eight iron approach shot to the 18^th green flush and got a bad break when it hit on the green and instead of checking up it rolled off the back and left him with an uphill shot back to the green. He opted for the putter, which had served him well all week, but he hit it a bit too hard to get thru the fringe and went past the cup by about 8 to10 feet. The putt coming back was makeable but he hit it short and missed to the right. Had he sunk that putt the Open title would have been his and golf history would have been made. He may have lost the Claret Jug but he is a winner in my book.

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