2006 is all but over and it has been a trying year for some. Some have played exceptionally well and others who have lost that loving feeling.
The 2006 season had plenty of drama. At the end of it all there some who were hot and some who were not. Phil Mickelson finished fourth on the money list, won a Masters, choked away a U.S. Open, and is looking forward to returning to the winner’s circle after coming away from his extended vacation.
Tiger was Tiger and there were a few names who emerged from this season with some shine. Let’s take a look at who was hot and who was not in 2006.
The only player among the next generation of women golfers to distance herself from the pack in 2006, Ochoa is proving that she can dominate on the LPGA Tour. Just like she’s done her whole golfing life.
While there was little doubt, Lorena Ochoa has proven she belongs on the LPGA Tour this year. She has distanced herself from promising young stars like Paula Creamer, Michelle Wie, Natalie Gulbis, and Morgan Pressel and is threatening to knock off the Queen Bee of women’s golf: one Annika Sorenstam.
While a major championship eluded Ochoa this year, it appears that it won’t be long before Mexico’s favorite golfer starts collecting a mantle full of major trophies.
Lace up your golf shoes, grab your clubs, and join me for nine holes with one of the LPGA’s very best.
Callaway’s Fusion Wide Sole irons promise to help you improve your game without doing anything to your swing. Possible? Check out our review to find out.
Let’s face it: the average American male golfer’s handicap is 16; the average female handicap is 29. There are a lot of us who can use all the help our equipment can give us.
Callaway’s Fusion Wide Sole irons join a growing industry trend to create a wide-sole, large-face, generously offset iron for the average golfer. The original Fusions were heralded as some of the most forgiving irons ever made. The Fusion Wide Soles took that forgiving design even further.
Do the Callaway Wide Sole irons live up to their ultra-forgiving promise? I compared these irons to the regular Fusions and the forged clubs I normally play and came to some interesting conclusions. Take a look at what I found…
Not that all of these guys are necessarily going to lose their card come the end of the season but don’t we expect more from these folks. Did you see these money list positions coming at the beginning of the year?
You might be surprised to see who is above 100 on the PGA Tour money list. 2006 has been a memorable one on Tour with another career defining year for Mr. Woods, a career most-embarrasing-moment for Phil, and a slew of first-time winners.
Every year there are those who struggle to perform at a level we expect them to. Lets take a cursory look at the above-100 crowd and see what we find…
A gentleman both on and off the course Byron Nelson has carried himself as a humble, true, and generous champion. His influence has continued since walking away from the game as a full-time player in 1946.
Those who knew Byron Nelson recognize that his records and trophies all take second place to his tremendous depth of character. Anyone who witnessed Nelson at the tournament that bore his name, the EDS Byron Nelson Championship, knew how respected he was by every participant. The Byron Nelson award ceremony was always a tender moment as Nelson greeted and congratulated the victor.
Nelson’s achievements are pinnacles of excellence that rival that of any athlete in any sport. His high level of play over a relatively short time-span amassed an impressive number of victories, set a new standard for the golf swing, and left us with the memories and example of what every sportsman should be: a gentleman.
What kind of dent will rookies make in the 2006 Ryder Cup? Take a peek at rookies on both sides of the isle and get an idea of what kind of impact they’ll have.
This is it. All the predictions are in. All any fan on either side of the pond can do is sit back and enjoy the competition. Europe has fielded a very good team once again and it is incumbent upon the Americans to validate their potential.
Lehman and Woosnam have made their crucial pics. With the top three players in the world on the United States team there is good reason to expect good things. But Europe has made a habit of foiling U.S. plans.
What impact will this year’s rookies have. Read on to find out…
Tiger will never lose again. At least it feels that way. The Ryder Cup is right around the corner and at least Tiger and Furyk are on fire. So the US team has that going for them.
Tiger Woods wins his fifth tournament in a row and Furyk wins his second of the year. The European Ryder Cup team is set, Wie misses another cut, Kerr defeats Sorenstam, Sergio is dating shark offspring, and Trevino reports how evil golf ball has become. Tune in to this episode of Golf Talk for more.
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Carrying only ten clubs and dominating the sport for many years, Vardon is one of golf’s all-time greats. He was golf’s first celebrity and one of the finest players.
In the minds of many Americans, golf celebrity was realized in Arnold Palmer. He was the people’s champion. He could hit the ball a mile, had a quirky follow through, and putted knock-kneed, which was fun to watch. Then along came Jack. He stole the show and set an almost unattainable standard for success in the golfing world. Tiger showed up a few years back and began to redefine the title “best golfer ever” yet again. He’s probably already done but we’ll still wait until he beats Jack’s record.
Long before any of them there was a quiet man who redefined the word “champion.” He was a lowly greens keeper who became the first international celebrity in golf: Harry Vardon. Here is a snippet of his fascinating life…
Modern golf balls bear only superficial resemblence to balls of the distant past. Take a peek with me at the evolution of the golf ball.
Integral to just about every sport (minus curling) is some kind of ball. For hundreds of years the golf ball has evolved from a rock or primitive wooden sphere to the technological marvel it has become in recent years.
No other sport has allowed as many differences in their ball’s playability as golf has the golf ball. Foremost on a modern player’s mind are spin, compression, distance, and aerodynamics. Different players want different things from golf balls. Some need lower spin for distance others are looking for higher spin for different flight and control possibilities. Golf ball makers have seized upon this opportunity and churn out a plethora of options for amateurs and pros alike. Golf equipment manufacturers make more money from golf balls than they ever will their clubs.
So where has the lowly golf ball come from? What is it’s history? Lets take a peek…
