Ernie Els has a swing as smooth as butter and fresh resolve to establish his game in 2006.
With arguably the most coveted swing in modern golf, Ernie Els has established himself as a consistent competitor. On the heels of a disappointing 2005 in the majors Els has retooled his bag and his swing in hopes of improving in 2006. His quiet nature, easy smile, and fluid swing give off an aura of class and humility that makes people miss him when he’s gone.
There are all kinds of little factoids out there. Spending a lot of time researching numbers, I’ve come across a few that I found intersting. You might as well.
During any type of research you are going to come across some things that peak your interest. Whenever I would come across something I would store it somewhere. After a while I got a bunch of these nuggets and thought it would be interesting to share them with you. So without any more delay, here are 10 facts that may only interest me… well, maybe you too.
The Sonartec MD has been a leader in the hybrid market for years. A solid club with a penetrating ball flight, the MD matches up well with all other hybrids. Golfers looking at hybrids should consider the Sonartec, especially if they have a higher ball flight.
The Sonartec MD has been a consistent performer on the PGA Tour since 2002. Once an obscure player in an obscure market, Sonartec is now a name most will not only consider, but often choose for their long iron replacement.
Sonartec truly broke through back in the 2004 British Open when Todd Hamilton used one religiously around the greens. It was interesting not only to see a pro player use a hybrid in this manner but just to use a hybrid period. From that point forward (so it seems), the hybrid revolution hit the golf market. An explosion of options in hybrid irons and woods from all the manufacturers can now be found. In large part to this event and Sonartec, the hybrid club is found in bags of tour players and amateurs alike.
Tour cards will be on the line in this all-or-nothing battle for one of twenty-four spots on the 2006 LPGA Tour.
For five days this week 142 golfers will learn the meaning of the word stress. The LPGA Q-School finals can bring out the best or worst in a player knowing that all of their work might eventually be in vain. A player could either be heading back to the Future’s Tour with just a few unlucky shots or be on the roster for the 2006 LPGA season.
Morgan Pressel, Brittany Lang and Ai Miyazato are among the players who need more than just five solid rounds of golf. Keeping cool under tremendous pressure means no temper tantrums and a great amount of focus. Their future hangs in the balance.
Find out which golfers will be making a return to the spotlight in 2006.
I hope everyone had a Happy Thanksgiving last week, but it’s time to get back to business. I wanted to write about Michelle Wie missing her sixth cut in six tries in men’s events. However, I have picked on her enough in past editions of Thrash Talk. Instead, I’m going to focus on something a little more positive this time around.
David Duval ultimately comes to mind after playing so well last week in Japan. Duval has played awful since the start of the 2003 PGA Tour season, making just eight cuts in 49 starts. That is shocking, considering Duval was arguably the best golfer in the world in the late-90s. Last week, Duval teed it up in the Dunlop Open in Japan, and the final results were pretty positive. Duval started off great, fizzled a little down the stretch, but still finished in a tie for eighth.
With just more than two months before the 2006 PGA Merchandise Show, rumors are flying about lots of new products. Let’s take a look at a few of the biggies.
With the last of the Thanksgiving leftovers finally polished off, The Bag Drop is ready to take a look at a few items that are likely on the wish lists of more than a few golfers out there. We have a collection of rumblings and rumors about new products that may be in the pipeline – and may or may not be out in time for Santa to put under your tree. Whether you’ve been naughty or nice, you’ll still want to check this list twice.
Left over turkey and cranberries goes well with this week’s links.
I’m a Cincinnati Bengals fan, as well as a golf addict, so this weekend when I was watching the game and Chad Johnson scored, I was eagerly awaiting his end zone celebration. And, boy did he live up to the expectations. He used the pylon as a putter and did his best Tiger Woods impersonation in the end zone making a putt. I recommend watching Monday Night Countdown to see it.
Now, on to the links.
Michelle Wie misses her sixth cut in a men’s event but is getting ready for her seventh appearance at the Sony Open.
Although fraught with jitters on day one of the Casio World Open, sixteen-year-old Michelle Wie was determined to qualify this week. This is her sixth men’s tournament and the young girl had some pretty big shoes to fill since 1945 when Babe Didrikson Zaharias last qualified for an event on the PGA Tour. Annika Sorenstam and Club Pro Suzy Whaley entered the men’s arena in 2003 at the Colonial but also failed to make waves. Wie is also the second female to play on the Japan Men’s Tour since Sophie Gustafson missed the cut in this same event in 2003.
Mark Hensby can’t keep his mouth shut: this week, he’s criticizing Greg Norman. To Hensby I have but one thing to say: put up or shut up.
Mark Hensby isn’t one to keep his mouth shut. First he ran his mouth about Michelle Wie, saying “I don’t think a 15-year-old girl who’s done nothing at all should get a sponsor’s invitation to a PGA Tour event.” A lot of articles start the same way this one does, “Australian golfer Mark Hensby has slammed (fill in the blank).”
This week, the tiny Australian’s target is none other than the gigantic Greg Norman. Norman’s fault, which Hensby can’t resist pointing out? The Great White Shark, recently voted Australia’s golfer of the century, apparently doesn’t do enough to support Australian golf.
Continue reading “Big Mouth Mark Hensby Criticizes Greg Norman”
