Masters Blog 2013

Posted on April 4, 2013 by

As a sports fan, it’s hard to think of a better time of year.  The NHL and NBA playoffs are just around the corner; the baseball season is starting; March Madness is under way; and perhaps the highlight of all of this is the Masters.  As always, there are lots of interesting story lines, but all of them seem to be in the shadow of Tiger Woods. Tiger has finally regained his number one ranking and looks primed to break his major drought.  However, there are lots of worthy contenders looking to spoil the party.
Here’s how I see it.

The Favourite…

TWoods3Tiger Woods – Tiger has 4 wins, but none since 2005. Having said this, he has only finished outside the top 10 at Augusta once since 2005 (2012).  He has also won three times in his last 4 stroke play events.  I think it’s safe to call him the favourite, but having not won a major since 2008, the pressure will be on.

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The Contenders…

PMickelson2Phil Mickelson – The player with the best record at the Masters in the last 10 years is actually not Tiger Woods.  Phil has finished outside the top 7 only twice in the last 14 years including 3 wins.  He’s had an up and down year, but it’s the Masters and he is the clear second choice to Tiger.

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JRose2Justin Rose – He is probably the hottest player in the world not named Tiger Woods.  He has four top 8’s in his last five stroke play events worldwide.  He’s ranked third in the world and has finished T8 and T11 in his last 2 Masters. .

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IPoulter2Ian Poulter – Poulter has two top 10’s at Augusta in the last three years. He also has five top 10’s in his last eight events worldwide.  Add this to his impressive 2012 major record that included three top 10’s.

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KbradleyKeegan Bradley – 2012 was Keegan’s first Masters appearance and he finished T27.  He has finished in the top 10 in his last four PGA Tour events and his game fits Augusta perfectly.  He hits it a mile and putts well; a good recipe for success at the Masters.

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GMcDowell2Graeme McDowell – Graeme finished T12 at last year’s Masters which was his worst finish in a major last year.  This combined with three top 10’s in his last four events makes him a real threat to put on his first green jacket.

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AScott2Adam Scott – Adam has two straight top 10’s at Augusta including a runner-up in 2011.  He also has two top 10’s in his last four events on the PGA Tour.  If he can put his British Open disappointment behind him, he could win his first Major.

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BSnedekerBrandt Snedeker – He was the hottest player in the world and the favourite for the Masters until he hurt his ribs in February.  He had four top 3’s including the win at Pebble Beach.  He has missed both cuts since his return from the injury, but he loves Augusta and could definitely win.

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CSwartzelCharl Schwartzel – The 2011 champ is playing well again after injury troubles.  He is currently second in the Race to Dubai and has two top 10’s in his three PGA Tour starts this year.  His worst finish was 16th.

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Big names with some question marks…

Rmcilroy2Rory McIlroy – He really isn’t playing very well right now.  However, he is Rory as we learned at the PGA last summer.

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bWatson2Bubba Watson – The defending champ is playing well this year.   If he putts well he should contend again.  Defending champ has some distractions at the Masters.

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DJohnson2Dustin Johnson – Has never played very well at Augusta, but he has played well the last two weeks on tour and his game suits the golf course.

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RFowler2Rickie Fowler – Has played very well this year, but has struggled in final rounds.  Interesting to see if he can keep it together on Sunday.

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LDonald2Luke Donald – He should be a factor in more majors, but he has been inconsistent in the big events.

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sgarciaSergio Garcia – Withdrew at the Arnold Palmer, but his worst finish otherwise in a stroke play event is T13 worldwide.  Can he finally get his Major Championship?

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Good office pool picks…

ACabreraAngel Cabrera – Finished T16 last week at the Shell.  The 2009 champ is always a threat.

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Jday2

Jason Day – Runner-Up in 2011.  Three top 10’s this year and he’s healthy again.

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HStensonHenrik Stenson – T8 and T2 in last two PGA Tour events.

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FjacobsonFredrik Jacobson – Three top 10’s in five events this year and T19 finish in last year’s Masters.

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Enjoy the tournament!

Rob Brandon
Director of Golf

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The Short Game Test

Posted on September 24, 2012 by

It has been proven over and over that if you would like to shoot lower scores then you must have a skilled short game yet I rarely see many people actually practicing theirs. Instead, I see everyone standing on the range hitting their drivers primarily for all of their shots, and wondering why their game and score does not improve.

A few years ago one of my golfers came to me looking to improve his game.  He had hit a bit of a stalemate in his improvement and really wanted to lower his 24 handicap. I gave him a “Short Game Test” that consisted of hitting a total of 70 shots from various areas within 90 yards of the green and on the green. From the results we were able to assign a handicap for each area of his short game and identify the weakest areas. We then chose the three weakest areas and I showed him how to improve them by working on his technique and with drills.

Approximately one year later he came back to me for a follow up Short Game Test to see how much he had improved. The results absolutely shocked me then as they still do today. By investing 90 minutes in the SGT you may be able to achieve lower scores easier than you thought was possible.

Test Results, June 14, 2006                                    Test Results, June 25, 2007
Short Putting – 17 handicap                                               Short Putting – 14 handicap
Long Putting – 37 handicap                                               Long Putting – 24 handicap
Wedges – 32 handicap                                                        Wedges – 17 handicap
Sand Play – 19 handicap                                                     Sand Play – 20 handicap
Chipping – 29 handicap                                                      Chipping – 12 handicap
Trouble Shots – 11 handicap                                              Trouble Shots – 12 handicap
OVERALL SGT HANDICAP – 26                             OVERALL SGT HANDICAP – 14

ACTUAL HANDICAP – 24                                                  ACTUAL HANDICAP – 13

How’s that for results and proof that working on your short game really is the key to better golf!?

Jody Boutin
Head Teaching Professional

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2012 PGA Championship Contenders

Posted on August 7, 2012 by

It is time for the last Major Championship of the season and this year’s event has many story lines. Will Adam Scott rebound from his collapse at the Open Championship? Can Furyk bounce back after a disappointing final hole last week? Who will earn enough Ryder Cup points to earn a final spot on their respective team? There are lots of interesting scenarios, but here is how I see it…

The Course
This year’s event is taking place at the Ocean course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina. This Pete Dye design is a beast and can play at nearly 7900 yards. Ten holes border the Atlantic Ocean and if the wind blows…look out. The winner this year will have their entire game tested and will be a deserving winner.

The Contenders:

Tiger:
Tiger has been committed to being conservative off the tee and hitting long irons into greens. He is probably the best long iron player ever to play so this strategy makes sense, but it will be interesting to see if this course will allow him to be so patient. He has two wins and four top 10’s in his last 6 events so he is playing well enough to win.

Jason Dufner:
Jason has finished inside the top seven in five of his last seven events including a seventh place finish last week. Expect last year’s runner-up to compete again for this year’s title.

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Matt Kuchar:
He has a complete game matched with incredible consistency. He has not missed a cut this year and has eight top 10’s in seventeen events this year. This includes an eighth place finish last week.

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Graeme McDowell:
His worst finish in a major is T12 in this year’s Masters. He is knocking on the door for his second major and has all the shots to play in tough conditions. He is from Northern Ireland so the wind won’t bother Graeme.

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Louis Oosthuizen:
He seems to be playing well in all the big events. He also hits it long and straight which should help this week. He’s just coming off a fourth place finish last week.

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Bubba Watson:
This course is probably most similar to Whistling Straits where Bubba almost got his first major in 2010. He hasn’t played much since his win at the Masters, but his game is suited for this course and he has played well in his last three events.

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Steve Stricker:
He is playing well recently including a tie for second last week. He has two top 5’s in his last three events. He is also looking to solidify a spot on the Ryder Cup team.

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Padraig Harrington:
Padraig has quietly had a solid season that has included top 10 finishes at the Masters and the US Open. He does no mind tough courses and also needs Ryder Cup points in a big way.

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Luke Donald:
Luke finished T5 and T8 in the British Open and WGC events respectively. His game seems to be in top form heading into this week. His great short game should come in handy on the Ocean Course.

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Lee Westwood:
Hard to pick against Lee in the Majors. He shot a third round 81 last week which is a cause for concern, but he has been so consistent in the Majors. His unmatched ball striking should work well in the wind.

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The Others:

Keegan Bradely:
This course suits him well, but the win last week seemed to be an emotional one. Will he have anything left in the tank?

Rory McIlroy:
His game is showing signs of improving and he does have all the shots when playing well.

Justin Rose:
15th in FedEx Cup and 1st in the Race to Dubai. If he putts well he should have a chance.

Dustin Johnson:
Has the length to compete. Is he all the way back from injury?

Rickie Fowler:
Has the game to compete and this is his last chance to make the Ryder Cup team which he loves.

Webb Simpson:
He’s from North Carolina and loves the Southeast. His focus may be on the new baby though.

Bo Van Pelt:
Here’s my dark horse pick. He’s playing well with three top 8’s in his last four events.

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Have fun watching the last major of the year!

Rob Brandon
Director of Golf

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Improving your Golf Game: Don’t Get Side-Tracked

Posted on July 31, 2012 by

Throughout my day of teaching I sometimes hear people complain about the misery their golf game gives them. They find themselves walking off the course with headaches, low self-esteem, pulled muscles and being completely dejected. Score seems to be the culprit for this feeling but it really shouldn’t be.

It is quite easy to get caught up in the score that you shoot or how every shot isn’t perfect or doesn’t fly as far as your playing partner, but aren’t there other reasons to play the game that would help you enjoy yourself a lot more? Maybe you’ve tried some of them but have just gotten a little side-tracked. Is there anything that you could focus on the next time you go out to play that has nothing to do with judging yourself? Maybe a couple of simple thoughts like making sure that your clubface and body are aimed appropriately for each target you are aiming at, or that each swing has rhythm and balance from the address position to the finish.

An excellent exercise during your next practice session or round of golf is to be aware of your key thoughts as much as possible and when you find yourself getting sidetracked, just notice it and get back on the right train of thought. Following this will help you make a commitment to something that just might help you to write down some lower numbers next time.

Jody Boutin
Head Teaching Professional

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The 2012 Open Championship: Top Contenders

Posted on July 13, 2012 by

Start getting your sleep now. The Open Championship starts next week and the early morning starts are sure to cut into your sleep. Will it be another first time winner or will one of the proven Major Champions strike again?  Here is how I see it…

The Favourites:

Padgraig Harrington:
This might not be the first name to pop into you head, but he is playing very well right now and has won 3 majors including 2 Open Championships. He finished 4th at the US Open and has finished no worse than 15th in his last 5 events.

Tiger Woods:
Is he back? Not until he wins a major in my opinion. This might be the time. If he putts well for four days I think he wins, but that’s a big “if”. He does have 7 top 10’s at the Open including 3 wins.

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Lee Westwood:
Lee has been knocking on the door of his first major title for a while now. Lee has eight top 10’s in the last 4 years in the majors including two top 3’s at the Open. He has also finished in the top 10 in both of the year’s first majors.

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Ernie Els:
Here is another from the old guard that may be a factor next week. Prior to 2010, Ernie had 8 eight top 10’s in his last 10 Open Championships including a victory. He is playing well right now with six top 10’s worldwide. He finished 9th at the US Open and says he feels as though he can win.

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Graeme McDowell:
Graeme has finished in the top 20 in five of his last six events. This includes a 12th place atAugusta and his runner-up finish at the US Open. I think he’s competitive enough to bounce back from that near miss at Olympic Club and contend again next week.

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Justin Rose:
He has five top 10’s in his last 6 events on the PGA Tour. He finished T21 at the US Open.  He hasn’t been a factor since 1998 at the Open when he finished 4th as an Amateur, but it may be his time. He is first on the European Tour’s Race toDubai.

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Ian Poulter:
He is getting his game back. Ian has made every cut on the PGA Tour this year and has finished in the top 10 in 3 of his last 4 events on the European Tour. He doesn’t lack confidence.

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Ross Fisher:
He has four straight top 10’s on the European Tour and is again in contention this week at the Scottish Open.

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Francesco Molinari:
He has 4 top 10’s in his last 6 events on the European Tour and currently holds the 36 hole lead at the Scottish Open. He got the bad side of the draw at the US Open, but still managed to play well.

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Phil Mickelson:
He finished 2nd at last year’s Open and just shot 64 at the Scottish Open. If he can avoid a poor first round, I really think he has a shot.

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Honorable Mentions:

Rory McIlroy:
Finished 10th at the Irish Open early this month after a rough June. He’s too good to ignore in a major.

Luke Donald:
He tends to struggle in majors, but you can’t ignore his talent.

Rickie Fowler:
He is getting the reputation of playing well in majors and was a factor on Sunday at last year’s open.

Miguel Angel Jiminez:
If the weather turns bad, I like his compete level and grit. Golf’s version of a mudder.

Matt Kuchar:
Makes every cut and seems to always be somewhere near the leaderboard.

As always, enjoy the golf!

Rob Brandon
Director of Golf

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Making History: Ladies Golf

Posted on June 28, 2012 by

In 2011 there were a couple of different golfers that you could easily say that they were the best players in the game; Rory McIlroy played extremely well at the US Open after a complete shutdown at the Masters, and Luke Donald did what no other player in history has ever done which was to be the leading money winner on the PGA Tour and the European Tour.

Those were definitely impressive feats but I think that there is a young woman that is playing on the LPGA Tour that should be getting more recognition. Yani Tseng is a 23 year old player that has been on the LPGA tour since 2008. In her short time on tour she has won tournaments at an alarming rate, 15 regular tournaments and 5 major tournaments. At the time of writing Yani had entered 5 tournaments this season and had won three of them with the latest one being by 6 shots. With that victory she became the second youngest player in the history of the LPGA tour to win 15 tournaments.

I’m sure that this year will have lots of different storylines such as, Tiger wins again or Bubba wins the Masters but will their accomplishments compare to what the young lady from Taiwan does?

Jody Boutin
Head Teaching Professional

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U.S. Open 2012: Contenders

Posted on June 7, 2012 by

It feels like just yesterday that we saw Bubba hooking a ball out of the woods to win the Masters, but it is time for the next Major. This year’s US Open, at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, is shaping up to be a very interesting event. There are lots of new faces on the list of contenders. Here is how I see it.

My Top 10…

Jason Dufner:
Dufner is probably the hottest player on the planet. He has 2 wins and 1 runner-up in his last 4 events and is leading the Fed Ex Cup point’s race. He also finished 2nd at the PGA last year. Two things that make me question this pick are his last two rounds at the Masters where he lead after 36 holes before fading well back on the weekend and his last round at Colonial a couple of weeks ago when he had a one shot lead before shooting 74. He is playing too well to ignore.

Rickie Fowler:
After a slow start to the season, Rickie put together 4 straight top 10’s including a win and a runner-up finish prior to the Memorial. At the Memorial, he got himself into contention again only to shoot 84 when paired with Tiger on Sunday. Rickie’s a tough competitor though and should be able to put this behind him.

Zack Johnson:
He has 1 win and 2 runner-up finishes in his last 4 events. Zack has also made every cut this year. He is also amongst the leaders again in driving accuracy and putting on the PGA Tour again. These are two stats that mean a lot at the US Open. Don’t forget he has won a major before!

Matt Kuchar:
He has also made every cut this year and has only finished outside the top 25 three times in 12 events in 2012. Matt is famous for contending, but not winning. His recent win at the Players Championship may have given him the confidence to get over the hump. Matt also finished T3 at the Masters this year and finished only 4 shots back as an Amateur in 1998, the last time the US Open was held at the Olympic Club.

Hunter Mahan:
Hunter was really hot at the start of the year. He had two victories early and has kind of disappeared from the headlines, but that doesn’t mean he hasn’t played well. He has had many solid finishes including shooting a 68 in the final round of the Memorial to finish inside the top 20. He does not have a reputation for contending in Major’s which is a concern.

Phil Mickelson:
While he withdrew from the Memorial after a first round 79, Phil has a record five runner-up finishes at the US Open. He has played well this year with 3 top three finishes including a 3rd place finish at the Masters. This year’s US Open is in his home state of California as well.

Francesco Molinari:
He has 3 straight top ten finishes and 6 straight top 20’s on the European Tour and Worldwide. He has a reputation for contending in big events.

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Justin Rose:
He has 4 straight top 10’s including an 8th place finish at the Masters. He hits a lot of fairways considering he also hits it long. Total driving is an important stat at the US Open. This could be his time.

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Lee Westwood:
Lee finished 3rd at the Masters and has 4 top ten’s in 7 events on the PGA Tour. He also has 3 top five’s in his last 5 events worldwide. He has come close so many times at Major Championships including 7 top three’s in his last 15 major’s. If he has a good putting week, I think he wins because from tee to green, he may be the best in the world.

Tiger Woods:
He’s always a threat at the Major’s. Obviously the win at the Memorial was big last week, but is he really back?  He knows how to win Major’s and can never be counted out.

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Dark Horses…

Branden Grace:
He is 4th in the Race for Dubai. He has one win on the European Tour and finished 5th at the BMW and 25th at the Memorial.

Andres Romero:
He has contended in Major’s before with 4 top ten’s. He just finished 2nd at the Memorial to Tiger.

Bo Van Pelt:
He has 5 top ten’s this year and was T13 at the Memorial.

Have fun watching this year’s US Open!

Rob Brandon
Director of Golf

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