Volume Two Hundred Twenty Three

Couples wins, we’re having a prime time U.S. Open, and a tiger-less match play.

Hittin' the LinksHello and welcome to Hittin’ the Links. I don’t know about you but I actually enjoyed watching the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am this week, and it’s been a long time since I could say that. Was it actually less annoying this year or was it just me?

Anyway, in this volume of HTL we start of looking at the tabloid circus that is Tiger Woods’ life, then turn our attention to the Kia Classic, and check out some prime time golf. Also, we look at the Accenture Match Play, take notice of David Duval’s comeback, and do a wrap-up of the week’s events. Read on!

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Five Reasons Steve Stricker Should Win a Major in 2010

Why golf’s new number two should earn a major in 2010 and maybe even become golf’s number one.

Trap Five LogoIn a lot of ways the world’s current number two, Steve Stricker, never really gets the attention that is due to him. The media is too busy talking about Tiger’s off-course issues problems, or Phil’s groove issues, to take too much notice of a guy who has made the cut in 22 of his last 25 starts, even if those 25 starts include three wins last year and two already this year (if you count the Shark Shootout). Also, with a real hot year he could potentially take the number one spot from Tiger. This year will be great for him and I’ll be happy to watch him take home a Green Jacket or Claret Jug (or both).

Here are the top five reasons why Steve Stricker will (or should!) win a major in 2010. Good Luck Steve!!!

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Sorry Stricker, I’m Bored

New #2 seems like a really nice guy, but hard as I try, I can’t get jazzed up about him. Help me figure out why.

Thrash TalkHe’s a nice guy. Really nice. So nice he cries tears of joy every time he wins. I can buy that. Actually I can root for that. A pro athlete who really cares, whose default emotion is to weep, rather than throw a club and drop F-bombs on live TV. Steve Stricker’s the opposite of everything I can’t stand in His Tigerness, so in theory I should be president of the Stricker fan club.
But that’s where I’m stumped. I see Stricker’s name on the leaderboard and I might as well have taken an Ambien. There’s no spark, no sizzle, no swagger, no pop. So what is it I look for as a golf fan?

I guess the best way to define it is to run down the list and see if there’s a pattern.

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Nike Adds Hybrids, Fairway Woods, and Drivers to Victory Red Lineup

Building on the success of the Victory Red irons and wedges, Nike has extended the VR name to include a new lineup of drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids.

Bag DropOnce again, Nike Golf has stepped up to the plate and delivered with its latest release of drivers, fairways, and hybrids. Created with a great deal of input from their stable of athletes, Nike brings us what can easily be called their most traditional looking line of woods to date. The new Victory Reds are quite the departure, appearance-wise, from the SQ Sumo released two short years ago.

Bridging the gap between then and now was the SQ Dymo, which toned down the large grey Powerbow and had the option of the face-altering STR8-Fit Technology. Both the Sumo and Dymo were pretty successful, garnering tons of praise for being long and forgiving, and both still remain as a very affordable option on the market today. Can Nike continue to have the same success with their new lineup? Follow along with us as we look deeper at the Victory Red hybrids, fairway woods, and drivers.

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Volume Two Hundred Twenty Two

Tiger gets some family time, Stricker gets to number 2, and the Match Play’s field is set…maybe.

Hittin' the LinksGood morning golf fans, and welcome again The Sand Trap‘s Hittin’ the Links. Even in a weekend dominated by football, there was still quite a bit going on in the golf world. A whole column could be devoted to Tiger Woods alone!

In this newest volume we start off by quelling some Tiger Rumors, find out who made the Match Play, and check out Bubba on Ellen. Also, we investigate some tough times for country clubs, see who became Assistant Ryder Cup Captains, and do a wrap-up on the week’s events. Read on!

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Five Reasons to Leave Tiger Alone

Golf’s greatest player is on a break… we should let him take it.

Trap Five LogoThere is an overwhelming amount of concern about the private life of Tiger Woods. It doesn’t really matter what channel you turn to while watching TV; you are likely to hear something about the current situation he is in.

To be honest, I’m getting quite sick of it. It is not my place to know about his or anyone else’s personal life, nor do I really care to know. Aside from his personal life, in his professional one, he has done much more good than harm. He has helped grow the game exponentially and the numerous charities he has supported including his own have helped a hell of a lot of people. In this week’s Trap Five, I’m giving you five reason’s why he should be left alone and return to golf on his own terms and not the public’s. What are yours?

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Is It 2011 Yet?

Tiger’s holed up and Phil’s branded a cheater. Can 2010 get any worse? Sure. But a few things can turn the season around, too.

Thrash TalkWe’re only a month into the year, but the signs are all there. The world’s top two are suddenly PR nightmares. We’ve already had a dreaded Monday finish. The European Tour is churning out young stars at an eye-opening rate, and the Champions Tour is reminding us of what golf was like pre-Woods with the recent Couples-Watson showdown.

It’s only Week Five, but it’s becoming obvious: this will go down as the worst year for the PGA Tour since 1995 (aka, the year before Tiger turned pro).

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Pros on the Range

Pros use alignment sticks on the range more than half the time. Chops don’t. Go figger.

Head to any range in the country and you’ll see one thing. Well, okay, you’ll see a lot of things, like 90% of people hitting off their right foot, slicing, and firing balls one after the other as if they go bad when exposed to sunlight.

But the thing I’m talking about is actually something you won’t see: alignment sticks. Station after station, golfer after golfer, and not a single alignment stick to be found.

Walk around the range at a PGA Tour event and you can’t get away from the darn things.

Everyone wants to be like a PGA Tour pro, but very few people practice like one. Here are a couple of photos from The Memorial and the Bridgestone Invitational showing pros – and their training aids – on the range.

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Cobra Releases S2 Drivers and Fairway Woods

Cobra adds new drivers and fairway woods to their already impressive lineup with another driver featuring an improved Adjustable Flight Technology, and options to fit all players, both male and female.

Bag DropCobra has started the year off right with the new S2 lineup, which contains a driver that has already been named a gold medalist in Golf Digest‘s latest Hot List. To complement the drivers, the S2 line also includes new fairway woods designed to maximize forgiveness and playability.

The Carlsbad, CA clubmaker has been busy with this year’s new drivers and woods, as they have taken proven technologies from last year and refined them for the new S2 line. If it ain’t broke, right??? When we covered the L5V last year, Cobra’s jump into adjustability had just started, and only two flight control options were available. Since clubface adjustment is pretty much golf’s new black, the engineers at Cobra thought the ability to open the face as well as close it would be a great option. Of course, there is so much more to the new driver than clubface manipulation, so follow along to see what else is new for 2010 in the new S2 drivers (and fairway woods).

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