Ernie Els Training System Review

Great things really do come in small packages (and carry the name of the PGA Tour’s ‘Big Easy’)!

Ernie Els Training SystemMy main goal for 2006 is to lower my handicap and I’ve made improving my short game my a priority. I’ve committed myself to spend more time at the putting greens both at my house and my home course. I’ve learned from Dave, who tells us week after week in the Numbers Game that the key to lower scores is hitting greens in regulation and putting. It’s great to drive the ball well but you’ve still got to get the ball in the hole.

Enter the Ernie Els Training System. The Ernie Els Training System has a simplistic approach that almost makes you doubt its worth. After all, it’s a late-night The Golf Channel infomercial product, isn’t it? Perhaps, but after one practice session with this product I loved it. It hasn’t left my bag since.

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What’s in the Bag? Volume 2

There are some surprises and some non-surprises in the second volume of “What’s in the Bag?”

The Numbers GameWelcome to the second ever “What’s in the Bag?” here in The Numbers Game. I thought it was time to check the bags of the winners on the PGA Tour again and see where we stand. Last year TaylorMade dominated the clubs when I looked, Odyssey was the putter champion, Cleveland in wedges, and Titleist had grips on the ball category. Read on to see if there have been any changes.

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Greg Norman to PGA Tour: Show Me the Books!

The Norman-Finchem fight enters round number, uhhh, we lost track when it hit 50 last year. This time, Norman wants to see the PGA Tour’s “financials.”

Greg NormanGreg Norman wants to see the the PGA Tour’s books. As Tim Rosaforte says in his article, the request is not new. However, this may be the first request from a player with as high a profile as Greg Norman.

Norman is so serious about seeing the books that he’s hired high-powered attorney Leonard Decof, last seen representing Ping against the PGA Tour over the issue of square grooves. Though a lawsuit over the PGA Tour’s books has not yet been filed, it has certainly been threatened.

Rosaforte says “Norman’s view is that as a tour member, he’s entitled to see the financials and the minutes of all its meetings.” PGA Tour Co-COO Ed Moorhouse told Golf World “We’ve offered to sit down and answer any specific questions. To this point he has not availed himself of that, but we are ready to sit down and discuss any questions he has.”

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Bay Hill Invitational Preview

The 2007 event will be called the Arnold Palmer Invitational but could easily be called the Tiger Woods Invitational as he goes for his fifth win here.

Bay Hill InvitationalFor over two decades the Bay Hill Club & Lodge and Bay Hill Invitational have been under the control of Arnold Palmer and his family so it’s only fitting that the event be named the Arnold Palmer Invitational in 2007. I’m happy for Mr. Palmer and he is thrilled as well.

It’s been a matter of great pride for me when my name has been placed on an entity of one sort or another over the years,” Palmer said Tuesday. “But I can’t think of anything that brings me more pleasure and satisfaction than having it on the tournament that has meant so much to me for so long.

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Jeff Smith Swing Analysis

Jeff Smith, then a 24-handicapper, puts himself in front of the looking glass (and video camera) for his Swing Check.

Swing CheckStaff member Jeff Smith was a 24-handicap golfer who has only really gotten serious about his golf game last year (2005). Jeff is a strong golfer who fits an over-the-top move that, combined with his tremendous clubhead speed, leads to even more tremendous slices.

Jeff mistakenly ordered regular flex shafts in his clubs, and with a driver swing speed of 100 MPH, suffice to say he’s playing the wrong shafts. The regular flex shafts alone probably account for 50% of his troubles off the tee and a smaller fraction of his troubles with the irons. But that’s not what this column is about, so let’s give Jeff a Swing Check!

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Disappearance of the Big Five

Last year was all about the Big Five, but that’s definitely not the case so far in 2006.

Thrash TalkI hope everyone had nice weather this past weekend like I did in Oklahoma. On Saturday, the wind was non-existant and temperatures were in the 80s. On top of that, I broke 80 for only the fourth time in my golfing career. That doesn’t really have anything to do with this week’s Thrash Talk, but it is definitely worth mentioning. Now that my personal golf story of the week is out of the way, I’ll get into this week’s article.

Last year at this time, the golf media was going crazy over the “Big Five.” That group included Tiger Woods, Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, and Retief Goosen. Through the Honda Classic last season, this group had combined for five wins, four runner-up finishes, and five third-place finishes on the PGA Tour. All of the “Big Five” were playing great, and it really made things interesting.

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Titleist Refreshes Forged Irons Lineup

If you’ve been waiting for Titleist to drop some new forged irons, your wait is over.

Bag DropLast week, Titleist finally officially announced the long-awaited 905R driver. At the same time, the company let the cat out of the bag on some new irons as well.

While Titleist still hasn’t officially announced the new irons, information on the 660, 695MB, 695CB and 775.CB forged irons is available on the company’s website. Let’s take a quick look at these new irons, which join the 735.CM irons in this year’s irons lineup from Titleist.

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Volume Fifty

Everyone knows about the PGA Tour, the LPGA Tour, and even the European and Champions Tours. But what about the Asian Tour, the Hooters Tour, or the A. G. Spanos Tour? No?

Hittin' the LinksGreetings to all! I hope you had a great weekend of fun and excitement. I feel like I’ve been reborn, personally. I was able to get out and play nine holes for the first time since November. So, you’ll have to excuse my unbridled (and renewed) enthusiasm for golf.

This week’s Hittin’ The Links is dedicated to the pro golf tours. Many avid golf enthusiasts are aware of the major tours such as the PGA Tour, European Tour, Champions Tour etc, etc. However, I’ve decided to peruse the information superhighway and see what else is out there for an aspiring golf professional. If my tone seems somewhat overtly boisterous, I beg your pardon, but I’ve recently purchased a 12 pack of Samuel Adams White Ale. It’s superb to say the least.

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Donald and Sorenstam Each Seal the Deal

Donald now owns his first four-round PGA victory and Sorenstam defends her title.

Luke DonaldLuke Donald won his first PGA Tour event after only three rounds, thanks to two days of rain showers. Now he’s doubled both his career PGA victories and added to the number of rounds it took to win each of them. The Blonde Briton shot a final-round 69 (-3) with a clutch birdie on the 72nd after he stuck his approach to four feet and increased his lead to two. Donald believes this is just one step toward his goal, “I think it’s definitely a step in the right direction. Anytime you can win, especially out here on the PGA Tour, it’s a huge boost of confidence. Hopefully this will just keep the momentum going.”

Donald’s 72-67-68-69 was good enough to hold off Australian Geoff Ogilvy by a two-stroke margin. Ogilvy, who carded 15 birdies, three eagles, and one double-eagle, played three rounds of excellent golf, but brought home four bogies in the final round to finish outright in second place.

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