The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Volume One

Good, bad and ugly. It can be found in the pro’s game and our game as well. In the last few weeks, there’s been plenty of each kind of golf.

The Numbers GameIn every sport, there is good, bad, and ugly. Over the last few weeks I’ve seen a little bit of each. Of course there is some Tiger and a bit of Love, but I won’t even spare myself from the steely glare of the Numbers Game microscope.

This week in The Numbers Game I’ll break down what I thought was good, bad, and ugly in all of golf, including my own game.

Golf Talk [Episode 035]

Will Tiger Woods ever lose again? Seriously? He just won his fourth in a row, beating Stewart Cink with his C game.

PodcastTiger Woods wins his fourth tournament in a row while Richie Ramsay wins the U.S. Amateur despite not knowing that golf has rules. Also, the 2007 PGA Tour ‘Fall Series’ is announced, Miyazato aces two holes in a six-hole stretch, Tiger (and John Hawkins) go over (or through) the roof, the Ryder Cup team practices, and Tiger favors drug testing. Tune in to this episode of Golf Talk for more.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed for our podcasts here or download Episode 035 as an MP4 file. For those who want to subscribe to us in iTunes, click here.

For this week’s Show Notes – links to articles we discuss in the show and additional information – just read on.

2006 Deutsche Bank Championship Preview

People keep saying that Tiger Woods run of six straight wins during the 1999-2000 season was one of the greatest stretches in golf history. If that’s the case, then where does this winning streak rank?

Deutsche Bank LogoYou’d think Tiger Woods would be tired this week after playing five tournaments in a little over a month. However, the golfing phenom seems to be thriving off the competition and pressure. After winning his fourth tournament start in a row, Woods hopes to continue the dominance and winning streak at the TPC of Boston.

Ryder Cup Keys to Victory

The U.S. has struggled mightily in recent Ryder Cups, but there might be light at the end of the tunnel after all.

Thrash TalkThe 36th Ryder Cup is a little over three weeks away, and everyone is already starting to get Ryder Cup fever. The major championships are in the past, and the main focus has shifted towards the Europe/United States grudge match. The European side has won four of the last five despite playing the role of underdog. I guarantee they are the favorites to win this year.

Adams Golf Launches Idea Pro Hybrids

As hybrid clubs find their way into the bags of better golfers, manufacturers like Adams are responding with models specifically designed for the stronger player.

Bag DropAdams Golf is one of the established leaders in hybrid clubs. This latest addition to their line comes to market after considerable testing on the PGA, Champions, and Nationwide Tours where a number of players have had them in use for several months now.

The Idea Pro hybrids were designed from the ground up to appeal to top amateur and pro golfers with a look, specific materials, and inherent performance characteristics that match up well with the preferences of most strong players.

While we’ll have a full review of these clubs in The Sand Trap soon, here’s a first look at Adams newest hybrid line…

Volume Seventy-Three

Tiger leads us to Jack, which leads us to Valhalla and the U.S. Amateur. Plus Deutsche Bank, Two Holes-in-One, and those pesky Europeans.

Another week, another Tiger Woods win. I feel like the guy in the movie Groundhog Day. I wake to see Tiger Woods in the lead, and then I sit in front of the television on Sunday and watch him win.

When will the madness ever end?

Puku Long Putter Review

Does your putting stroke make your stomach turn? Puku Golf’s adjustable belly putters could help your game.

Puku Putter HeroLong putters – the broomstick-style flatsticks like Bernhard Langer has used for years – have been part of the golf equipment landscape for the last couple decades. Some players swear by them, and some would never touch one. The last few years saw a spike in the use of mid-length putters, also known as “belly” putters for the tendency of golfers to anchor the end of the shaft around their navel. Mid-length putters have the benefits of a long putter, mainly taking the wrists out of the putting stroke, while providing for a more traditional stance and stroke.

An interesting new twist on the belly putter idea comes from New Zealand’s Puku Golf Company. Puku – which is Maori for belly – makes mid-length putters with an innovative design that allows golfers to adjust the length of the putter. We had the chance to try one out, and here’s our gut feeling about it.

The Ryder Cup

Take a peek back at the origin of the Ryder Cup, a couple of it’s key moments, and my early prediction of the outcome.

ProFilesAnd now we all turn our attention to the Ryder Cup, is only a month away. The United States finally has some new talent on the roster. The new guys have tons of incentive to prove themselves worthy of the spot they fill and the old guard are tired of losing.

With Tiger Woods playing like his dominant self there is no reason that the United States won’t bring the Ryder Cup back to the United States. Unless you consider that Colin Montgomery, Sergio Garcia, David Howell, and other dominant Europeans stand in their way.

Sneek a peak with me into the history of the Ryder Cup and get my prediction for this year’s winners.

2006 Ryder Cup Picks

Lehman got exactly what he wanted. Two consistent golfers with great short games. Time will tell, but I think he made the right choice.

The Numbers GameTom Lehman went with two veterans to round out the 2006 Ryder Cup team. No, we’re not talking about Fred Couples and Davis Love. While not the flashiest players, Stewart Cink and Scott Verplank gave Lehman what he was looking for – consistent, solid golfers with above average short games.

Were there better options? Should Lehman have considered someone else? That’s what I’ll look at this week in The Numbers Game.