Golf Digest Search Results

What a (Jason) Day for Sang-Moon Bae

Sun, 19 May 2013 22:43:00 GMT

Sang-Moon Bae already had a claim to at least a modicum of fame, courtesy of Golf Boys 2.Oh. Dial it up on You Tube and listen carefully, toward the end:

I took a vaycay at Sang-Moon Bae, I got a massage every single Jason Day

The Golf Boys are Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan and Ben Crane, whose latest video has received nearly 3.8 million views on You Tube, no doubt leaving nearly 3.8 million viewers wondering where this Sang-Moon Bay is located and whether they too should plan a vaycay there.

Assuming they follow golf, they're likely to soon learn that Moon, as his colleagues call him, is not a destination resort, though if his golf swing was contagious, he'd be worth a visit.

"Fabulous golf swing," CBS' Nick Faldo said, after Bae outplayed Keegan Bradley down the stretch on Sunday to win the HP Byron Nelson Championship, his first PGA Tour victory.

His is a game that can travel, too, and it won't be in coach class. Only 26, Bae, a native of South Korea, also has 11 international victories, including three on the Asian Tour and another three on the Japan Golf Tour, where in 2011 he was its leading money winner.

If he or Bradley were stocks, they'd be strong buys at this point. This was already assumed about Bradley, who also is only 26 and already is a major champion and three-time winner on the PGA Tour. But Bae is relatively unknown, having joined the PGA Tour last year, when he earned $1,165,952, a figure, incidentally, that he exceeded with his victory at the TPC Four Seasons Resort in Irving, Texas.

Maybe better than his swing was the way he handled the pressure after squandering a four-stroke lead over Bradley. The last five holes are the most difficult stretch on the course with winds howling and he played them in even-par to win by two.

"We all marvel at this golf swing," Faldo said, "but I marvel at his mental strength as well. He showed great strength today. It wasn't very right for awhile and to face the big five holes to get in and shoot [even], fantastic."

Faldo also predicted that Bae won't be "a flash in the pan." Bae is banking on that as well, aiming as he is to represent South Korea in the Olympics in 2016. Military service is mandatory in South Korea and he has yet to fulfill his obligation, but an Olympic medal or a major championship would exempt him from service.

Until then, and with apologies to the Golf Boys, Sunday will serve as the finest (Jason) Day of his career.

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On the PGA Tour, no two practice putting routines are the same

Sun, 12 May 2013 16:24:00 GMT

By Alex Myers

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Want to putt like a PGA Tour pro? Maybe you should try copying their practice routines. There's just a slight problem. Which one?

Watch the action at the practice round of a tour event for any amount of time and you'll quickly realize that no two routines are the same. Andres Romero spent most of his time putting six footers with an alignment aide. Despite missing one in about 10 minutes, he didn't move. In contrast, Bubba Watson was all over the practice green at TPC Sawgrass on Sunday, probably not a surprise to many considering his jittery tendencies on the golf course.

Even the way these guys start practicing is all over the place. Adam Scott begins by hitting a few with just his left side. Not surprisingly, he's not nearly as accurate anchoring that long putter without any help from his right hand. On the other, um, hand, Tiger Woods has long incorporated a drill where he only uses his right hand.

The list goes on. Steve Stricker steps onto the green and promptly starts rolling -- and holing -- 50-footers. Matt Kuchar puts a tee in the ground and attempts a bunch from close range and from different angles. Jason Dufner hits putts with a 5-wood before switching back to the club he'll actually use during his round. And Angel Cabrera? Well, he doesn't seem to have a routine.

Then there's Brandt Snedeker, who starts by trying putts in the 20 to 25-foot range. Perhaps that seems a little boring, but he also happened to lead the PGA Tour in strokes gained putting last year. Hey, if it works for him. . .

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Style notes from Round Three at the Masters

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 00:06:00 GMT

On a Saturday dominated by a two-stroke penalty incurred by Tiger Woods, our Mr. Style, Marty Hackel, found plenty of other distractions on the course.

Tiger Woods made red on Sunday a common occurrence, but Saturday at Augusta seemed to be the day for everyone else to wear red or pink. Yes sir, red is really getting lots of visibility.

Rory McIlroy

Bubba Watson

Gonzalo Fernandez-Castan

Bill Haas

Marc Leishman

Zach Johnson

Is there a bad image of Fred? I think not. Even when he's wearing one of those dull Ashworth outfits.

Might this be an omen for Scott/Leishman/Day?

The "do not adjust the color on your television" image of the day, it's Brian Gay in another colorful Sligo outfit.

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Media: 'Tiger tees off...and you can't watch it? In 2013?'

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 23:20:00 GMT

By John Strege

Augusta National once permitted only the back nine of the Masters to be televised, a point of contention for many, including the media. One writer attempting to pin a hypocrisy charge on former Augusta chairman Jack Stephens asked him whether he watched the Super Bowl.

"Fourth quarter," Stephens replied, without hesitation.

The point is that it's futile to belabor Augusta National's legendary stubbornness, though we'll do so anyway. Television viewers only saw Tiger Woods, No. 1 in the World Ranking and a four-time Masters champion, play only three holes in the first round on Thursday, because he teed off four hours, 15 minutes before the ESPN telecast began.

On Masters.com's Amen Corner live channel, meanwhile, Woods was first shown hitting his second shot from the right rough at the 11th hole, three hours, eight minutes after his round began.

As Jason McIntyre, the editor in chief of The Big Lead, noted on Twitter: "wait. so Tiger tees off in 10 minutes and you can't watch it ... anywhere? in 2013? seriously?"

Seriously. At least CBS' Nick Faldo had the opportunity to view all of Woods' round. He was asked by Jim Nantz for his assessment of Woods' play.

"The strategy has been very important, the safety after last year," Faldo said. "He hit in the trees at one and two [in 2012]. Playing with a 3-wood there [Thursday]. A couple of pushed iron shots, generally that's all very fixable."

Woods shot a two-under par 70, the fifth time he has done so in the first round of the Masters. He won three of those, Nantz noted.

Chamblee on Mickelson

Brandel Chamblee is among the more thoughtful and insightful analysts in golf, and early in Golf Channel's seven-hour marathon "Live at the Masters" run-up to ESPN's telecast, he weighed in on Phil Mickelson's dissatisfaction with a softer and slower Augusta National.

"I think part of the reason he's upset with the way this golf course is playing is that he can't play the golf course the way he used to play it for a couple of different reasons," Chamblee said. "One, it's set up a little slower and a little bit softer. Two, and I've been alluding to this, it's a big issue as you get older, Phil Mickelson is not quite as long as he used to be. For the first time in his career in 2011 he finished outside the top 10 in driving distance [at Augusta]. He was 16th. Last year he was 25th. His clubhead speed has gone from 120 miles per hour to 117 to 116 and now he's slower than that. He's hit it shorter than he ever has."

'I'm giving the course way too much respect'

Mickson's opinion post-round hasn't changed. In an interview with ESPN's Tom Rinaldi, Mickelson said this:

"It's just not the way I think of Augusta. It's been five or six years like this. Those top right pins on 16, you never used to be able to fly it up there and stick it within a foot or two of its divot. It's just extremely soft, and and because of that you have 45 people at par or better. My mindset has got to change. I'm giving the course way too much respect. I've got to attack these pins because the ball's just sticking. Tomorrow I'm going to do that."

Does Augusta allow broadcaster humor?

Faldo had fun with Bubba Watson's menu choices at the champions dinner Tuesday night.

"I was a little stunned that we didn't get a coloring book with the menu, as well," Faldo said. "We had chicken, we had mashed potatoes, corn, and mac and cheese. And my daughter Emma was gutted that she wasn't there, my nine-year old.

On Twitter

Steve Elkington, having fun at Mickelson's Phrankenwood driver:

"Can Philly Mick pick up a driver from the pro-shop at the turn.... Dude was 40 behind his partners on the 8th...."

"Maybe Phil forgot those little tees with the paint brush bristles....that's a good 3 yards right there....#Masters #frankenshank"

(Getty Images photo)

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Overheard in the gallery on Thursday at Augusta

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 15:52:00 GMT

By Ashley Mayo

AUGUSTA, GA. -- Welcome to Augusta National, where three honorary starters (Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus) have kicked off the 77th Masters. The air smells of pine straw and the azaleas are blooming. A complete Masters experience involves eavesdropping on spectator chatter. Below, some of the odd exchanges we overheard in the gallery on Thursday.

Patrons quickly spotted Lindsey Vonn, Tiger's latest flame. (Photo by Getty Images)

Man, watching honorary starters: "It's funny that the caddies bring the whole bag out. 'Uh, what are ya gonna hit here, Jack? Driver or wedge?'"

Man, after watching 77-year-old Gary Player hit his ceremonial tee shot: "My 16-year-old can't swing it that fast."

Man, walking beside first fairway: "It's not even 10:30 and every other person is holding a beer. These patrons are wild!"

"I'm glad I didn't buy that shirt. It looked great on the mannequin, but ugh, it looks horrible on an actual man."

Man, looking through binoculars: "Yep, Bubba's using that pink driver." Woman, also looking through binoculars: "And Ian [Poulter] has pink hair." (Poulter is wearing a neon-pink visor.)

Man, after Bubba Watson, Ian Poulter and Steven Fox all missed the first fairway: "I shoulda worn my armor."

Man, after Watson successfully escapes a fairway bunker and hits the first green in regulation: "Oh, good. I didn't wanna see him cry."

Man, after Tiger hits his first drive: "The bird's in the air, the bird's in the air. Here we go, here we go, here we go!"

Patron: "Is that...is that Lindsey Vonn?" His buddy: "Yep." Patron: "Good job, Tiger. Good job."

Overheard on Friday at Augusta

Overheard on Thursday at Augusta

Watson: "If I do it again this year, yes, there should be a plaque"

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 18:04:00 GMT

By Dave Shedloski

AUGUSTA, Ga. - On Sunday, as he and his wife, Angie, were walking up the 18th hole completing a casual round at Augusta National Golf Club, Bubba Watson noticed a small group congregating near the location of his renowned recovery shot from the trees right of the 10th fairway, the shot that won him the Masters.

Bubba Watson addresses the media during a practice round prior to the start of the 2013 Masters. Photo: David Cannon/Getty Images

Watson yelled over to them that they weren't quite in the right spot. He found out later that one of the men was former Masters champion Billy Casper.

On Monday, Padraig Harrington made a stop in the trees at No. 10 to size things up. Patrons have been gathering there by the hundreds to take photos. It seems there is no shortage of interest in what is already considered one of the great strokes in Masters history.

Perhaps Watson is the only guy not interested in reliving the 52-degree wedge shot that set up the winning par over Louis Oosthuizen in last year's sudden-death playoff.

"No, I would never hit it again," he said, then paused and smiled. "Well, unless Thursday through Sunday ... I've been known to hit it in the trees, but I'll lay up so I won't look as bad. But, no, not on purpose. I would never do it. I think that for me, I have to try to get my name to keep going throughout history, so I don't want to hit it again."

Certainly Watson, an unlikely Masters winner, has nothing to prove as he prepares to defend his Masters title -- except perhaps show that he can keep his emotions in check.

That, of course, he couldn't manage during his 20-minute press conference Tuesday morning at Augusta National Golf Club. Just as he had done after sinking the winning putt a year ago, Watson sobbed openly discussing what it meant to be a Masters champion and to own a green jacket -- and how he shared the prize with his new adopted son, Caleb.

"Out of respect and honor for Augusta National, as one of greatest clubs we have, as one of greatest tournaments, out of respect for them, I didn't do any of my funny antics that I normally would do," Watson said, wiping away tears. "Only thing I did was wrap Caleb up in it."

Related: Little-Known Masters Facts.

Only three men -- Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo and Tiger Woods -- have won consecutive Masters titles. Watson, 34, admits that his game isn't as sharp as it was a year ago. In fact, he's winless since winning his first major title.

"Obviously my stats probably show that I was better last year," he said. "My mind, my physical, my preparation, is the same. I feel good, feel confident."

But he sees no reason why he can't win again. As he was reminded Tuesday, his victory was the product of four days of outstanding golf, not just one miracle shot.

"Me as a competitor, as a believer in my game, yeah, I can see pulling it off. It wouldn't shock me," Watson sad. "I would still cry, but it wouldn't shock me. But the way I look at it, I'm going out there, and I want to make the cut because, first off, I don't want to have to sit around and give somebody the green jacket. I want to be here on Sunday, playing. But it's going to be tough."

Yes, but not as tough as the first one. On a scale of 1 to 10, he rates his heroics at the 10th a nine-plus, given the circumstances. Naturally, somebody mused about the club commemorating the stroke with a plaque, given how so many people have been drawn to the area where he made history.

"Well, who wouldn't want to see a plaque that says Bubba in the middle of the pine straw?" Watson asked, drawing laughs. "I would never ask for a plaque. (But) If I do it again this year, then yes, there should be a plaque."

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Masters Preview: The More The Merrier?

Jaime Diaz — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The list of potential masters winners is growing longer.

Bubba's Masters outfit and Champions Dinner menu

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:59:00 GMT

By Ashley Mayo

Bubba Watson has no problem telling us what he'll wear at the Masters. What he'll be serving at the Champions Dinner on Tuesday night, however, remains a mystery.

Watson poses with the four outfits he'll wear at the Masters.

"If you don't feel good on the golf course it's gonna be hard to play good," says Watson, who recently started wearing Oakley apparel. "I swing it probably the fastest on tour, about 126 miles per hour with my driver, so my clothes have got to be able to move and breathe the way I want them to."

Watson received a slew of Oakley outfits at the end of 2012, then tried them all on to choose his four favorite options for the Masters.

"When I put on that iconic 'O' brand it makes me more popular," says Watson. "I'm in a sport that's considered boring, but this makes me look like a cool athlete. It makes me energetic. It makes me feel excited."

While Watson didn't have any say over the design of Oakley's current offerings, he's been working with the company on their next line and told us to look out for some "exciting twists."

A level-headed Watson says that "no matter what happens, if I win the Masters again or if I miss the cut, I'm still going to enjoy it." One of the more memorable nights of the week is the annual Champions Dinner, where everyone who's won a Green Jacket gathers over a meal chosen by the current Masters Champion.

What will Watson serve? "There's gonna be food," he said, tight-lipped. He admitted that it took him "about 30 seconds" to come up with the menu. "I went with what I wanted. I couldn't care less about the other people."

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We saw the hovercraft coming: A look back at Golf Digest predictions

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 16:22:00 GMT

By Sam Weinman

The golf cart hovercraft that Bubba Watson has unveiled this week may seem like something out of a science fiction novel. But it's actually something out of Golf Digest. From 1979.

Yes, in our March issue that year we ran through a host of potential developments in the game in a feature, "Golf In 2001." Among them was a "jet car, which will glide on an air stream over the ground, rather than on it. This will cause less damage to the turf, thus making maintenance easier, and will take the jolts out of the riding."

Our 1979 version of the golf hovercraft. Is that "Anchorman" Ron Burgundy behind the wheel?

Our version of the hovercraft failed to mention the possibility of a cart also floating above the water, as Watson's does, but we were spot on in citing the minimal impact a hovercraft could have on the environment.

As for other predictions for the game, some are equally prescient.

For instance:

Prediction: "There are going to be computer-programmed learning aids to help correct errors in your swings."

Reality: This is indeed available a number of different ways, including in apps. Not that apps were on anyone's radar back then -- unless you were talking about nachos.

Prediction: "Clubs and balls will be more specialized for individual players. Manufacturers will focus on clubs to fit a player's build and swing characteristics."

Reality: Yes, fitting is all the rage now in golf, to the point where our equipment editors think NOT getting fit is akin to relying on a 1979 issue of Golf Digest for all your golf news.

There are some others in there that aren't far off -- advancements in junior golf and handicap tracking, for instance -- but as one might expect, plenty of our predictions stopped short of reality.

We said changes in the golf ball would allow us to use much less space for golf courses (actually, the exact opposite has happened). And we said the rise of the metric system would eliminate yardage as the standard measurement in golf. That one we missed by a mile -- or 1.6 kilometers.

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Masters Preview: Our Picks To Win

GolfDigest.com Staff — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Who is going to win at Augusta National? Our staff conducts its own draft and picks the top 20 candidates.