Rd. 3 Waste Management Phoenix Open Wrap-Up

To get you caught up on whats happening on the LPGA Tour, Ai Miyazato won the HSBC Women's Champions in Singapore by two over Christie Kerr. Other notables include: Suzann Pettersen; T3, Michelle Wie; T15, Anna Nordqvist; T29, Lorena Ochoa; T38, and Natalie Gulbis; T55.

Cheers,

Faddy player J. Landry tees it up in Texas

On Monday Faddy player Jason Landry will make his first tournament start as a member of Team Faddy. Jason is playing a two day NTPGA (Northern Texas section) Players Tour event at Stonebridge Ranch Country Club, Texas.

Jason's tee time is 9:48 am, starting on the 10th tee. To follow his round go to www.jasonlandrygolf.com and there is a link to the tournament leaderboard on his homepage.

Good luck Jason, and go low.

Cheers,

Rd. 2 Highlights: Waste Management Phoenix Open

Cheers,

Tips from the Pro: Takeaway

Takeaway is often an overlooked fundamental in golf. Most amateurs have a takeaway that is to quick away from the ball that will start a chain reaction of problems with the rest of the swing.

Problem with to quick a takeaway

If anyone has ever told you that you were "quick" it generally means that initial move away from the ball. This quick move puts the entire swing out of sequence resulting in a variety of shots most of which aren't good. Also when the takeaway is to quick so is the downswing usually causing stored energy to be released before impact.

Tip: Use a slower takeaway

With a slower takeaway, you should feel better balance throughout the swing. You will also be more likely to make a smooth transition from the top of your swing, allowing the club to naturally drop into position and "on plane" starting down into the ball. Also your overall rhythm should improve by slowing the tempo of your swing.

The key to remember is that it's not how hard or fast you can swing a club that will result in pure shots, it's about how consistently you can deliver the club squarely on the ball. You do that and you'll get all the distance you'll need, trust me.

Cheers,

Poulter wins Match Play Championship

Ian Poulter captured the biggest victory of his career on Sunday, by beating fellow Englishman Paul Casey in the final 4&2 at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship at Dove Mountain, Ariz.

"It's been a long time coming," Poulter said, after closing out Casey with a par on the 34th hole.

With this victory Poulter achieved:

-First World Golf Championship title
-First win on American soil
-First win on the PGA Tour
-Becomes #5 in the world golf ranking
-Earned biggest pay day of career - $1.4 million

Cheers,

Tiger Woods... I'm deeply sorry

This video is only a small portion of the 13 minute speech that Tiger gave. As soon as more becomes available I'll be sure to post it.

Basically Woods apologized to his family, his sponsors, and his fans as he tries to rebuild his tarnished image. His reason for giving the statement today during the Match Play tourney (he's been criticized for such, most notably Ernie Els who called the act selfish on Tiger's part) was because he is going back to rehab on Saturday.

Tiger also didn't say when he was returning to golf, only that this year was still a possibility.

FOR ANY THAT MISSED THE LIVE TELECAST, HERE IS A TRANSCRIPT OF TIGER'S STATEMENT.


Good morning, and thank you for joining me. Many of you in this room are my friends. Many of you in this room know me. Many of you have cheered for me or you've worked with me or you've supported me. Now every one of you has good reason to be critical of me. I want to say to each of you, simply and directly, I am deeply sorry for my irresponsible and selfish behavior I engaged in.

I know people want to find out how I could be so selfish and so foolish. People want to know how I could have done these things to my wife Elin and to my children. And while I have always tried to be a private person, there are some things I want to say.

Elin and I have started the process of discussing the damage caused by my behavior. As Elin pointed out to me, my real apology to her will not come in the form of words; it will come from my behavior over time. We have a lot to discuss; however, what we say to each other will remain between the two of us.

I am also aware of the pain my behavior has caused to those of you in this room. I have let you down, and I have let down my fans. For many of you, especially my friends, my behavior has been a personal disappointment. To those of you who work for me, I have let you down personally and professionally. My behavior has caused considerable worry to my business partners.

To everyone involved in my foundation, including my staff, board of directors, sponsors, and most importantly, the young students we reach, our work is more important than ever. Thirteen years ago , my dad and I envisioned helping young people achieve their dreams through education. This work remains unchanged and will continue to grow. From the Learning Center students in Southern California to the Earl Woods scholars in Washington, D.C., millions of kids have changed their lives, and I am dedicated to making sure that continues.

But still, I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you. I have made you question who I am and how I could have done the things I did. I am embarrassed that I have put you in this position. For all that I have done, I am so sorry.

I have a lot to atone for, but there is one issue I really want to discuss. Some people have speculated that Elin somehow hurt or attacked me on Thanksgiving night. It angers me that people would fabricate a story like that. Elin never hit me that night or any other night. There has never been an episode of domestic violence in our marriage, ever. Elin has shown enormous grace and poise throughout this ordeal. Elin deserves praise, not blame.

The issue involved here was my repeated irresponsible behavior. I was unfaithful. I had affairs. I cheated. What I did is not acceptable, and I am the only person to blame.

I stopped living by the core values that I was taught to believe in. I knew my actions were wrong, but I convinced myself that normal rules didn't apply. I never thought about who I was hurting. Instead, I thought only about myself. I ran straight through the boundaries that a married couple should live by. I thought I could get away with whatever I wanted to. I felt that I had worked hard my entire life and deserved to enjoy all the temptations around me. I felt I was entitled. Thanks to money and fame, I didn't have to go far to find them.

I was wrong. I was foolish. I don't get to play by different rules. The same boundaries that apply to everyone apply to me. I brought this shame on myself. I hurt my wife, my kids, my mother, my wife's family, my friends, my foundation, and kids all around the world who admired me.

I've had a lot of time to think about what I've done. My failures have made me look at myself in a way I never wanted to before. It's now up to me to make amends, and that starts by never repeating the mistakes I've made. It's up to me to start living a life of integrity.

I once heard, and I believe it's true, it's not what you achieve in life that matters; it's what you overcome. Achievements on the golf course are only part of setting an example. Character and decency are what really count. Parents used to point to me as a role model for their kids. I owe all those families a special apology. I want to say to them that I am truly sorry.

It's hard to admit that I need help, but I do. For 45 days from the end of December to early February, I was in inpatient therapy receiving guidance for the issues I'm facing. I have a long way to go. But I've taken my first steps in the right direction. As I proceed, I understand people have questions. I understand the press wants to ask me for the details and the times I was unfaithful. I understand people want to know whether Elin and I will remain together. Please know that as far as I'm concerned, every one of these questions and answers is a matter between Elin and me. These are issues between a husband and a wife.

Some people have made up things that never happened. They said I used performance-enhancing drugs. This is completely and utterly false. Some have written things about my family. Despite the damage I have done, I still believe it is right to shield my family from the public spotlight. They did not do these things; I did.

I have always tried to maintain a private space for my wife and children. They have been kept separate from my sponsors, my commercial endorsements. When my children were born, we only released photographs so that the paparazzi could not chase them. However, my behavior doesn't make it right for the media to follow my two-and-a-half-year-old daughter to school and report the school's location. They staked out my wife and they pursued my mom. Whatever my wrongdoings, for the sake of my family, please leave my wife and kids alone.

I recognize I have brought this on myself, and I know above all I am the one who needs to change. I owe it to my family to become a better person. I owe it to those closest to me to become a better man. That's where my focus will be. I have a lot of work to do, and I intend to dedicate myself to doing it. Part of following this path for me is Buddhism, which my mother taught me at a young age. People probably don't realize it, but I was raised a Buddhist, and I actively practiced my faith from childhood until I drifted away from it in recent years. Buddhism teaches that a craving for things outside ourselves causes an unhappy and pointless search for security. It teaches me to stop following every impulse and to learn restraint. Obviously I lost track of what I was taught.

As I move forward, I will continue to receive help because I've learned that's how people really do change. Starting tomorrow, I will leave for more treatment and more therapy. I would like to thank my friends at Accenture and the players in the field this week for understanding why I'm making these remarks today.

In therapy I've learned the importance of looking at my spiritual life and keeping in balance with my professional life. I need to regain my balance and be centered so I can save the things that are most important to me, my marriage and my children. That also means relying on others for help. I've learned to seek support from my peers in therapy, and I hope someday to return that support to others who are seeking help. I do plan to return to golf one day, I just don't know when that day will be. I don't rule out that it will be this year. When I do return, I need to make my behavior more respectful of the game. In recent weeks I have received many thousands of emails, letters and phone calls from people expressing good wishes. To everyone who has reached out to me and my family, thank you. Your encouragement means the world to Elin and me.

I want to thank the PGA TOUR, Commissioner Finchem, and the players for their patience and understanding while I work on my private life. I look forward to seeing my fellow players on the course.

Finally, there are many people in this room, and there are many people at home who believed in me. Today I want to ask for your help. I ask you to find room in your heart to one day believe in me again. Thank you.

Cheers,

Tiger Woods to publicly apologize for tomcatting

Word around the watering hole is that Tiger will end nearly three months of silence on Friday in a press conference at the TPC at Sawgrass where the PGA Tour is headquartered.

Tiger's agent, Mark Steinberg said Woods will discuss his past and future and will apologize for his behaviour. “Tiger feels as though it’s time to make amends and to publicly do that,” Steinberg said.

Woods will not be taking any questions, (just phone numbers) but a group of reporters will be allowed to observe the statement.

As for Elin, she has still refused to move back in with her husband, siting she still doesn't trust him.

More tomorrow after the silence is broken

Cheers,

Tiger may play Tavistock as a Masters tune up

Reportedly Tiger Woods and his "team" met on Monday with the Tavistock people for about an hour before Tiger returned to his Florida home.

The Tavistock Cup is to take place this year at Isleworth, a club at which Tiger is a member, March 22nd. Apparently Tiger would use Tavistock as a warm up and then tee it up at the Masters in April.

This is all speculation at this point, but what can I say it was a slow news day.

Cheers,

Tips from the pro: Part 2 of ball position the easy way

If you missed part 1 check out last Wednesday's "Tip from the pro" post to get caught up. It's titled "ball position made easy". Part 2 will discuss the proper hand position, shoulder tilt, and stance width to accompany part 1.

*Remember that ball position uses the left armpit as the marker*

Hand Position:
Alot of golfers tend to forward press (shaft leaning toward target) to much. This move tends to close the face of the club resulting in decreasing loft and could also cause a hook. A better way is to use your zipper as a guide and let the shaft lean in response to ball position. So no matter the ball position "cover" your zipper with your hands.

Shoulder Tilt:
The key here is to make sure your not tilting your shoulders to much, where the right shoulder is significantly lower then the left. This position tends to cause golfers to "hang back" to much during the downswing not allowing for full weight transfer and more often then not a wicked slice. The right shoulder will naturally tilt at address, don't force it lower then it needs to be.

Stance Width:
Most golfers tend to adopt a stance that is to wide. The wider the stance the more restricted your hip and shoulder turn are. For the driver your feet should be just outside of shoulder width. With the mid-irons the feet should be in line with the shoulders. And for short-irons and wedges the feet should be inside the shoulders. Remember the narrower the stance the more flexible the hips.

Hope these tips help. check back next Wednesday for another installment of "Tips from the pro"

Cheers,

Alex Bilodeau makes Canadian history at Vancouver Games

I realize this story has nothing to do with golf, but its to good to pass up. We all know that Canada is hosting the winter Olympics in Vancouver. And we all know in most Olympics games Canada's medal count is lack luster at best, especially in the gold department.That's what makes this story so special...

On Sunday a mogul skier named Alex Bilodeau rewrote the record books by being the first Canadian to win gold on the host nation's soil. With that performance a hero was born. "The party is just starting for Canada," said Bilodeau, who dedicated his triumph to his older brother, who has cerebral palsy. "My brother is my inspiration. This is too good to be true."

British Columbia's Premier Gordon Campbell congratulated Bilodeau in a statement saying: "Canadians have been dreaming of this moment for decades and Alexandre's spectacular performance was a breath-taking moment for millions across our country," Campbell said. "This gold medal performance will be chronicled as one of the greatest
moments in Canadian sport history. It will inspire millions of young people from across our country to work hard and pursue their dreams."

For those who had the pleasure of seeing the run, it truly was something special. As soon as video becomes available I'll post it.

Cheers,

Dustin Johnson repeats at Pebble

Dustin Johnson, who had a strong week last week at Riviera, won the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Not to mention how cool it is the receive the trophy from the grizzled movie genius Clint Eastwood. Johnson who shot a final round 74 still had enough to win by one thanks to the two 64's he shot on Thursday and Saturday. He now leads the FedEX Cup with 771 points, with Steve Stricker only trailing by 13.

I think the bigger and more surprising story of the week is the inspiring play of David Duval. Duval had rounds of 67-68-67-69 to finish T2 with J.B. Holmes at 15-under.

Could this be the rebirth of Duval's career? We have the rest of the year to debate that issue. But remember he was at one time number one in the world, holds a major (2001 Open), and one of only three to shoot a 59 on the PGA Tour. (just for curiosity sake, Al Geiberger and Chip Beck are the other two)

Other notable finishes include:
- Phil Mickelson; T8 (-11)
- Jim Furyk; T35 (-6)
- Adam Scott, Sergio Garcia, Mike Weir; all T52 (-3)
- John Daly; missed three day cut with rounds of 69-73-72

Cheers,

Tiger's break from golf continues

The PGA Tour released its 64 man field for the upcoming Match Play Championship Friday minus Tiger Woods. Tiger missed the deadline for entering the tournament next week, the same tournament he made his return at last year after knee surgery.

Phil Mickelson will also miss the event because he's taking Amy and the kids on a family vacation. The trip was postponed due to treatment Amy was undergoing for breast cancer.

With both Phil and Tiger out of the picture for next week that makes Mr. Steady, Steve Stricker the top seed when the tournament begins Wednesday at Dove Mountain north of Tucson. Brackets won't be set until 7 p.m. EST Sunday.

Daly under par at Pebble

Looks like John Daly's decision to step away from the game for what amounted to about 17 hours two weeks ago may have done him some good. Daly posted a 1-under 69 in the first round of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Real question is can he hang on to make a cut or is retirement another 78 away? We'll know by the weekend.

There really is some star power on the links this week, and I'm not just talking about Kenny G and his majestic man music. Sergio Garcia is making his season debut, while other notables include Mickelson, Scott, Weir, Duval, Singh, (Vijay not Jeev Milkha) and Furyk.

The tournament is being played on a three course rotation including Pebble Beach (PB), Spyglass Hill (SH), and Monterey Peninsula (MP) with the championship round at Pebble Beach.

Here's the skinny on scoring:

- Dustin Johnson is leading at 8-under, 64 (PB)
- T2 are J.B. Holmes and K.J. Choi at 7-under, 65 (both played PB)
- Duval shot 5-under, 67 (SH)
- Weir shot 5-under, 67 (PB)
- Mickelson shot 2-under, 68 (MP, par 70)
- Garcia shot 2-under, 68 (MP)

Stay posted to see who plays the weekend.

Cheers,

Tips from the pro: Ball position the easy way

For the next month or so I'll post tips that can be done in the comfort of one's home in front of a mirror. Also I'll post "Tips from the pro" every Wednesday as Wednesday's seem to be pretty boring in terms of golfing news.

So today I'll discuss ball position. I see alot of amateurs that still aren't real sure about where to place the ball in their stance in relation to club they are using. A key point to remember is that a ball positioned to far forward will tend to open up the shoulders causing a ball to go left, and a ball positioned to far back will close the shoulders causing the ball to go right.

Here are a few easy points to get your ball position right every time. My goal is to keep the tips simple, the simpler the tip the easier it is to retain.

It's important to know that your swing reaches its low point directly under your left armpit,(right-handed golfer) rather then in the middle of your stance like most are taught.

DRIVER - Tee up the ball slightly ahead of your left armpit. This will create an ascending blow to the ball, exactly what you need to maximize distance.

IRONS - Position the ball just behind your left armpit. This will create a slight descending blow to the ball, and help achieve ball then turf contact for solid strikes.

WEDGES - Position the ball two ball widths behind your left armpit. This will create a steep angle of attack at impact and will help you get maximum spin so the ball will drop and stop on the green.

Practice this in front of a mirror and become comfortable with the new positions. In PART 2 next week, I'll discuss hand position, shoulder tilt, and stance width.

Cheers,

Stricker winner at Riviera/Final round highlights

Tiger back for Match Play in 'Zona?

Seems that Tiger may have the good old golfin' bug again after leaving a six week sex rehab stint in Mississippi were his wife Elin apparently picked him up. Kinda reminds me of when my mom had to pick me up from the Pricipal's office in grade school when I was caught throwing snow balls outside the designated area, but I digress...

Rumour has it, though nothing has been comfirmed, that Tiger's management has contacted event organizers about Woods playing in the WGC Accenture Match Play later this month at Dove Mountain, Tucson.

So will the big cat return? My guess - Not a chance, but it's nice to dream.

Hit me with any thoughts or comments.

Cheers,

Stricker and Johnson leaders as round 2 still in progress

While most players finished round two yesterday, some still have to complete theirs today due to play being suspended because of darkness. It was a wet, windy and cold day on Friday at Riviera, the site of the Northern Trust Open in Pacific Palisades, California. Some players bunkered down and played well while others wilted like a daisy in the desert.

So here's the breakdown on scoring. Steve Stricker posted rounds of 67-65, 10-under. Dustin Johnson, also at 10-under still has two holes to complete this morning. Andres Romero is the next in line at 7-under with three holes to go in round two.

Other notables include:
Ryo Ishikawa, 5-under with 5 holes to play
Phil Mickelson, 4-under (72-66)
Ernie Els, 4-under (68-70)
Mike Weir, +4 (69-77)
Adam Scott, +4 (73-73)

Stay posted to see how the weekend unfolds

Cheers,

Mickelson drops Ping wedge/Watson critical of Woods

Looks like Phil Mickelson will be sitting his Ping Eye 2 wedge this week at Riviera. This comes after many accused the world number 2 of cheating because he massaged a rule in which the club, though non-conforming can still be used. (for a complete rundown checkout the post from Sun., Jan. 31st.) Scott McCarron who did most of the finger pointing has since apologized to Lefty, to which he accepted. "We all make mistakes, and we all say things we wish we could take back," Mickelson said.

Legendary golfer/Life coach Tom Watson is trying to give some public advice to "Cheetah" I mean "Tiger" Woods. Watson has said that Woods needs to "show some humility to the public" when he returns to golf. he went on the say... "I'll let the cat out of the bag. Tiger has to take ownership of what he has done. ... he has to show some humility to the public. I would ... do an interview and say, 'I screwed up. And I admit it. I am going to try to change. ... I want my wife and family back."

Watson has also criticized Tiger's on-course behaviour saying he needs to clean up the swearing and club throwing if he really wants to be considered one of the true greats of the game. Talk about old school. I think we seen a lot of what Tiger did on the course (club throwing, swearing) to release the added stress of hiding his secret life from his wife and the world. We may see a more subdued Tiger when he returns because he no longer has anything to hide, we think...

Cheers,