Its Canadian Open week – Let’s review one of the greatest shots EVER!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Tiger Woods’ shot on the 18th hole during the final round of the 2000 Canadian Open was one of the top 5 shots I have ever seen in my life. The main reason being that I have played that hole several times and know what kind of shot is needed to carry the water. When the announcer said Tiger was taking a 6 iron, I said to my wife, “This is going to be wet!” Wow, was I wrong! I literally jumped out of my chair with excitement! Thanks to the PGA Tour for this video reminding us of the genius that was Tiger Woods.
En route to victory in the final round of the 2000 Bell Canadian Open, Tiger Woods hit what many consider his greatest shot ever on the PGA TOUR, at the par-5, 18th hole.
Source: PGA TOUR
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Canada has given society four gifts, and four gifts only: Basketball (inventor James Naismith hailed from the Great White North), Ryan Gosling, Bloody Caesars, and Graham DeLaet’s beard. Sadly, that list has been whittled down to three.
After taking a month-long sabbatical from the PGA Tour to deal with anxiety issues over his short game, DeLaet has returned, and in strong fashion, finishing T-8 at last week’s Barbasol Championship. But I noticed something amiss from DeLaet; chiefly, his world-renowned whiskers were gone:
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Whatever the reason was for Phil Mickelson’s second-place finish to Henrik Stenson, it wasn’t the putter.
Mickelson one-putted 35 out of 72 holes — second best in the field — and made only four bogies the entire week to go with 19 birdies and an eagle. His final score of 267 would have won every other major in history with the exception of one.
He did introduce an interesting quirk on the back nine Sunday, moving from the claw putting grip — with his lower hand turned sideways on the bottom of the grip — he had used for the entire tournament to that point to a conventional grip. Standing over a mid-length putt on the 16th, he started with a conventional grip and turned his hand around to the claw before pulling the trigger.
To read on about how Phil Mickelson changes his putting grip during the round and why go here!
Source: Matthew Rudy Golf Digest
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What is the correct strategy for playing the 18th at Royal Troon?
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Piers Ward and Andy Proudman of Meandmygolf discuss the course management strategy for playing the 18th hole at Royal Troon. Could this hole play a significant role in the outcome on Sunday Afternoon? I’m pretty sure it will. The tee shot must be down the right-hand side. The second shot needs to carry to the front portion of the green to make a solid par. I have played this course twice and have yet to make par, so good luck to all the participants this week on a great finishing hole!
In this week’s special impact show Piers and Andy are at Royal Troon, where they play the 18th and show what lies ahead for the Pro’s at this year’s Open.
Source: Meandmygolf
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A History Lesson – Learn about all 9 Open Championship Venues!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Everyone loves the beauty of Augusta National and the toughness of a US Open course, but none can compare with the history of the Open Championship! These venues are hundreds of years old and are on every golfer’s bucket list! Alex Myers of Golf Digest has put together the complete list of Open Championship courses used in the rotation. Learn a little history!
A crash course on the nine venues that comprise the current Open rota.
Where: Troon, South Ayrshire, ScotlandTimes hosting:9, including this year
You know it as: “That place with the ‘Postage Stamp’ green.”
Unique features: Has both the shortest (Pictured left, the par-3 eighth “Postage Stamp”) and longest (Par-5 sixth “Turnberry”) holes in the Open rota; Colin Montgomerie played here often during the summers growing up. His dad was the club’s secretary, and his house was just a half-mile down the road.
In 1973, Tom Weiskopf won his lone major championship by holding off Johnny Miller and Jack Nicklaus. And yes, Todd Hamilton and his hybrid that he used to chip and got up-and-down 13 of 14 times that week won in 2004 by beating Ernie Els in a playoff. In fact, Troon’s past six winners have all been American.
Where: St Andrews, ScotlandTimes hosting: 29 (last in 2015)
You know it as: “The Home of Golf.” There’s not much more to say than that.
Unique features: The “Road Hole” (left), on which a road and a hotel come into play; Swilcan Bridge (think Jack Nicklaus waving goodbye); Hell Bunker, large double greens, Valley of Sin, etc.
Noteworthy moments: This course has so much history that five players (Bob Martin, J.H. Taylor, James Braid, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods) have won two Open titles. None were more impressive than Woods’ eight-shot romp in 2000, though, when his 19-under-par total set a major championship record. Five years later, Woods would win again here during a week that also saw Jack Nicklaus play in his final major.
To see the rest of these iconic British Open venues, go here!
Source: Alex Myers Golf Digest
Pictures: Golf Digest
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Thinking of becoming a Tour Player – This is what it takes!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Occasionally a golfer approaches me with the request to help with his/her game as he/she considers trying to qualify for the PGA or LPGA Tour. One of the first things I emphasize is how good they have to be before they even attempt a qualifying school. Peter Sanders of Golfwrx has put together a great statistical analysis of the true difference between a scratch player and a PGA Tour player. If you still think you can make it, give me a call. I will be happy to help you on your journey!
Well, it is my full-time job to know these type of things about golf. I have been studying the game from a statistical standpoint for 27 years. I created the Strokes Gained analysis website, ShotByShot.com, and work with PGA Tour members to extract clear answers from the Tour’s overwhelming 653 ShotLink stats.
My experience tells me that there is no such thing as an average game, no matter the handicap level. We’re all snowflakes and find our own unique way to shoot our number. With that said, ShotByShot.com’s 260,000+ round database enables us to create a composite sketch of the average golfer at each level. One of the beauties of our averages is that they are smooth across all five major facets so that every individual golfer’s strengths and weaknesses — and we all have them — stand out clearly by comparison.
- Mr. Scratch: I averaged the 8,360 rounds in our database that match the zero handicap criteria. In other words, the rounds when Mr. Scratch actually played to his 0 handicap.
- PGA Tour: The average of the 14,557 ShotLink rounds recorded in the 2015 season.
The USGA’s Course and Slope rating system does a sophisticated job of evaluating the relative difficulty of our golf courses. I joined my local course rating committee shortly after the new “Slope” system was added. My specific goal was to gain an understanding of how the system works so that I could effectively apply it in my analysis program.
For the purposes of this article, the Course Rating reflects the relative course par for the scratch golfer. The chart below tells us that the PGA Tour scoring average is 2.25 strokes better than Mr. Scratch. Further, Tour players are playing courses that are 3.2 strokes more difficult. The net result is a 5.45-shot difference between Tour players and Mr. Scratch, but let’s just call it 5.5.
Thinking of becoming a Tour Player – This is what it takes!
The chart above shows us that the biggest piece of the 5.5-shot pie falls into the Driving category, or Distance, which makes sense to me. To play the game for a living, one must be able to hit it straight and far. Even Zach Johnson, with whom I have had the great pleasure of working with for five years, is often considered a short hitter. I contend that he is simply more intelligent and recognizes the true value of accuracy. Zach is averaging 281 yards this year, only seven off of the Tour average. Short? Not by my standards.
The chart below indicates that the driving distance gap between the Tour and Mr. Scratch is 33 yards. The average approach shot distance on the PGA Tour is 175 yards. Adding the 33 yards to all 14 driving holes puts Mr. Scratch’s average approach distance at just over 205 yards. The Strokes Gained value of this added distance is 2.52 strokes (0.18 per attempt x 14 driving holes = 2.52).
Source: Peter Sanders Golfwrx
Pictures: Peter Sanders Golfwrx
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Who are the Top 10 Wedge Players on the PGA Tour?
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Some mediocre ball strikers on the PGA Tour have made a very nice living with this one club! And I must say good wedge players are also usually good putters. A really lethal combination. It did surprise me that Zach Johnson, who I thought would be in the top 2 along with Luke Donald, was only 8th, and Luke did not make the top 10! Maybe Luke needs to go and work on that wedge game that took him to the #1 spot in the world. Thanks to David Dusek of Golfweek for putting together this informative list!
Titleist Vokey Design SM6 (48 degrees bent to 49, 54, 60 degrees), all with True Temper Dynamic Gold AMT X100 shafts
The bomb part of the “bomb-and-gouge” strategy makes people’s jaws drop and eyeballs strain. Drives that fly 320 yards do that.
But the other part of “bomb-and-gouge” – stuffing a wedge shot close to the hole after hitting the aforementioned mentioned blast – is just as impressive. And modern wedges are designed to help players lock in on the flag.
Until fairly recently, most manufacturers designed wedges with the same grooves in each club, regardless of the club’s loft or where golfers were most likely to use the club. Now, several companies give pitching wedges and gap wedges grooves similar to those found in irons because the lower-lofted wedges basically are approach-shot clubs. Designers then use different, wider grooves for sand and lob wedges. Clubs used more in rough around the green and sand.
And there are several high-toe wedges available that give players more hitting area when the face is open wide. There are more sole grinds and bounce options available, too. Several wedges have material taken out of the heel and toe to make it easier to slide the leading edge under the ball on tight lies.
When a player has a shot from within 100 yards of the hole, he or she almost always reaches for a wedge of some kind. Below are the 10 players who lead the PGA Tour in proximity to the hole on shots hit from the fairway within 100 yards from the hole, along with their average distance to the hole and their wedges. When it comes to getting it close, they’re the best in the business.
Cobra King Pro Muscleback (47 degrees), with KBS C-Taper 125 S+ shaft; Tour Trusty (53, 57, 62 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue S400 shafts
Titleist Vokey Design SM6 (48, 52 degrees), with Nippon Modus 3 120 TX shafts; (56 degrees bent to 57, 60 degrees bent to 62), Nippon N.S. Pro WV 125 S shafts
Fourteen RM-22 (47 degrees), MT-28 V5 (52, 56 degrees), RM-22 (60 degrees), all with Dynamic Gold S400 Tour Issue shafts
Srixon Z 945 (46), Cleveland 588 RTX 2.0 (52, 56, 60 degrees), with True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 Tour Issue shafts
To see the rest of the Top 10 Wedge Players on the PGA Tour, go here!
Source : David Dusek Golfweek
Pictures: Getty Images
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What did these Tour players do before they hit the Big Time?
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Every now and then, someone from the rank and file of the 9 to 5 golfers makes it, and the dream for everyone else starts all over again.
Who would ever have guessed that former 3 times Major Champion Padraig Harrington was formerly an accountant? Or Paul Goydos was a substitute teacher? Yes, many players on the PGA Tour had regular 9 to 5 jobs while they toiled away at their golf game, hoping for that break to go on to fame and glory! See this interesting list of players who broke away from various jobs and made it to the big stage. Thanks to Alex Myers of Golf Digest for compiling this interesting list. I found it interesting reading.
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What is your take on the Dustin Johnson Rules decision?
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
I have reviewed the video of Dustin Johnson’s apparent violation of Rule 18-2, and I still cannot see how he caused that ball to move. In our justice system in the USA, unless there is overwhelming evidence of guilt, the person is presumed innocent. I could not see any overwhelming evidence in this case. Many golf fans disagree with the USGA ruling, and plenty of the PGA players also weighed in as they vented on social media. To put things in perspective, Jaime Diaz of Golf World gives us his take on this ruling.
OAKMONT, PA – JUNE 19: Dustin Johnson of the United States chats with a rules official on the fifth green during the final round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club on June 19, 2016 in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
It was a bad moment for the USGA. But, man, it could have been a million times worse. Dustin Johnson bailed out the governing body by playing well down the stretch on Sunday at the 116th U.S. Open, and his challengers cooperated by playing poorly. It created a big enough stroke swing that what could have been the toughest rules decision in USGA history basically was of no consequence.
What is your take on the Dustin Johnson Rules decision?
A quick recap. On the fifth hole during the final round at Oakmont Country Club, Johnson ran a seven-foot birdie putt four feet past the cup. As he prepared to hit his second putt, Johnson took some practice strokes besides his ball. As he stepped in to address the putt—but before he grounded the club—Johnson noticed his ball had moved slightly. Quickly, he called in rules official Mark Newell. Johnson told him that the ball moved a bit backward, but he had not addressed his putt by grounding his club. Newell confirmed with Johnson “and you didn’t address it?” At that point, with playing partner Lee Westwood confirming Johnson’s view, Newell did determin that a rule had not been broken. Johnson played on, making his putt.
About the time Johnson reached the ninth hole, however, Jeff Hall, managing director of rules & competitions for the USGA, had video brought to his attention that he said had caused concern. After studying the video and consulting with Thomas Pagel, USGA senior director of Rules of Golf and Amateur Status, the two met Johnson on the 12th tee, where Johnson arrived with a one-stroke lead. They told Johnson that the USGA had reviewed video and that officials needed to talk to Johnson about his being the possible cause of his ball moving on the fifth green.
Johnson crushed a drive on the 12th hole more than 350 yards. He later said that the rules issue didn’t weigh on him as he played on. “I just told myself, we’ll worry about it when we get done,” said Johnson, who felt he was safe because he had not grounded his club behind the ball. “I didn’t think there was going to be a penalty. They said they were going to review. There was nothing I could do about it. Just focus on this next shot. I tried to do that from there, all the way to the house. It was just me and the golf course.”
But Johnson wasn’t as sharp with his shot-making, which had been superb, over the next few holes. With only 210 yards remaining for his second shot on the par-5 12th, he hit a bad push into long rough, from where he didn’t get up and down for the birdie he was counting on. On the par-3 13th, he pulled his approach into a bunker but managed to make a great recovery and saved par. But on the par-4 14th, he took three putts, and the pressure looked like it might be getting to Johnson, just as it seems to happen in several other instances throughout his star-crossed major career.
To see the rest of the USGA’s decision on this matter, go here!
Source : Jaime Diaz Golf World
Pictures : David Cannon/Getty Images Hone Morihana
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US Open Gear you can purchase whether you are there or not!
Golf Chats is a website to encourage discussions on various subjects relating to the game of golf. I am Mel Sole, Director of Instruction of the Mel Sole Golf School and SAPGA Master Professional. I invite you to enter into a discussion on this or any article on the golfchats.com website. The input is for the entire subscriber base to learn something new each time! Please post your comments below. Keep it clean and tasteful. We are here to learn from one another!
Have you ever been to a US Open Championship? It is quite a spectacle, and if you wish to purchase some US Open memorabilia for Fathers Day, or anyone else, you need a plan. Andrew Tursky of Golf Wrx lays it out in a very neat and concise manner. If you are at Oakmont, make a list before you leave home and visit the merchandise tent at the end of your day, so you’re not burdened with swag all day! If you don’t get a chance to go, there is a link in the article below to head to their online store! Happy Shopping!
The Players Championship is a celebration of Mother’s Day, while the U.S. Open is a celebration of Father’s Day As such, the best possible Father’s Day gifts (that aren’t on this list, of course), are in this order:
- Winning the U.S. Open.
- Having your father caddie for you while you play in the U.S. Open.
- Attending the U.S. Open with your father.
- Buying your father a gift from the U.S. Open.
- Anything else.
The merchandise tent stands tall on top of the perch of the temporary U.S. Open town of pavilions.
Let’s assume you’ll be going with option No. 4 this year, and that’s where we come in. The merchandising situation can be a little overwhelming at the U.S. Open because of the sheer size of the tent, the number of choices to make and the ridiculous amount of people. Luckily, there are some standout candidates for purchase, whether they’re for your pops or not.
There are also plenty of options for women and children, which you should be sure to check out while in the tent. And if you’re NOT attending the U.S. Open, click here to browse the online store.
US Open Gear you can purchase whether you are there or not!
What’s something you use on nearly every hole of golf you play? A ball marker. Most golfers use a quarter or a type of coin. Why not use something unique, like these markers with the awesome Oakmont-U.S. Open logo on them.
Even if your dad doesn’t hit many greens in regulation, the divot repair tool can still help him repair the ball marks in his putting line from golfers who do. The repair tool sets are available for $32.
Dads drink beverages. Whether it’s coffee, tea, water, or something cold and frosty, they’ll want a coaster to keep from ruining their table. For only $13 dollars, these coasters are a steal, and they’ll always be put to good use.
While the furry squirrels are cool, and so are the metallic U.S. Open at Oakmont signs, the star here is the hanging bottle opener with a bottle cap catcher. It’s well worth the $52.
These are the most awesome growlers I’ve ever seen. The U.S. Open-Oakmont logo is on the front, and U.S. Open winners from Oakmont are listed on the back. They’re available for $75, while the Steins (bottom) sell for $22 each.
There’s an entire corner of the merchandise tent dedicated to just hats. It’s a lot to handle, especially if you’re shopping for someone else. I’ve picked out my favorite, and what I believe to be the most unique, but you might be on your own trying to judge what dad will like best.
To see the rest of this great merchandise and to learn how to get your hands on it, go here!
Source: Andrew Tursky GolfWrx
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