Phil Mickelson

Using Your Imagination in Golf

/ The Grateful Golfer / 8 Comments

Yesterday I played golf with my old friend Blair. We have known each for over 30 years and for the always enjoy hitting the links together. Meeting in the middle, we made our way around Keystone Golf and Country Club, Peterborough, ON, we laughed, joked, and caught up on the goings on in each other’s life.

For the most part, we played very well. The course had its challenges and on the 16th hole, Blair found himself in the woods after his approach shot sailed over the green. The ball was in the woods about 12 feet nestled among roots, dead sticks and leaves. After removing all the loose pediments, Blair was now faced with an almost impossible shot.

Blair Woods2

Standing with his back to the green!

His options were to play it where it laid or declare an unplayable and to go back to his original spot. He decided to play the ball where it lay. Unfortunately, there was a root about 2 inches behind his ball. There was no way he could make a swing at the ball and make contact….or so I thought!

Blair surveyed the ball position and decided the best play was to stand in front of the ball, chop directly down on the ball (like chopping wood), hit the ball and pop it out through his legs!

I know what you are thinking and I was thinking the same thing. Chances of making solid contact were very low. Chances of hitting himself with the ball, very high! This seemed like a very low percentage shot, but he was convinced this was the right shot to take.

Blair Woods1

Ball in the foreground of the picture.

Well as it turned out, Blair’s chopping motion was perfect. He made solid contact on the ball and it popped out as if he hit it normally. If I did not see it myself, I would have called, well you know what I would have said. But, I did see it and was amazed at the results!

Using your imagination in golf is very important. It takes an open mind and willingness to take changes to pull off shots like Blair’s. Players like Seve Ballesteros and Phil Mickelson have that special talent and I guess so does Blair.

Next time you are in a strange predicament, do not be afraid to try the “impossible shot”! Use your imagination and you might be surprised at the results.

Have you ever made a shot like this?

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

 

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!

 

My Thoughts on the US Open

/ The Grateful Golfer / 12 Comments

2015-US-OPEN_LOGOMany of you may or may not know, but I write for a sports media platform called Pundit Arena; it provides aspiring journalists and highly articulate fans with an audience to showcase their work. My articles focus on golf and hopefully offer some reading enjoyment for all golfers. With the US Open on the horizon, here are a couple of articles that I think you might like.

The US Open – Focus on Golf

The US Open – A Battle of Attrition

I think Phil Mickelson will complete his career grand slam this weekend and finally get that monkey off his back. The competition will be intense, course will be crazy, and the thrills over the top. But, Mickelson is finally ready after 6 second place finishes!

What are your thoughts on the US Open?

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

Jordan Spieth Wins the 2015 Masters

/ The Grateful Golfer / 6 Comments

mastersCongratulations to Jordan Spieth for winning his first green jacket. His steady play on Sunday was more than enough to put his first Major in his pocket.

Spieth’s seesaw round was a bit of a surprise to some, but not unexpected by most. His ability rebound for a bogey is what makes champions. The pundits suggested that before the round, Spieth should play more cautiously than the previous three rounds; but with 6 birdies and 3 bogies, he was playing flat-out. The question on most experts mind this morning about how the double bogey on the 17th hole on moving day would affect his game was quickly answered. It didn’t! Jordan Spieth earned his first Major Championship by winning the 2015 Masters….perhaps, the first of many.

Other notables today were all the players between 4th and 9th position. In reality after everything was all said and done, they were playing for second place. Their low scores were just a little to late. In most tournaments, one exceptional round would put a player in contention to win, but a Major, not so much. It takes at least two and usually three great rounds to win any Major. But, hats off that group for making a great showing down the stretch.

Jordan Spieth was not my first choice to win the 2015 Masters. I thought that Rory McIlroy would complete his career grand slam, but not this year. This feat is very rare, but McIlroy has plenty of time to yet. Overall, I was 50/50 selecting players to win. Here is how I made out:

  • Phil Mickelson – T2
  • Jimmy Walker – T39
  • Jason Day – T28
  • Jordan Spieth – 1st
  • Rory McIlroy – 4th
  • Dark Horse – Matt Kuchar – T46

Overall, not too to bad. I did, however, think that Jimmy Walker would have played better at Augusta this year. He only stepped on to the Major’s scene last year, so he does not have the seasoning that other players have. Although he is considered one of the hottest players in golf right now, playing in a Major is extremely difficult and he may need a bit more seasoning before he is ready to compete at that level.

It was exciting to watch Jordan Spieth rise to the élite ranks by winning his first Major. At 21 years old, he has many years ahead where he can continue to excite the golfing world. He reminds me of a young Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods; hopefully he will be able to handle the new notoriety and stay in form for many years to come.

Again, Congratulations to Jordan Spieth on winning the 2015 Masters.

Bring on The Open!

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

The Masters – Day 3 – Catch Me If You Can

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Jordan Spieth

Catch Me If You Can!

At the start of moving day at the Masters, the theme was ‘catch me if you can’! Jordan Spieth’s 6 shot lead going into Saturday’s round had many pundits gazing into their crystal ball predicting a record-low winning score. Expectations of another 5 or 6 under par round from the second round leader grew exponentially as his tee time approached! However, as the day unfolded, the real story came from past Major champions who live and die on moving day.

Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods were the players to watch during the third round.  Having giant-slayers and tenacious competitors zeroing in on your position is unnerving for most players. Added to that, having Mickelson race up the leaderboard early, must have had Jordan Spieth looking over his shoulder. Bogeying the last hole dampened Woods charge, but his play was reminiscent of the Tiger of old.

Lest not forget Rory McIlroy; his play for the first 15 holes was spectacular. But, dropping two stokes in the last three holes basically eliminated him from winning unless he shoots a course record on Sunday. But that is unlikely given he is 10 strokes back.

With all the hoopla and focus on the big three, Spieth seems to have learned his lesson from last year, kept his composure until the last two holes, but still finished comfortably atop of the leaderboard at 16 under par.

A just for fun fact, Jordan Spieth made 22 birdies in the first 54 holes! How good is this guy?

We will find out tomorrow when he goes head to head against Justin Rose. Wait, where did he come from? With a birdie on the 18th hole, the 2013 US Open Champion carded a solid 67 and outright second place. Tomorrow, Rose will definitely test Spieth at every opportunity and hopefully close the 4 shot gap.

There is one player who very few golfing experts picked to be in the mix on Sunday at Augusta. Charley Hoffman is surprising the masses by his consistent play and no-fear approach to playing against the world’s best. A classic journeyman player, Hoffman has a few moments in the spotlight since earning his card in 2006, but for the most part, he has worked hard and played to the middle of the pack. (Wikipedia)

YEAR EVENTS ROUNDS FEDEX
PLAYED 1ST 2ND 3RD TOP 10 TOP 25 MADE CUT CUT WD STANDING
2015 13 1 1 — 2 5 9 4 — 7
2014 25 — — 1 5 10 21 4 — 53
2013 23 — — 1 5 8 19 4 — 61
2012 27 — 1 — 2 6 18 9 1 69
2011 27 — 1 — 2 6 20 7 — 41
2010 24 1 — — 5 8 18 6 — 4
2009 27 — 1 — 4 11 22 5 — 37
2008 29 — — — 3 6 19 10 — 70
2007 30 1 — — 2 7 18 12 — 50
2006 29 — — — 5 10 21 8 — —

Hoffman’s record at the Majors would be considered poor by most standards. However, if he was to go on and win the 2015 Masters, his life would change for ever. This year, Hoffman is demonstrating that he can play under Masters’ pressure, it will be interesting to see where he goes from here.

Tournament 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Masters Tournament DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP T27 DNP DNP DNP
U.S. Open T48 DNP DNP DNP DNP T45 DNP T45 DNP
The Open Championship DNP T35 DNP CUT DNP CUT DNP DNP T67
PGA Championship DNP CUT DNP CUT DNP CUT CUT T40 CUT

Charley Hoffman is a perfect example of how any journeyman can compete or even win on any given day! The top 100 players in the world are separated by so little, that the number of first time winners this year on the PGA Tour should not be a big surprise to anyone. Solidly in 4th place, Hoffman will play with Phil Mickelson on Sunday. Good luck tomorrow Charley!

The theme of today was ‘catch me if you can’! Several players moved up the leaderboard, but Jordan Spieth repelled all challengers. Sunday at the Masters is the toughest test of all. To win at Augusta National, playing well on Sunday is a must; it is what defines the champions who wear the green jacket!

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