Andrew Rice Golf

Posts Tagged ‘PGA’

The Deserving Champion

Here are a few of my thoughts after witnessing the PGA Championship:

• Martin Kaymer played like a champion and he thoroughly deserved the title. Don’t forget the up and down on the 72nd hole he had, not to mention the stunning two he made at 17 in the playoff. I love to see talented, hard working youngsters breaking through. Well done Martin, Louis and Graeme!
• You would think the PGA of America could have one of their 28,000 members to follow the final group so as to avoid what happened on the 72nd hole. I do not blame anybody for the incident and it is certainly Dustin Johnson’s responsibility to know where he is playing from, but let’s have a little foresight here….

See the bunker....?

• Whistling Straits has more bunkers than all the courses in Africa (not a true statement, but it just might!) and it needs to get pushed off the edge of Wisconsin and into the lake! In fact while they’re at it they can push another future PGA site, The Ocean Course at Kiawah into the ocean too. The last time I checked golf was meant to be fun and you couldn’t pay me enough to play those two courses in particular. They are both horrible!

• How about this picture posted at PGA.com of some kids building sand castles in a bunker! How many majors will this ever happen at? I guess that’s what happens when you have 1000 too many bunkers.

Bunker Play.....

• Poor Nick Watney – what started as such a promising day turned into a demoralizing experience. I hope he can come back from this.
• Dustin Johnson is a tough kid and I believe his 72nd hole nightmare will only steel his attitude towards greater heights. I firmly believe he will come back better than ever from this.
• I like the way Bubba played the playoff, but he simply must opt to miss long on the final hole versus a shot that has the potential to be short – especially since Kaymer had a poor lie in the rough.
• For all the focus on Tiger I don’t believe he seems to be swinging any better YET. Every time I saw him on day 4 he finished with his right shoulder high from the clubhead being trapped behind him and seemed as wild as ever. I do think his change to Sean Foley is an excellent choice and he will get better under his guidance. And no Sean Foley is not a Stack and Tilter, just an instructor who understands that all swings are unique unto the individual and everything in the swing should be directed around impact.

• A little insider info is that Tiger called up Foley right after he and Hank parted ways and asked Foley to drop all his other students (notably Mahan and O’Hair) and start teaching only him. Foley said, “Thanks, but no thanks!”
• I’m sure it’s just me, but the PGA Championship is really starting to feel like the fifth major – and there are only four! It just does not appeal to me in the unique manner each of the other three majors do. Anybody up for starting a petition for only three majors?

Face On Camera Angle

• You do not need an expensive or HD video camera.  Anything with a shutterspeed of 1/1000th of a  second or higher should work nicely.  The camera I use every day runs $200!  Flip Video makes a functional and fun camera.
• A tripod is a must have!  And no, your golf bag is not a tripod! There are several small and lightweight tripods available that fit in a golf bag comfortably.  A tripod is important as it presents a steady image – any movement of the camera will render lines or reference points drawn on the screen useless.
• A good swing analysis software program is a must and I have found none better than the V1 Home system.  It allows you to compare swings side by side, draw lines (with angles!) and just about anything you could hope to do while viewing your swing.  Purchase and install this software on your computer and get to work!

Once you have the above items you are just about ready to begin.  When analyzing your swing it is very important that you establish a few rules and guidelines:

• Never over use your new technology! Remember you want to shoot lower scores, not make prettier swings.  Although the two might work hand in hand to a certain degree, never allow the look of your swing to take precedence over the function of your swing.  Only evaluate and analyze once a month.
• Make sure that your camera and tripod are placed in the same position every time.  Subtle changes here can result in large changes in the appearance of your swing.  Make sure that the tripod is positioned in the same fashion as the two photgraphs used in this post.
• It is very important for the ‘down the line position’ to be consistent.  Try to position the camera between the toes and the ball.  A little practice and you’ll have it down!

Down the Line Camera Position is Key

Get the correct equipment, record and analyze on a monthly basis, obey the guidelines you set out for yourself, and don’t try to be perfect – just better!

Things to Ponder:

• Is anybody overly excited about golf making it to the Olympics?  Ho hum…
• I find it interesting that the top three finishers from Firestone, Woods, Harrington and Allenby are the top three players after round one of the PGA.  Supports the saying that golfers make 80% of their money in 20% of their events!
• When will architects learn that you do not make a course (Hazeltine?) better by making it longer?  How about a little creativity? Anyone seen the 16th hole this week?
• I am not a fan of the way Tiger is playing his golf at the moment.  Greg Norman and Nick Faldo played golf the way it was supposed to be played.  Tiger seems to overpower the course and by blasting the ball everywhere, getting it up and down and making putts he continues to win.  Almost like a modern Seve Ballesteros!  Successful but not proper.
• Is John Daly up to his old tricks again?  I noted a WD next to his name yesterday.  Maybe it was just that recurring rib injury he suffered when someone took a picture of him in his backswing……..?
• I look for Tiger to continue to lead after round two (71) and for Phil to close the gap with a 67 of his own in the morning……

Thanks for reading and enjoy the PGA.