Year: 2009

What’s Next for Wiesy?

Michelle goes 3-0-1 at the Solheim Cup. What should we expect, looking forward?

Thrash TalkAlthough I, like many, am neither a Wie-maniac nor a committed Wie-watcher, I was pleased with Michelle’s performance at the Solheim Cup this past weekend. The Michelle Wie Story will always be one of failure to meet the ludicrous expectations which surrounded her. It is, of course, a wholly fruitless endeavor to speculate as to the exact genesis of said expectations, but the recipe is surely some part B.J. Wie, some part mass sports media hysteria of the Tiger Woods variety.

What do we make of Michelle’s 3-0-1 record at this year’s event?

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Golf Talk [Episode 123]

Michelle Wie may have earned her stripes at the Solheim Cup with a glittering 3-0-1 record.

Golf Talk PodcastThe U.S. team is victorious in the Solheim Cup and Michelle Wie is the leading point earner. Also, Tiger commits to Barclays, Ryan Moore wins his first, a writer coins the phrase “Slow-heim Cup,” and a whole lot more in this episode of Golf Talk.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed for our podcasts here or download Episode 123 as an MP3 file. For those who want to subscribe to us in iTunes, click here.

Note: the use of MP3 format is a one-week trial. MP3 does not allow us to create chapters, artwork, or embedded links like AAC.

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

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Wedge News: Vokey 60-V and Eidolon Prime

Wedges sure do seem to be getting the cosmetic treatments these days, don’t they?

Bag DropIt seems like every week details on at least one new, drool-worthy piece of equipment makes its presence known to us “normal” golfers. This week is no exception, as we have two new wedge offerings to talk about.

The first is a limited edition release from Bob Vokey. The second is a new finish on a proven line of wedges from a clubmaker you might not have heard of yet – but which you will be happy to learn about.

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Volume Two Hundred Two

The Americans retain the Solheim Cup!

Hittin' the LinksHello and welcome again golf fans to another fun filled edition of Hittin’ the Links. Congratulations has to go out to Ryan Moore on his first PGA Tour Victory. Perhaps with his win and new-found fame he can attract a clothing sponsor. I am sorry – that wasn’t nice.

In this newest volume of HTL we begin with Tigers’s new plans for the playoffs, then find out who got a promotion, and see why Juli Inkster is finished with the Solheim Cup. Also, we take a look at PGA Champion Y.E. Yang, investigate what a groundskeeper in Michigan found on one of the greens, and do a full wrap-up of the week’s events. Read on!

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Thoughts on the 2009 PGA Championship, Briefly

Random musings on the aforementioned.

Thrash TalkAs Tiger Woods limped home Sunday (figuratively, this year) looking thoroughly befuddled and not at all the “Sunday Tiger,” we’ve come to expect, a few disjointed thoughts were swimming about my own befuddled consciousness.

In no particular order of significance, I mulled over the following, which I don’t present as any insightful recapitulation of the final round of this year’s PGA Championship, or nuanced breakdown of Tiger’s failure to secure victory after leading in the final round of a major (for only the second time in his career). Rather, I pen (alright, type) the following as a presentation of a few talking points loosely associated with my impressions of a few days ago.

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Golf Talk [Episode 122]

Tiger Woods is now 14/15 when holding the 54-hole lead in major championships.

Golf Talk PodcastTiger wins at Firestone for his seventh and seventieth, but can’t get the job done against Y.E. Yang at the 91st PGA Championship. Plus, Solheim Cup news, a timing issue, golf in the Olympics, and a whole lot more in this episode of Golf Talk.

You can subscribe to the RSS feed for our podcasts here or download Episode 122 as an MP3 file. For those who want to subscribe to us in iTunes, click here.

Note: the use of MP3 format is a one-week trial. MP3 does not allow us to create chapters, artwork, or embedded links like AAC.

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

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Dave Koster Analysis

Think you would be satisfied with your swing after you win a club championship. Not David.

Swing CheckDave Koster is very different than many of the players we analyzed in previous articles. Dave hits the ball 290 yards with a slight draw. He plays scratch golf. He has won his club championship. Simply stated, Dave Koster is not a beginner. The catch is that like all of us – including Tiger – as he can definitely improve.

Identifying problems in Dave’s swing is not very hard. However, given the fact that several of his problems are clearly offsetting each other, our challenge will be to identify what problem is holding him back from going even lower.

Read on to see Dave’s swing and the fixes I’ve outlined for him.

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Volume Two Hundred One

Tiger gives up a lead, Venezuela is getting rid of golf, and the birthplace of U.S. golf is up for sale. Is the world coming to an end?

Hittin' the LinksHello out there everyone in golf land. Anyone out there still in shock? Yep, the invincible Tiger Woods did get beat, you weren’t dreaming. I believe it’s a good thing: it gets boring watching everyone fade in his presence. Good job Y.E. Yang, I for one did not believe you could do it.

In this most recent volume of Hittin’ the Links, we first look at the sale of U.S. golf history, then see what happened to Lefty at the PGA, and find out what Seve is doing now to fight cancer. Also on tap, we investigate Hugo Chavez’s disdain for golf, find out Tiger’s plans for Olympic golf, and do a wrap-up of the Y.E. Yang shocker at Hazeltine. Read on!

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2009 PGA Championship Final Round Live Blog

Will Tiger hold on to win his fifth and fifteenth PGA and Major? Or will this be the first time in 15 tries he doesn’t take it with a final-round lead?

2009 PGA ChampionshipWe’re live blogging the final round of the 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club. Tiger Woods is poised to win a record-typing fifth PGA Championship (and his third consecutive) and his fifteenth major – each of which he’s previously won with the third-round lead as he has this year.

Will major winners Padraig Harrington (two back at -6) or Lucas Glover (four back at -4) win the title, or will Y.E. Yang or Henrik Stenson capture their first? Could someone from -3 or further possibly go low enough to win, or is this a five-horse race? Let’s put it this way: if Tiger shoots 70, Paddy and Y.E. have to shoot 67 to win, and G. Lover and Stenson have shoot 65. 67 is the lowest round of the week – and it’s only been shot by two people. They’re both playing in the final group.

Pos   Player                Tot     R1    R2    R3
---   ------------------    ---     --    --    --
1     Tiger Woods           -8      67    70    71
T2    Padraig Harrington    -6      68    73    69
T2    Y.E. Yang             -6      73    70    67
T4    Lucas Glover          -4      71    70    71
T4    Henrik Stenson        -4      73    71    68
T6    Ernie Els             -3      75    68    70
T6    Soren Kjeldsen        -3      70    73    70
T8    Ross Fisher           -2      73    68    73
T8    Brendan Jones         -2      71    70    73
T8    Martin Kaymer         -2      73    70    71
T8    John Rollins          -2      73    73    68
T8    Alvaro Quiros         -2      69    76    69

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