The early portion of the season continues to be quiet for golfer Bryson DeChambeau, who withdrew from the Sony Open on Monday after competing in just one official event over the past three months.
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The men who operate massive machines that contour the landscape into features suitable for golf are known as shapers. In reality, they are sculptors, artists of the earth, the very best of whom are capable of taking the most sketchy of plans from an architect and transforming them into an artistic and functioning reality. BILL COORE
The men who operate massive machines that contour the landscape into features suitable for golf are known as shapers. In reality, they are sculptors, artists of the earth, the very best of whom are capable of taking the most sketchy of plans from an architect and transforming them into an artistic and functioning reality. BILL COORE
Tony Webeck with a remembrance of the former Australian Open champion Bob Shearer, who passed away at age 73 Saturday.
Born and raised in Melbourne, Shearer shot to prominence by winning the 1969 Australian Amateur and then joined the professional ranks the following year.
In his playing career that stretched across four decades, Shearer amassed 27 professional wins including the 1983 Australian PGA Championship at Royal Melbourne Golf Club and the 1982 Australian Open at The Australian Golf Club in Sydney, defeating Americans Jack Nicklaus and Payne Stewart by four strokes.
Shearer won twice on the European Tour in the 1975 season (Madrid Open and Piccadilly Medal) and in 1982 won the Tallahassee Open on the PGA Tour and lost in a playoff to Ed Sneed at the Houston Open that same year.
And his friend Mike Clayton filed a wonderful collection of memories about Bob’s life. A teaser:
The short game is the area of the game that requires the most use of fine motor skills, which is why some players can struggle. Because precision is required (touch, contact, face control, etc.), a player’s mental state is a huge factor.
If you don’t have confidence, focus and commitment to your short game shots, you won’t be able to access your best physical skills, no matter how good they are.
Understanding How Fear Affects Short Game Confidence
Players who are struggling with short game confidence feel more pressure and fear around it, so the first step to getting better is understanding how this affects the execution of a short game shot.
I hear all the time how a player has a “great short game in practice”, but on the course it disappears. The reason: fear.
Fear makes you focus more on what could go wrong, rather than the outcome you desire. Focusing on the possible negative outcomes such as poor contact (hitting thin or fat shots), what the reaction will be from your playing partners, not making a fluid swing and throwing away strokes takes focus and energy away from what is most important. This fear can also cause physical changes as heart rate and muscle tension rises.
These changes in mental and physical state mean that the intention for the shot is lost, the mind and body are not relaxed, and the messages being sent to the muscles are unclear. Let’s take a look at how you can reduce fear and build short game confidence.
Srixon Z-STAR Diamond Golf Ball – Key Takeaways
Srixon brings Brooks Koepka’s prototype ball to market.Firmer than Z-STAR, higher-spinning than Z-STAR XV102 compression$44.99 per dozen, available Jan. 21You’ve seen the new Srixon Z-STAR Diamond golf ball in action. At least, you did if you watched the 12-hole grudge match between Brooks and Bryson over Thanksgiving. New Srixon staffer Koepka dormied the match following a killer iron from the rough that hopped and stopped four feet from the hole.
If you’re Srixon, you put that shot in every Z-STAR Diamond commercial. And maybe the tee shot from on the par-3 ninth hole as well.
Because that’s exactly what the new Srixon Z-STAR Diamond was designed to do. And, most likely, exactly for whom it was designed.
“This ball was a major driver in joining Srixon,” says Koepka in a press release. “It’s been a seamless transition.”
Srixon Z-STAR Diamond – A Hybrid Ball
We already have the Pro V1 Left Dash and Left Dot as well as the Chrome Soft X LS, so why not a Z-STAR Diamond?
The men who operate massive machines that contour the landscape into features suitable for golf are known as shapers. In reality, they are sculptors, artists of the earth, the very best of whom are capable of taking the most sketchy of plans from an architect and transforming them into an artistic and functioning reality. BILL COORE
The men who operate massive machines that contour the landscape into features suitable for golf are known as shapers. In reality, they are sculptors, artists of the earth, the very best of whom are capable of taking the most sketchy of plans from an architect and transforming them into an artistic and functioning reality. BILL COORE
Cameron Smith finished at 34-under 258, a tournament record by three shots. Ernie Els won at 31 under in 2003, and that had been the PGA Tour record for shots under par.
Jon Rahm matched the low score of his career, tied the course record at Kapalua, Hawaii, and played his last 12 holes in 11-under par for a 61 Saturday, tying Cameron Smith at the Sentry Tournament of Champions.
Cameron Smith "had to hit the reset button" Friday at the Sentry Tournament of Champions after opening with two straight bogeys. He made a sensational recovery, capped by four straight birdies at the end for a 9-under 64 and a three-shot lead.
The USGA billed it as a major championship announcement and the hyperbole matched the depth of the news announced Friday.
The U.S. Women’s Open purse goes to $10 million, world class venues like Riviera and Interlachen were added, Pinehurst will host another back-to-back men’s/women’s Open, and a presenting sponsor (ProMedica) is announced.
I cover it all and analyze at The Quadrilateral. Everyone can read a preview here. (More here on The Quad and plans for 2002, including increased women’s major coverage.)
Here is the official press release:
USGA Significantly Elevates U.S. Women’s Open with Addition of its First-Ever Presenting Partner – ProMedica
The U.S. Golf Association announced the U.S. Women's Open purse will nearly double this year to $10 million, by far the richest in women's golf.
I do not mean to imply that short par-3’s do not exist anymore, though its type is not frequently attempted by many architects today. But quite selfishly, I would enjoy seeing more of them, for it's one of the many ways to check unbridled power, and occasionally, make those long hitters' knees tremble.
BEN CRENSHAW
The Washington Post’s Barry Svrluga takes pro golfers to task for taking Saudi Arabia’s money at the PIFSIFSIA/Bonesaw/Saudi Golf League group get together next month. Full disclosure: Svrluga’s former colleague at the Post, Jamal Khashoggi, was lured to his death and reportedly sliced into pieces and disposed of by a squad working for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. At least in the CIA’s assessment.
Thanks to all who shared this and who wondered if the players will see it—or care—but this about LIV Golf Investments’ Greg Norman and the Public Investment Fund will put Svrluga on the Shark’s bad list:
Here’s Norman, in a November interview with Golf Digest within days of his announcement, immediately trying to distance the PIF from the brutalities inflicted by bin Salman.
“[The PIF is] obviously a commercial operation,” Norman said. “They’re very autonomous. They make investment decisions all around the world. They’ve invested in major U.S. corporations because of commercial reasons. They invested in LIV Golf Investments for a commercial opportunity. They’re passionate about the game of golf.”
He’s a self-serving snake-oil salesman but worse. Don’t trust him.
Patrick Cantlay and Jon Rahm returned from long absences and shot a 66 and 67, respectively, Thursday at Kapalua.
A serious illness after the Ryder Cup left U.S. captain Steve Stricker hospitalized with inflammation around his heart, a high white blood cell count and liver woes, he told Wisconsin Golf in a story published Thursday.
Just as their strategic partners have done, the Tour Formerly Known As European will be granting releases to the Asian Tour’s PIFSIPSIA next month, reports The Guardian’s Ewan Murray.
Filling the field of the Saudi-backed event, formerly a European Tour event that was the brainchild of Chief Keith Pelley and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, appears to be quite easy. Especially when tours are rolling over so easily. There was a Telegraph report of possible repercussions after players tee it up.
Murray writes:
By the Monday deadline, between 30 and 40 members of the tour had requested releases to play in the Asian Tour-run event near Jeddah, from 3 February. It is sponsored by the Saudi public investment fund and carries huge appearance fees.
Despite speculation of potential bans for European players who compete in the Saudi International, dismissed by some as little more than a cash grab, it is understood they should be informed this week that releases will be granted with conditions relating to future commitments to DP World Tour tournaments. Should those conditions not be met there is scope for disciplinary action, but player power has seemingly won the day.
Is $50 a lot of money?
For a hot dog and an adult beverage at the turn? Yes.
For a new BMW M5? Nope.
What about a dozen golf balls? Now, that should elicit some visceral replies.
All that said, the point is that as with any product or service, the relationship between price and value is inherently subjective. A round of golf is no different.
