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Weekly Ezine Feb. 14/05 Happy Valentine's Day |
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Visit our PROSHOP for the best selection of name brand and clone golf equipment, apparel, training aids, gifts and accessories.
In this edition:
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Tour Results, Schedules, and News:
For the first time in his career (believe it or not), Phil Mickelson has won back to back to back weeks, by breezing to victory at Pebble Beach. The Thursday 10-under 62 set him up for his first wire to wire win on the PGA Tour. For the second week in a row Mickelson went double digits under par in a round. Last week he shot an 11-under 60 in Scottsdale. The defending Masters champ seems to be getting ready for Augusta in fine style making tons of birdies, and unlike the past, very few bogies. Despite his 1-over round Sunday, he cruised to a four stroke victory over Mike Weir who had a great 5-under round which could have lower if some putts had dropped. Weir looks ready to go for the threepeat at Riviera this week.
Vijay Singh was a non-issue for second week in a row, missing the cut by quite a bit for the first time since last winter. He is narrowly holding onto the number one ranking and will be the top seed at the World Match Play which starts in two weeks. Tiger Woods will be the second seed even though he can regain the number one ranking at Riviera this week. Ernie Els said he will not be playing at the Match Play event.
The women got under way last week as well at the Women's World Cup. The Japanese team carried by teenage star Ai Miyazato fired a 6-under 67 on Sunday and needed that low score. Her partner Rui Kitada was awful on the back nine as she posted a 7-over 44. She finished with a 9-over 82 as the team nearly squandered a four-shot lead on the second nine. The U.S. team was a disappointing 14th.
PGA Tour:
2005 AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am:
1.
Mickelson, Phil -19
2. Weir, Mike -15
3. Owen, Greg -13
4. Clark, Tim -12
4. Goydos, Paul -12
6. Clarke, Darren -11
6. Oberholser, Arron -11
8. McDowell, Graeme -10
9. Love III, Davis -9
9. Sluman, Jeff -9
11. Andrade, Billy -8
11. Donald, Luke -8
11. Gamez, Robert -8
11. Howell III, Charles -8
11. Kribel, Joel -8
European
Tour:
2005 Holden New Zealand Open click
here for results
Champion's
Tour:
No Event Scheduled click
here for results
Nationwide
Tour:
No Event Scheduled click
here for results
LPGA Tour:
2005 Women's World Cup of Golf click
here for results
For full field scores and stats on all the tours, go to PGA
Tour.com.
Upcoming Events:
PGA tour:
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2005
Nissan Open |
TV
Coverage: |
European Tour:
2005 Carlsberg
Malaysian Open
Feb 17-20
Saujana Golf and C.C.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Defending: Thongchai Jaidee
Purse: $1,210,000 ($201,000 to winner)
Champion's Tour:
2005 The ACE Group Classic
Feb 18-20
The Club at TwinEagles
Naples, Florida
Defending: Craig Stadler
Purse: $1,600,000 ($240,000 to winner)
Nationwide
Tour:
2005 Jacob's Creek Open
Feb 17-20
Royal Adelaide Golf Club
Seaton, Australia
Defending: Euan Walters
Purse: $630,000 ($115,000 to winner)
LPGA Tour:
2005 SBS Open at Turtle Bay
Feb 24-26
Turtle Bay Resort
Kahuku, Hawaii
Defending: Inaugural Event
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The PowerStik will stretch and strengthen your golf muscles allowing you to hit the ball further, no matter what kind of clubs you use. Many of the best golfers in the world use a weighted training aid to add consistency, flexibility and strength to their golf swings. This is the only one I know of that is actual golf club length. I personally use this trainer and added 20 to 30 yards on average off the tee last winter using it for three months. When used properly the Powerstik not only stretches and strengthens muscles but also helps you develop good tempo and plane. It has a normal shaft and choice of regular or training grip. This is the only weighted swing trainer that has all the weight at the head with a standard length shaft, where it does the most good. Not only did I increase my distance within three months last winter, but the pain in my back and wrist was non-existent for the entire year, because I strengthened these areas. Some people argue that you could just put a weight at the end of a regular club. If that was so, why would the top golf fitness instructor in the world recommend this product. Here's what Mike Pederson has to say:
Rating: 5 out of 5 |
PLAY
TARGET GOLF, NOT MECHANICAL GOLF
Patrick J. Cohn, Ph.D.
You stand motionless over the ball as you run through a checklist of what you should remember about a good swing. You feel frozen and cannot pull the trigger, too much information to assimilate. Your over analysis is causing paralysis. You finally swing, but you stick the club in the ground and hit your shot fat. It is frustrating because you know you can't try any harder. Maybe the answer is trying less?
Two mindsets are important to reach your potential in golf. First, players must understand their swing and have the discipline to practice and groove their swing. Second, players have to trust what they practice, and learn to play target golf, not mechanical golf. Both mentalities are important for you to reach your potential.
Most golfers know how to train their swings. They are good at the practice mentality. However, to play your best golf, you have to develop a trusting mentality so you can let it happen and play target golf. Playing target golf means forgetting about how to get the ball to the target and trust what your practice. That's why you practice--to develop an effortless and automatic swing. Many of the golfers I see, get stuck in a practice mindset and take it out to the course, which does not help them score. Here are some keys for helping you make the switch from mechanical golf to target golf:
(1) Simplify Your Preshot Routine. A good preshot routine focuses your attention on execution and target and it should help you play target golf. A 20-step routine is not an effective--it leads to over analysis. Simplify the steps in your routine, especially as they get closer to pulling the trigger. Narrow it down to only one swing cue to make it more simplistic.
(2) Trust Your Method. A key to playing target golf is the ability to trust your method. If you do not have faith in your method, it is hard to trust your swing or stroke. If you believe in your method, it is easier for you to have confidence in your swing and then trust you will hit the target. Stop working on your swing and start playing golf shots when you go to the course.
(3) Focus on a Target, not Your Swing. An external focus is critical to trusting your swing and playing target golf. Don't think about how to swing. To release conscious control, focus on a target, the shape of the shot, or an image of a good shot. The last thought should be on your target or where a you want the ball to finish if you are a visual player.
(4) Use Images and Feelings, not Verbal Commands. Our bodies interpret and perform better when we use images or feeling to relay information. The use of verbal instructions are needed for learning a new skill, but they are ineffective for playing target golf . Translate a verbal instruction ("take the club back in one piece") into a feeling of the movement during the practice swing.
(5) Practice Playing Target Golf. Like any other part of the game, you have to practice playing target golf. Practice just looking at the target and swinging from instinct. Spend 40 % of your time practicing target golf. Trust and confidence develop from learning how to play target golf on the range first. Then you can transfer what they learn to the course.
Dr. Patrick J. Cohn is a master mental game coach who works with golfers
of all levels including PGA and LPGA Tour players. Visit Peaksports.com
to gain access to over 400 exclusive mental game articles, audio programs,
and interviews with athletes and coaches to enhance your golf potential:
http://www.peaksports.com/membership
For
more golf tips click
here.
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Do you have relevant questions, comments, or opinions about golf that
you would like to be heard? Have any suggestions to improve this ezine?
Please email them to sean@lowerscoregolf.com
2004 PGA Tour Final Statistics:
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Money Leaders 1
Phil Mickelson 4 events $2,004,056 |
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Good Golfing,
SEAN HARDER