I don’t know about you but the last time I was in a fairway bunker with 160 yards to the green (at Pacific Dunes), I was thinking more about just getting out than reaching the green. But when England’s Matt Fitzpatrick found himself in this situation on the last hole of the 2022 U.S. Open […]
The PGA
The Saudi Tour: Boom or Bust? And What About Phil?
Imagine if the Mafia decided to start a golf tour, offering millions to cash-strapped PGA players who jumped ship–players like Westwood, Garcia, Fowler, Norman, and Mickelson. Well the Saudis, yes the same country which birthed 19 of the 9/11 hijackers, and who murdered Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi, and who just recently “allowed” women to […]
Tiger and Charlie
For me, it was uplifting, in this time of doom and gloom, to see Tiger and his son playing golf at the PNC father/child event, as well as others like 86 year old Gary Player, 82 year old Lee Trevino, ageless Tom Watson, Henrik Stenson and his 11 year old son, and the eventual winners […]
Notes, Questions, and My Two Cents
Long hitting Jason Kokrak won his second tournament of the year at Ben Hogan’s old haunt Sunday, beating Jordan Spieth and his cheering minions by two shots. I think if Kokrak can figure out how to control the spin of his wedges, he may be close to unbeatable. Faldo thinks he should get new wedges […]
The Essence of a Good Lesson
As with any instruction, there are lessons which are effective and lessons which are not. I might be a concert pianist today if I stuck with lessons when I was six, but just didn’t connect with the teacher and his methods. On the other hand, my first golf instructor, though far from a top 100, […]
And Yet More Player Assessments, Pre-Masters
This may be the deepest PGA tour field I’ve seen in years. There’s a lot of talent out there, with just a putt or two separating those who win from the others. Patrick Cantley. Great college player. Has been solid on pro tour. I’ve seen better putters, but otherwise, I can find no flaws in […]
The Shot Heard Round the (Golf) World
Golf, as with other sports, sometimes rises to the level of art, of beauty, of perfection, of talent, skill, determination, mindfulness,
Learning from One of the Greatest Ball Strikers of Them All
I’ve been studying the swing of Lee Buck Trevino lately. And there are several aspects that particularly strike me, and lead me to think we moderns have much to learn from from this six-time major and 29-time PGA victory winner. The guy goes after the ball like no one I’ve ever seen. Nearing impact, Trevino […]
The PGA Championship: Then and Now
When this major started back in 1916, golf pros weren’t even allowed clubhouse privileges at most courses. They changed their shoes, etc. in the parking lot. Being paid to play a sport was looked down upon. Amateurism was extolled and encouraged as late as the mid to late 1950s, with amateur Bobby Jones being the […]