One golfer entered the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro National Pro-Am floundering, raising questions about whether his best was in the rear view. The other set foot on the first tee heavy with expectations about whether the tournament would cement his comeback and eliminate the notion that he’d never again reach the lofty heights he once scaled with ease.
Instead of the outcome many expected, Sunday at Pebble Beach saw Phil Mickelson, whose last win came 10 months ago, card a staggering 8-under 64 to better Charlie Wi by two shots. It was Mickelson’s 40th PGA Tour win, and certainly one of his most decisive.
Tiger Woods’ name, on the other hand, wasn’t found near the top of the leaderboard.
Playing alongside Mickelson in the final round, Woods entered in a tie for third. By the time it was over his name wasn’t where most expected it to be, with his 3-over 75 plunging him into a tie for 15th. The resurrection of Woods will have to wait for another week.
“I just feel very inspired when I play with him,” Mickelson said after his round. “I love playing with him, and he brings out some of my best golf.”
It wasn’t always that way. Mickelson admits he “got spanked pretty good,” in the first decade of Woods’ tenure on tour.
“Let's not forget the big picture here, I've been beat up,” the left-hander explained. “But the last five years, I've been able to get some of my best golf out when we play together.”
For Mike Weir, it has been a long time. A long time since he didn’t hurt when swinging a golf club. A long time since he knew exactly what flight and direction his drives would take. A long time since he could put in the hours on the range that made him one of the best players on the PGA Tour.
But after surgery for a tendon tear in his right elbow last year, Weir returns to professional golf this week at Pebble Beach for the first time in six months. It was his second layoff in what can only be described as two lost years when he should have been at the peak of his powers as a golfer. His confidence is surely fragile, but in the past weeks Weir has been hiding in the California desert, hitting balls under the watchful eye of a friend, and testing his meddle on the course. Slowly he’s recognizing the feeling and positions of his old swing that led to eight wins on tour.
“The best way to describe it is that I have the ‘ah ha’ moment where I remember the feel I want,” Weir said from his home in Utah. “A lot of good things are happening because I can go for it. It is familiar. My golf swing is starting to feel like my own again.”
Since Weir’s last solid season in 2009 when he made $2.3-million, he’s been on the decline, plagued by an injury that apparently started in the spring of 2010. He closed out 2010 nursing a sore elbow, but it was clear when he returned last year that something was wrong. For a golfer once known for his exacting play, who could strategically dissect a golf course, Weir was a shadow of his former self. At the Canadian Open last July the elbow finally gave way to years of digging it out of the dirt.
He has a long way to make it back. Once regularly ranked among the Top 10 golfers in the world, Weir now sits outside of the Top 1,000.
Weir isn’t thinking about any of that. He’s just happy that his right elbow doesn’t hurt any more following his recovery from surgery last August. Now when he swings hard after a ball in the rough or takes a divot in the fairway, he doesn’t want to recoil in pain. Weir can start this comeback knowing that it is up to him to put in the hours and make the commitment without worrying about how much his arm will hurt the next day.
Sure, the elbow gets stiff, he explains, but his surgeon has said he can’t reinjure it. And for the first time in years, Weir is starting to see the results he expects.
“I feel like I’m getting more control of the ball again and shaping the ball,” he says. “I feel like I can be an athlete again. I’m starting to feel the things I want to feel and can trust it. I’m not thinking about mechanics. It is a process to get it all the way back, but I’m seeing progress.”
PGA Tour golf star Phil Mickelson has gone to court in Quebec seeking the name of an individual he claims has liabeled him on an Internet posting board. Mickelson is asking a court to have Internet service provider Videotron confirm the identity of a man who posted several incendiary comments about Mickelson.
The person in question posts under the name "Fogroller," and writes at length about the issues he has with Mickelson. Some of those posts can be seen here. The remarks made by the poster make a variety of allegations against the golfer, none of which have been proven or reported by any media outlet. These rumors have circulated for years and appear to be without substance.
"The postings suggest that plaintiff has an illegitimate child, that his wife has affairs and other similar vexatious statements that are absolutely untrue and, simply put, vicious," the complaint states.
Golf ball industry leader Titleist has released new versions of its popular NXT Tour golf ball. The NXT Tour (longer) and NXT Tour S (more spin) see some serious advancement in golf ball technology, especially at the price point that the NXT Tour comes in at. Titleist has been able to increase the quality of the ball, not only in the cover (a soft, thin Fusablend cover with a new dimple pattern) but in the core as well (new large dual core). New this year for Titleist is the option of a high optic yellow colour golf ball (NXT Tour S only), which consumers seem to be buying up like crazy -- of note, this is not Titleist's first foray into yellow golf balls, they had a yellow DT ball in the 1980's.
From the press release:
NXT Tour S features a new, proprietary low compression, highly resilient core, in combination with the same soft, thin Fusablend cover formulation and aerodynamics as the New NXT Tour. NXT Tour S offers a softer compression feel than its counterpart and, like NXT Tour, offers low driver and long iron spin for outstanding distance, a piercing trajectory and consistent ball flight, and commanding short game spin and control. As another preference option for golfers, the New NXT Tour S is offered in white and high optic yellow.
Titleist also let loose a new version of the DT Solo, and a new distance ball, Velocity. Look for Titleist's latest golf balls in stores in mid February 2012.
You’ve likely heard all the puns. There was “Rob Rocks over Tiger.” Or “Rock acting like a rolling stone and over Woods.” Or maybe you caught the column that compared Robert Rock’s win over Tiger Woods in Abu Dhabi on Sunday to Rocky Balboa’s takedown of Apollo Creed. It was a big upset after all.
Or was it? That’s the question that really should be asked. Tiger Woods of yesteryear would have dusted little-known Rock like Buffy at a vampire convention. Sure there are unknowns that had epic battles with Woods – anyone remember Bob May? – but more often than not golfers folded like a cheap sheet when trying to take down Tiger on the final day of a tournament.
That’s not what happened. Rock held his own – shooting 2-under to hold off not Woods, but a charging Rory McIlroy. Woods could do no better than par, dropping to third place.
Woods on Sunday used to be like rain in Vancouver – automatic. But that wasn’t the case this week where Woods started the final round tied with Rock.
"I was right there with a chance to win the tournament and I didn't do it," said Woods.
That’s not something you’d have heard from Tiger Woods three years ago. He always got it done in the final round, leaving his competition reeling as he made seemingly impossible shots commonplace.
There’s a lot of baggage, both professional and personal since those halcyon days. There’s the obvious matters stemming from his sex scandal, but while that damaged Woods’ armor, it didn’t fully diminish his power. However, injuries coupled with his philandering being made public, and then adding a swing change to the mix, left Woods as a non-factor for much of the past two years.
Typical of sports, many took Woods’ win at his own small field event to end 2011 as a sign that his work with Canadian swing coach Sean Foley was complete. Healthy and with his swing in hand, many thought the old Woods, the one who dominated for more than a decade, might emerge.
While that storyline would have generated headlines, golf is rarely that simple. Woods hit only a couple of fairways in the final round against Rock, and not many more greens. On the first three days of the tournament he appeared in command of his swing and his game. On the final day that came unraveled.
Woods said several of his shots on the final day jumped off the planet – “A couple of my 3-woods went about 320,” he’d tell reporters – but clearly his major issue of the past couple of years – his wayward driving – resurfaced at a less than opportune time.
It is no secret that walking on the golf course is a huge health perk. So next time you are debating between hoofing it or taking a power cart, opt for the Sun Mountain Micro-Cart. This 2012 version comes in some sweet, vibrant hues and the four wheels give this cart some serious stability on all types of terrain. It folds up nicely into a tiny package and fits easily in your trunk or back seat and setting it up at the course is easy. More from the press release:
Micro-Cart’s lightweight anodized aluminum frame folds and unfolds in two easy motions offering variable handle-height positions and the new E-Z Latch; strapless bag bracket; standard Micro-Paq for additional storage; and a console with padded valuables tray, ball and tee holders, magnetic scorecard holder, and a drink holder. With a contemporary look, available in four colors (red, black, blue and silver), Micro-Cart is as visually pleasing as it is functionally efficient.
This 13-pound option is a no-brainer if you're shopping for a push cart this spring, plus your significant will be very happy that you're getting exercise while golfing. Right? Right?
Most good golfers will tell you they never worry about their last shot -- only their next one. After all, you can’t control the past, but you can influence the future.
And that’s where Tiger Woods is now – trying to put the past behind him and move forward. While the PGA Tour is in San Diego this week at a course where Woods has won six times, the former World No. 1 golfer will be trying to forget about the last two years in Abu Dhabi, where a reported $1.5 million fee lured him to the European Tour.
Having ended last year with a win at his own small field event – his first win anywhere in two years – as well as a third-place showing Australian Open and strong play at the Presidents Cup, there are a lot of positives for Woods for the first time in recent memory. He’s healthy – at least as healthy as an athlete can be whose had multiple surgeries on his knee – and is prepared to play a full season, maybe as many as 20 events for the first time since 2005.
While he admits his play at the end of the year was significant, he always cages his comments in Tiger speak. In this instance, as opposed to saying the win helped his confidence after a lengthy dry spell, Woods told reporters in Abu Dhabi that he “controlled my golf ball,” and “made a couple of putts.” It sounds simple, but as everyone now recognizes, there’s nothing simple in the life of Tiger Woods.
Despite all of the turmoil – both personal and professional since 2009 – Woods is pushing forward, trying to prove once again that he can be the best on the planet, and that his game can match his notoriety.
“Every event I play in is to try to win,” Woods said at a press conference, mirroring remarks he’s made since turning professional. But given some of his struggles over the last year while he rebuilt his swing under Canadian instructor Sean Foley, it had to be clear to even Woods that there were tournaments he simply couldn’t win on will alone. There were periods early last year – at Doral, for instance – where he snapped hooked the ball off the tee, and looked genuinely uncomfortable and lost. Then came the injuries and scheduling issues that limited any regular tournament play until near the conclusion of the year. It looked like another lost year until the strong play in Australia and the win at the Chevron in December gave some indication Woods may be on the upswing.
Will Woods return with the game he had at the end of last year? Will wins follow? Given his usual self-confidence, Woods is being pragmatic about the prospects.
It was hardly a secret, but Cobra Golf has made it official – the golf club company has signed twenty-something mop top Rickie Fowler to play its clubs this season. Fowler, who is noted for his orange attire, already wore clothing from Puma, the company that owns clubmaker Cobra.
“Rickie’s focus, determination and performance combined with his stand out style and joy for the game make him a perfect match for Cobra Golf,” said Bob Philion, president of Cobra Puma Golf. “He has had a tremendous effect in the golf industry over the past few years and his influence continues to grow.”
Fowler, who has not won on tour, is noted for his fervent fan following, many of who dress like their idol. As part of the celebration of the signing, Cobra has promised “orange-outs” at various PGA Tour events, as well as this week’s PGA Merchandise Show.
As part of the deal, Fowler will play Cobra’s new Amp driver.
“I am so excited to have the Cobra sticks in my bag and be a full part of the Cobra Puma Team,” said Fowler in press statement. “I’ve been hitting the AMP Driver great. I can’t wait to get out at Torrey Pines and put my new Cobra clubs into play.”
TaylorMade Golf is coming out swinging in 2012. Their big push for golf equipment this spring will likely be the golf club line with the most love-it-or-hate-it name of the decade. Rocketballz (or RBZ). Rocketballz generated a massive amount of buzz months before anyone had even seen a photo of the golf clubs. Our take on the name is that if you're a sports nut, you'll love it. If you are a golf purist, you will hate it. But with a claim of being 17 yards longer than your current 3 wood (17 yards is all they could legally claim, some people are getting even more yardage out of it), how could you not pay attention to this club? The fairway wood gets you this yardage with the help of a lower center of graviry, a bigger face and a 'speed pocket'. The speed pocket lets the club face compress more, adding to the trampoline effect of the face, effectively increasing ballspeed at impact. We've seen the club in person and don't let the looks of the technology put you off: it is gorgeous. Also look for Rocketballz drivers, hybrids, irons and golf balls.
The success of Steve Stricker once again proves that while it may be the twenty-somethings that capture our imaginations, for the past decade it has often been those nearing twice that age that win championships.
Stricker, 44, is pretty much the anti-Rickie Fowler. There’s nothing flashy about his dress or the way he plays. He doesn’t overwhelm a course. There’s nothing to Stricker that would suggest he’d become one of the most dominant players in golf, especially after watching his career all but disintegrate less than a decade ago. Stricker would be awfully vanilla if he wasn’t so damned good, didn’t make practically every putt he looked at and if he didn’t break down in tears after almost every win, showing us just how important it is to him.
“I just try to do my own thing,” he said after his most recent win, the Hyundai Tournament of Champions on Monday. “I’m happy the way -- with what I do. Jimmy, my caddie, says, ‘Do what you do, or let’s just do what we do.’ And I think that sums it up the best. We just go about and do our thing. It may not be the flashiest thing at times, but I do other things well.”
Indeed he does.
Considering it was only eight years ago that Stricker couldn’t find a fairway, and it looked like his career was essentially over, it is a testament to his patience and perseverance that he managed to make it back, and in fact exceed anything he managed in the first two decades as a tour pro. He’ll never compete with Bubba Watson for distance, nor is he going to hit the flashy shots that someone like Jason Day seems to create at will. Instead Stricker approaches golf the way you’d expect from someone who maintains his home base in the land of meat-and-potatoes. He doesn’t overwhelm, instead playing to his strengths – his otherworldly short game and deft putting stroke – and proving that you don’t need to bash the ball 300 yards to compete and win. Some might consider it boring; I think it is a demonstration that skill counts for something in the era of bomb and gauge.
“I think having knowledge and experience, the older you get, is always worth a few shots here and there during the tournament,” he said after his Hawaiian win.
