While everyone is ranting and raving about equipment, flogging, and other factors in the distance debate, I saw one of Tiger’s stats tonight on The Golf Channel that I thought was interesting. Here are Tiger’s best tournaments since 1999 with regards to driving accuracy:
Year Tournament Accuracy Result ---- ---------- -------- ------ 2000 British Open 91.0% Won 2006 British Open 83.3%* ? 1999 Funai Classic 85.7% Won 2000 Bay Hill 83.9% Won 2005 British Open 83.9% Won 2001 Memorial 82.1% Won 2002 Buick Open 82.1% Won *Through three rounds
When Tiger keeps it in the short grass, he’s doing quite well. I’m willing to bet that a good portion of the above tournaments he wasn’t hitting driver much either. Tiger is feasting on Hoylake with his stinger 2-iron off the tee with a plan to stay out of trouble. I’d say that it is working so far.
We get to see a new ‘old’ course on the rotation this year. We’re used to seeing the names St. Andrews, Muirfield, and something with a Royal on the front of it. The 2006 British Open will be contended on another Royal course, but it is known as something else.
Well it happens to be that time again: Open Championship time, that is. Golf’s oldest major championship is back at a course that hasn’t hosted a major since Roberto de Vicenzo won in 1967. I’m very excited for this tournament for a couple reasons: the course is running ridiculously fast and hard, interesting shots we rarely see played will be commonplace, and Tiger will surely be on the prowl. 
It’s time for the 2006 British Open at Royal Liverpool. Tiger Woods missed his first cut in a major championship as a professional at last month’s U.S. Open. You can bet Tiger will be on a mission this week across the pond. The World Number Two, Phil Mickelson, played great at Winged Foot until double bogeying the final hole to lose by one.
It looks like Ping has a new line of irons and woods coming out soon. Dubbed “Rapture,” the clubs were captured in pictures in the bags of Champions Tour players at the Ford Senior Players Championship and popped up last week on Sand Trap partner Golfwrx.com 
Joe Ogilvie may have 
Club manufacturers aren’t shy about jumping on a bandwagon. Witness the recent explosion of 460cc drivers, moveable weights, and high MOI (moment of inertia) putters. But no other recent development in equipment has had such an impact on the makeup of clubs in a bag as have hybrids.
Another Monday, another Hittin’ the Links. From Tiger’s flawless swing, to a man who “took the 90s off” from golf and returned in high form, to Wie’s heat woes, to the latest MySpace wannabe, this week’s pile of links has it all. Enjoy!
Trevor Immelman, Allen Doyle, and Brittany Lincicome all knocked off some big names to claim titles the past week (Tiger Woods, Tom Watson, Michelle Wie and Annika Sorenstam). Plus, Tiger vs. Ozzie Guillen, Michelle Wie vs. the heat of the John Deere Classic, Nick Faldo to TGC, Mickelson at Hoylake, Tiger’s loss of intimidation, Natalie Gulbis winning her first tournament (we predict!), and thoughts on metal spikes. Tune in to this episode of Golf Talk for more.