HSBC World Matchplay, Round 2

Bernhard Langer pulled off an impressive win over World No. 1 Vijay Singh at the HSBC World Match Play.

Well, yesterday’s predictions didn’t go too badly; 5 out the seven remaining matches called correctly, with one of mis-calls going to the 37th hole. That match was won by Bernhard Langer, pulling off an impressive victory over world number one Vijay Singh.

Today’s matches are being played to an excellent standard. Jimenez played the first 18 holes of his match with Bernhard Langer in 63 shots (an approximate score, since all putts aren’t necessarily holed in match play), and finished the eighteenth 3 up. Padraig Harrington also went round in 63, and although he was 6 up on Thomas Levet after 18, he was pegged back to 2 up after losing four holes in a row. Whatever the Frenchman had for lunch, I want some of it.

Read the extended entry for my predictions for the rest of the second round. Post yours in the comments.

Continue reading “HSBC World Matchplay, Round 2”

US Coast Guard Boards Tiger’s Yacht

The US Coast Guard boards Tiger’s yacht “Privacy.”

CNN reports that armed officers of the Coast Guard boarded the couple’s new mega-yacht Privacy in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The crew apparently was not aware they had to file advance notice of arrival. Doh!

HSBC World Matchplay, Round 1

The first round of the HSBC World Matchplay remains unfinished due to rain delays. Retief Goosen was the day’s only winner, thrashing Jeff Maggert 12&11.

goosen_hsbc.jpgWho says it never rains in England? Well, no-one, frankly, and with good reason. The first round of the HSBC World Match Play Championship was heavily disrupted by rain, which meant that only one match out of the eight 36-hole first round matches was settled before the close of play, with US Open champion Retief Goosen crushing Jeff Maggert 12&11. Goosen was 8 up after the first 18 holes, and only required a further 7 holes to complete the rout and set a new record for the largest margin of victory in the event.

The delay has given me the opportunity to make some predictions for what’s left of the first round, and I’ll do the same for the remaining rounds. Post your predictions on here too, and we’ll see who comes out tops!

Read the extended entry for my predictions.

Continue reading “HSBC World Matchplay, Round 1”

Putt Long

Make sure you get your putt to the hole.

“90% of all putts left short don’t go in.” I’ve used that taunt a few times, even though it’s quite obvious that it’s just a gag. Every putt left short won’t go in, and Dave Pelz has taught us that the best speed for a putt is that which makes it stop 17 inches past the hole. Practice hitting your putts at a speed that puts the ball one to two feet behind the hole and you’ll make more putts, even if it’s simply because you don’t leave as many short.

Chip off the Toe

Chip with the toe of your club in bad lies.

Your ball is in the fringe or fairway near the green, but sitting in a slight depression. The sole of the club is wider than the hole, making it difficult to get down to the ball. You could chop down hard, but you’d have very little distance control. Instead, set the club up on the toe a bit and play the shot almost as you would a putt. The shot will come out lower than normal and you may have to swing a tad harder as energy will be lost by making contact so far out on the toe.

Pre-Shot in Practice

Practice your pre-shot routine on the practice range as well.

When you’re warming up before a round, and even when you’re just at the range beating balls and working on your swing, go through your pre-shot routine. Walk behind the ball, pick a target, take your practice swings… whatever you normally do on the course, do on the practice range. A pre-shot routine is one of the most under-rated aspects of good golf, and solidifying your pre-shot routine by practicing it – while practicing your swing – builds familiarity and confidence.

Tour Roundup

A roundup of this past week’s tour events.

In Las Vegas on the PGA Tour, Andre Stolz shot a 5-under 67 to win the Michelin Championship by a shot over Tom Lehman, Harrison Frazar, and Tag Ridings. Ridings, who began his final round on the back nine, shot a 29 on the front and tied the course record with a final-round 61 to just barely come up short.

Scotland’s Stephen Gallacher won for the first time on the European Tour, beating Northern Ireland’s Graeme McDowell on the first playoff hole Sunday at the dunhill links Championship. Ernie Els and Fred Couples finished five strokes back and Vijay Singh finished eight strokes back.

On the Senior Tour, Larry Nelson shot an 8-under 64 to come from behind and beat Hale Irwin with a birdie on the first playoff hole at the Administaff Small Business Classic.

Liselotte Neumann won her first LPGA Tour title in six years, holding off a late charge by Grace Park for a three-stroke victory at the LPGA Asahi Ryokuken International Championship on Sunday.

And finally, on the Nationwide Tour, 22-year old Chris Nallen chipped in on the 72nd hole and sealed the win on his Nationwide debut at the Gila River Golf Classic at Wild Horse Pass Resort. Nallen went wire-to-wire and won easily by eight strokes.

Play with Kids

Play a round with high school kids if you’re playing a bit too conservatively lately.

If you get the chance, play with some high school kids. They’re too young to know any better and old enough to be fairly competent. They’ll hit the impossible shot (and pull it off more than you’d guess). They’ll go after that testy downhill curler and ram it into the hole.

Scoring well means walking the line between reckless play and ultra-conservative play. If you’re veering too far towards the latter, a round with some high school kids will put you back on track. Best yet, you may be doing them a favor. Beat ’em and show them what they have to look forward to.

Make a Game

When you’re playing alone, get creative on the course by making up a game.

When you play by yourself, it’s difficult to remain focused. Stave off boredom, complacency, laziness, and sheer apathy by inventing games for yourself. Play one ball against the other. If you’re good enough, play a draw against a fade. Try to keep the ball within 10 yards of the cart path. Play the even holes with even-numbered clubs and the odd ones with the odd-numbered clubs. Make bets with yourself: you’ll clean out the den if you don’t break 45 on the back nine, for example: it’s win-win, regardless of your score (you play well or have a clean den).