Golf Digest Search Results

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

Sun, 12 May 2013 16:24:00 GMT

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. . .

Follow @AlexMyers3

Win the Players, get a great parking spot!

Fri, 10 May 2013 15:20:00 GMT

By Alex Myers

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- Sure, Matt Kuchar took home $1.7 million and a lovely crystal trophy for his win at the Players last year. But he got another perk when he returned to PGA Tour headquarters this week.

As is tradition, the defending champion at gets the parking spot closest to the sprawling TPC Sawgrass clubhouse. All the former champs get a prime space determined by how recently they've won, with a player being bumped down a spot with each passing year.

But who gets the No. 2 spot? That honor goes to the defending champ's caddie, in this case, Lance Bennett. Hey, when you've got to be on your feet all day, saving a few steps here or there helps.

It's nice to see caddies getting the respect they deserve, even if he didn't get a personalized name plate. Unfortunately, that recognition also doesn't quite extend to courtesy cars, apparently. Mr. Bennett's Chrysler looked somewhat out of place in a sea of Mercedes and Lexus.

Follow @AlexMyers3

Get to know Roberto Castro, your early Players leader

Thu, 09 May 2013 18:14:00 GMT

By Alex Myers

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. -- He's an engineer and a writer. In other words, Roberto Castro isn't your average PGA Tour pro. And on Thursday, he did anything but shoot your average round of golf.

Playing in the Players for the first time, Castro fired a bogey-free 63 to tie the TPC Sawgrass Stadium Course record shared by Greg Norman and Fred Couples -- a pair of big names he's never even met. Golf's "fifth major" has produced some surprises over the years, but a win this week by Castro might top them all.

The 27-year-old earned $755,095 in his rookie season on the PGA Tour in 2012 to narrowly keep his card for this year, and has only made seven of 14 cuts in 2013. Then again, a guy ranked No. 1,207 won at Quail Hollow last week, a fact not lost on Castro.

"It gets proven out here every week. Derek Ernst won last week in his eighth event and no one ever heard of him," said Castro, the nephew of Jenny Lidback, a Peruvian-born former LPGA star. "There are a lot of good players out here."

This was Castro's first competitive round at TPC Sawgrass, but he said he learned a lot playing a Wednesday practice round with Geoff Ogilvy and Matt Kuchar, the defending champion and a fellow Georgia Tech product. On Thursday, he put forth what playing partner Jimmy Walker called "the best iron round I've ever seen." Castro didn't seem too surprised by his 63, but he knows just how far he's come already in his career as a pro. On Tuesday, the man with a degree in industrial engineering tweeted this from his account, @cicioCASTRO:

"By my estimate the total purse of all the mini-tour events I played in 3 yrs wouldn't add up to what we're playing for this week. #Players"

When he's not shooting 63s in one of golf's biggest events, Castro is also a contributor to allthingsthataregood.org, a website covering music, books, travel and more. Here's a post where he reviews a courtesy car during the Waste Management Phoenix Open. His love of music is obvious in his PGA Tour profile, where he lists John Lennon, Bobby Jones and Tiger Woods as the three people he'd select to round out his dream foursome.

In that same bio, Castro lists Merion as the course he'd like to play. Three more days like this and he'll get that wish at next month's U.S. Open.

Follow @AlexMyers3

The 10 Best Golfers Without A Major

Alex Myers — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Now that Adam Scott has broken through, who is the best remaining golfer without a major championship? Our formula finds out.

McDowell and his handling of a no-kilt wind

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 23:34:00 GMT

By John Strege

The conditions were more conducive to sailing or kiting than golf, unless a golfer hails from Northern Ireland and cut his teeth on the seaside links of Royal Portrush, learning to work its trademark winds.

The RBC Heritage provided Graeme McDowell with a touch of home on Sunday -- winds gusting upwards of 40 miles per hour and consistently blowing in the 20s at Harbour Town Golf Links, hard by Calibogue Sound in Hilton Head, S.C.

Photo by Getty Images

McDowell accordingly equaled the low round of the day, his one of just three 69s, sending him to a playoff with Webb Simpson that he won with a par on the first extra hole for his first official victory in the States since he won the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in 2010.

Better than any wind gauge was how CBS' David Feherty chose to describe the wind. "One of the traditions here at the Heritage are the gentlemen who wear the kilts," he said. "It's not a great day to wear a kilt. The spectators might need therapy for months."

Provided they weren't blinded by the sight, they saw the kind of golf atypical for the PGA Tour, a winning score that doesn't reach double digits under par. It helped reinforce the benefit of Harbour Town's place on the PGA Tour schedule, a challenging but popular course that attracts a decent field and usually delivers an entertaining show that assists in alleviating the Masters hangover.

It helps as well that RBC stepped in as the title sponsor last year to save a tournament on the brink of folding. RBC, which also is the title sponsor of the Canadian Open, has a strong international field of players on its endorsement team, assuring representative fields in its tournaments.

McDowell is among them, as are Ernie Els, Brandt Snedeker, Luke Donald, Matt Kuchar, Hunter Mahan and Jim Furyk, all of whom played. On Tuesday during an RBC function, McDowell learned from Furyk the key to playing the Heritage: "Just hang around and hang around," he said. "You're never out of this tournament."

McDowell, who had played the Heritage only once before, was especially effective at hanging around on Sunday, notwithstanding the havoc created by the wind. He played without a bogey until missing the green on the final hole and failing to save par, providing an opening for Simpson.

Two former U.S. Open champions in contention made for a good show that was ratcheted up a notch by the windy conditions. "It's a hard game," CBS' Gary McCord said. "This wind just kind of makes it really hard. But these guys are paid well. They get everything for free. They're having a ball playing golf. Let's watch 'em struggle."

Most of them did; McDowell was the only player among the top five to have fewer than three bogeys on his card (and hence, we submit, the pronunciation of the body of water by which the Heritage is played -- cal-a-bogey).

It was a testament to McDowell's ability to play in the wind, even the kind that strongly encourages leaving the kilts at home.

Follow @JohnStrege

The Grind: Why Adam Scott's Masters win will really grow the game

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 15:35:00 GMT

By Alex Myers

Welcome to another edition of The Grind, where we're convinced Adam Scott might grow the game of golf more than anyone since Arnold Palmer. For non-golfy women around the country casually tuning into the end of the tournament -- or perhaps looking for "60 Minutes" -- watching the end of the Masters was a real eye-opener (Even ABC's 'The Bachelor' is wishfully targeting Scott). Guys, be aware going forward. When your significant other asks, "Is there any golf on TV this weekend?", that's really code for, "Is that dreamy Australian guy playing this weekend?"

"I know I'm single, but please calm down, ladies."

WE'RE BUYING

Adam Scott. The Australian had plenty of guys drooling as well with that perfect swing. And after struggling on the greens all Sunday, Scott finally got that broomstick putter of his to knock a couple in when it mattered most. Good for him for bouncing back so quickly from his collapse at last year's British Open. Good for me, since his breakthrough won me GolfDigest.com's first-ever Masters fantasy draft. And again, good for the game.

Angel Cabrera. Serious question: Other than the handful of times he's either contended or won a major championship, where does this guy go? What a performance, especially under the utmost pressure. The approach to kick-in range on 18 will long be remembered, but so should his putting and that chip shot on the first playoff hole that somehow didn't drop. Cabrera couldn't pull it out this time, but he served notice yet again that if he's in the mix, watch out.

Tianlang Guan. Not even a slow-play penalty could keep the 14-year-old from making the cut at the Masters. We probably shouldn't be too surprised with anything age-related in golf after a 59-year-old Tom Watson nearly won the British Open four years ago, but still, what a remarkable performance. Two stunning stats: Guan didn't make more than a bogey all week and he didn't three-putt on Augusta National's diabolical greens once. It shouldn't be too long before Tiger Woods asks the young man for a putting lesson.

The Masters. It delivers every year, doesn't it? And now Lindsey Vonn and Paulina Gretzky (unnecessarily shown above) can say they've been! Even when most of the final round is a bit of a snooze -- we'll give the rain a lot of the blame for that -- we wind up witnessing one of the most exciting finishes ever at a major championship. Whether its the routing of the course, the setting, or Jim Nantz's hushed tones, you can always count on an exciting finish -- and a dose of depression when it's over.

WE'RE SELLING

Brandt Snedeker. We thought he was over final-round pressure with his gutsy performance at the Tour Championship to win the FedEx Cup's $10 million bonus, but Sneds still looked a lot like the guy who melted down Sunday at Augusta five years ago the first time he had a chance to win his first major.

Tiger Woods. Even Nick Faldo marveled at the bad breaks Woods got during the week, most notably the shot off the flagstick into the water on Friday and what he termed a "400-degree lipout" on Saturday. That being said, here's a simple request for the World No. 1 and a man who has played more rounds of golf in his life than the combined staff of Golf Digest: KNOW THE RULES!

Phil Mickelson. From adding the "Phrankenwood" to his bag to worrying about the PGA Tour's schedule leading up to the season's first major, it seems like Mickelson over-analyzed his way to a disappointing Masters finish. What will Phil and Callaway cook up for the U.S. Open at Merion? A half-putter, half-doughnut maker?

ON TAP

Wait, there's another tournament this week? But the Masters is over! Hmm, let's see. . . why yes, it's the RBC Heritage at Hilton Head.

Random tournament fact: Not sure if you've seen it before, but there is a lighthouse on the 18th hole at Harbour Town Golf Links.

WEEKLY YAHOO! FANTASY LINEUP

First, we started the PGA Tour Sleepers Jinx and now? The Tiger Woods Win Jinx. As has been pointed out to us by several people on Twitter, it wasn't the flagstick on the 15th hole or the incorrect drop or the TV viewer who called in, but us who cost Tiger his fifth green jacket. Simply put, when we start him, he loses. When we stick him on the bench, he wins. Every time. We'll keep that in mind the next time he tees it up. . .

Starters -- (A-List): Bill Haas. Tied with Keegan Bradley and Brandt Snedeker for the most top 10s on the PGA Tour this year, Haas is getting close to career win No. 5.

(B-List): Luke Donald. With another major disappointment in the books, it's time for Donald to refocus at a course where he finished T-2, T-3 and solo second from 2009-2011.

(B-List): Bo Van Pelt. Why does he always wait until Sunday to make his move at Augusta?

(C-List): Billy Horschel. After close calls in Houston and San Antonio, Horschel and his PGA Tour-best streak of 21 consecutive made cuts will be looking once again for his breakthrough tour win.

Bench -- Brandt Snedeker, Aaron Baddeley, Matt Kuchar, and Jason Day.

RANDOM PROP BETS OF THE WEEK

-- Thomas Vonn (Lindsey's ex-husband) is confirmed as the "TV viewer" who blew the whistle on Tiger: 100-to-1 odds

-- Brandel Chamblee is confirmed as the "TV viewer" who blew the whistle on Tiger: 2-to-1 odds

-- Jim Nantz will not scream "A Life Changer!" after the winning putt at Harbour Town: LOCK

-- You will not watch as much golf on TV as you did last week: LOCK

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

It's the story that just won't die. We thought we could move on from #Dropgate and then the Augusta Chronicle released these side-by-side photos indicating that perhaps Woods didn't violate a rule after all when he took his now infamous drop on the 15th hole on Friday. What's next? The Golf Channel's first made-for-TV movie event?

PHOTO OF THE WEEK (NOT INVOLVING TIGER WOODS)

We don't know who these people are, but they seem pretty awesome. A guy proposes to his girl in front of the Augusta National clubhouse and she says yes? Very cool. We're just glad Augusta National doesn't have a rule against that type of thing.

THIS AND THAT

TV ratings for the final round of the Masters were up 26%. It helps to have Tiger on the first page of the leader board, even if it's at the bottom. . . . Inbee Park moved to No. 1 in women's golf during her off week. World rankings! . . . A 14-year-old made the cut at the Masters. Sorry, but we can't say that enough.

RANDOM QUESTIONS TO PONDER

How many more years will Fred Couples "turn back the clock" at Augusta National?

Why doesn't Angel Cabrera take over those "Most interesting man in the world" beer ads?

Who wouldn't want to be Adam Scott's agent right about now?

-- Alex Myers is an Associate Editor for GolfDigest.com. Feel free to email him and please follow him on Twitter since he has self-esteem issues.

A miscue by one player will impact plenty of others

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 23:49:00 GMT

By Ron Sirak

AUGUSTA, GA. -- So do you think the green jacket will come with an asterisk if Tiger Woods wins this Masters?

Maybe, maybe not. But what about the poor guy not named Woods who cozies up next to Jim Nantz in front of the fireplace in Butler Cabin Sunday evening? Will he be remembered as the 21st century Bob Goalby?

If Tiger falls one stroke short of winning his first Masters in eight years and first major in five, how huge will that two-stroke penalty issued Saturday morning for a bad drop on Friday's second round loom?

Brandt Snedeker is one of the many players with a major chance on Sunday.

Just like that the controversy will change from, "Woods should have been disqualified" to "Wow, if not for that penalty called in off TV, Tiger wins his fifth Masters."

The Roberto de Vicenzo lament, "What a stupid I am," after he signed an incorrect scorecard in the 1968 Masters, handing the title to Goalby and avoiding an 18-hole Monday playoff, would become, "What a lucky I am," for whoever wins this year.

And the contenders going into Sunday have a lot on the line. For Jason Day, Adam Scott, Brandt Snedeker, Marc Leishman, Matt Kuchar and Tim Clark, it would be major championship No. 1. That means more than the $1.44 million first prize. It means millions more in endorsement dollars.

For Angel Cabrera, it would be his second Masters and third major, which trails only the four by Phil Mickleson as the most in the Tiger Woods Era by a guy not named Woods. That raises Angel's status in the game to a whole new level.

And 53-year-old Fred Couples would become the oldest player to win a major by five years, breaking the record set by 48-year-old Julius Boros in the 1968 PGA Championship. Making history is, well as Freddy might say, historical.

But anyone who wins here Sunday, if it is not Tiger, will be remembered forever and always as the guy who won the Masters in the year Woods was penalized. Just ask Goalby what that is like. His gift Masters was his only major title -- and a lot of people never let him forget that.

"I shot 66 in the final round, but you never heard about that," Goalby told the Augusta Chronicle last year. "I made a 4-footer on 18 for par that I thought was to tie. I was walking to the clubhouse when Cary Middlecoff, who was doing television back then, came out of the tower and spotted me. He said, 'Hey Bob, you won the tournament. Roberto (de Vicenzo) screwed up his card.'" The normal celebratory scene after a victory of such magnitude was instead a muted lament in which in which no one really knew how to behave. It was like being at a funeral for a friend and not knowing what to say to the grieving relatives you don't know all that well.

"I walked into the TV room, and Roberto was in there talking, so I had to kneel on the ground," Goalby remembered. "It was just confusing after it ended, but I won, and I was thankful that I did. All I read about afterward was that I became champion on a score keeping error. I've got no ill feelings toward anybody. But I did get 500 of the worst letters you've ever seen after that win."

Quite likely, the winner of the Non-Woods division of this Masters will be skewered in 50,000 angry, bitter tweets, many of which are misspelled and miss the target of accuracy, if such a lofty goal was ever intended.

And it may well be that the only way that winner can validate this championship is to win another major title, something Goalby was not able to accomplish. So do we get Tiger Woods, when all is said and done Sunday at Augusta National, or do we get another Bob Goalby? Seems like no matter what the outcome, this Masters will long be remembered for what happened long before the back nine on Sunday.

Follow @ronsirak

Bombers get the 'green' light this week

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 14:40:00 GMT

By Geoff Shackelford

From the April 10 edition of Golf World Daily:

Players raving about the condition of Augusta National? Hardly news. But a theme of lusher fairways has been buried deep in player assessments and can be read one of two ways when trying to handicap a course bias.

Several players feel a little fluffier lie allows those with longer irons or hybrids a chance at better shotmaking into greens, which Matt Kuchar says are "already firm" compared to previous practice round days. The other school of thought says more grass means spin is at a premium.

Related: Our picks to win the Masters

"You need to spin the ball here, and I'm not a spinner of the ball," said Steve Stricker, who believes shorter irons and more loft for approach shots give the long hitters an enormous advantage on top of the gains they've received from the lengthening to today's 7,435 yards.

Take your pick, but the thinking here says Augusta National is more of a long hitter's paradise than ever. With storms forecast for Thursday night, the ability to carry drives 300 yards will be rewarded. Hardly news from these parts, but such tidbits are worth remembering when trying to handicap what is shaping up to be another classic, thanks in large part to Augusta National's impressive agronomic shape.

Follow @geoffshac

Get Golf Digest on the Kindle Fire and iPad

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Subscribe to the tablet edition of Golf Digest now on the Kindle Fire. Already a print subscriber? Tablet access is included in your subscription. Download the Golf Digest app for FREE from the Amazon Appstore for Android then activate your print subscription at no additional cost.

Zinger's Corner Podcast: A victory, a defeat and anchors away

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:03:00 GMT

Listen to the podcast

By Ryan Herrington

Matt Kuchar's nice-guy persona remains even as his on-course competitiveness seemingly intensifies. His win at the WGC-Accenture Match Play, as Azinger and Jaime Diaz note in this week's Zinger's Corner, is more impressive given the swing change he made--and quickly absorbed. Ariya Jutanugarn's 72nd-hole stumble at the Honda LPGA Thailand is also discussed, as is the matter of anchoring in the wake of Tim Finchem stating the PGA Tour believes the proposed ban is a mistake. A healthy argument ensues regarding the wisdom of the tour opposing the USGA/R&A, with Paul and Jaime in opposite camps.

Download and subscribe to the Zinger's Corner series in iTunes