RX Phoenix

When talking about Norman there is no way to avoid the scenario of a gut wrenching loss, he's mastered that art form like no one else. Does he have one more of those in him, or has he turned a page in his life? I'd like to see him win and help us forget the past, but I wouldn't bet on it. It's more likely that he fades a bit and comes in third.

ProV1 vs FREAK The results are in and it is quite surprising. Having tested out various 'distance' balls against ProV1 I was skeptical about the FREAK ball. Aren't all distance balls like rocks? Don't stick on the green, don't putt or chip well, etc? Here's what I've found out after playing several rounds with both balls. 1: With the irons, the FREAK is one iron longer. If I hit a green using the FREAK and an 8 iron, I'll need a strong 7 iron to hit it with the ProV1. 2: The ball flight of the FREAK off irons is the highest I've ever seen and thus I've had no issues with the ball not holding the green, in fact the ball is usually close to its ball mark. 3: Chips are decent, the high spin is missing but it certainly has feel coming off the clubhead. 4: Driver and fairway wood distance is 10-15 yds further than the ProV1 5: Directional stabilty is excellent, stays on line a shade better than the ProV1 6: It putts beautifully, a different feel than a softer ball but not at all a rock. 7: The feel off driver/irons is nice and crunchy, with the compression being felt as if the ball is staying on the clubhead without being too hot. Conclusion: The FREAK falls into the category of a distance ball that maintains a high degree of playability in all phases of the game. It has a very nice feel and awesome trajectory with the irons. The only drawback would be that it lacks the high spin and ultra cushion-e feeling on chips and pitches. This is a really good golf ball, much better than it's advertising points out, as it is being pitched as all distance ball, but it is really an all around great ball. For example: 410yd with tight pin in top right shelf. Drive 275 instead of 260 Approach 9 Iron instead of 7 iron. With ultra hi trajectory the ball floats down near the tight pin . . . advantage FREAK over ProV1.

Well . . . I think he made the cut at +2, wait . . . he's tied 4th place? Shot -1 today, where is John Daly, +29. Two guys going in opposite directions. Duval stated today that he is trying to get back to greatness, not just decent play, and that this is why the results have not yet come, he's aiming high and working only for that, not just to make cuts. He said that he was getting close even if it hadn't shown up yet, and then BAM, here he is solid like a rock. If he throws another strong round up in the wind, then it will be must watch TV because very few players can dial it in like Duval, we'll see what tommorrow brings.

First thing I saw were the SHADES! He finally has found a pair that has the MOJO like back in the day with the Oakleys! Duval without the right shades is like Batman without Robin. The ones he has now look ultra cool and he's feeling it again. Other possibilities might be: He's put on weight, lumpy is good for David. No Tiger, no mental block. There's A Time Warp At Royal Birkdale.

If Rocco keeps rolling the rock like today he will be there. It would be fantastic to see him come back from Torrey Pines disappointment to win a major here, that would be some kind of justice. Also wonder how did David Duval shoot a 73 . . . and Norman a 70, golf is a strange game.

I tried the stack and tilt but it led to inconsistency, it's a swing that requires a lot of precision. May not be for everyone.

I'm just curious, at a +3.8 how often do you hit the ball with your shaft?

I'm not sure anyone in sports is more picky about where and when they play than Tiger. He refuses to defend titles, he breaks commitments like last year in the Fed Ex Cup, he won't even think about playing many courses because they don't suit his game, he doesn't like the greens, he's feeling tired, etc. A lot of golf fans don't get to see Tiger because it is beneath him to play at the tournament in their area. But Kenny Perry . . . he keeps his commitments, he promised he would play this week and he kept his word, the people of Milwaukee get to see a top golfer, he plays on the courses that the prima donnas spurn, I like this, I'd go see Kenny Perry play. Hope he comes to the ATT, as we know Tiger never will again, the rounds are too long, he doesn't like the Pro-Am, doesn't like the weather, too much crowd interaction and noise. Tiger has the right to turn down for any reason any tournament, so does Kenny Perry.

Yeah, I know the feeling, just put a FT squareway 3W and 5W, along with the 3H and 4H in the bag . . . I also have the 2H but its out of the bag for now, also have the wedges . . . Callaway is making great clubs right now, wonder why Rocco Mediate came back out of nowhere to be almost on top of the golf world, he's getting fantastic results with his Callaway clubs. I just love these clubs, they do give an advantage, and of course the FT-5 or FT-I are top drivers. One day soon I may go all Callaway and get their irons.

There will be a lot of long faces after tommorrow trudging back to the States licking their wounds thinking that Kenny Perry is one smart fox. Horses for courses, he knows his game and his mind, the decision looks like a good one.

Amazing. Norman did play in a Seniors major recently and was in contention, so he still has game, even though he never plays or practices and has had major surgery . . . it's hard to believe that he is outplaying most of the best players in the world. Just goes to show the game is mostly in the mind.

Can't believe these scores: Els, Singh, Weekly at +10, and scores of great players at +7 or worse. And NORMAN grinding away at +1, wlld 1st round. DUVAL at +3 is a very good round compared to what others did. Go ROCCO . . . ROCCO leader in the clubhouse!!!!! at -1 Wow

Duval is looking GOOD. +3 while many stars are way over like Phil at +9. He's in the game for now.

1) I'd like to play in a Celebrity Pro-Am every week with large galleries and tons of laughs. 2) I'd like to have the 'best' playing partners, not just in terms of skill but good time, enjoyable round. 3) Like to putt on super good greens with consistent speed and great tracking, makes the round much more enjoyable!

I applaud him for saying, 'thanks but no thanks'. The guy is on a roll here in the states and doesn't want to mess with his mojo. I really believe he is aiming at the Fed Ex Cup now that Tiger is out of the mix, it's wide open and he's now second in points. He is a made man already for the Ryder Cup so that's not the issue now, it's the Fed Ex. The 'Open' experience would likely take him out of his comfort zone and maybe mess him up the rest of the year. I just think he's being real smart and trying to milk the US courses as best he can and stay hot. At his age he doesn't want to take any risks and who can blame him. A $10mil payday at the end of the year is what he's got on his mind, not an appearance at the Open where he is likely to struggle.

LOL, I see you're using the FT 4H! Worth it's weight in gold. I was at a driving range trying to hit my new Adams hybrids and failing miserably, and there was a Callaway Demo going on that day, so I walk over and ask to try their hybrids, hit the FT 4, first try right on the pin from 175, second shot the same, I turn around and say, "I'll take it!" Bought the 3H too. Fantastic clubs, from fairway or rough it's money.

I agree, this is a very good way to determine which tees to play from. On my home course, if I play from the blues this totally takes the fairway bunkers out of play, whereas from the whites they are all very much in play and very penal. So in a way it is more challening to play from the whites, and more rewarding too, it's golf the way it was meant to be played.

BINGO, if I practice with a regular putter my back kills me, so I just don't practice anymore. I used to use a belly putter but ditched it for the Spider which is such a great putter I don't need to practice!

That's a steal. Wonder what will be next for Callaway?

Hybrid. Don't even think about hitting a 5W 2 iron . . . what's a 2 iron?

If I'm playing a shorter course then the ProV1. Under 6200 If the course is a monster then I'm going to try the TopFlight FREAK 6600+ If the course is not too long but has some brutally long holes, I might consider mixing it up, using the distance ball on those long holes and the ProV1 on the rest of them. The ProV1 needs a fast swing especially on the irons to get good distance and I hit my irons easy with a smooth tempo. It's a great ball if you can really compress it. The FREAK goes much further on the irons with a high trajectory and I've had no problem stopping it on the green.

I run into trouble in situations just like this when the rest of the pairings want to play maximum yardage turning par 4's into 430 uphill, etc. It's very tough to say, "I'm going to play from the whites," because then you are teeing off last every time and when you hit a good one you feel kind of like 'cheating'. It's far perferable for everyone to hit from the same tees. Recently played with a college player who walked up just before teeing off and we had already agreed to play from the whites and he went along with it, but it ruined his game because he was totally used to hitting from the tips on this course and he quit after 9 holes, he was steamed! LOL

It's a lot easier to square the clubface at the range where you may be hitting a S shaft, 9.5 great, but on the course be blocking it right with some slice. Why, because there is a tendency to try and steer the ball on the course which prevents the clubhead from squaring up. Try warming up on the range with a S shaft low loft, then on the course use a R shaft higher loft. Also, what tees are you playing from? You might consider playing up one set which will cut way down on trying to hit it too hard. A lot of golfers play a bit too much yardage for their game.

5W 4H 56*W On par 4's I'd manipulate the 5W so that I'd get 175 to the green, then hit the 4H, any misses the SW will clean up. Putt with the 4H. Par 5's would be 5W, 5W, 56* On par 3's less than 175 but more than a 56* I'd use a punch shot with the 4H. More than 175, hit the 5W high. Sounds like fun, I'll have to try it!

Have you found a range you're comfortable with? For me it is 6200. If I go up to 6600 then there are some holes which feel unmanageable. But at 6200 I feel in control. What happens to you when you get out of your comfort range on a course?