PGA Championship

The “Grateful Haps” of The PGA Championship

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The PGA Championship is well under way! Whistling Straits is a great course for producing awesome shots. I am sure many of you are aware of the “Grateful Haps”, but I thought I would share a couple of things I found interesting.

Phil Mickelson having fun as we all should on the links!

Who is Hiroshi Iwata? We know him now!

As only the World’s number one golfer can do! Chipping in for eagle!

Jordan Spieth not to be out done!

And back to McIlroy!

Bubba Watson finishing in style!

This is some of the “Grateful Haps” during the first two days. Stay tuned for more after Day 3!

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

 

 

Who Likes Talking About Golf?

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Greg, always teaching!

It is always a good time to talk golf.

The PGA Championship is in full swing and media hype is continuing to grow. Every sports venue is pontificating on the possibilities of what is to come. It appears that the Tiger watch is over, The Open Champion, Zach Johnson, is done, and John Daly shot a 10 on a par three (and threw his club in the water). All of these, and many more aspects of this Major, top the list of things people like to talk about. It appears that no matter where golfing nuts turn, all eyes are on the last Major of 2015…..or are they?

Since the start of the PGA Championship on Thursday, my regular day consisted of work, talking about golf, playing golf, and following the events of this weekend’s tournament. Surprisingly, while talking about golf with my friends it had nothing to do with the PGA Championship.

  • I had a discussion on Facebook with a friend about the advice I gave him last week about keeping his left arm straighter during his swing. He was filling me in on how this advice helped and what he was doing to improve his score.
  • I talked to a friend about how a high follow through (putting your right wrist on the nape of your neck to finish your follow through) was helping him crush the ball with a slight draw. His excitement was contagious.
  • I discussed the attributes of learning to play slowly while on the links yesterday. We discussed that slowing our pace and taking more time to read putts helps pass the time when waiting for others to play.
  • And, an old friend dropped me a line and we were able to set up a game at Keystone Links Golf and Country Club on Sunday. Neither of us have played this course, but more importantly, we will get a chance to catch up.

Talking about golf is a daily thing for me. It does not matter what the aspect, with whom, or when, it just happens. It is not that golf is my only interest, but I never shy away from the opportunity to talk about my favorite sport. Of course being from Canada, we talk about hockey and basketball in the winter, but if the topic of golf comes up, I am always game.

So, I ask again, Who Likes Talking About Golf?

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

Just Waiting for the PGA Championship

/ The Grateful Golfer / 2 Comments

The night before any Major is always difficult for golfing fanatics. We are patiently waiting for the first tee time and the action to begin. We all provided our picks and now it is time to see who is the genius and who is……well, not.

Thought I would share this picture because it was cool. What do you think?

frog and golf balls

I am a grateful golfer! Bring on the PGA Championship!

Picking a Winner at the PGA Championship

/ The Grateful Golfer / 11 Comments

Below is an excerpt of the article I wrote for Pundit Arena. Click here to read all the details.

The difficulty in picking a PGA Champion in 2015 is the field. With so many first-time winners in 2015, any streaking player could knock of the heavy favourites while they trade punches up and down the fairway. The variables are astounding and even the slightest hitch could derail any players dream of winning the PGA Championship.

  • Dark-Horse – Phil Mickelson.
  • Finishing third – Dustin Johnson.
  • Finishing Second – Jordan Spieth.
  • The PGA Championship winner – Rickie Fowler.

I hope you enjoy the rest of the article.

Who is your pick for this weekend?

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

 

PGA Championship and The Ryder Cup

/ The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

Ryder Cup ImageThe second round of the PGA Championship is in the books. As expected, Rory McIlroy is leading the field by two. He played very well in the extremely wet conditions and is poised to win his second Major of the year.

Also as predicted, Tiger Woods struggled and missed the cut. Brian Penn at All About Golf talks about the end of an era and provides a great view of what most of us are thinking. It is unfortunate, but I am not entirely sure he will not make another come back.

Tom Watson Ryder CupA more interesting issue regarding the PGA Championship is its importance to USA Ryder Cup Captain, Tom Watson. Playing in this weekend’s Major, he has his eye on all the players who have made the team and those on the bubble. With three Captain’s picks left, players such as Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods, Keegan Bradley, Brendon Todd and Ryan Moore seem to be the leading candidates. Play at the PGA Championship will have a tremendous impact on his final decision.

Complicating Watson’s life is the turmoil faced by the 2014 USA Ryder Cup Team. Dustin Johnson cannot play due to his personal challenges. He was in 6th place before he announced that he was finished playing professional golf for the rest of 2014. Matt Kuchar and defending PGA Champion, Jason Dufner, have both withdrawn from the PGA Championship because of health issues. Considered leaders on the USA Ryder Cup team, their loss would further stress Tom Watson. If neither are healthy enough to play in the Ryder Cup in September, Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley would make the team….then what?

The players Watson would have to choose from are steady, focused, young and hungry to make their mark in Ryder Cup history. Unfortunately, players like Ryan Moore, Brendan Todd, Harris English, Webb Simpson and Chris Kirk are all considered young journeyman players who are just now starting to play well enough to win. With 12 wins between all 5 players, they are not considered seasoned professionals ready for the pressure of the Ryder Cup matches. Or are they?

Maybe, Captain Watson needs to throw convention out the window and go with some young blood. It is a risk, but considering the Europeans have won 7 out of the last 10 Ryder Cups, a change might be in order! They have played well enough to at least be in the running, it may be time to give them a chance! And Tom Watson, that wily veteran who has slayed the greatest names in golf, might just be crazy enough to lead these young players to victory!

After the PGA Championship, Watson will have some difficult decisions to make. I believe Mickelson is a shoe-in, but the rest….who can say? Regardless, come 23 September at the Gleneagles Resort in Perthshire, Scotland, the underdog USA Ryder Cup team will battle the European Team for golfing supremacy!

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