Tiger Woods is Back!

December 2, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Tiger Woods will tee it up this Thursday at the Isleworth Golf & Country Club for the 2014 Hero World Challenge. This tournament, which benefits the Tiger Woods Foundation, will be Woods’ first competitive round since failing to make the cut at the PGA Championship last August. Plagued with injuries last year, Woods finished 201 on the money list with just under $110,000 and watched as his world ranking dropped to the lowest level in his entire career! After starting as the world number one in the 2014 professional golf season, he finished at number 24. Regardless, he is back and appears ready to challenge Rory McIlroy as the première player in professional golf.

As Tiger Woods steps back into the limelight, many experts are wondering if his choice of swing coach is a stroke of genius or not. In the big scheme of things, it really does not matter. If Jack Nicklaus himself was Woods’ swing coach, the same question would be asked. The golfing world has anxiously waited for Woods’ return to professional golf and this weekend will be the moment many have waited for!

Personally, I am indifferent to the whole situation. On one hand, I am very happy Tiger Woods is healthy and back playing. On the other hand, golf continued to grow in his absence. There are many superstars on tour today and the days of one dominant player driving professional golf is over. Make no mistake, Woods attracts plenty of publicity, but right now he has name recognition. If his play matches the hype surrounding his return, then the 2015 professional golf season just got more interesting.

Tiger Woods is back. I wish him the best upon his return. I hope he stays healthy and is able to regain his former swing. If he does, he will light up the PGA Tour. Even though he is back, the player I root for has not changed. I am still a big Phil Mickelson fan and look forward to some head to head battles between Phil, Rory and Tiger.

Now that you know what I think, what are your thoughts about Tiger Woods’ return to professional golf?

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

The Race to Dubai

November 16, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Rory McIlroy – 2012 DP World Tour champion and Race to Dubai Number One (Getty Images)

The Race to Dubai is over. A la Vijay Singh in the 2008 FedEx Cup playoffs, Rory McIlroy has earned enough points to be championed winner before the race is officially over. Moreover, McIlroy must wait one more tournament, the DP World Tour Championship, Dubai, before he can raise another championship trophy over his head.

The Race to Dubai winner receives The Harry Vardon Trophy (first awarded in 1937), and a seven year European Tour Card exemption. The winner of The Race to Dubai will secure Category 1 Membership of The European Tour similar to the winners of The Open Championship, the US Open, the US PGA Championship and the Masters Tournament. (European Tour)

Winning the Race to Dubai for the second time in three years, 26 year-old Rory McIlroy continues to demonstrate that he is the best player in the world. There are those professionals who test McIlroy’s great play, however none have demonstrated the ability to challenge him week in and week out! At this time, McIlroy overshadows all professional golfers.

Congrats to Rory McIlroy on another great win! I guess the real question is what is next for the young phenom! Will he have another year of winning two Majors? Is a Grand Slam is his future? Perhaps a career grand slam? Another player of the year?

It is very difficult to determine what is in store for young McIlroy. There is little question that the experts will be talking about a golfing dynasty, challenging Jack and Tiger as the all-time best, or shattering record after record! I would suggest that it is a bit early for that. Rory McIlroy is a great player, maybe one of the best, however longevity is every professional golfers nemesis. It is prudent to celebrate his current successes, but also prudent to talk about his future with cautious optimism.

Players such as Harry Vardon, Sam Snead, Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson were the young stars of their day. What turned them into superstars was longevity! They had (have) long distinguished careers that stood (stand) the test of time. So before we buy tickets to his coronation, lets see what 2015 and perhaps 2016 are in store the best player in the world.

Rory McIlroy is a great player. I do congratulate him on winning the 2014 Race to Dubai. I also look forward to watching him play for many years to come!

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

The Blanket of Snow Ends Golf For the Year

November 14, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

All my hopes of sneaking out for one last round is officially over for another year. As the weather started its slow march towards zero, we golfing fanatics always kept that glimmer of hope for a warm front one last time! Well, that pipe dream is in the books for another year.

As I lazily got out of bed this morning, the sun was shining, the air was crisp and as I looked out the window…GASP! A light snowfall had covered the ground!

Out My Back Window. First snow of the winter.

As I slowly recover from the shock, my thoughts will eventually turn towards the off-season. I have written about preparing for the off-season before and will likely build on my previous successes. For now, I will lament over the cold days to come and dream of the warm days to come.

In the near future, I will focus on my new training goals for the off-season and my expectations for 2015. For now, it is time to grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the day!

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

Hey Bubba, Whats Happening?

November 9, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

Bubba Watson won his first tournament of the 2015 PGA Golf Season. As the PGA expands it market, the HSBC Championship is the second professional event to thrill the Asian golfing fans. To add to the excitement Bubba Watson’s crazy finish on the last hole to force a playoff with Tim Clark is something that will make the highlight reel as one of the top 10 shots of the year.

Following up his miraculous bunker shot, Watson closed out Tim Clark on the first playoff hole by sinking a long putt. His eagle on the 18th hole helped him leap-frog Rickie Fowler, Graeme McDowell and Hiroshi Iwata. In typical Bubba fashion, his flare for fantastic shots is why he is a top draw at any golfing event! Take his miracle hook shot in the 2012 Masters!

http://www.weiunderpar.com/post/aerial-map-of-bubba-watsons-mind-blowing-shot-at-the-masters

2012 Masters – Bubba Watson’s miracle hook shot!

As the golfing world continues to be enamored with Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, Graeme McDowell, Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed, Bubba Watson continues to pop up periodically to proclaim that he should not be forgotten. Ranked number 7 in the world, Bubba Watson’s consistent play is more than enough to stay atop of the golfing world for quite some time.

Creating a charity called ‘Bubba & Friends Drive to a Million’ in 2012, Watson is making a difference in his community. “PING is supporting the “Bubba & Friends Drive to a Million” by donating $300 for every drive he hits 300 yards or more (up to 300 drives) in 2012.” The total number was 37 – 300+ yard drives. Yup, 37 drives, just amazing!

Best known for his booming drives, Bubba Watson’s scramble game is often overlooked. Periodically, he displays his superpowers by seeing shots that only Seve Ballesteros, Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson could see. He continually thrills crowds by holing out from the 200 yards, hitting his driver off the fairway, or holing out a bunker shot to force a playoff in a tournament.

Bubba Watson is a fan favorite. He continues to thrill fans with his devil-may-care approach to golf. Personally, I like watching him play, mostly because of the way he attacks the golf course. He shows no fear, at least on the surface, and maneuvers around a course like a rally racer “off-roading” their way through the back woods of Canada! Bubba Watson is fun to watch and definitely worth the price of admission.

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

“I am Quitting Golf”

October 22, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

That is it, I have had enough! I am quitting golf!

How many times have you heard someone walking exasperated off the course, only to mutter those terrible words. They weave a tail of the course being too difficult, they have an injury or that their clubs are not suited for their game. I think that over 35+ years, I have heard almost every reason why someone is quitting golf. And not to my surprise, I see most of them on the links a couple of days later!

Proclaiming that it is time to quit golf is something I have never even considered. I have taken sometime off because of life, but to quit…..never! I guess I have been blessed with the desire to continue playing no matter how frustrated I feel when my game does not meet my expectations!

Having been around golf for so long, I believe that your ego and not managing your expectations about your golf game is what evokes the greatest stress and frustration while playing.

I have talked to players who play 5 to 10 times a year and expect they can keep up with players who actively improve their game. It is possible that someone can compete for a hole or two, but over the long haul, the player who does not play often usually fails to meet their expectations. As a result they walk away from their round feel frustrated and disappointed in their play.

I have also talked to players who play 50 rounds a year and have the same problem as described above. Yet, they refuse to change the way they play. Overall, it is an ego or expectations issue which prevents players from enjoying their round and uttering that they should quit golf.

I have talked about ego and expectations before and won’t repeat myself. However, there is a point to my diatribe. I am playing golf with my friend in just over a week on his home course. When we play, I will not have swung a club in about one month. Normally, I offer him strokes to even things out. I am not so sure I am willing to give him strokes this time (actually I might ask for stokes ) but that will be negotiated when I get to his house.

More importantly, I have to check my ego and expectations at the door. I am not suggesting that I will not try and score low, but I must keep in mind that I will be rusty and when things do not go the way I expect, to remain calm and remember that I am golfing in November! I must keep in mind that I am playing golf with my friend instead of working. I must keep in mind that no matter how I score, I must remain grateful for the opportunity to play golf on a new course.

I am looking forward to playing golf soon! And am very confident that I will be playing golf for a long, long time!

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