Matsui

It is all great that they have people booking everything for them, but I wonder how much that costs. I couldn't imagine any airline company giving deals for just the PGA Tour. I dont' think they are big enough. Heck, that would just fill one plane. Also, I wonder if certain PGA Tour stops pay for certain players to play.

That is what I am talking about. Heck, a player like Justin Leonard is well taken care of, but I am talking players like Tim Wilkenson, Kevin Stadler, Greg Chalmers, etc. I mean PGA Tour players, and they make a hell of a lot of money, get their PGA Tour cards, but how are they handling expenses. The top 50 players in the world are in their own league anyhow.

I have read that there isn't any entry fees. Once you get your PGA Tour Card, you are in tournaments, unless there is some special field (ie Memorial Tournament, US Open, Arnold Palmer Invite, etc). I didn't realize that Taylormade Golf would pick up every Taylormade player's expenses each week.

Let me preface by saying I've been playing golf for 20 years and follow the PGA Tour very closely. I'm no golf noob, but I have a few questions I've always wondered. I'm not talking about the top 50 players in the world, hell, not even the guys who have ever won on the PGA Tour, but the guys who constantly stay in the top 125 on the money list, make a decent living, miss a few cuts year, you normal guy who will get a top ten but then miss a few cuts, etc. 1. How do they handle their insurance/benefits. etc. Are they "independanct contractors" who have to buy Cobra or some other health coverage or if you have your PGA Tour Card, do they provide it for the year? 2. Travel. I know these guys aren't booking plane tickets 2+ weeks in advance like normal people are. So, how do they make travel plans? What if they miss the cut, do they re-book and fly home or just fly to the next event? 3. Hotel stays. The guys normally get in on a Monday and stay through the weekend, and most of the time the wife is traveling with them. Are they paying for every night? 4. I volunteer with for the Valero Open and there are people who pick the professionals up at the airport. Well, some of the players stay for free at the host event, while others stay at the Staybridge Suites, Homewood Suites, etc. What type of room rates are these guys paying? I know we read about a tour player making $20K after finishing 40th place in a tournament, but how much money are they spending week to week? And I assume they get their balls, clubs, shoes, clothes for free. And I guess Nationwide Tour living is totally different?

I used to be a 3 handicap and I was playing Mizuno MP-14 blades. About a year ago, I switched to the TaylorMade HT irons (high trajectory) because I didn't play as much and I wanted a more foregiving club. Well, I found it and I improved my ball striking in the process. Long story short, I can still move the ball around fairly well with my new clubs.

Also, you need very tight fairways and very tight greens to allow the ball to spin. It isn't all club and ball. The greens the pros play on are very easy to spin a ball on because they are so thin and fast.

I am known for my scrambling ablility, so this isn't new for my group that I am playing with. 390 yard par 4 with water along the right side and the green bends to the right around the water. I push my tee shot and it stops in the tall grass right before the water, but still in the hazard. I just punch out to 100 yard away and then hit my sand wedge to 30 feet. Downhill put, but really straight and I just need to get it going to make it. Well, bang, make it.

I practice about 1 once a week at the driving range and I usually get to play 2-3 times a month. Honestly, I get bored at the driving range. I like to spend as much time pitching and chipping than hitting full shots. I am not really weak in any area, I'm just not as exceptional in any one area.

Hitting down on the ball is the #1 key to making solid impact. I figured this out a few years ago and now I hit the ball much purer. The previous poster is correct. You need to have your hands slightly ahead of the ball upon impact.