Rory McIlroy took advantage of calm morning conditions to fire a 63 at St. Andrews Thursday, and leads by two shots. Tiger Woods also was among the morning group that benefited from a lack of wind, and fired a 67. John Daly is also a surprise contender after a 66.
Conditions at St. Andrews were unusually calm this morning, which allowed the players with early tee times to get a jump on their competitors. Phil Mickelson was among those unfortunate enough to have an afternoon tee time, and he stumbled to a 73. Still, some players who played late in the day were able to shoot decent scores. Mickelson still seems unable to solve the riddle of links golf.
Weather for the rest of the tournament is expected to be a bit rough, so it is unlikely scores will be nearly as low as today. There were 16 scores of 67 or better today, although only a handful of those players, such as McIlroy and Lee Westwood would be considered contenders for the title against tourney favorite Tiger Woods. Ernie Els did manage to fire a 69 and Vijay Singh shot 68.
From my point of view, the tournament is Tiger's to win. He apparently is on form with his swing, and if he putts well, I only see McIlroy and Westwood as having a chance.
Scott Cole
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com
www.powergolftraining.net
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Weekend Golf Re-Cap
This weekend surprisingly displayed some exciting golf in spite of their not being a major men's professional tournament. Paula Creamer tamed a difficult Oakmont course over the weekend for her first major. She displayed some clutch shot making on the back nine to win going away. I applaud the USGA with softening up the course for Sunday's round. Oakmont can easily humble anyone as displayed in the 2007 U.S. Open, when Angel Cabrera won with a 6 over par total.
In Illinois, Steve Stricker held off Paul Goydos, the new Mr. 59, to win by two at the John Deere Classic. While I was glad to see Goydos push Stricker to the end, I really do not like watching putting contests on TV. This golf course required little imagination in any part of the course, so it will be nice to watch the Open Championship this week as it returns to St. Andrews.
Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
In Illinois, Steve Stricker held off Paul Goydos, the new Mr. 59, to win by two at the John Deere Classic. While I was glad to see Goydos push Stricker to the end, I really do not like watching putting contests on TV. This golf course required little imagination in any part of the course, so it will be nice to watch the Open Championship this week as it returns to St. Andrews.
Scott Cole
www.scottcolegolf.com
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Michelle Wie - How NOT To Develop a Junior Golfer
Michelle Wie appeared on the golf scene 6 or 7 years ago as a teenage, can't miss phenom who could hit with the big boys on the PGA Tour. Because of her prodigious length off the tee and beautiful golf swing, her father consistently entered her in men's amateur events, and she even played in a couple of the PGA Tour events in Hawaii. Unfortunately, she never learned how to win, and since joining the LPGA Tour officially a couple years ago, she has only one victory.
This week at the U.S. Women's Open at Oakmont, Wie missed the cut with rounds of 82 and 76. Meanwhile, 15 year old prodigy, Alexis Thompson, who has dominated junior girls and women's amateur golf, stands in a tie for 6th, after firing the low round of the 3rd round yesterday.
Wie, who is now a student at Stanford, has clearly regressed as a golfer. She once fired a 68 in a PGA event in Hawaii, and now clearly has lost all confidence. While she has one of the beautiful swings in the women's game, she is inconsistent and wild. Her putting is mediocre.
The development of Tiger Woods as a golfer is the blueprint many will try to follow. Obviously, that has worked out, although his development as a person has not. Woods competed at all levels of the game until he dominated. While still a junior golfer, he did compete in a PGA event or two, because he qualified. But, he still played junior golf, then men's amateur golf and college golf, before taking his talents to the professional level. He dominated every level and learned how to win, and win often. He came to the PGA Tour with no fear.
Michelle Wie never even won the USGA Girls Junior Championship. One of her rivals, In-Bee Park won it once, was runner-up once and medalist twice. She has had far more success on the LPGA Tour than Wie. Alexis Thompson won the event in 2008. However, I believe Thompson is jumping the gun as well at 15. She, like Wie, is a great player at this age, but needs to win more. She never won the U.S. Women's Amateur, so why turn pro now?
It seems that women's golf is becoming more like women's tennis. They turn pro at a very young age and this can lead to early burn out. Let the kids grow up a bit and enjoy their youth a bit. What's the rush?
Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.net
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com
This week at the U.S. Women's Open at Oakmont, Wie missed the cut with rounds of 82 and 76. Meanwhile, 15 year old prodigy, Alexis Thompson, who has dominated junior girls and women's amateur golf, stands in a tie for 6th, after firing the low round of the 3rd round yesterday.
Wie, who is now a student at Stanford, has clearly regressed as a golfer. She once fired a 68 in a PGA event in Hawaii, and now clearly has lost all confidence. While she has one of the beautiful swings in the women's game, she is inconsistent and wild. Her putting is mediocre.
The development of Tiger Woods as a golfer is the blueprint many will try to follow. Obviously, that has worked out, although his development as a person has not. Woods competed at all levels of the game until he dominated. While still a junior golfer, he did compete in a PGA event or two, because he qualified. But, he still played junior golf, then men's amateur golf and college golf, before taking his talents to the professional level. He dominated every level and learned how to win, and win often. He came to the PGA Tour with no fear.
Michelle Wie never even won the USGA Girls Junior Championship. One of her rivals, In-Bee Park won it once, was runner-up once and medalist twice. She has had far more success on the LPGA Tour than Wie. Alexis Thompson won the event in 2008. However, I believe Thompson is jumping the gun as well at 15. She, like Wie, is a great player at this age, but needs to win more. She never won the U.S. Women's Amateur, so why turn pro now?
It seems that women's golf is becoming more like women's tennis. They turn pro at a very young age and this can lead to early burn out. Let the kids grow up a bit and enjoy their youth a bit. What's the rush?
Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.net
www.onlinegolfswingcoach.com
Thursday, July 8, 2010
PA Junior Golf Championship
Congratulations to Jonathan Heydt of Moselem Springs, who withstood the 100 degree heat for two days and fired rounds of 69 and 70 on the vaunted Hershey East Course to win the PA Junior Golf Championship by 5 strokes.
I wanted to take the time to comment on this tournament because I noticed some very strong play, particularly on the first day. There were five scores of par or better in round one, and several one over par scores as well. Heydt was the only player to maintain form for in second round among the leaders.
What I did notice in this tournament is that most of the kids finishing in the top 20 play out of some of the best clubs in the state. In fact, four of the kids in the top five play at clubs that have held State Amateur and State Opens. Two of these kids play out of Merion and Oakmont. You just can't give a kid a better opportunity to develop his game.
However, I see a need for kids such as several of my students to have the opportunity to play at some of these facilities. In the current economic environment, many kids just don't have the opporunity to play or practice every day, much less play or practice at a U.S. Open caliber golf course. As a result, they find themselves at a distinct disadvantage.
I think it is time for a program to be developed to allow these kids more opportunity, so they are not at such a disadvantage when it comes to competing in these events. This is something I intend to work on over time, and if anyone else out there has some ideas, I welcome them.
Scott Cole
I wanted to take the time to comment on this tournament because I noticed some very strong play, particularly on the first day. There were five scores of par or better in round one, and several one over par scores as well. Heydt was the only player to maintain form for in second round among the leaders.
What I did notice in this tournament is that most of the kids finishing in the top 20 play out of some of the best clubs in the state. In fact, four of the kids in the top five play at clubs that have held State Amateur and State Opens. Two of these kids play out of Merion and Oakmont. You just can't give a kid a better opportunity to develop his game.
However, I see a need for kids such as several of my students to have the opportunity to play at some of these facilities. In the current economic environment, many kids just don't have the opporunity to play or practice every day, much less play or practice at a U.S. Open caliber golf course. As a result, they find themselves at a distinct disadvantage.
I think it is time for a program to be developed to allow these kids more opportunity, so they are not at such a disadvantage when it comes to competing in these events. This is something I intend to work on over time, and if anyone else out there has some ideas, I welcome them.
Scott Cole
Goydos Fires 59 in John Deere Classic
Paul Goydos fired the 4th 59 in PGA Tour history in the first round of the John Deere Classic today! Great going Paul! One of the good guys on tour, Goydos carded 12 birdies in his round, including 8 on the back nine. Not known as a long hitter, Goydos kept the ball in play, and obviously had the flat stick working today. Great to see from one of the real nice guys on tour.
Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.net
Scott Cole
www.powergolftraining.net
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