Author: Erik J. Barzeski

Hope (and Some New Sticks) Propel Leonard

Justin Leonard, playing in only his second tournament with his new Nike equipment, earns victory, breaking a 22-month dry spell for the 1997 Open champion.

Justin Leonard, who signed with Nike only 25 days ago and who missed his first cut with Nike equipment at last week’s Buick Invitational, today shot 5-under 67 to capture the 2005 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic at 28-under 332.

Joe Ogilvie, who led the tournament after four rounds, remains winless after six years on tour. He shot a closing-round 73 and finished T2 with Tim Clark at -25, three back. Ogilvie joked “The rain dance didn’t work. I was trying for a rainout today, but that didn’t happen.”

Said Leonard of this victory, his first in 22 months since the 2003 Honda, “it will inspire me a bit, knowing that one is not enough. I’ve been sitting on eight wins for almost two years, and it’s nice to get a ninth.” Leonard had only three top-10s last year and finished 42nd on the money list with $1.5 million. He failed to qualify for the Tour Championship for the first time since joining the PGA Tour.

As the last two Hope champions went on to capture the Green Jacket of Augusta, Leonard may now be the odds-on favorite to capture the Masters.

Photo Credit: © Nike

Saturday at the Bob Hope

A 3-under 69 was good enough to keep journeyman Joe Ogilvie two shots ahead of Peter Lonard. Can Justin Leonard make a Sunday charge?

Joe OgilvieJoe Ogilvie is holding on to a two-stroke lead going into the fifth and final round of the 2005 Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. He managed only a 3-under 69 in Saturday’s round while Justin Leonard leapt into third with a 64 and Peter Lonard sits in second. Ogilvie’s round included an eagle and two birdies at La Quinta Country Club.

Peter Lonard also shot 69 and remains two strokes back. Justin Leonard, currently at -23, is three strokes back. Tim Clark is four back at 266, and Phil Mickelson, defending champ, sits with several others at 268, six back, after shooting a Saturday 68.

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Re-Design

We’ve redesigned our site. Did we meet all ten of our design goals? Tell us what you think!

Yes, this is The Sand Trap. We’ve redesigned a little bit. Our design goals for this go-round were quite simple:

1. Have a good-looking menu.
If you dropped by before, you remember the little menu we had at the top. It served its purpose, but it wasn’t very attractive, it didn’t tempt people to look at the site, and it didn’t work in most versions of Internet Explorer. Our new menu, the “Article Topics” to the right, is far more attractive and user-friendly.

2. Move away from traditional “blog” look.
“Blogs” have a typical look. They emphasize the date, they have a strong “category” presence. They use usernames like “blingo” and “caseycat” (I’ve made those up, so if that’s your name, please take no offense). The line between a “blog” and a “news site” is blurry. We wanted to be on the latter side of that blur. I think we’ve succeeded.

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Go Home, David, Please

Go home, David Duval. Get your game in shape or something, but until you do, please – just stay away.

David Duval NikeDavid Duval, at one point in the third round of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic, triple-bogeyed three straight holes. After three rounds of play on the relatively easy courses of the Bob Hope Chrylser Classic, Duval sits at +30. The leader, Joe Ogilvie, is “comfortably” fifty three strokes ahead. Lanny Wadkins, second-to-last, is 19 strokes clear of Duval. Davis Love III made more birdies on the back nine today than Duval has made in three full rounds of play, and we’re quite confident that were Sam Snead alive today, he too could beat David Duval.

Until last week, I was as big a Duval fan as you’re likely to find these days. I was happy that he finished T13 at last year’s Deutsche Bank Championship. As I said, until last week. Duval withdrew during one of the weather delays and returned to Colorado to get in some snowboarding. This week, he’s +30 after three rounds. This week, right now, I just wish the guy would stop embarrassing himself.

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Trajectile Dysfunction

If you suffer from trajectile dysfunction, Cleveland Golf is here to help.

Trajectile DysfunctionHave trouble getting it up? Cleveland can help. Cleveland has put together a marketing campaign for men who suffer from “trajectile dysfunction.”

The ad campaign was kicked off on the Web at a few weeks ago at trajectiledysfunction.com and is now hitting television screens across the country (particularly in homes with The Golf Channel). The campaign, which plays off of Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and countless other pills for men who have trouble “hitting their woods,” is an attempt to draw attention to Cleveland’s Launcher 460 Comp, a composite-crown driver being played by a man who’s “risen” to the top of the world golf rankings, Vijay Singh.

If you’re not satisfied with your ability to “go long,” Cleveland Golf is looking to help.

Playing in Gusts

Learn to read the gusts based on a little scientific knowledge and you’ll play better in the wind.

Wind GustGusty conditions can make for a heck of a challenge on the golf course. However, with a little understanding, you can learn to read the wind gusts to hit shots when they’re most likely to be unaffected.

As a general rule, gusts of wind last for about 750 to 1200 feet and can continue quite a bit longer. If you’re hitting into a headwind, it’s possible to choose an appropriate time. As a 25 MPH gust slackens against a flag 100 yards away, it will blow past you within about ten seconds. Because wind affects a ball dramatically more so towards the end of a ball’s flight than at the beginning, the ideal time to hit the ball is about six to seven seconds after you feel the gust. If you wait too long, the conditions may be still where you are, but another gust may have started by the time your ball reaches the peak of its flight.

Learn to read the gusts – and use the above as a general starting point – and you’ll score better in the wind.

Stress and Relaxation Responses

We don’t recommend farting after hitting a bad shot, but it may just counter the stress response.

BrainThe Golf Channel last night showed Dr. Gio Valiante, a regular guest on the show and the man behind fearlessgolf.net.

Last night, Gio was talking about the stress response as manifested by anger over a bad shot. Anger all too frequently forces itself upon us in the form of stress. Though some great players have found ways to make anger motivational, it’s rare. More frequently, anger turns on the stress response – mentally and physically – and bad play continues.

Gio’s suggestion? Laugh. Yawn. Make a silly sound. Do something to counter the stress response with the relaxation response. Stretch. Anything – relax yourself. You’ll free yourself from the grips of stress and put yourself in a better position to focus on the next shot.

Whistling Strait Back

The diabolical Straits course in Kohler, Wisconsin has locked up a Ryder Cup and at least two more PGA Championships.

Whistling StraitsThe 86th PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Kohler, WI was such a success that the course was recently named the home of the championship in 2010 and 2015. Additionally, the course will host the Ryder cup in 2020 pending guarantees of sufficient hotel rooms.

The Straits Course, Pete Dye’s latest major design to receive a national audience and a large tournament, was opened in 1998 alongside Lake Michigan and ranks among the top 5 places you can play according to Golf Magazine. At 7,536, the Straits course is currently the longest course in major championship history.

Said Herb Kohler, fauce man extraordinaire, “We are honored that the club professionals of The PGA of America have made such a strong long-term commitment to return to this venue.”

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2006 Ryder Cup Standings

Points standings for the 2006 Ryder Cup following the 2005 Buick Invitational.

The 2006 Ryder Cup team points standings are available after every PGA Tour event, and points will be available through the 88th PGA Championship. It’s no surprise that, after finishing third and first in his only two events this year, and a lot of top finishes last year, Tiger Woods is currently atop the list.

Here’s your top 15. At this point, nearly anyone who manages a top-10 jumps into the top 20. Oh what a Ryder Cup team we’d have with Woody Austin, Hunter Mahan, and Kirk Triplett! But hey, that’s why this is the 200-SIX team.

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