flanagan

It's been a few years since his ideas for the book were formulated, so it would be interesting to know now what his thoughts are. Saw an interesting article comparing some of Tiger's putting stats to tour averages, etc. a few months ago and aside from what we all see, the numbers would certainly suggest he is a great putter compared to the rest of the tour.

I have the regular Titleist Sunday bag (last year's model) and it is fantastic. Sturdy enough to use on cart if need be, but very light, and room for everything I need. Clubs get a little crowded, but when I walk, I usually take a couple out anyway. Used it today, a joy.

Saw an article in Golf Digest about club/bag management, some complicated issues there, but getting it right might save 3-5 strokes per round (18 holes).

20 years ago I remember the Bob Mann (I think) "automatic golf" infomercials (with Lou Holtz no less) and it seemed from what I could tell it was a left-side oriented approach that I had seen written up even many years before that. Is the stack and tilt just a refinement of that approach, which has been around in one form or another for years?

Got the clicgear early in the year and it is great. Seemed to have the most compact "folded up" dimensions of the nicer push carts, so that's why I went with it. Love it and no problems after three months and counting.

Played 54 Saturday, 27 Sunday.

Golf World is weekly and focuses on news/tournament results, etc. No instruction. Golf Digest is monthly and has articles about golf, tours, travel, and instruction plus equipment tests and reviews. Pick up a copy of them and pretty much what you see is representative of what you will get. They are different and intended to be.

I know you are kidding, but I really didn't mean anything by mentioning her other than a frame of reference as to why I was hitting them. She's a very good player, and we went the PING route for fitting purposes.

My daughter plays G5s, plays them well and likes them. I hadn't hit a PING for awhile and hit a couple balls with her irons one day. Frankly, I was a little miffed. The ball flew straight and far and true with the standard CS Lite R's with little effort. Liked the feel. Made me conflicted over my Titleists, which I love and which have shafts I really like, just because her clubs, which are 1/2 inch shorter than mine (but have stronger lofts) performed great. A guy I know, but haven't played with in a few years just got G5's at the end of last year and swears by them. I still don't like the "heavy" look, and even my daughter likes the Tour W wedges better than the G5 wedges for feel. Moral --- once you get those new clubs, don't hit anyone else's, ever.

Were you reading the article where Johnny Miller was saying he could see impact? I like Johnny, but I'm with Nicklaus who was telling him "no way".

I'm sure I probably don't know enough about course setup, etc., but just from the way courses I've played look after a couple of days of a tournament, I can't imagine what the ladies will face after the men traipse about the greens, etc. for a week before they get to come play. I know the USGA has their course setup wizards, but seems a stretch to me, and I'll bet if the ladies played first, the Tour would be up in arms.

Not rushing to Player's defense, by any means, but the incident at the Skins Game was reported by a well known golf reporter who just happened to come upon Watson and Player after the round having a discussion. Watson's words were "I'm tired of this" (no profanity) and the accusation by Watson, which Player denied, was that Player had removed a rooted leaf (if so, not a loose impediment) before playing a shot. Watson did not want the conversation reported, but, having heard it, the reporter/columnist felt an obligation to run with it. Neither Watson or Player backed down from their positions. Later, in a book, Player accused Watson of using nonconforming clubs in winning a couple of majors. I still remember Watson and Woosnam having an exchange at The Masters on a green where Watson appeared to be warning Woosnam about approaching a ball hanging on the lip too slowly. Woosie looked ticked off. I think this is when Woosie was en route to winning, in any event, they were playing together. I also remember Woosie seeming to make a point of sitting on the half log bench directly opposite, if not a bit in front of, Watson on the tee whenever Watson was teeing off, and not standing behind him on the tee. Appeared to be a little gamesmanship, but Watson never seemed to care, if he did care. I like Tom Watson and always have. He hasn't always filtered his remarks around his competitors, and has occasionally had a hair trigger on comments when he felt rules were being bent. The Skins Game incident has become one of those where it's been "quoted" one way for so long that the original flavor has been lost a bit. Given that he felt Gary had done something wrong, I liked the fact he was making an issue of it with Gary man to man after the round, and assuming it was a private conversation. I had never really read or heard about other alleged incidents involving Player until looking at some of what's out there, so glad the reference to that incident got me looking.

Was just reading the other day how Jack Nicklaus' relationship with Deane Beman became strained because of Beman's promotion of The Players and its competition with The Memorial, particularly Beman's wanting The Players to be "a major". It's not a major, there are four majors. The PGA was unsuccessful in creating one, and I think the PGA Championship has been a lot better in recent years, something that years ago was lacking, at least in some people's minds, and maybe that has helped stop the talk about whether The Players is or isn't a major.

If Norman chooses to play more that would be great, but he really hasn't indicated a burning desire to do so. If you are looking for him on the PGA Tour you'll likely be disappointed. It doesn't yet appear he's committed to much on the senior tour for this year.

?????? Norman is already part of the Champions Tour, has been for awhile, and has already played an event this year. He has chosen in the past just to play in the occasional "major" on the Champions Tour.

My pro and I thought the X Flighted 5.5s would be right for me and they turned out way too stiff for me and my 6 iron distance is right at 172, which is in their charts as a 5.5. Got analyzed and switched to the Nippons, which I love, and they are an R flex and a little lighter. Really like them. Lots of variables in selecting shafts. I can still play the stiff True Tempers in my old Pings, but the 5.5s seemed and played stiffer than "stiff" in my hands.

You've read stuff on here, right? I do understand your point and agree that from a PR standpoint it would be better, but maybe the "strategy" is to have Rory appear to be like any other kid (young or old) blogging on the web.

Seriously, I have to know, do they make pyramids of the balls on the practice range like the pros get here?

Just wondering if your age correlates to your immaturity, it appears to.

What are you, 17? I think it's possible to complain without the hardly concealed obscenities. Really, grow up a bit. Notice how when they are edited out, as above, we still get the point.

By the way, you are correct about the start time for ESPN of 4:00 Eastern, heard that today on Mike and Mike, so went back to the Masters official website. I got the 3:30 start time from the Masters website yesterday, so even though it was easy to find, they had it wrong, although the good news is ESPN does have it scheduled for 3 1/2 hours, at least it's an extra 1/2 hour, but starting at 4:00 p.m., and I see that the Masters shows it on the website today as starting at 4:00 p.m., so sorry if caused any confusion on that. I do feel your pain. I've got Dish also, and although I don't think Direct TV shows live coverage outside of the time frames anyone else shows it, it does have additional coverage of certain holes at the same time, if that makes sense. I love satellite, but if I had known last year when I got Dish, Direct TV was going to have the Masters package, I would have gone that route. Too late now.

Apparently you are grumpy about not being able to watch more of the Masters, that is certainly understandable. However, you work on appropriate responses and I'll try and work on my mind reading skills.

It's a totally silly premise. Such a thought would never enter Woods' mind, so nothing to discuss.

Apparently you are missing actually reading the TV schedule, which isn't hard to find. ESPN is not covering the Masters on Saturday, try CBS, which has covered the weekend forever. ESPN is covering for 3 1/2 hours on Thursday and Friday. CBS is scheduled for 3 1/2 hours on Saturday, it is not starting at 4 Eastern, but at 3:30 and that will likely run over, but that is not really much different than in years past. The Masters has always limited its live coverage, I think foolishly, but that's the way it is.

A fence defining out of bounds is not an immovable obstruction, I can't imagine this fence isn't the out of bounds fence or, if it's not and on the neighbor's property, you are out of bounds before you get to the point of the fence (i.e., it's off the course). Your question is a little too general and I can't imagine the situation is the same at every course you play. If the fence marks the out of bounds line, play it as it lies or take an unplayable, I don't think you get relief. If not marked as it should be on the course, perhaps it's in the fine print on the card or at the clubhouse, etc. Every course isn't necessarily the same and you say you have the situation at different courses, so hard to answer definitively.