Author: The Grateful Golfer

TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola

/ The Grateful Golfer / 3 Comments

It is finally here! The TOUR Championship will start at 1145 am at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia.  The prize money is a paltry 8 million dollars and the winners take is 1.4 million dollars. Not a bad payday for four days of pressure packed golf. The top 30 players in the FedEx Cup standings will slug it out for the 10 million dollar grand prize as the FedExCup Champion. The four-week grind has taken its toll on some of the players, but it all comes to an end on Sunday.

If at the beginning of the year, you were asked to pick the top six players heading into the Tour Championship, there is little doubt it would not be similar to the current standings.

  1. Chris Kirk
  2. Billy Horschel
  3. Bubba Watson
  4. Rory McIlroy
  5. Hunter Mahan
  6. Jimmy Walker

Except for Rory McIlroy and maybe Bubba Watson, the rest of the players would not be leading contenders heading into this weekend’s tournament. I would consider the three different winners over the past three tournaments as journeymen players. Only Rory McIlroy and Bubba Watson are Major winners in 2014. So, the question that needs asking is: Are the points during the season really worth anything? Is it time for an new format? If the winners of the last three tournaments can vault to 1st, 2nd and 5th, maybe the hype of the FedExCup standings is a bit over-rated.

On a side note, Dustin Johnson is ranked number 30 in the FedExCup standings and cannot play in the tournament. Personally, he should have been removed from contention when he took a leave of absence and let Stuart Appleby play. It does not make sense that Johnson is still on the list….or am I missing something?

There is no doubt that this weekend’s tournament will provide some exciting golf. The pressure of playing in this weekend’s tournament will take its toll on many players. Unfortunately, many of the journeyman players will have difficulty shooting four solid rounds of golf in a row and it will cost them the title.

The players to watch this weekend are the usual favourites. If you ask 100 golf analysts, Rory McIlroy will be the player to beat. Why not, he is the world’s number one golfer; he has a steady game; and he handles pressure very well. Added to the mix of players to watch are Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Adam Scott, and Matt Kuchar. They are steady and always have the potential to score low over four rounds of golf.

Rickie Fowler

Rickie Fowler – The Grateful Golfer’s pick as TOUR Championship and FedExCup winner for 2014

However, none of those mentioned above are my pick for the Tour Championship. This week Rickie Fowler will step out from the shadows and into the light of great golfers. He is going to win this tournament and will play head to head with Sergio Garcia on the final day! Both of these players are poised and ready to raise the Tour Championship Trophy over their heads! Fowler has played the most consistent golf in the Majors (except for McIlroy) this year. And it is time for him to shine.

Most years, the TOUR Championship is the end of the golfing season for most professionals. However, the Ryder Cup is only two weeks away. So for some of these players, the TOUR Championship is just a warm up for the greatest head-to-head golf championship going, the Ryder Cup. However, before they get to all the fun at Gleneagles, they must focus on the tournament on hand.

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Unexpected Results in Golf

/ The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

Golf continues to provide unexpected results. This past weekend was exciting, disappointing, and surprising at the same time. Many pundits are wondering if the last leg of the FedExCup playoffs will offer the same drama as the BMW Championship last weekend.

First, congratulations to Billy Horschel for winning the BMW Championship. His steady play of four, sub-70 rounds paved his way to the winner’s circle. His win resulted in an 18 position rise in the FedExCup standings to second place. If he plays well at the TOUR Championship by Coca-Cola, Horschel is in for a huge payday!

True Patriot Love Foundation - Out of the Sand

Out of the Sand Like A Pro

Keegan Bradley withdrew because of a moving ball controversy. “This is Bradley’s first career withdrawal on the PGA Tour, and it stemmed from lingering questions he had over an embedded-ball ruling he received on the 18th hole of his opening round. Bradley took relief under Rule 25-2 for an embedded ball in the grass face of a greenside bunker after conferring with a rules official, but a subsequent conversation with a fan cast doubt for Bradley over whether the ball was truly embedded.” (Golfchannel.com)

This type of controversy is hurting golf. After a discussion with a rules official, Bradley took relief and continued to play. That should be the end of the conversation. That is what rules officials are paid for; are they not? Regardless, the disheartened Bradley can now focus on the Ryder Cup at Gleneagles, Perthshire, Scotland, on 23-28 September.

Phil Mickelson withdrew from the BMW Championship and the TOUR Championship. He cited fatigue and the desire to rest and prepare for the Ryder Cup. Having little chance to make it to the TOUR Championship, Mickelson chose to put an end to his poor golfing year. His decision has merit, but does highlight the challenges of a long and grueling golf season.

Sergio Garcia self-destructed on the 17th hole on the final day of the BMW Championship. Firing a triple bogey after a near flawless round caught everyone’s eye. The triple bogey was not the real issue, but the manner in which he did it caused golfing pundits to question his mental fortitude when the pressure is on. Having watched Garcia play poorly, I would have to disagree with the golfing analysts. It is possible his focus waned for a moment. As a result, two bad shots in a row. Garcia is still in the hunt to win the FedEx Championship and should not be counted out this weekend!

Rory McIlroy four-putting the 12th hole on two consecutive days was very surprising. After playing so well for the past 6 weeks, this momentary lapse in ….. well, I am not sure what to call it, was unforeseen. He is still the best player in the world and will continue to be so for many months to come. McIlroy might be thinking about the ‘what if’ after his two four-putts, but in the big picture all his putting woes did was give the media something to write about.

News of professional golfers challenges always appears to be ‘big news’. I agree that some of the stories are important and are considered real news. However, most stories are really just ‘the rub of the green’. It happens and has no real lasting effect on the golfing world. Personally, I would like to see more good news stories. Here is one of my favorites that lasted about as long as it took to write the article.

“Titleist staff members Todd Huizinga and Mike Russell defy astronomical odds and score back-to-back double-eagle 2’s on Carnoustie’s famed Par-5 sixth hole.” (Titleist.com)

It happened in 2008, but typifies the good news that most amateurs would love to read about. If you have not read the story, it is worth a look.

Reporting about golf can be difficult. Sometimes there is nothing exciting happening, yet media outlets try to fill their columns. I am not sure what the answer is, but personally I would like to see more good news stories than media hype trying to create an issue where one does not exist.

Do you have any good golf news to share?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Adopt the Foot Wedge in Golf

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Caddie, hand me my foot wedge!

Caddie, hand me my foot wedge!

The foot wedge is the most used shot in golf! There is little question that every golfer has used this shot outside competition to speed up play or to improve their lie. Most, if not all players, don’t count the foot wedge because it is not considered cheating; it is just improving their enjoyment on the links.

The concept of a foot wedge is nothing new! Many great players have attributed the foot wedge to their success and consider it an essential part of their game. Here is what a few sites are saying:

  • “Golf slang for the 15th club every golfer takes onto the golf course. Used to secretly tap your ball out of a fairway divot when no one is watching!” (Leaderboard.com)

  • “Foot wedge” is a slang term for a “club” that helps a golfer cheat his way out of trouble. Specifically, “foot wedge” is what a golfer uses when he kicks his ball or nudges the ball into a better position for the next stroke. He used his foot to improve his lie – hence, “foot wedge.” (About.com)

  • “When a golfer cheats his way out of trouble using a club, it is in slang called foot wedge. Foot wedge, is specifically speaking a condition when a golfer kicks his ball or probably nudges the ball in a slightly convenient position for the next shot.” (Buzzle.com)

The foot wedge, not to be confused with a “hand wedge’ or a sandwich, is very popular. It is so popular, there are lessons on how to execute a perfect foot wedge. Here is my favorite:

  1. Scan your surroundings for other players.
  2. Place foot to obscure current ball location from onlookers.
  3. Rotate foot edge so it is perpendicular to your target.
  4. Gently slide your foot wedge to push ball.
  5. Cough audibly during shot and mutter something about winter rules.
  6. Proceed with game. (wikihow.com)

If the golf industry is trying to make the game more fun, then it is time to legally adopt the the foot wedge. It is time to allow players one foot wedge per hole! Why not, it will only make the game more fun!

Alright, I will stop! Right about now everyone is thinking I have gone over the bend. Actually, the intent of this article is to provide a bit of parody for all the recent suggestions on how to make golf more fun. There is no question that golf continues to evolve and it is important to attract young players to the game. However, I would suggest that most people will make the game fun anyway without trying to change the rules of the game.

Golf is the game of kings! It is meant to teach honesty, integrity and sportsmanship. Is it difficult to learn? Most people would say yes! However, the sense of accomplishment from hitting that perfect shot is really worth the challenges to learn the game.

I was taught golf at an early age. My father was the first to put a club in my hand and for that I will always be eternally grateful. Golf has the potential to bring out the best in everyone if people would only give it a chance.

I am a grateful golfer. See you on the links!

 

Playing It Different In Golf

/ The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments
Hitting to the second green from 150 yards out!

Hitting to the second green from 150 yards out!

Playing to win at golf is no-brainer. It is not a profound statement, but carries many “ah-ha” moments. Avid golf pundits suggest that course management, playing the ‘smart’ shot, or avoiding a hazard at all costs will lower your golf score. In some cases, the logic of playing it safe is a solid approach to golf, however it cannot be the default approach to play winning golf.

As always, when my friend and I get together we talk about our golf game. We talk about the recent changes to our swing, new techniques we discovered and how we play certain holes on our home course. We both find the conversation very interesting and sometimes very enlightening. Last night was one of those conversations where I experienced an “ah-ha” moment.

He described his double bogey on a short hole, just over 300 yards, at the Northwood Golf Club, Middlesex, UK. His shot off the tee only has to carry about 190 yards to clear a sand trap. He suggested that it is narrow past the trap and playing for position was the ‘smart play’. Never seeing the hole, I agreed that it seemed like a logical approach. He says that hitting a 5-iron off the tee puts him into  a safe position and clears the traps without any real problem. Recently during a career round, he approached the 17th tee and started to think. After a ‘angel verses devil’ conversation in his head he took out his 6-iron. He wanted to flop the ball just over the traps to play it safe and to protect his score! Well as expected, the ball did not carry far enough and lodged itself just below the front lip of the sand trap! Five-strokes later he recorded a double-bogey!

This situation has happened to us all! Instead of riding the wave of success, we try to protect our score. This phenomenon is common in golf because most players count their score when playing well. As a result, our decision-making is impaired and more times than not the results are not what we expect. In my friend’s case, playing it different did not work to his advantage.

Another situation of interest during our conversation focused on greens in regulation or GIR. As stated before, I believe GIR is the most important statistic in golf. If a player has a high GIR percentage, they are likely to score very well.

Our discussion turned to playing a shot from 180 yards from the green. He said that often he will play a shot 160-170 yards up the middle of the fairway to make sure that he is in play. He would then rely on his short game to get up and down. Further inquiry gleaned that he uses this approach for two reasons: he is confident with the shorter iron and to protect from pushing his ball left or pulling right into trouble. He stated that this approach works for him and has helped lower his score in the long run.

Well his approach is definitely playing it different to what I would play. At 180 yards I would still recommend going for the center of the green if you can carry the ball that far. My friend unquestionably has the skill to do so and I would recommend that he start being more aggressive. It is possible that this change in tactic may not positively affect his score, but in the long run I believe it would be better for his game. A by-product to my approach is an improved GIR stat and given how well he putts, a lower score.

The interesting point about our conversation was that there are no right or wrong answers. Each golf shot should be played at the moment after taking in all the prevailing factors. There is little question that my friend’s approach works for him and has produced the results he looks for, however it is not the approach I would take. No matter how we look at golf, everyone has an opinion that suits their game and playing it different in golf is whats makes it fun!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

The Ageless Fred Couples

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Fred Couples is a fan favourite! His calm demeanor and unflappable disposition are traits that all golfers envy. Turning pro in 1980, “Boom Boom” has thrilled the golfing world with 15 PGA Tour Wins, 11 Champions Tour wins and a plethora of other wins outside of the PGA. During the 1990s, he was considered one of the players to beat. His silky smooth swing and long drives never appeared to falter.

After winning the Shell Houston Open in 2003, Couples fell off the radar. Fading into the sunset, this Major Champion’s career seemed to be over. However, once he joined the Champions Tour something strange happened. He started winning again. Adding two more Majors on the Champions Tour for good measure, he became a fan favorite all over again.

In 2013, Couples was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Long overdue, in my opinion, it was not until his career was revitalized on the Champions Tour did Couples regain enough notoriety to be nominated for the induction.  He was very proud of that moment and said:

“Thanks for taking a kid from Seattle and putting him into the Hall of Fame. This is the coolest night of my life.” – Fred Couples, on his 2013 Induction

Interestingly, even during his darkest times as a player, Couples always played well at the Masters. Not any other Major. only the Masters. Finishing 6th in 2010, he is always in the mix. Is it possible he could win his second Masters? It would be great to see.

Throughout Fred Couples’ career, he has been plagued with a back injury. There is little doubt, that his long powerful swing attributes to his medical woes, but he always seems to recover long enough to compete. His current challenge is to keep healthy long enough to continue playing on the Champions Tour. Beating Billy Andrea in a playoff at the The Shaw Charity Classic  this weekend is strong evidence that “Boom Boom” is continuing his winning ways.

Fred Couples has a very interesting swing. The most important aspect of how he generates power is how long he holds the club on his down swing before he releases his hands towards the intended target. It really is amazing. The following video really demonstrates the power he generates in a very short distance.

He also releases his club head “down the line”. He explains the importance of not following your hips during the golf swing, but clearing the hips and releasing the club head on its swing path.

Fred Couples has provided many memorable moments from the golf course such as: his only PGA Tour Major win at the Masters in 1992, his play during five Ryder Cup teams, four Presidents Cup teams, and, of course, his crazy long drives. For me (actually saw this shot live on TV), his most memorable golf shot is his hole-in-three on the 17th hole, TPC Sawgrass, at the 1999 Players Championship.

“I don’t really know how hard I was trying on my third shot,” Couples, a two-time Players Champion, admitted years later (he shot a 77 in that opening round, by the way). “If I don’t make that shot, I think I shoot 80, 81 and probably miss the cut. Three days later, I was in fourth place.” (PGA.com)

Fred “Boom Boom” Couples is one of my all time favourite professional golfers. I enjoy watching his silky smooth swing and his patient approach to playing golf. He may not be the best-ever, however he is definitely one of the more entertaining players.

Who is one of your all-time favorite golfers? I would like to know!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!