Bubba Watson: Golf’s Goofy Man of Faith

 All elite athletes have the intangible “it” that just, well, get it done. Michael Jordan had the killer instinct and wouldn’t even let a fever get in the way of winning. Muhammad Ali had the intimidation factor. He’d had already beat his opponent before they stepped into the ring. Tiger Woods had the best swing in golf and just dominated.

Then there’s Bubba Watson. Um, he’s the complete antithesis of all the aforementioned. He doesn’t have that killer instinct. Nope, he doesn’t really intimidate. And lets just say his swing isn’t picture perfect.

But, boy, he sure does have “it.” He can charm you from the first tee all the way to the clubhouse. He wears his heart on his sleeve and is never afraid to tell you what he thinks about a shot. With such impetuous expressions on the golf course, a life of humility and humor is what Bubba Watson is all about.

The southern southpaw grew up in Bagdad, Florida, a tiny town just north of Pensacola. Named after his father, Gerry Sr. nicknamed his talented son after pro football player Bubba Smith. The name stuck and his pudgy look fit the nickname perfectly.

At the age of six, his father gave him a cut down 9-iron and he whacked wiffle-balls around the house. No reported lamps were broken in making of this superstar. Most kids who learned the game at such a young age usually employed swing coaches to develop them into elite golfers.

Not Bubba.

His father, Gerry, was the only one to give Bubba a “formal” golf lesson. Bubba took it from there and didn’t look back. A standout pitcher during high school, Bubba chose to play the smaller white ball with dimples on it rather than a stitched up ball. Receiving a golf scholarship to the University of Georgia, Bubba helped the Bulldogs to an SEC golf title in 2000. Leaving school a year early, Bubba turned professional in 2001 and took his quirky, self-made swing on tour.

Showcasing his enormous length off the tee, Watson led the tour in driving distance year after year. Cutting his teeth on the developmental tour, Watson finally earned his PGA Tour card and played his first full season in 2006. While finding success during his first two years on tour, Watson realized he was becoming a role model and knew he needed to set examples for the kids that looked up to him.

Since he left college early for golf, he left some unfinished business at Georgia. In 2008, without telling his friends and family, he enrolled back at Georgia and finished up his degree. For a guy with a homemade swing and no formal golf lessons, Bubba Watson was finally coming into his own skin.

Or was he?

Struggling with anger issues, Watson let his temper get the best of him on the course at times and his performance showed. Complaining and cursing his way around the course gave him a reputation he was not proud of. Not only did it affect his golf game, it affected his personal life. Watson’s caddy and wife decided something needed to be done.

Needing an intervention to capture Bubba’s attention, Watson’s caddy, Ted Scott, and wife Angie, expressed their distaste for Bubba’s actions. Teddy, as Bubba affectionately calls him, was going to quit. After much soul-searching, Bubba decided his life was too good to just throw away because of a bad temper. He shut, put up, and showed up on the PGA tour in a big way.

2010 proved to be a breakout year for Bubba. There was also heartbreak. Shortly after winning his first PGA Tour event at The Travelers Championship in June, Bubba’s father passed away from throat cancer. A strong Christian man, Bubba used his infectious and jocular personality to grieve.

Involved in many charities, Bubba and his buddies formed their own boy band to give back. Comprised of PGA players, Rickie Fowler, Ben Crane, and Hunter Mahan, Bubba and his boys made quite the ridiculous video and pop song poking fun at Hollywood music. Don’t worry Justin Bieber; your Grammy won’t be in jeopardy.

From music to fashion, Bubba keeps it real. An ambassador for high-end clothing company Travis Mathew, Bubba’s sense of style is flashy, yet powerful. I mean, the dude has an all pink driver, wears a $500,000 Richard Mille watch on his wrist, and is the proud owner of the original General Lee from the Dukes of Hazard. Who wouldn’t love this guy?

Americans fell in love with Bubba even more with his win in the 2012 Masters when he hit one of the toughest, craziest shots you’ll ever see in competitive golf. “Just a 40-yard hook with a 52 degree wedge,” said Watson. Sure, like it’s the same as a tap in for par!

When Bubba isn’t busy bombing 300-yard drives and shot-shaping his way around the course, you’ll find him busy tweeting and spending quality family time with his wife, Angie and their newly adopted son, Caleb. During the holidays, Bubba has his own version of the twelve days of Christmas. Affectionately calling himself Bubba Claus, Watson reaches out to his fans by holding daily contests asking fans to do their best trick shot, sing their favorite Christmas tune, or even dress up like, well, him.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “Character is like a tree and reputation like a shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.”

Bubba Watson is the real thing.

The Heart Of Golf

What is it about this game?

What brings you to the course?

Why do you practice?

Why do you hit fifty, three-foot putts over and over? Is it the possibility of making your first birdie? Your first eagle? Or maybe it’s the day where lighting strikes and you get a hole in one. Maybe it’s for the camaraderie of getting the guys or gals together for the weekend. Maybe it’s the social atmosphere of being outside and meeting new people on the first tee. Maybe it’s the chance of breaking your own course record. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s for the simple chance at making that perfect swing.

Or maybe it’s because of the struggle we go through. The struggle to get better and most importantly, get through the struggle. Golf isn’t easy. This game doesn’t owe anyone, anything. We have to go out and get it. We have to spend hours on the range until our hands bleed. We have to spend that last hour on the range sharpening our short game.

For these said reasons, and reasons unknown, golfers from all over the world, embark on their own journey and experience their own struggle. That, my friends, truly is the heart of golf. It’s finding that love in your heart to get better, play harder, and compete at your highest level. It’s where you love the game so much you miss the feeling of struggling through a round, knowing tomorrow is going to be better. And you’re going to be better.

This game can bring us to our knees just as easy as it will bring us to the course at 5:00am. The first four holes can be magnificent and on the fifth tee box, a 7.8 earthquake hits your brain and for some odd reason, you shank it into the woods. You can’t figure it out. You look incredulously at your buddy and he just shrugs his shoulders. See,  he’s worrying about his own game. And the fact that he just saw you shank it, his brain is now flustered and hoping the San Andreas fault doesn’t crack.

But it does crack.

It happens to us all. Even the touring professionals. Take Rory McIlroy for instance. The kid, yes kid, dominated once again in a major. A year removed from his record-breaking performance at Congressional, McIlroy brought The Ocean Course on Kiawah Island to its bloodied knees. But wait, wasn’t McIlroy in a so-called “slump” earlier in the year? After holding off a charging Tiger Woods, and stoically winning the Honda Classic, McIlroy struggled with his game.

After a disappointing T40 at The Masters, McIlroy’s performance didn’t get any better. A missed cut at The PLAYERS Championship and another missed cut the following week at The Memorial, the golf world gasped and grabbed their inhalers needing more air. Rory followed those odious outings with yet another missed cut. This time, at The U.S. Open. What on earth could possibly be wrong with Rory? All the talking heads speculated until they all agreed to disagree on what was causing his bad play. Ahem, I will suggest with just one word what was “wrong” with Rory: golf.

Last I checked, golf is tough.  It’s really tough to be good for a long period of time. Fields are too deep with talent. I think we use the word ‘slump’ too often when golfers aren’t playing well. Golf happens. McIlroy, poised to win his first major, led the 2011 Masters stepping onto the tenth tee box. And then, golf happened. We all know how that horror story finished. But it turned out to be the best thing that happened to McIlroy. Two months later, he shut up the golf world and stomped the field at Congressional.

On Sunday afternoon, on a sunny and otherwise calm day at Kiawah Island, we saw a young man confidently walk down the fairways and calmly roll in putt after putt. We saw a player who was deemed to be in a slump, play like nobody could beat him. We saw the resolve of a champion brush off his struggle and turn them into a consummation. With a 25 foot birdie on 18, Rory McIlroy made history, yet again, at major championship.

The heart of golf isn’t hard to find. Rory found it. Are you next?

Hit ’em straight!

Eddie

Another Major, Another Major Surprise?

First, there was Bubba Watson and his ridiculous home-made talent that produced the craziest and most unpredictable shot of the year. Green jacket, check. Second, there was Webb Simpson and his gritty, yet calm demeanor that produced just enough pars. U.S. Open trophy, check. Third, there was a “Big Easy” who, literally, stole The Open away from Adam Scott. Claret Jug, check.

So, who’s going to win the Wanamaker Trophy? I don’t know. You wana-maker-bet? That’s how most of the conversations have gone around the water coolers across America this year. Nobody has a clue who will win. And that’s a good thing. Sure, we expect Tiger to be in contention, but can he finally finish the job? Seems that his job lately has been to answer hundreds of questions about why he can’t get, well, the job done. The endless parade of questions won’t stop until he does get to fifteen. Then, the media will ask, “When is the next one? Huh, huh?”  They can be greedy like that.

Greed is something players will want to leave out of their bags this week at Kiawah Island. “If the wind starts to blow, this is going to be a monster of a course,” said European Ryder Cup captain Jose Maria Olazabal. If you leave the wind out of the equation, players still know who designed this course: Pete Dye. Yep, that Pete Dye. Known as one of the most diabolical designers in America, Dye’s layout will no doubt bring a monumental challenge. Touted as ‘Glory’s Last Shot,’ the 94th PGA Championship will be played on The Ocean Course.

With ten holes set along the ocean, length will also play a factor. At 7,676 yards, you might favor the longer hitters on a course of this length, but Dye’s length can be deceiving. Pete is known for his precarious alignment of holes and how the players actually view the course. Tee boxes are set on a different line to where the greens are set. Players who find themselves coming in with their approach shots from the wrong angle, will definitely pay the price. Pete Dye’s greens, if you remember Pinehurst #2, aren’t the easiest. The Ocean Course won’t be much different.

While length is a big part of the conversation this week, players are talking about the shortest holes being the most difficult. The eighth, fourteenth, and seventeenth holes are all par threes. The 8th is the only one of the three holes that measures under 200 yards. See, it’s only 198 yards. I guess the PGA gave the players a little break, eh? The 14th and 17th measure 238 yards and 223 yards, respectively. Throw in that wind I talked about, and players will have a tough time holding the green. It’s like Pete Dye is taking a page out of Tony Montana’s book and saying, “Say hello to my little friend.”

Those par threes aren’t so little.

With all the talk during each major championship week focused on who the front-runners are, why don’t we pay attention to who aren’t? It seems that’s where all the winners have come from this year. Was Bubba Watson a favorite to win at Augusta? I don’t think so. Did you remember hearing Webb Simpson’s name mentioned to conquer Olympic? The dude didn’t even lead the tournament until his 72nd hole. Was Ernie Els popping up on British betting sites as the favorite? Um, no. Els started the week at 40/1.

With that little bit of knowledge and all the parity on the PGA Tour this year, my pick to win is John Daly. Cue cricket sounds. Yes, that is a joke, but he is actually in the field. With a T5 at Reno-Tahoe last week, Daly and his flowery pants might be a super sleeper. And I mean super! My real pick to win this week is the soft-spoken, sneaky long-hitting South African, Louis Oosthuizen. He’s a bomber and a ball striker. But then again, what do I know? Someone that I didn’t mention will most likely win the 94th PGA Championship. Guess that’s the way it should be.

Oh yeah, watch out for Jason Dufner, Jim Furyk, Tiger Woods, Adam Scott, Rory McIlroy, Matt Kuchar, Steve Stricker, and I’ll even throw in Phil Mickelson. Did I miss anyone?

 

Hit ’em straight!

Eddie

 

Preview To Junior Worlds

Move over Tiger Woods. Step aside Webb Simpson. Hold that tweet for a minute, Bubba Watson. It’s time for Brooke Seay, Ricky Castillo, Zecheng Dou, and Lilia Khatu Vu to take center stage. Now, you may think those are names from the LPGA tour or the newly minted, Web.com tour. And you may be right–in about five years. For now, these players are focusing on defending their crowns at the 2012 Callaway Junior World Golf Championships.

Next week, local golf courses around San Diego will host different age divisions as kids from around the world will battle for their respective titles. The tournament has some pretty good names attached to it and it serves as a great platform for many junior golfers. Last year, a kid by the name of Beau Hossler won the Boys 15-17 age division. Yes, that Beau Hossler. The same kid who finished T29 at this years U.S. Open. That finish earned him second low amateur for the week and captured our hearts with a boyish, and budding charge towards the lead. Hossler held the lead briefly during Saturdays third round.

Hossler will be back, too, to defend his title and hopefully keep this magical summer, well, magical. If he were to win, he’d join some pretty dexterous company. Eldrick “Tiger” Woods won his respective age division from 1988-1991. Lorena Ochoa won her age division from 1990-1994. To be fair to Hossler, that is quite the company. Winning any tournament two years in a row is a daunting task. I’m not the kind of guy to crown a player early, but if Hossler plays anywhere near how he did at Olympic, he’s a good bet to win. Hossler and his braces will tee it up with a full field of pubescent and precocious teens at Torrey Pines South Course, July 10-13.

Torrey Pines won’t be the only course bustling with kids and their always hopeful parents. Nine other local courses will host different age divisions for boys and girls. North county’s executive course Oaks North will be hosting the Boys Division 7-8. If you have played Oaks North in the past week, you have already experienced the diverse group of kids that have finally made their way to the states. From Vancouver to Thailand, families have flocked to San Diego to help their kids live out their dream. Let me tell you, these parents are very dedicated to their kids success. A few parents have been here a week already and have been at Oaks North for the better part of eight hours of the day.

Everyday.

Most might call that hardcore. For these parents and players, it’s just another day at the office. Talent is deeper than ever in junior golf. Just like the big boys on the PGA Tour, if these adolescents take a day off of practice, they’re falling behind their competent competitors. There may be language barriers but one thing is of sure: birdies will be the common term shared between these players. Hopefully. Maybe. Most likely.

If you love golf and would like to see the future of golf, get out to a local golf course and watch some worldly talent from these youngsters. You may just learn a thing or two.

Go get ’em kiddos!

For tee times and tournament site information, click here.

Hit ’em straight!

Eddie

RBI Resort Club Membership

Consider yourself lucky, fortunate, blessed, or any other adjective that you prefer, to live here in San Diego. We call this place, home. Doesn’t that sound great? Not only are we bestowed with the nation’s best weather year round, the sports enthusiasts get to play outdoors almost everyday. I’m sorry for those reading this from Minnesota. I know, it’s really cold there. Sure, they get to play golf albeit only six months out of the year. But, hey, at least they get to play. And you wonder why Minneapolis has the most golfers per capita. Those guys are stuck in doors half the year! Imagine how many divots are found in carpets in homes all over the state.

For those that get to practice and play year round, allow me to introduce you to one of San Diego’s finest resort club. Whether you live in North County or downtown, The Rancho Bernardo Inn Resort & Spa owns all the amenities you could ask for. Located in the beautiful and cheerful community of Rancho Bernardo, locals and travelers needn’t look anywhere else for a little adventure inside the city. For the business traveler, choose from a private and luxurious suite to a cute little guest room.

Tucked near the rolling hills of north, central county, the resort is covered with towering foliage and picturesque views. If you’re an avid golfer or just a beginner with a palette salivating for golf, the RBI Resort Club Membership is perfect for you. There are individual and corporate memberships available. Big family? No problem. The Resort Club Membership allows privileges for the member, member’s spouse, and all unmarried children under the age of 21. That’s right, junior golfers, you get to practice golf year round! Get your free range tokens to use and RBI and right across the street at Oaks North.

More convenient than a convenience store, members are given a monthly “house” account balance where they can apply purchases of food and beverage and spa treatments(only offered at RBI). For the golfing family, take your family out to any JC Golf courses to receive discounts on green fees, cart fees, and you can even entertain your guest. You’ll be the “cool” dude on your block who can get your friends discounted golf. What more can a guy ask for? Trust me, you’ll have friends come out of the woodwork once they find out you’re a member.

Member’s will also enjoy discounts on golf lessons, mens and women’s golf apparel, and will enjoy dinner discounts at the award-winning El Bizcocho at RBI. Don’t forget to head up north and bask in mimosas and brunch at Temecula Creek Inn. Swim, workout, play tennis, and enjoy drinks fireside at the Veranda. Sounds like a 90’s Don Johnson movie, doesn’t it? Well, you can live just like Miami Vice, right here in San Diego. The hair-do is up to you, guys.

Tee it high and let it fly. Serve it up and show ’em your fiercest backhand. Show off your guns and relax with a massage. The RBI Resort Club Membership is perfect for you. And you didn’t even know it. Until now.

Even Jimmy Stewart would agree: It’s a wonderful life here in Rancho Bernardo.

 

No three putts!

Eddie

Parity On The PGA; Miernicki Makes Pro Debut

Well, the golf world of writers had it right this time, right? On the eve of the 112th U.S. Open, the media had Webb Simpson as their favorite, didn’t they? Sure, Tiger was in the conversation but could anyone look past Webb’s breakout season in 2011? I mean, the guy had two wins, three runner-up finishes, and twelve top ten finishes. How could they not have him as the favorite?

Turns out, no one had Webb as their pick to win the U.S. Open. Except for, well, Webb Simpson. That’s exactly how the golf world has worked the past couple years. No one really knows who’s going to win each week. Parity was a term that was rarely used in the conversation. From 2000-2008, during Tiger’s dominance, players played for second and third place. Phil Mickelson won two Masters and one PGA Championship. Vijay Singh dethroned Tiger Woods as the number one player in the world. It was the Tiger, Phil, and Vijay show for many years.

Now, it’s the “who’s going to win this week?” show. There was more parody in a Weird Al Yankovich album than there was parity in golf. Dare I say, golf almost became–boring? Ok, maybe it wasn’t boring but it was missing some good ‘ol competition. Today, the competition is better than ever. Fields each week are deeper than before and guys like Webb Simpson, Johnson Wagner, George McNeill, and John Huh became a part of the conversation. Huh? In the last fifteen majors, there has been, yep, you guessed it, fifteen different winners. Could Weird Al write a parody on parity? 

All the aforementioned names have won this year on the PGA Tour. That’s right, they’ve won, and weren’t just weekend contenders. It’s tough to find parity in sports. Everybody wants it except for the teams and/or players that are winning. We forget how important parity is to each respective sport. Parity, is what makes teams and players better. Players will spend an extra hour on the range each day so they won’t fall behind their peers. Saturday at the U.S. Open, Woods played a guessing game on the greens at Olympic Club. Guess who was on the putting green until dark that night?

Tiger, of course, boosted ratings and brought more sponsors to the game. Prize money went through the proverbial roof, and golf was “cool” again. Just like baseball, chicks dig the long ball. Why else do you think Gary Woodland plays golf?

Parity has found its way back onto the PGA Tour and it isn’t going anywhere. Tiger may be back in the conversation, but he’s not entirely “back.” He needs to win a major before we go there. Keep the channel tuned and we’ll see where that saga goes.

From the never-ending saga that is Tiger Woods, to a new saga, local talent Daniel Miernicki tees it up this week in the Travelers Championship on the PGA Tour. Son to PGA Director of Instruction at Twin Oaks, Paul Miernicki, Daniel looks to start off his virgin career with a good start. This will be his first official event as a pro. The Oregon Duck star was one stroke from qualifying for the U.S. Open, only to get beat by rival player from Oregon State, Nick Sherwood. Daniel’s coach, Casey Martin, also topped  him in the sectional qualifier. Coaches are so mean today.

Finding a lot of success during college, Miernicki faces a new battle on tour. A rookie with no status, he will look to sponsors exemptions to keep making starts and hopefully, making money. The equation is pretty simple: play well, make cuts, and keep your head on straight. Daniel kept his head during his college career winning five times and was ranked eighth in the nation with a scoring average of 70.70 as a senior.

Daniel will sport Nike at the Travelers Championship. He also hopes to follow in his fellow competitor, Patrick Cantlay’s, footsteps. Only a short year ago, Cantlay shot 60 in the second round to record the lowest round by an amateur. Cantlay also makes his pro debut this week in Hartford. I guess the Travelers Championship is a good place for college kids to make their pro debut. Miernicki hopes that history will repeat itself. So does his father.

 

 

Hit ’em straight!

Eddie

 

 

The U.S. Open: An Olympic Sized Challenge

It’s not too often that we talk about PGA touring professionals walking off the 18th green with their tail between their legs. Their heads hanging low. Their heads shaking in disbelief after a lost ball, just one foot off the fairway into the rough. It happens to us all. Even them. Especially this week. Weekend hackers love to see the pros on TV struggle just like they do. This is the one week where the average golfer can somewhat relate to the pain you see on the faces of PGA Tour players.

The golf universe has gathered at The Olympic Club in San Francisco for the 112th playing of the United States Open Golf Championship. All the big names are in the field and so are some no-namers. That’s right, Dennis Miller is playing in the U.S. Open. No, not the comedian. I’m speaking of the teaching pro and Director of Golf at Mill Creek MetroParks in Youngstown, Ohio. A lot of you may be asking the question: How did a teaching pro get into the U.S. Open? And my answer is easy: He qualified.

Barely.

Miller made a 20-foot birdie on the fourth extra hole to earn one of three spots available at the sectional qualifier in Columbus, Ohio. What made the putt so dramatic is that Miller didn’t even see the putt drop. Putting from just off the green, the ball made its way to the hole looking good the entire way. Until it actually got to the hole, and hung on the lip for a few seconds. Just long enough for Miller to look away in disbelief as his dream to play in the U.S. Open, was shattered. But it wasn’t. Just as Miller turned away, the ball hanging on the lip, finally dropped, sending him to his first U.S. Open.

The U.S. Open is tough and full of rough. There won’t be an even lie anywhere on the golf course. Fairways slope left to right on a right to left dogleg hole and right to left on a left to right dogleg hole. Player will have downhill approach shots hitting downwind into a straightforward green. Uphill approach shots with a hanging lie to a green that slopes severely back to front. Confusing? Try playing the course. There is only one fairway bunker on the entire course and its location on the sixth hole is quite devious. Players will need  a 295 yard carry to get over the bunker. The par 3 third hole has five bunkers surrounding the green. A daunting task sitting at 247 yards from par, players will count their blessings walking away with a three. Oh, I forgot, the stimpmeter will be set anywhere from 12-14. For those who have never heard of a stimpmeter, it’s a device that measures the speed of greens. I won’t bore you with how they measure it but I will tell you the greens are brutally fast at those numbers.

Add all that into the equation, plus major championship pressure, equals one heck of a test of golf. Always known as “golf’s toughest test,” the U.S. Open in past years has provided more drama than a Lindsay Lohan arrest. In 2006, Phil Mickelson was a self-proclaimed ‘idiot’ for double bogeying the 72nd hole, losing by one stroke. Not to mention, he had a one stroke lead on the tee box. That’s the Phil Mickelson we all know and love. In 2008, Tiger won on a broken leg and may very well have changed Rocco Mediate’s career path with one stroke of his putter. Poor Rocco.

What kind of drama awaits us this year? Well, I ask that rhetorically of course, but lets take a look at some pairings that we as the media, get all excited about. The USGA loves to play to the crowd. In the past few years, they have paired world No. 1, 2, and 3 together. The tradition continues this year with Luke Donald, Rory McIlroy, and Lee Westwood teeing off at 1:29 PST. Fans won’t have to wait too long to get the marquee group of Woods, Mickelson, and Watson. The USGA was licking their chops when they brilliantly thought of that pairing.

Mickelson and Woods were paired together for the first and seconds rounds in the 2008 U.S. Open and we all know how that ended. Is this another omen? Another unique pairing is Jim Furyk, Sergio Garcia, and Graeme McDowell. You have two former U.S. Open winners(Furyk and McDowell) paired with one of the games best players yet to win a major. It seems like only yesterday that Garcia was literally and figuratively, chasing Tiger Woods down the fairways at Medinah in the 1999 PGA Championship. Garcia has since had a fantastic career, but still hungers for that elusive major championship.

Come Thursday, all 156 players in the field will start out at even par. All hope to stay there, most will not. Half the field will leave Friday evening wondering what could have been and why they hit 7 iron instead of 8. One more bounce to the left and one less putt might have got it done. More circles than squares on the scorecard, please. The dreaded double squares, and triangles can stay away. “Other” scores need not apply. A few fours and fives across the board will do just fine.

Par is not a good score. It’s a great score. This week, it just might win the 112th U.S. Open.

Hit ’em straight!

Eddie

A Memorable Memorial

Oops, he did it again, didn’t he? He captured all your hearts back with one shot, didn’t he? He made you wait a whole three years for a magical, suspenseful, hold-your-breath moment. Most devoted fans have probably been blue in the face waiting for that to happen. Well, y’all can exhale now because he finally gave you what you have wanted since Elin took a nine iron to his face.

Allegedly. Probably. Most likely.

Yep, Tiger Woods won again on Sunday and for a few holes it looked like he was going to slowly fade away like a rookie on the Nationwide Tour, trying to win for his first time. But he didn’t. He actually did the complete opposite of that. The old Tiger came out of the proverbial bag, and Woods showed us some of his old tricks. Apparently, Tiger likes to wait till, say, the 16th hole of tournaments to close the door on the tournament. For those who forget easily, I will remind you of what Vern Lundquist said way back in 2005 at The Masters: “In your life have you seen anything like that?”

Well, Vern, we saw it again on Sunday at The Memorial. In Jack’s house, of course. Tiger picked a perfect time to clutch up, and in my humble opinion, hit a shot that was tougher than what he had at The 2005 Masters. Hitting his tee shot over the green on the 215 yard par three, Woods was faced with an extremely difficult up and down for par. With the green running away from him and towards water, Woods had to land his ball on a dime. Woods has been known to chip in at The Memorial before, but this was no picnic. Or, I guess you could say it was. With lots of ants ruining his lunch, and clouds moving in, ready to pour down rain. But this time, it was perfect weather for the perfect storm.

Woods hit the perfect shot, quietly rolled down the hill and into the cup. BAM! Pandemonium struck and the town of Dublin had experienced a 2.9 tremble on the Richter scale. Tiger didn’t look back, parred the 17th and threw his nine iron to, well, nine feet for birdie on 18 to wrap up his second victory of the season. The intriguing thing about this victory, is that it comes two weeks before the next major. Well, Tiger won at Bay Hill, which was also two weeks before a major. He then went on to produce a club-throwing, scattered ball striking, tie for 40th.

Oh, Tiger, your timing couldn’t be more perfect. The U.S. Open is in two weeks! Will history repeat itself? Tiger always talks about, ‘peaking for the majors.’ Well, he better not peak too early. Olympic Club won’t take anything but near perfect driving accuracy and precision iron play. Last I checked, Tiger’s not the straightest driver of the golf ball. When asked if he’ll put a 2 iron in the bag, Woods replied, “absolutely.” Well, it better be absolutely straight. And long.

Olympic Club will play about 7,170 yards but will feel much longer than that. Golf’s toughest test will again make the pros feel like weekend hacks, scrounging around the course trying to find a par. Get ready for cliché statements from players who are just “trying to shoot around par.” Players who find themselves “around par,” will also find themselves near the lead on Sunday. That’s just how it goes during the U.S. Open.

For those youngsters and adults who are trying to find par themselves, “summer” is in full swing here in San Diego. Now I put summer in quotes because, let’s be honest, it’s always summer here. I laugh at myself every time I find myself checking the 10-day forecast. My point is simple: get out and golf! If you’re a newbie to the game, the JC Intro2Golf program is perfect for  you. Summer golf camps start next week at Oaks North. As an instructor, I love this time of year. All the kiddos come out in their stylish little outfits and display their innocent but boisterous personalities. It’s a lot of fun to see the future of golf and be able to be a part of molding these kids into future golf stars!

I hope to see you all out on the course this summer!

Hit ’em straight!

Eddie

Golfer’s Gone Wild Recap; Women’s Golf Month

Well, the party has come and gone. As for the golfers? Clearly, they’ve gone wild. The third annual Golfers Gone Wild tournament was another huge success. With two shotguns going at 8am and 2pm, golfers had plenty of time to find their birdies, avoid the bogeys, and drink their suds. Or tequila. Don’t worry, they also bestowed the golfers with Bloody Marys for those needing an early morning “wake up” call.

They didn’t forget about you, beer lovers. The kegs were fully tapped on the short par 4, 15th. Players chose their suds, then chose their fate by trying to clear the water. Many tried, and many failed. Sure, there were groups who laid up, but where’s the fun in that?! Yes, the tees were up, but players still had to hit a great shot. If you haven’t been to Twin Oaks lately, you need to make your tee time now! The course is in great shape and they have moved the pro shop across the parking lot. The pro shop abuts the new grill, 2 Oaks Pub.

After making the turn, players were greeted on the par 3 10th with pink margaritas and a game called “Beat the Clock.” The fastest foursome to get their ball into the hole, won golf prizes and golf discounts. Some teams would tee off one at a time and race to the hole. Others would send four balls into the air at the same time. In my opinion, that’s the best strategy. But, wait! What about those pink margaritas?! The girls mixed them early and often and plenty of the players indulged.

Behind the pro shop, the beer garden was in full swing with The Damn Dirty Apes providing the sounds and Hooters providing the wings and suds. If you haven’t heard The Damn Dirty Apes before, drummer Chad LaShelle welcomes you to a taste. The perfect cover band for the perfect cover up of a bad round of golf. Famous Grouse doused you with their finest scotch and there was plenty of it. 

Cruising around the course, players found the Bloody Mary table on the par-3 7th, over the pond. Tees were put at 125 yards and Sean, from Reidy Creek, was shaking up some tasty drinks. If players wanted, they would have Sean hit a shot on the green for the team. It’s just a wedge for Sean, so odds were pretty good. If you missed it this year, make sure to get your foursome ready for next years scramble. You have a year to prepare. I have faith in you.

The month of May was a great month for local golf and was a month where Jason Dufner’s name came up in almost every conversation about golf. He won twice in the span of four weeks and almost completed the hat trick if it weren’t for Zach Johnson. And Johnson almost gave Dufner the Crown Plaza Invitational by forgetting to move his coin back to its original position on the 72nd  hole.  Johnson was in breach of Rule 20-7c (Playing From Wrong Place; Stroke Play). The penalty in stroke play is two strokes. Johnson was up by three strokes when he violated the rule. He made his putt for par but then had to change it to a six, holding on to a one stroke victory. Moreover, how did his caddy forget to remind him to move his coin back?! Imagine if Johnson had lost the tournament due to that violation. Johnson may have had to call in Donald Trump for the famous words, “You’re fired!”

June had always been a great month for golf. The U.S. Open always humbles the best players in the world and showcases 3-4″ rough. Driving accuracy and ball striking are always paramount in the U.S. Open and this year won’t be any different. June is also women’s month in golf. The entire month of June, JC Golf will be offering special programs to women of all ages hoping to attract more women to the game of golf. If golf needs anything, it needs more women players. Only 6% of adult women play golf. Trust me, the men miss them on the course. Especially the single men. If you’re a beginner or a veteran, come on out to the course and let our pros handle the rest. Make sure you follow JC Golf on twitter for all your upcoming specials.

We say goodbye to May gray and welcome June gloom. That also means the kiddos are out of school and summer golf camps are right around the corner. Click here for all the information on junior camps and junior golf specials.

“A kid grows up a lot faster on the golf course. Golf teaches you how to behave.”-Jack Nicklaus

Hit ’em straight!

Eddie

Who’s The New Guy?

Are you a rookie?

We are all rookies at some point. In life, and in sports. That’s what makes this crazy game we call golf, so relatable to life. Everybody has to start somewhere. We have all whiffed at the ball. We all have whiffed in life. The dreaded shank has happened, and of course, the ubiquitous slice. That baby isn’t going anywhere. Why do you think there are so many PGA Golf Professionals?  They struggled with it once. Now it’s their turn to help you not hit that ugly, always frustrating, stupid slice.

Being a rookie is a good thing. You get to learn things about yourself and the game that you might not have learned otherwise. Every year, the PGA Tour grants tour cards to twenty-five competent and amenable players from the Nationwide Tour. You have a mixed bag of grizzled veterans trying to find their game again, and the precocious yet ferocious college star players. The PGA Tour Q-School also has a list of graduates whose canvases are yet to be painted. All waiting to tee it up, these guys are hoping and praying their dreams become reality. Here’s the reality of it: it’s really tough out there. In recent years, with the exception of Keegan Bradley and Rickie Fowler, most rookies have found water hazards, out-of-bounds stakes, and missed cuts.

Here are a few facts about the rookies on the PGA Tour 2012:

Total number of rookies: 26

Rookies age 22 & under: 5

Rookies age 20-29: 18

Rookies age 30-39: 7

Rookies age 40 & over: 1

Rookies with no PGA Tour experience: 8

Rookies with a PGA Tour win: 1(John Huh)

You may be wondering why I’m talking about rookies during the middle of the year. Well, golf has become so unpredictable this year. A lot of new names and faces are making their ways onto television screens and leader boards. I figured I’d keep you on your toes and be a little unpredictable myself. Jason Dufner and Hunter Mahan are the only multiple winners on tour this year. Yes, Tiger and Phil each had their early season win, but have been missing on leader boards and unseen during network coverage. We all know about Tiger’s struggles, but it is different not seeing Phillip around on weekends. This year on tour we have seen Kyle Stanley make a snowman on the 72nd hole of a tournament, lose in a playoff to beady-eyed Brandt Snedeker, then win the next week in Phoenix.

Again, unpredictable. Some even say, unbelievable.

Tiger dominated from 2000-2008. Today, we don’t really have a clear-cut “No. 1” player in the world. Explaining the Official World Golf Ranking system would be like Einstein explaining his thought process on general relativity. Donald and McIlroy have been going back and forth the past few weeks exchanging the top spot between them. But we don’t really know who the number one player in the world is at the moment. That’s the thing, it’s just a number. Now who’s the best player in the world? I’m open up for discussions on that one. Fields nowadays are so deep with talent, that anyone in the field can win. These guys are that good! And that’s what makes golf so attractive.

Sure, it was neat seeing Tiger dominate the sport the way he did. I don’t think we’ll see that again in golf for a very long time. But we will. We had Jack, then Arnie, and then Tiger. Will it be McIlroy? Only time will tell. I know, very cliché of me.

But I digress.

Rookies must spend their exemptions wisely. Depending on where they finished in Q-School or their order of merit on the Nationwide Tour money list, players must play well early and often to keep getting into tournaments. Just like beginning a new job, its good to make a few birdies before those bogies come in and you screw up those TPS reports.

If  you’re a rookie at golf and are a little afraid of all those ringers and “A” players in scrambles, I encourage you to step out of  your comfort zone and step onto the links. I promise you that you’ll feel every emotion known to man. And that’s just during the first nine holes. It just gets better from there, my friend. It’s summer all the time here in San Diego. Make your way down to your local JC golf course and let our PGA and assistant pros do all the work.

Remember, we were once rookies, too.

Hit ’em straight!

Eddie

Side note: If you’re out at Golfer’s Gone Wild at Twin Oaks this Friday, make sure to stop me and say hello. I’ll be the journalist-looking guy wearing all pink. WEAR YOUR PINK!!