The PGA’s return of the Florida swing and why it matters

The Florida swing is a thing again. After two years of being interrupted by a trip to Mexico, the Sunshine State has retaken its place as a four-tournament run of events as the Masters draws closer. And now, the Players Championship is again part of the lineup.

A few things to consider as Bermuda grass, overseed, palm trees and an abundance of sand and water become part of the golf lexicon over the next month:

The lineup

  • Honda Classic, Feb. 28-March 3, PGA National, Palm Beach Gardens
  • Arnold Palmer Invitational, March 7-10, Bay Hill Club, Orlando
  • Players Championship, March 14-17, TPC-Sawgrass, Ponte Vedra Beach
  • Valspar Championship, March 21-24, Innisbrook Resort, Palm Harbor

Quick history

For 10 years starting in 2007, the Florida swing consisted of the Honda Classic, the WGC-Cadillac Championship, the Valspar Championship and the Arnold Palmer Invitational.

That changed two years ago when Cadillac left Doral in Miami as a title sponsor and the PGA Tour moved the tournament to Mexico, now calling it the WGC-Mexico Championship. Due to scheduling issues, it kept its same spot on the schedule as the Miami event, meaning the Florida events were split up, with just three in the spring. That was a first going back to 1965.

The Players

After an 11-year run in May meant to separate the tournament from being so close to the Masters and giving it more of a spotlight, the tournament is back to its original time in March. The tournament that began in 1974 and moved to its TPC Stadium home in 1982 made the switch in order to accommodate the PGA Tour’s desire to end its season earlier. By doing so, the PGA Championship was able to move to May.

Although it is only two months, the difference is quite pronounced. The course was firmer in May, and there was potential for significantly warm weather. March is a mixed bag. Spring in the Jacksonville area can range from cool and damp to warm and dry and all mixtures in between. The course will be overseeded with rye grass, so it will look brilliantly green, and probably play slower.

It is also a month prior to the Masters. It had been two weeks before for much of its time in the spring.

Somebody takes a hit

Through no fault of their own, the Honda Classic and Valspar Championship are in very vulnerable positions due to the new proliferation of big events that surround them.

Look at the lineup: Genesis Open, hosted by Tiger Woods and going forward an invitational; WGC-Mexico; Honda; Arnold Palmer Invitational; Players Championship, the tour’s flagship tournament; Valspar; WGC-Match Play.

If you are a player who always goes to the biggest tournaments, which ones are you going to skip?

The Honda already has taken a hit without Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy, both of whom live nearby. Dustin Johnson is skipping. So is Justin Rose. It’s hard to blame them. Last year the tournament had three of the top 10 in the world. This year it is three of the top 20.

The Valspar had Woods, McIlroy and Jordan Spieth last year. It is quite possible it gets none this time, although Woods is not out of the question. But when you’ve got the Players before and the WGC-Match Play after — and the API before the Players — it is going to be tough to attract a lot of big names.

What about Tiger?

Although he is skipping Honda, his hometown event, for the first time since he began playing it in 2012 (and wasn’t injured), it should not come as a surprise. Woods worked hard last year to qualify for the World Golf Championship events. While Mexico was a new venue for him, it is a tournament he won seven times. He also has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational eight times. Last week, Woods committed to the API and Players, two all-but-certain locks. Having played the Genesis and WGC-Mexico previously, Honda became the odd tournament out.

Another WGC looms, which would be an easy choice: play two, take a week off, play the Match Play, then have another week off before the Masters.

But Woods is not ruling out the Valspar. He tied for second there last year, enjoyed the experience, and would give himself two full weeks before the Masters to prepare. The Match Play is a tournament he has won three times, but as the Genesis Open showed, Woods does not need multiple rounds of golf in a single day if he can help it. That is the weekend format at the Match Play if he makes it that far. So an interesting decision looms.

Will Jordan find his game in Florida?

After another lackluster performance at the WGC-Mexico Championship, three-time major winner Jordan Spieth has dropped to 25th in the world. But if he’s looking to find his game in Florida, that is unlikely because he is expected to play only the Players Championship.

Spieth’s results this season starting with the Shriners tournament in Las Vegas: T-55, missed cut, missed cut, T-35, T-45, T-51, T-54.

And he doesn’t have a great record at the Players. After tying for fourth in his first appearance, Spieth missed three consecutive cuts at the Players and tied for 41st last year.

He’s expected to play the WGC-Match Play, but it appears Spieth will be trying to find his game in the dirt over the next several weeks leading to the Masters.

Who’s on the bubble?

There are five weeks left to qualify for the Masters via the top 50 in the Official World Golf Ranking, with the cutoff coming after the WGC-Match Play. (A win also gets a player in the Masters if he’s not already qualified.)

Among those on the outside looking in at the moment are Ben An (54th), Abraham Ancer (60), Lee Westwood (61), Russell Knox (62), Adam Hadwin(63), Daniel Berger (67) and Brian Harman (73).

A first goal for them is to get in the 64-player WGC-Match Play, which will have an abundance of world ranking points being offered, providing another opportunity to leap into the top 50. The Match Play is expected to have some defections among the current top 64, so players such as Berger and Harman need a combination of good play and luck to make it there.

Cameron Champ is another player to keep an eye on. When he won the Sanderson Farms tournament in the fall, it did not qualify him because it is an opposite event.

Champ had several solid finishes in the fall but has stalled of late, with nothing better than a tie for 11th at the Sentry Tournament of Champions. He has missed two cuts since and is currently 81st in the world with work to do.

What does it all mean?

There is no longer a World Ranking qualification that ends in Florida for a trip to the Masters, but of course any player who is not otherwise qualified can get in by winning. It is also a chance to qualify for the WGC-Match Play, where a good week can move a player into the top 50 and get in the first major of the year.

Does success in Florida portend a good week at the Masters? It never hurts to gain confidence, and it’s certainly better than the alternative.

But winning in Florida does not guarantee success at the Masters. In fact, there is virtually no correlation.

Since 2007, the start of the FedEx Cup era, Jordan Spieth in 2015 is the only player to win in Florida — he did so at the Valspar — and go on to win the Masters in the same year. Woods won in Florida before his 2001 (Bay Hill, Players), 2002 (Bay Hill) and 2005 (Ford Championship at Doral) victories at the Masters. Before him? Fred Couples, who won what was then called the Nestle Invitational (Palmer’s tournament) in 1992 before winning the Masters.

And as a side note, Woods in 2001 is the only player to win the Players and Masters in the same year in its history dating to 1974.

SOURCE:   ESPN

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Controlling distance in between yardages

Solutions for when you’re between yardages

You probably feel pretty good when you’re at the perfect yardage for the club in your hands. But what about those annoying yardages, like when a full 7-iron is going to be too much, and a full 8-iron might not get there? Or when you’re 45 yards from the green and your full lob wedge flies 60? I’ve seen many golfers struggle in these situations because they swing too hard or decelerate the club to try to control distance, and neither really works. If you want to hit more shots pin-high, give the methods I’ve used on the PGA Tour a try. Let’s start with in-between yardages. Here I’m swinging a 7-iron. I normally hit it 185 yards, so if I have 175 to the pin, I stand slightly closer to the ball and narrow my stance a few inches.

I also grip down an inch or so. When I swing, the only adjustment is to stop my backswing just short of my usual top position. Then I make my normal through-swing. I don’t change my speed coming through the ball. That’s key.

Swing speed also is important when you have less than a full wedge into a green. This is the area of the course where I’ve noticed amateurs struggle the most. Part of the reason is because they don’t have a consistent plan for how to handle these short shots. If you don’t have a strategy, it’s hard to know what to practice. And without practice, you’re going to struggle on the course.

The way I handle these shots is to regulate the length of the backswing depending on the length of the shot—shorter distances mean shorter backswings. But the thing to remember is, just like with in-between yardages on longer shots, you have to swing through the ball at the same pace no matter the distance.

I practice three swing lengths with my sand wedge that are less than full, so I have three distances locked in when I’m on the course. If I stop my backswing when the shaft is around the height of my hips (above), I know the ball will go 35 yards. When my forearms are parallel to the ground, it’s going 60 yards. And when my hands stop at my shoulders, it’s going to go 80 yards. Again, I can’t stress enough that you never want to slow down as you come through. It leads to inconsistent strikes.

“KEEP YOUR SWING SPEED UP ON SHORTER SHOTS.”

For even better results, add this to your range sessions: Hit 10 balls each with your backswing stopping at three different lengths. Make note of how far the ball goes with each, and rely on those swings to produce the right yardages when you get on the course. You’ll be a lot more confident in hitting half-wedge shots pin-high.—with Keely Levins

SOURCE:  Golfdigest

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How to Avoid the Most Common Golf Injury

Lower Back Pain Is No Joke, But It’s Preventable

Golf is a unique sport because you can often participate even if you’re not as physically fit as you once were. That said, golf isn’t always an injury-free sport. Low back pain is the golf injury you’re most likely to sustain. Luckily, it can be avoided.

The following tips will help.

Warm Up

Golf may not seem as intense as a sport like football or hockey, but you still need to warm up before playing. Loosening your muscles helps to prevent discomfort. Practice these basic exercises to prep your muscles for a few hours on the course:

  • Hold the club behind your neck, one hand on each end, and rotate your torso to stretch your neck.
  • Pull your knees towards your chest a few times to stretch out your hips.
  • Keep your hamstrings loose by bending down and reaching towards your shoes.

If you’re having trouble with these stretches, or they don’t seem to be effective, getting direct access to physical therapy could help. A few sessions with an expert could help you learn how to properly stretch before golfing to avoid lower back and other injuries.

Practice Your Swing

Golfers apply torque and torsion to their lower backs in order to generate sufficient club speed when swinging. This puts strain on the lower back. That’s why practicing a swing regularly is important. You want to emphasize smooth motions. Additionally, researchers have found that attempting to mimic the “X-factor” swing of professionals (in which you attempt to maximize rotation of your shoulders relative to your hips) may result in injury.

Maintaining proper balance while swinging also helps protect your back. Keep your knees bent and shoulder width-apart, while maintaining a straight spine.

It will take practice to develop a smooth swing, but it’s necessary. Doing so will keep you comfortable while also improving your overall performance while playing.

Get the Right Golf Bag

Lifting heavy items incorrectly or repeatedly can result in low back pain. In other words, your swing isn’t the only part of your game you need to optimize if you want to avoid discomfort. You also need the right golf bag.

Don’t use one you have to set down on the ground every time you’re ready to take a swing. Get a bag that has a stand, so you don’t have to lift it up repeatedly throughout a round.

Don’t Make Assumptions About Age

It’s easy to assume low back pain is something only older golfers need to worry about. However, the X-factor swing described above is often more likely to cause certain injuries in younger players. They tend to have more muscle mass than older generations, which puts significant pressure on their spines during the swinging motion. They may also be more likely to apply excessive force. Even if you’re a younger golfer, you should keep these tips in mind. Doing so will also help avoid injury as you get older.

Again, golf is the type of sport you can play well into old age. You’re more likely to be able to if you avoid low back pain. Remembering these points will help you stay out on the course for years.

SOURCE:  GolftipsmagLower Back Pain Is No Joke, But It’s Preventable

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Tee it up!

Who Knew??

The earliest golf tees rested flat on the ground and had a raised portion to prop up the ball. The first patent for this kind of tee is dated 1889, and was issued to Scotsmen William Bloxsom and Arthur Douglas. The first known tee to pierce the ground was a rubber-topped peg sold commercially as the “Perfectum.”

What type of tee do your prefer — short, long, wood, plastic, none at all???

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An unconventional swing embraced at Pebble Beach

Hosung Choi and his unconventional swing leave Pebble Beach after earning respect

Hosung Choi’s weeklong parade around Monterey Peninsula finished in bitter rain Saturday at Pebble Beach, the conclusion accompanied by a missed cut in the Crosby Clambake known officially as the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

Yet the 45-year-old from a small fishing village in South Korea, who took up golf when he was 25, couldn’t stop smiling as the waves crashed the craggy coastline. He had won the lottery, after all, and his first trip to American soil and his first start on the PGA Tour left a lasting impression not only for Choi but for those entertained by his affable personality, showmanship and outrageous follow-throughs full of twists and turns that have made him an internet sensation.

On the scenic stages of Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and Monterey Peninsula’s Shore Course, Choi was the biggest star in a tournament filled with celebrities and some of the game’s best players, his festive galleries larger than those following Bill Murray, Wayne Gretzky, Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth.

“I definitely felt the love from my fans,” Choi said through an interpreter.

Choi returned the love. He acknowledged most every shout out from his followers, many coming in his native tongue. He signed tons of autographs and posed for hundreds of selfies. He was Mickelson without flashing the thumbs up.

Playing on a sponsor’s exemption, he showed his appreciation by plunking down his own cash to buy clothing featuring the tournament logo and wore his new duds through 54 holes. He literally ran to the media center for his pre-tournament presser to make sure he wasn’t late.

And Saturday he gave each of his playing partners – actor Chris O’Donnell, his teammate, and pro Jerry Kelly and his teammate, Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers – one of his clubhead covers that feature a silhouette of his one-legged follow-through.

“They were such great people,” Choi said. “And even when I had a bad shot or was struggling, they encouraged me, and they gave me words of advice out there. And I tried to give them a gift to remind them of me.”

Choi, Rodgers said, was the gift that kept on giving.

“We had him over to the house, him and his family. We had a blast,” Rodgers said. “There’s obviously some loss in translation with the language barrier, but we had his translator there, and we just had a blast. He’s a great guy. I think it’s great for the tournament and for golf. Obviously, his swing gets a lot of attention, but he’s a good player. It was a lot of fun to play with him.”

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Having trouble topping the golf ball?

How To Stop Topping The Golf Ball

We have all heard the phrase, “Keep Your Head Down!” Some people might say, “Keep your eye on the ball.” They say this so we do not top the golf ball. It is one of the five old wives’ tales of golf.  In fact, it is the NUMBER ONE Old Wives’ Tale. It won’t help you stop topping the ball.

What is the challenge?  If you look at the top of the golf ball, you will most likely hit the top of the golf ball.

stop topping 1

Look at the photo above. I have placed some golf tees behind the ball.  If I look at the top of the golf ball, I will hit the top of the golf ball when I swing down.  The tees on the ground will not move and the ball will not go get airborne.  Basically, I will top the ball.

How do you fix this? Place a group of tees on the ground about 3-5 inches behind the ball, as I’ve done in the photo below. Place your club head behind the pile of tees. It will seem strange starting the club head way behind the ball.

stop topping 1

Trust me.

Swing the club head and be sure to BRUSH the grass behind the ball, sweeping up all the tees behind the ball.  I guarantee if you do this, you will never top a shot again.

Cindy Miller is 2010 LPGA National Teacher of the Year, three-time LPGA Northeast Teacher of the Year, 2001, 2005, 2010 and a former LPGA Tour Player. 

SOURCE:  Golftipsmag

 

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How much is too much to play golf?

Who Knew??

Charging $500 for an 18-hole round, Las Vegas’ Shadow Creek Golf Course is the United States’ most expensive public course. Known for its celebrity sightings, the Tom Fazio-design is regularly ranked as one of “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” by Golf Digest.

What is the most you would pay to play? 

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How many dimples on a golf ball?

Who knew??

The divots on a conventional golf ball are affectionately named ‘dimples’. As a matter of fact, regulations state that there must be 336 dimples on a professional golf ball. That’s significantly more than your average teenager.

Tell us what golf ball you like to play with?

 

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Golf adjusts rule on caddies standing behind players

Six weeks into the new year, the new set of golf rules have their first adjustment on caddies standing behind their players.

SOURCE: StarTribune

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Tee Shots – Keep things as simple as possible

SIMPLIFY YOUR TEE SHOTS

Get your swing on plane and feel the proper motion.

I’ve had a successful PGA Tour career, including a pair of wins, by keeping things as simple as possible. Yet, in the numerous pro-ams I play, I notice everyday golfers tend to make things more complicated than they need to be, and their games suffer. One area to simplify is off the tee. For amateurs, it’s the most critical part of the game to avoid big numbers. Keeping it uncomplicated will result in better consistency, which allows you to pay more attention on your approach shots and short game. Here’s your first tip: Swing with the thought of putting the clubface on the back of the ball. This will help keep your body from lunging ahead of it, which causes those toey slices no matter what club you’re using.

GET READY FOR TAKEOFF
If we’ve learned anything over the past decade, it’s high launch with low spin is key to maxing driver distance. Most everyday players, however, have a negative angle of attack, with some hitting downward several degrees. That causes a low, spinny tee shot—not great for producing distance. Here’s a simple fix: Adjust your tee height. The people I play with in pro-ams tee the ball too low. You can’t possibly hit up on the ball if it’s only an inch off the ground. Tee it so two-thirds of the ball is higher than the crown of the driver (above), and adjust the ball’s position so it’s in line with the big toe on your front foot. Now drop your right shoulder slightly at address. You can see (below) how this helps get it in the proper position at impact. These simple adjustments at address will automatically improve your tee shots, and they’re so easy to make.

GROOVE THE RIGHT PATH
Swinging on an in-to-out path in relation to the target line is something most amateurs really struggle to do in the downswing, but it’s vital to making solid contact. I’m a big fan of the Orange Whip training aid to help with this. With its weighted end and flexible shaft, the Orange Whip keeps the arms and body moving in the proper sequence for that desired in-to-out path. For me, it’s not about where the club is at any given moment. It’s about feeling the proper motion. Another key is getting your chest behind the ball during the backswing. If your chest hovers over the ball, you’ll likely pitch forward on the backswing, eliminating any chance of being in the proper sequence on the way down. To help, set your lead shoulder so it’s pointing a little right (closed) of your target line at address. It gives you a head start for an in-to-out downswing.

GO SLOW TO FIND SOLID
The biggest problem I see amateurs have off the tee is, they don’t make solid contact very often. In trying to squeeze as many yards as they can out of their tee shots, they lose control of the swing. Their hands and legs are moving all over the place, and there are too many motions going on to find the center of the face. You need to back it down. A great drill is to swing a 7-iron at 30 percent of your max speed, and keep doing that until you’re hitting solid shots most of the time. Then increase to 50 percent, 70 percent and eventually full speed. This builds the feeling of controlling your swing. If you can’t find the center of the face at less than half speed, you have no chance full throttle. You can do this drill with any club, and I think you’ll be surprised to find how far you hit it without swinging out of your shoes. Better tee shots are as simple as that.

SOURCE:  Golfdigest

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