My game has been bad lately.  Yeah I just got back from surgery, but I know I can’t pull that excuse all summer.  It’s bad.  Real bad. I’m talking “Michael Vick public opinion” bad (BTW – He got picked up by the Eagles).  Luckily my golf buddies have also hit the skids.  But golf is also about competing with ourselves, our minds…our most recent low score.  So here I sit needing to tweak my game.  Even the pros journey into the world of tweak.  How many times have you heard that big winners like Tiger Woods (currently leading at the PGA Championship major) and Phil Mickelson have sought a golf guru to help perfect their swing or mindset? Be it far from me to not enter tweak-land.  This week’s tweaking is going to be in the area of BALL POSITION.  I will be making a change, but here are the top 4 pieces of tweak advice I have recently heard on BALL POSITION:

1.  Jack Nicklaus taught us to play all shots with the ball 2-3 inches off of our front heel.  Then we proceed to widen or shorten our leg-width. ALL SHOTS!

2. Keep a relatively similar stance and leg-width, but move the ball throughout depending on club selection.  Wedges through 9/8-iron = ball placed back, 7-4 iron = ball towards center, and woods/driver = ball near the front foot etc.

3. Opposites: some golfers put their wedges way up front, and shoot long irons from a middle position for accuracy reasons

4. Play the lie.  Let each individual lie create a new and calculated ball position. Be flexible, take your time, and examine all options every time…Perhaps seeing many adjustments after a few practice swings for positioning.

I would love to hear your simple ball position ideas and doctrines.  What works best for you?

My report from The World Golf Championships Bridgestone is going to come in the form of a review.  Think movie or book review.  Let me start by saying that I watched every minute of the final two rounds and followed the opening rounds very close. 

This tourney was fun…very fun.  Here were the ingredients:

1. A cast of talented international players that we do not usually see featured.  I saw Thailand, England, Scotland, and many other great golf nations represented well.  I was additionally stoked to see Phil Mickelson back in the mix.

2. Throw in a gorgeous course with fairways so narrow that Tiger woods had to routinely “down-club” to make the shot.  In this, he still blasted fairway woods past the 300 yard marker.

3. Final day drama.  All tourney long Tiger Woods fought from behind.  He even fell back on the last 9 holes.  The plot took a major leap when our hero launched a massive 8-iron over the drink for a 180 yard balloon that landed inches from the cup.  GAME OVER! Padraig Harrington actually played more steady throughout, but this is not good enough against the mind of the Tiger

I loved this tourney because it plays before Tiger’s last major shot of the year, and it followed a recent win of Tiger’s.  There was a preparatory feel to it, but then Tiger made it personal, and grabbed a dramatic 70th win.  For all of the fanfare, meaning, and final round drama…I have to give this tourney at solid “A”.   It may be my favorite of the year.

-Kevin

CONGRATS ON MED SCHOOL BUDDY

Forget the lame “neck tie” gifts and streamers! There is no way to better celebrate a momentous event than to party on the golf course.  My golf buddy “Short-dog” will be finishing Med School today, so we are playing an afternoon round at LOST TRACKS golf in Bend, Oregon. 

Here is my advice for a well done CELEBRATION ROUND OF GOLF:

1. BUY THE GUY A BEER: Common, do not make him buy. Grow up!

2. GIVE HIM A GOOD GOLF TIP: We are all competitive, but today you can let him in on one of your chief secrets…But only one.  Let him know his tee is way to high, or that he’s had the wrong approach club all day.

3. FEEL FREE TO WIN: This isn’t golf with your boss, this is your homie.  Don’t back down for a minute.  By beating his ass, you show that you love him and respect his game.

4. MAKE IT MEMORABLE: If you are celebrating a big day like a Birthday, promotion, or a graduation make it stick in the heart with some extra added fun.  Hit the heroic driver when you usually settle for the safe 5-wood.  Bust out a Tiger Woods fist pump…even on the 2 footers.  Or throw out slick side bets like: “get this chip within 3 feet, and I pay for your round.”  Live the dream!

5. LET THEM KNOW YOU ARE PROUD: During the long walk on “that hole connection that was poorly designed”, tell him that he’s got a lot to look forward to, and that you are damn proud to play with him today. Tears area always welcome on the golf course.  I think that’s where tears were invented.

Hat’s off to SHORTY

-Kevin

91 for 18...Sad

The biopsies showed it to be benign. SWEET!  I went through all the emotions from feeling like a mutant to self-pity.  After a month of recovery I was ready to get back on the golf course and resurrect my game.  I did not play great, but I had a blast with my golf buddies “Short-dog” and “Bennett”.  I also beat them both.  Although I did not win by much, I was happy to be competitive again.  In a strangely backwards twist, I ended up buying them beers for my first time back on the greens in over a month. “Come on fellas!”  I shot a sad 91, but I can only blame myself for being rusty.  My body felt great, and I’m jonesing for another taste this weekend.  We played the blacks out at Meadowlakes in Prineville, Oregon.  It is a watery course, and the blacks add some significant yardage.  I thought it was going to be a great day when I flipped an easy par on the 549 yard 1st hole.  I was right about the “great day” thought, but wrong wrong about notching a stellar score. I should have scored higher.  Here are some highlights from my comeback round:

1. Played good bogey golf on the back 9 – went par bogey/ par bogey on 10-13

2. Felt good if a little stiff.  No pain at all.  Held back a bit on the tee box.

3. Tried out a new 3-wood, solid. Tried out a new putter, hated it.  Going back to a lightweight semi-mallet. Watch out future greens!

4. Overcame my nemesis weak spot: long second shots.  big improvement here

Playing again on Friday.  Shooting for mid 80′s and getting back into shape.

I’m back

TIGER WINS TOURNEY # 69

Yes, Tiger Woods won the 2009 Buick Open in beautiful fashion.  Yes, Tiger Woods shot -20 for the tourney.  Yes, Tiger Woods further established himself as The Greatest by notching win number 69.  Yes, Tiger Woods sliced through the competition in the 2nd round by opening with 5 straight birdies (9 total that day).  But many will diminish these great PGA tour accomplishments because of the stain that is his his most recent major “cut miss” at the British Open.  Tiger faced many top players in Scotland, but was left to battle a few less at Warwick Hills.  Let’s end the “poo-pooing” of Tiger’s Buick Open win right now.  For any golfer to win at any time is a great accomplishment.  Some say: “But this is Tiger Woods, and he did not have any real competition…”  Well, if that is your stance, then let me share what the world’s greatest golfer has done this year (surgery comeback year).  Tiger leads in money earned, wins, top ten finishes, Fed-Ex points…he has won 4 times in only 11 tries.  This is greatness and nothing less.  Would I have loved to see Kenny Perry and Mickelson at the Buick? Of course! But this does not take away from the stellar achievement of the “14 major owning 69 tourney winning” Tiger Woods.  He won, he beat great golfers on a beautiful course, he bounced back, he showed mental toughness, and he honored the fans by signing up and destroying at the Buick Open. Tiger Woods = the best ever.

WHAT’S NEXT:   Tiger Woods heads out to Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota for the 2009 PGA Championship.  The competition runs from Aug 13-16 2009.  This course will be brutal.  It is a record distance (72 par)measuring 7,674 yards.  There is a par 3 that will swing at 250 yards, and a par 5 that kills eagles tries at 650 yards.  The fairways here will challenge Tiger Woods (and the rest of the field), but if “El Tigre” can hit 70 percent of fairways – I’m calling it his 15th major win. His putting will be solid, and  his short game is the hottest in pro golf.  The course and the comp will be tougher than the Buick Open, but this only adds to the fun.  Look for the stars of golf to be back and hungry for some spotlight.

2. We’ll see Tiger Woods at the Buick Open this week.  He will be carrying some heavy pressure after missing the cut in THE OPEN.  I would not be surprised to see him win it by a large margin.  Who else is in the mix this week? Keep a watch on Kenny Perry, Brian Gay, and Jim Furyk.  You heard it here first.

3. I am also back on the scene.  After a summer surgery, I have recovered.  I will definitely be golfing this week. PUMPED!  I practiced some chipping last week, took a trip to New York (got a hug from Meredith Vieira on the Today show), and I will be ripping the range this afternoon.  It feels good to be back in the mix.  I think I will aim for the mid to high 80′s in my comeback round this week.  I’ll make some reasonable goals to get started.  Come down and see us at Lost Tracks golf in Bend, Oregon.

Good to be back,

Kevin Wright

leading the way after two rounds at the OPEN Championship

It is hard not to cheer on Tom Watson as he holds  a slight lead at the Turnberry course in The Open Championship.   Watson, who walks like his hip has been replaced because it has, will be 60 in a couple of months.  But his age has been quickly forgotten as the world’s top golfers watch him  play two consistent rounds at THE OPEN.  Tom’s second round was not as pretty as the opening, but he managed to replace each of his ugly bogies with beautiful bird-dogs.   We are seeing classic wedge work from Tom, but the question of his ability to sustain this energy is relevant.  It is a relevant question for any golfer in a major.  Tom does have an advantage though…absolutely no pressure.  Tiger Woods on the other hand came in with a mountain of pressure, and he may not even make the cut for the third round.  Tiger has only missed a handful of cuts in his entire pro career.  Tiger Woods will most likely miss this chance at a major win, but the story here is that Tom Watson has a shot at winning.  It is a story beacause Tom is also the next active golfer back on the golf major win list behind Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus.

Here are some initial scores from THE OPEN’s second round

T1 S MARINO  -5

T1 T WATSON  -5

3 M CALCAVECCHIA  -4

T4 R FISHER  -3

T4 R GOOSEN  -3

T4 M JIMENEZ  -3

T4 K KUBOYA  -3

T4 V SINGH  -3

For the past few weeks I have missed out on true golf due to a surgery I had this summer.  It’s tough to watch PGA golf and exist here in the best weather of the year without playing.  And I hate watching my gear gather dust in the corner of the garage.  So here is a list of light golf activity that keeps the the dust from settling and keeps the golf spirits high during a golf play drought.

1. Golf Shop: Go down and find sick deals on needed clubs and golf swag.  Online is a good place to start.  I Just replaced my big woods with brand newbies for $30…what?

2. Putting School: Most injuries can recover through limited putting practice.  Hell, you can even make it competitive with sympathetic 4-some buddies.

3. Golf Watch: Watch a few tourneys and take notes.  Watch Tiger’s swing, and get a load of Davis Love III’s putting skills.

4. Clean your clubs: Shine em up and they will be sparkling when they hit the big leagues. Wire brush, soft brush, rags and H2O

5. Clean out the BAG: Yep,  I found an old rain coat, clean balls, and a dozen usable tees.  There are some crazy secret realms in every golf bag.  Look out for the forgotten sandwich

6. Make a trade: “Ok bro, I will give you 3 of my old wedges for your rarely used 9-iron and 7 ProV-1′s.

7. Research the best local green fees: You better know exactly when and where you can play for the best price all year long.  In this recession, many courses are flowin crazy member deals. Hunt CRAIGSLIST too.

8. Hint that you want golf gear for all events: spread the word for Christmas, Pop’s day and B-days. Make it subtle, but make it real

9.  Review your favorite course: Grab a course map and a beer. While wasting time in front of the flat screen, memorize each and every dog-leg, bunker, short fairway, and green slope available.

10. Hit up the Thrift Store: look for water ball grabbers, a clean practice set, carts, balls, and a sweet lefty pitch club for those tree lies that turn you into Phil Mickelson

"three-ripping putts"

 Turnberry.  He said his 1st round 71 was due in part to “three-ripping” a putt.  I like the way he called that.  Tiger Woods also called himself out for sending his shots to fairway right…way right.  He took away his own best chances, and now he sits way back.  This could all change tomorrow, but the 2009 Major misses for Woods are starting to stack up.

Tom Watson dazzled with a -5 opening round, but the first round isn’t over yet, and a few like Paul Casey and Jim Furyk may do even better (they are halfway through as of 8:30am Pacific time). 

Here is the current leaderboard; check back for complete opening round scores:

Player Score Thru Today

1 Tom Watson (USA) -5 F 

T2 John Senden (AUS) -4 F -4

T2 Steve Stricker (USA) -4 F 

T2 Camilo Villegas (COL) -4 F 

T2 Stewart Cink (USA) -4 F 

T2 Mathew Goggin (AUS) -4 F 

T2 Soren Kjeldsen (DEN) -4 14 

T2 Paul Casey (ENG) -4 8 

T9 Mark Calcavecchia (USA) -3 F 

T9 Mark O’Meara (USA) -3 F