Discussion

Hey Bubba, Whats Happening?

/ 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”

/ 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!

2015 PGA Tour Golf Season

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PGA TOURTomorrow, the 2015 PGA Tour Golf Season starts! After a short two-week rest, the Frys.com tournament will again start for another exciting season of golf. For some players fresh off the Ryder Cup event in Gleneagles, Scotland, the two-weeks was a blur, but they seem ready for the stresses of competitive golf.

Last year’s winner of the Frys.com Open Golf Tournament, Jimmy Walker, is hoping for another quick start to this year’s golf season. Winning three events early last season, Walker was able to carry on this momentum through most of the 2014 golf season. His quick start earned him seventh overall at the FedEx Cup standings. His play at the Ryder Cup was also noteworthy and he hopes to build on his steady play going into 2015.

The first seven PGA Tour events are a great opportunity for journeymen to break into the winner’s circle and earn enough money to secure their card for the 2016 golf season. This time of year is fantastic for the golfing fans because it allows us to watch great golf and not stress about missing the big name players compete.

The start of the PGA Tour is always a great time of the year. Predictions about who will win the majors,  abounds. I have made my predictions and you can read them at PunditArena.com. Last year, I picked two winners, a third pick came second, and one pick…well, the first three were good.

Players to watch this year are Rory McIlroy, Rickie Fowler, and Graeme McDowell. These players are already household names, but I expect them to do bigger things this year. A dark-horse who may surprise everyone will be Graham DeLaet. He played strong last year after coming back from a back injury and the 2015 season may be the season he wins a couple of tournaments. If you are interested in the power rankings by the PGA Tour, click here.

The 2015 PGA Tour golf season starts tomorrow. This year will see the rise of  many great players and the passing of the torch to the young lions. Although many great names will still be near the top of the leaderboard, expect players like Jordan Spieth, Patrick Reed, and Jason Day to also be at the top!

I am a grateful golfer! Bring on the 2015 PGA Tour golf season!

Rickie Fowler – The Next Breakout Player

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

Rickie Fowler is a rising star. He is a hungry lion who is proving that the young players on the PGA Tour are here to stay. After turning pro in 2009 at the age of 21, Fowler has steadily improved his standing within the professional ranks. Since the moment he emerged on tour, he has been touted as one of the future stars of golf.

Fowler’s first three years on tour proved that the early predictions of his potential were well founded. His record of one win, 12 top 10s, 39 top 25s, out of 75 events was impressive. More importantly, he demonstrated improvement each year by his climb up the FedEx Cup standings and his steady movement up the money list. Overall, Rickie Fowler was a golfing professional who pundits considered as a future champion.

The PGA Tour season of 2013 was not as kind to Fowler. He faltered in the money list and appeared to be human. He was not as prominent on the Tour as the previous three years and his game seemed headed in the wrong direction. The main reason for Fowler’s failing game could be attributed to the death of his swing coach Barry McDonnell in early 2011. His play in 2012 was erratic and showed signs of weakening throughout the entire season. He continued through the 2013 season without a swing coach and to no surprise, his erratic play continued. After finishing 38th in the FedEx Cup standings, his second worst performance since turning pro, Fowler must have realized it was time for a change.

Enter Butch Harmon in December 2013. Not surprisingly, Fowler’s golf game immediately improved as seen by his eighth place finish in Thailand. Already considered to have a great swing, Fowler needed some minor adjustments to get back to his great play. Coaching some of golf’s great players, Harmon was the right person, at the right time, to make a dramatic impact on Fowler’s golf game.

“I’ve spent a lot of time with Butch and been around with him and with the other guys that he’s worked with,” Fowler said. “He’s kind of seen me develop over the last few years and really felt that with the experience he has as a teacher he could help me reach my goals and aspirations and help me be the best player that I can be.” (PGATour.com)

“It’s just basically taking what I have and turning it and cleaning it up and making it the best it can be,” Fowler said of his work with Harmon. (PGATour.com)

Suddenly, Fowler had renewed hope for the 2014 season. Starting off slow, except for his performance at the Masters, Fowler did not perform as expected. However, in June something happened. Fowler found his golf game and the second half of the 2014 PGA Tour season was what everyone was waiting for.

The biggest change in Fowler’s game was his attitude. He impressed Harmon by his desire to be a Major champion. “I love the kid,” Harmon said. “The thing I like is he’s been saying ‘I want to be known more for my golf than my clothes and my hat. I want to contend in majors.” Well, the Fowler/Harmon combination did not disappoint! Fowler’s performance in the 2014 Majors was outstanding. Overshadowed by the PGA Player of  Year, Rory McIlroy, Fowler was the best overall performer in the 2014 Majors.

Tournament 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Master Tournament DNP DNP DNP T38 T27 T38 T5
US Open T60 CUT DNP CUT T41 T10 T2
The Open Championship DNP DNP T14 T5 T31 CUT T2
PGA Championship DNP DNP T58 T51 CUT T19 T3

There is little question that the golfing experts are curious about Rickie Fowler. I bet many are asking:

  • What is next for Rickie Fowler?
  • Is Fowler ready to claim his first Major championship?
  • In 2015, can Fowler repeat his stellar play in the Majors?
  • Is Rickie Fowler here to stay?

If Rickie Fowler stays with Butch Harmon, great things are expected from him in 2015. There are many great players on the PGA Tour, but this upcoming year will be a breakout year for Rickie Fowler. If he wins the Masters, then expect him to win a second Major! He will build on the momentum of an early win and will challenge Rory McIlroy for the title of world’s number one golfer! Regardless, expect Rickie Fowler to win a Major championship in 2015.

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

 

What do You Want to See on a Golf App?

/ The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

Type ‘golf app’ into Google. In 0.34 seconds, 231,000,000 results will show up. The vast number of results is quite amazing, but not unexpected. There are golf apps for just about anything. A quick search will find apps relating to playing golf, tracking golf, gaming, or keeping your score. Some apps help analyze your swing, provide tips, act as a range finder and help locate all the golf courses within a certain radius of your location!

Think back 10 years, none of this technology was available and we all managed to do all that “app stuff” the old-fashioned way. However, now that the technology is here, I think we should embrace it.

I know nothing about golf apps. I know what I would like to see on an app, but my narrow view is not something anyone could build an empire around. As I stated in a earlier post, I purchased a Garmin Approach 6 and although it is technically a device, it is in fact an app. I love this app and will continue to use it until it no longer works.

Back to my original question:

  • What do you want to see on a Golf App?
  • What appeals to you?
  • What is the most important feature to you?
  • Android or Apple?
  • What is your favorite golf app?

Golf apps are here to stay. I am trying to embrace them, use them, and will eventually recommend my favorites. But for now, I am interested in what you have to say!

Scorecard 1_0

First Golf App – Scorecard 1.0

On a side note, the first golf app for keeping score was called scorecard 1.0 – it featured a pencil and paper. The first update to scorecard 1.1 was a pencil with an eraser. We have come a long way!

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