Seve.

Link to my post on my main blog. Link to the Guardian article about his funeral.

buster confidential...

SI's Tour Confidential

Every week the guys who "follow" Golf at Golf.com/SI chat a bit about issues in the sport. They never ask, but maybe they should since, straight-up, the guys I play with on Sundays would destroy these hacks (meant to be a compliment) seriously!.. Not sure that means that our opinions matter but something to be said for a foursome that has only one guy in it that hasn't broken par (best score 73). All indexes below 5 and best +5. I'll submit that we see golf from the same perspective week after week and so here we go:

Who's numero uno: Gary Van Sickle: The No. 1 spot in the world rankings should be left vacant until somebody actually goes out and earns it.

Agreed!

...sometimes one of them hits the nail on the head.. Usually actually.. we're not haters. Just your above average fousome that is usually a threesome cause you know who made the weekend or is out there somewhere..

Loose the Heritage?  Shipnuck: It's one of the best courses on Tour, in one of the nicest places. If Finchem can't make this work, he should give back his zillion-dollar salary.

Two of us played Bayonet with Finchem's old law partner. It's a sweet job. As he noted over and over, Tim is a good guy with a sweet deal and is fortunate enough to have Tiger around.. Phil too. See how great everyone thinks he is if a Tradition (The Heritage is) is lost and the numbers keep falling.

Time for Two Gloves? Find something else to talk about.. Like Jerry's new job.


Legends? Two of us know Bobby Clampett.. an occasional member played HS golf with him. Very Knowledgeable guy.. He does a lot for others. I couldn't watch the Telecast. I heard 2-3 times in the first minutes, "they are as loose as you can imagine." I love watching the Champs play in person. Can relate to them and the LPGA much better than the Big Boys. But drama (or lack of it) is what it is... I didn't watch. Nobody did.


How to Cut Down the Masters field? Didn't know this was a problem. Is it? Think a win should get you in.

What do you think?

Make room for an old friend.. Hot Driver

A cautionary tale... I'd warn: There are some old driver's around that beat the yards out of the "new" ones. 

This info is not new: A friend (really-sitting at a computer most of the day, I still talk with people face to face and develop relationships!) who works in a Super Store and has played at the National amateur level for many years plays a bag that is unavailable today (no retailer has sold his equipment new in years) and, because he "works" in the business, he has tried to "get current" but when tournament season comes around he always goes back to his faithful irons, wedges and driver (which is His bag-not mine).. 

I on the other hand have spent a small fortune trying to find 10 yards off the tee and a few more greens in reg.. buy a game? you sorta can but I'll get onto that subject some other time. I have two friends now..  make that three that use drivers that are more than 5 years old .. and they are Callaway drivers. FT-3's and an X-460. Introduced about the same time I think. Providing distance and accuracy that I've haven't experienced in a long time. I swing right around 102 and now with the FT-3 and a tour platform 26.3 shaft (stiff) I am into an area on my home course I've never seen before off the tee. If I miss the driver on 11 (mid length par 4 ...generally into the wind) I'll have 145-50 into the smallest green on the peninsula.. catch it and I've got 120-125..  used to be 175 if I missed and 145 if I caught it.. Earlier reports of my success with the tour Octane were true but I seemed to spay it now and then.  I hit a drive 273 yards the other day with the FT-3 and 255-260 is not uncommon. You can play from there. You can't get around the dogleg on 15 (two very big trees guard it) for a clear shot at the green without a 250 yard shot.. I have had 110 in with other drivers but I think I may have had a very fortunate bounce. 

I got a razr Hawk tour in the mail last week to try and had some hope for it. Love the sound and feel (really!) It is being reshafted today. Perhaps it is an FT-3 with a hosel.. we shall see. I don't have another one of those "old" shafts to try it with. 

The other heads on the Oldies but Goodies list are the original Cleveland comp and the 425 Orlimar. I have seen guys in competition crush these and have been told by fitters that they are very difficult to beat for ballspeed. 

Hear the reigning US Open champ (who left Cally for Srixon this year after a great 2010) tried a few drivers and now is back using his FT-3. Think Stenson also kept his FT-3 when he left Callaway. 

If you want to try one, the heads are inexpensive on Callaway pre-owned and eBay's good as well. I sure am pleased with what I found. 

In the racing I used to do when much younger (Tri's, Bi's, Cycling, Running) we used to say that so and so "found a friend" if they showed marked improvement due to weightloss, diet, drugs, or say a new aerobike. I just found one in a headcover tucked away in a travel bag.. I shafted it before and got nothing.. a new lease on life I guess. A hunch with an old shaft in the corner and my game has been issued a new lease on life. Get used to the sound.. It's easy with the performance. 

BTW-The Hawk is being outfitted with a MotoreF1.. We'll see!

First day at the #Masters

@stephaniewei has a great web site and has a lethal point of view now and then that obviously came from playing golf in New Haven for 4 years.. Her question this evening is obvious. Who you got? McIlroy or Quiros (who is a funny guy who can't (?) act)

My answer: Did u pick? Chicken?  We are a long way from a green jacket ceremony. Brilliant huh? As impressed with Rory as I was earlier today, this afternoon brought out a new emotion. Awe. The pairing (that's not) was a blast to watch. I had Kaymer on all my "lists".. poor choice. So the wizard will make one more prediction. Casey or Barnes maybe.. Quiros at 12 under. Was a great display and the future of golf looks more exciting than trying to figure out if Tiger will wake up or which Phil will show up..if only Luke had not won yesterday... what's casey and Kuchar got to do with this.. and then the initial brothers (YE and KJ) with their 5 or 6 woods and hybrids may have a thing or two to say as well.. I'm chicken.

My Bag today

10.5° Octane tour Blur Prototype
17° Octane Redboard 73s
20/23° mx-700 YS-q hybrid 
5-AW RAZR tour vs-proto 85 stiff
54/59° CG-15 nippon 950 
2 Ball Mid/Belly
ProV1
Playerstowel

Kraft Nabisco.. and why the LPGA is good to watch for most of us..

In a word: Tempo. Love to see the hard and super fast greens at Mission Hills. Played the course once in 110 degree heat. Fattened my wallet with a few Benjamins that afternoon. Had to resuscitate one of our foursome with Coors as I recall. THE cure for heatstroke!

I have played some Championship golf on fast and firm courses and know what all the girls are dealing with this week.. hard to hold the greens even with short irons. When I played the Bridgestone RX I could never get enough spin on the ball to stop it with anything longer than a 9i. After a nice afternoon on Black Horse I swapped balls.. back to the ProV1. It putts better and is close enough in distance off the tee (a big thing for me) but I can stop a 6i on a green that would not be possible with a lower spin ball.. so what's the point? Championship conditions requires some adjustments.. most of our shots out there require an ability to control the ball from inside 130 yards.. Driving is critical as well.. you cannot play good golf if you can't drive the ball decently. But on a fast and hard course I can hit the ball lower off the tee and run drives out past 260 and my scores become a function of an ability to launch and spin the ball with my 100 mph driver swing speed inside 160..The Prov1 is a very versatile ball. It works for me and it works for the average tour player swinging at 112. I can hit that butter cut with it into greens and now with my new high launching irons I can take all the heat the summer will bring. But I need that Tempo .. that's the point. There is very little difference between my game and the typical LPGA tour player. My distances are very close to the ladies. I hit one more club than the longer hitters and am right their with the rank and file...   


It really helps me to watch the ladies. Have proven that with performance. Would love to hear what you do to improve your game away from the course and range. Sandra Gal really got my attention last week. Her tempo is superb. A female Ernie Ells.

I have been annoyed at the lack of HD coverage on the Golf Channel of women's golf. They say it's in HD but we know better. So this week I am happy to be improving by watching the ladies at the Dinah Shore. Really enjoying the tournament and I think there is a message for the LPGA here.. Better courses, set up tough. It's good for the game! The first Major of the year is here. I'm ready.. We punched the greens at the club yesterday...

The view from behind the first green at Salinas Golf and Country Club.

WRX and Callaway get my vote for Great Customer Service

I hang out on golf forums. Longtime BSG guy from the early days and now a contributor when I think I have some relevant experience on WRX. Have played the game as well as a 2 and started someplace at well over 100 for 18 holes. Learned to play the game from a wonderful former LPGA pro and have appreciated the lessons in life that the game has taught me.. Have been given equipment to use by Taylormade and Callaway but have spent most of my "serious" playing days with Mizuno clubs in my bag along with  a Titleist or Taylormade driver. So I got a PM from the owners of WRX and they had a "deal" for me.. send specs and get clubs.. Hope you'll like them and say nice things. I did ...and got a fresh box of Callaway RAZR tour irons in a week and a half and after a very pleasant phone call with their customer service folks had a gap wedge to match a week later.

I love to look at Equipment Pictures and find some of the guys who shoot the pro tourneys at WRX to really do a great job . The latest from the Transitions Championships.

I have a bit of a collection on Photobucket. Some nice stuff over the years.  

What prompted the post was a simple transaction between Callaway Golf and myself and the awareness that everything sorta comes full-circle. I learned to play with x-12 Callaway irons and now am back using graphite shafted Game Improvement irons from the company that first helped light the fire within me.. Along the way there have been some triumphs and lots of fun. Some profound frustration too. Many years ago I got paired up with a couple of guys who told me they felt blessed to love golf as much as they do... Feel the same way.

It's that time of year.. can smell the Master's. No greater spectacular in sport for my money. Absolutely heaven on earth. Enjoy the walk. I don't really care what Tiger does. 

  

Octane Tour Driver 10.5  Proto Blur

Burner 18 Redboard

20 mx-700 hybrid YS-Q

4-P RAZR tour vs-proto 85

52/58 CG-15 nippon 950

2ball white ice blade

proV1

...and a bag full of callaway!

In My Bag. 12/26/10

10.5 Octane tour Blur 44 3/4"
18 Burner Redboard 73
20 mx-700 mizuno hybrid YS-q
4-Pw J38 Pocket Cavs (bridgestone) i80 Steelfibers
52/58 Cleveland CG15 (52-2 dot, 58-3 dot) Nippon 950s
Rife Barbados (black) SuperStroke lite

No. 5. 188 yard par 3...

a picture is worth..a lot. hit it close.

A Ryder Cup fan. An American cheering for Monty's Boys...

@GaryVanSickle Monty got Seve on phone for team meeting last night. In the passion department, Europe takes early 1-up lead.

@JasonSobel  Stats show Miguel Angel Jimenez has been tweeted about less than any other player this week. Do you all hate wine, stogies and ponytails?

@TheChristinaKim  Oh my sweet Jesus. I just saw a glimpse of TW on the Golf Channel. WTF is Corey thinking with that rain suit?! Beyooooond tacky. Shameful!!!

@GaryVanSickle  Ryder Cup redux: Monty says there's no I in team. US asst captains have their names in big letters on jacket backs. Wouldn't "USA" suffice?

@ogilviej  Assume they are saving good looking US uniforms for game day at Ryder Cup, thus far I wouldn't rake leaves in first few costumes.

..and .. are you listening to me?  ... twitter is the medium... and Pavin has done every fan in golf a huge disservice by "banning" tweeting by Cink and others on the team who are prolific (Bubba and Fowler especially) .. am I rootin' for Paddy and Westy?... maybe... even Pavin's missteps likely won't swing me but this guy is missing a lot of the points of the Ryder Cup.. It's not war.  His wife Lisa has acted arrogant and the whole thing stinks... lets get to the playin'. I've seen Pavin caddy for his former college roommate in Q-School and I know he is a great champion... but so far as a Ryder Cup Captain ? Thumbs Down.

Pavin and Gray and Tiger and Phil...The Ryder Cup Circus

So is Tiger gonna play in the Ryder Cup? Has Corey sat with him.. Is Jim Gray telling the truth? ..Listen here folks and let's be fair, I ran big organizations in my career.. thousands of people...never would a few days go by without me at least talking with 20-25 of my top people. They would include the 10 or so Presidents/VPs  that reported to me, but also top sales and service people as well as Sales Engineers and generally the brightest stars in our universe.. Don't know if Corey was caught without an answer here but did he really think he was not going to be asked about the number one and two players in the world.. He's not doing his job very well IMO... from the little mistakes on Twitter and now with Jim Gray.. There is something about a lot of these guys I don't like. They are great competitors and guess they don't need good organizational skills or something but this is another mess. It will be forgotten quickly if the US wins the Cup, but the likelihood of this beginning is a lot of young players (Kuchar and Overton come to mind quickly) and going to be looking for leadership..not only from Phil and Tiger but from Corey as well.. He needs to step up his game. Monty would pick Tiger.. So there. Get real. He plays.. even with a broken leg.