For those who love golf, I linked up these videos that have helped me in the past week.

Caution- I have only used these tips twice, once in a quick practice putting session and once in an 18 hole round. The practice session helped me get the feel down and the results from the round were astounding. I had 27 putts and made around 80 feet of putts with none over 18 feet (meaning I didn’t make two 40 footers and miss everything else).

Everyone will probably try this because of Phil’s win at the tour championship. Below I have linked up several videos of Dave Stockton teaching putting. Apparently these are some of the tips Phil used this past week. I’m sold.

The things I implemented so far were:

• the open stance and ball position
• forward press right into the stroke
• no practice stroke
• not thinking of making the putt (sounds crazy but it worked for me)
• square to square
• visualizing where the ball will enter the hole based on break and speed

Enjoy!

How did Y.E. Yang beat Tiger Woods head to head this past weekend at the PGA Championship? I have my reason. I have heard many reasons so far and I believe there is some truth to them all.

I believe I’ll focus on the one key thing I saw on Sunday. I saw it a few years back by another player who ousted Tiger in a different fashion. Both Y.E. Yang and Angel Cabrera have accomplished this feat in the last 3 years. I must say I was much more impressed with Y.E Yang’s performance than Cabrera’s at the US Open two years ago. Cabrera was not paired with Tiger and was leading and not trying to catch the greatest player in the history of golf.

Yang faced off head to head while trailing but he pulled it off. How? I think because he played to win- instead of playing not to lose. Is that just a play on words? Absolutely not. Anyone who has competed in sports knows exactly what I mean. Let me give you some examples.

Your softball team is up 5 runs in the bottom of the 7th inning with 2 outs. A couple hits. The pitcher gets a little tight. The fielders stop trying to make a great play but focus on keeping the ball in front of them. Don’t give up the big hit. The nerves tighten and the hits keep coming. Runners keep crossing the plate. You look up after an error or two and a walked batter- now the game winning runner is on 2nd base. Another base hit and you’re shaking hands going how did it happen. We lost a 5 run lead with 2 outs in the last inning.

You’re watching a Sunday football game and your team is up by 2 touchdowns with 3 minutes to play. This one is all too easy to call. Your team puts on the prevent defense. When they do get the ball they run it up the gut 3 times and settle for a punt. Well 3 minutes later your team just gave up a touchdown, a second touchdown, and an onside kick. This leads to game winning 45 yard field goal.

Need another example. What about when you played that golf tournament? You were ready to post a killer score and all you had to do was steer it in on those last 3 holes. Two hands on the wheel and all your thoughts turned to your score instead of your next shot. Here we go again, 3 holes later and you’re walking off after a bogey, bogey, double bogey finish. What happened?

We’ve all been there and we’ve all watched it happen so many times. Y.E. Yang made a decision to go for it. He played to win. He hit shot after shot that if he didn’t pull off would have left the analysts saying what is he doing. The shot he hit on 18 summed it all up. What was the play there? You have the world #1 on the ropes. He needs a birdie just to tie and even if you bogey and he pars your in a playoff. That’s something to say. I was in a playoff with Tiger Woods at the PGA championship. Y.E. Yang could have hit it short right and safe. He could have played away from the tree instead of over it. He could have hit a bailout right avoiding the short side left. In case you missed it- he didn’t. He stuck it. Because you don’t beat Tiger playing not to lose, you beat Tiger by playing to win.

This is such a hard lesson. Athletes are so worried about what the announcers will say, what the critics will write and how the Monday morning quarterbacks will recall the event. Then someone comes along who’s out there having fun, not caring so much and playing to win. Refreshing.

My favorite week of the year is in the books. Now only 350 + days until next year.

My favorite moments of this year, and there were many.

• Don Robinson’s Hole in One on #12 at Millstone had to take the cake- plus he bought ice cream for everyone at Dairy Queen as per Smitty tradition dictates. Smitty had a hole in one a few years back and kicked off this tradition. Don’s Hole in One trumped my closest to the pin on #12 but I gladly took the back seat. To make it even more providential, Don hit the shot with a 6 iron (his nickname). Don collects 6-irons- don’t ask.
• Greg Allen’s devotional the 2nd night was started with “OK guys let’s close in prayer- I’m beat.”
• Neal and Jon’s job handing out the vast array of amazing man purses given as door prizes.
• Greg Heldman’s 69 followed by an 83.
• Marshall Fall Jr.’s 3 sub par rounds.
• Marshall Fall Sr’s putting skills which put Bill Mead to the ground and polished off Smitty, Bill and I in the afternoon scrambles.
• Smitty echoing “one in a row” after a hitting a fairway
• Charles “Sunshine” Williams and his book of one liners.
• The fried fish on night two and the fried chicken on night three have to make the list.
• The genuine faith of the Swedes and those associated with Sport 4 Life ministry in Sweden.
• Morning coffee with Perry, Dale, Bruce, Tom, Doc and Yimmy Yonson- Jimmy Johnson in English.
• The guy who managed to shoot over 70 despite 7 birdies- yours truly had a 71 with 7 birdies. Still no sub 70 rd yet.

Obviously, I’m forgetting many other special moments that were personal to me and to others on the trip- after all there was 140 players.

If you’d like to have this kind of fun and fellowship, don’t miss this trip in 2010.

Pittsburg

Gonzaga

Louisville

Memphis

I’ll go with Louisville vs Pittsburg with Louisville coming out on top.

The only stumble I can see is playing Ohio State in Dayton in the 2nd round. That could be tough. Reminds me of UoK versus UAB when they were the #1 overall seed in the early 2000’s with Gerald Fitch and Cliff Hawkins bunch.

Winning superbowl’s, national championships, world series championships apparently are not enough to keep your coaching job anymore. Wow, aren’t we a bunch of spoiled fans.

It’s amazing after reading Tony Dungy’s first book, that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers let him go after 4 out of 6 years in the playoffs. He had one losing season there and that was his first. He took them to the NFC championship and lost an amazing game to the eventual Superbowl champ Rams. From what I remember the Bucs were embarrassing before Dungy. Still it wasn’t enough to win 10 games and go to the playoffs, so they fired him and then one year later they win a Superbowl with his chemistry and players. Sure Jon Gruden did a great job coaching them, but still. Now Gruden has been kicked to the curb.

What about my man Tubby Smith at Kentucky? UK ran him out of town after winning a championship. Sure he had Rick P’s players but I’ve often thought Tubby was a better X and O guy anyway. He has a very good record against his old boss and often with less talent. Explain that. Sure his recruiting became complacent, but the future is still to determine how it will work out.

What about Joe Torre? Joe brought the bronx back to life in the late 90’s and early 2000’s. Not enough. Move on along Joe, you wore out your welcome here.

We could go on and on. The problem might not be the coaches. It could be the fans and owners who have no patience and are all about instant gratification. This fact will never change. Only one team wins each championship each year. Every other team is a failure then right? There are 63 teams of failures every year in late March early April when the NCAA crowns it’s champ. The same goes for football and baseball. Only one can win it and it’s really hard to do.

I think we can still have a passion as fans without being obsessive about constant success. With the way we see sports now I figure these guys could be in trouble. There jobs could be in jeopardy, which is absurd- but you never know.

1. Bill Belichick- 3 years in a row with no Superbowl
2. Jim Calhoun-  missed the NCAA Trmt one year and lost to George Mason
3. Rick Pitino- lots of talent and only one final four with no national championships
4. Lou Pinella- Cubs went to the postseason but lost 3 in a row

I wrote this several years ago right after I shot my first even par round of golf. I was so excited that I came home and mentally relived the round shot by shot (actually I do this with almost every round now- and my wife kindly acts likes she’s listening- and I love her for pretending). After I stored the scorecard and ball for posterity, I sat down and wrote this list in a matter of minutes. It’s my gut speaking. I didn’t think this out and I can’t even say that I’m good at all these tips. Actually, some I’m terrible at; but it doesn’t change the power behind the habits, thoughts or principles.

I was saving this for a post on  http://amateurgolfblog.com that I’m creating with a few close friends. I will probably post it there eventually but I wanted to get the loose leaf paper off my desk and the thought out of my head.

Last I want to say that shooting even par golf is relative as much as success is relative. If your handicap is a 36 and you break a 100 it will feel like shooting even par golf. If you are a weekend golfer and normally shoot 85-90, then the day you break 80 will feel like shooting even par. If you were like me and played to a 10-8-6-4 handicap much of your life, then shooting even par feels like shooting even par. Next I want to break 70 which I’ve never done. I’ve come close so many times and I’ve been 4 or 5 under par, but I’ve never held it together. Maybe I’ll write my next tips list after my next major milestone- breaking 70.

18 Tips for 18 Holes- How to shoot even par golf

1. Play one stroke at a time, one shot at a time, one hole at a time. Golf is best played in the moment. Your best scores will come when somebody says (I always hope they don’t); hey, you’re only 2 over or 5 over of whatever your benchmark might be. You say- oh yeah I am. Famous last words. The key is to not get ahead of yourself. As soon as I start thinking how many holes I have left or how many over or under I am, things do downhill quickly.
2. Have someone else keep your score. This isn’t an issue for most guys on tour or playing in tournaments. Their playing partners and caddy keep score. They just hit a shot and then hit another shot and then another shot.
3. Play aggressive with birdies in mind. This is not my nature. I am a grinder and a manage the course. I rarely take chances and thus play well in tougher conditions and tournaments. Unfortunately, it means I also am playing not to lose instead of playing to win. I notice on many of my best rounds I’m aggressive.
4. Get your putts and chips to the hole. I have always died a lot of putts in the hole, after all Jack Nicklaus did and who would question him. I’m not questioning him. I still die putts in the hole, but that only happens for me when I focus on getting it there. If I don’t, I tend to err on the side of caution and leave it three feet short in the proverbial jaws. Even if you like to die your putts in the hole, be more aggressive on your putts and chip shots. If the ball goes past the hole you have two chances to make it, if it doesn’t you only have one.
5. Realize you don’t have to hit every shot full. That is why it’s called a shot. It’s why certain guys on tour making a living with their shot-making skills. Some lies require different shots as do certain elements like wind or rain. Some grasses require different shots along with certain distances. Some courses require different types of shots. Experiment on the range. It’s OK to hit a bump and run, a flop or a half shot in the right setting.
6. Play the ball down, count all your strokes and putt everything out. Don’t lie to yourself or you’ll never get any better. Plus you’ll be exposed if you ever play in a tournament. That 12 handicap will quickly become a 92 in a tournament.
7. Believe that anyone including yourself can make 5 pars in a row or 3 birdies in a row. Don’t short change yourself. I’ve seen 25 handicappers make two birdies in a row or finish a side with 4 straight pars. It happens. I have made 5 birdies in a row, 2 eagles in one round and 14 pars in a row. It is possible. Believe it.
8. Take your medicine. I rarely try a stupid shot unless I allow myself to be talked into it by someone I’m playing with- which is completely an ego thing. If you get in trouble, get out of trouble and move on. Ask yourself this one little question when you’re thinking about doing the stupid. What will I gain at most if I pull this shot off? Often the answer is I’ll be another 20 yards closer or I could make a long putt for par instead of bogey. Not likely anyway.
9. Don’t hit that club off that lie. Many of us amateurs, and I’m as guilty as any, try to hit far too many shots with clubs they shouldn’t . If you are in the rough, your 3-wood is probably not the best option. If you have very little green to work with chipping with your 9-iron or Pitching Wedge will not produce a good result. If your ball in sitting between two clumps of grass, it will be tough to get a 3-iron up in the air. You will probably top it, as would many pros. The reason why we don’t see them hit many shanks is because they respect the lie.
10. Establish a pre-shot routine and stick with it. I have one for the driver, one for iron shots and one for putting. I am extremely methodical with this routine. Try it and you will be rewarded. Don’t try it and you will be inconsistent. It doesn’t have to include 3 practice swings. For example I don’t take any.
11. Can you carry it there or run it up there? No. Then lay up. Pretty self explanatory.
12. Stop strangling your putter, what did it ever do to you. The best putters in the world aren’t wristy or rigid. Want to see some remarkable strokes besides Tiger’s- check out Brad Faxon, Loren Roberts, Ben Crane, Justin Leonard and Steve Stricker. The putter moves like a pendulum with the arms and shoulders. The big muscles.
13. You hit your shot and I’ll watch your ball. This will allow you to finish the shot you started in your backswing. It’s important to be athletic when doing this- don’t lock up just to keep your head down.
14. Upgrade your equipment. I am not an equipment junkie, and always joke with people when I say I don’t know the difference between a cavity backed iron and a blade. I just pick them up and swing them. Even with this said, the new equipment can add 20-25 yards to your distance. Period!
15. Play with a soft ball. I think everyone could use more touch and spin around the greens. When I’m playing with a high handicapper you can hear the click of the club face against the ball on a chip shot, and then you can usually watch the ball race past the pin. Softer balls are usually more expensive, but to me they make a bigger difference than the clubs you use.
16. Get lessons. Get humility. Get a handicap. I have had lessons three different times in my life. Each time was a package which covered every area of the game. I had my first lessons when I was 14, then again in high school and then again just in the last few years. If I had the funds I would have them every year. If you’ve never had any, get some now and not from your brother in law or golfing buddy. Also, get a handicap. It’s tough to improve if you don’t measure.
17. Learn from your mistake. Laugh about it. Move on to the next shot. Easy to say and hard to do.
18. Keep yours stats. When I started tracking some simple things like fairways and greens- I had a better idea of how my game was progressing. Here is the rub. Hitting fairways and greens are good things to track but they don’t always help you score. Scoring is a different game. Scoring is about getting it in the hole. I have had some of my best rounds when I hit five fairways and some terrible rounds when I hit 11 fairways. Go figure.

Playing golf during the long winter months.

What do I miss the most?

Well let me tell you.

I miss the following in no particular order.

I miss playing even par golf for 10 holes then having one thought about hitting a ball OB on number 11 at Midland Trail golf club. Then proceeding to carry out that thought by hitting a draw down the left hand side, grabbing another ball from my bag and hitting my third shot from the exact same spot.

I miss my buddies who pick up 6 and 8 footers and then wonder why they fold like cheap card tables in every tournament.

I miss 3 putting from 40 feet and 4 putting from 8 feet.

I miss giving the birdie I just made right back with a bogey on the next.

I miss the two way miss off the tee.

I miss playing behind four old guys who take lots of practice swings and then cold top it.

I miss guys playing way too much break on a putt then complaining about green speed.

I miss guys playing way too little break on a putt then complaining green speed.

I miss hitting an amazing chip shot to 2 feet and missing the par putt.

I miss leaving a putt 8 feet short and draining the par putt.

I miss guys at scrambles saying if we would have just made a couple more putts- DUH!

I miss guys who shoot 78 and hold a 12 handicap.

I miss guys who roll it, pick em up and take mulligans then talk about how close them came to beating me.

I miss the plugged ball in the bunker.

I miss the shot right at the pin that’s 20 yards short or 10 yards off the back.

I miss the stub chip shot or the double hit is another favorite.

I miss the I’ll give you that one- you know the one you’re getting ready to miss if I don’t give it to you.

I miss Lefty, and Tiger and Boo and Freddie, but not Johnie Miller or Brandon Chamblee.

I miss the five hour scramble with terrible door prizes, but I don’t miss the 5 hour scramble with unlimited mulligans.

I don’t miss hitting balls because I don’t hit balls.

I do miss putting and chipping and experimenting with different shots.

I don’t miss the Fed Ex Cup.

I can’t wait for the first spring round when my hands feel like concrete blocks, the club feels like a telephone pole and the short game is still in hibernation.

I can’t wait to play my first team tournament so my partners can say- I thought you were a 1 handicap.

I can’t wait for that second weekend in April when the Azaleas are blooming, the grass is bright green, the camera flashes Amen corner and I hear Jim Nantz welcoming me to Augusta. The Masters on CBS.

You heard it here first. You can no longer tackle or block in the NFL. This will change the game, I’m just not sure to what degree. The NFL looked into flag football and also has considered two hand touch as an alternative but neither has been approved at this juncture.

Hines Ward and other receivers who actually block when not running a route or until a play is finished, will now probably be best suited for Australian rules football.

This stuff is getting ridiculous. I guess 300 pound defensive lineman are supposed to stop on a dime before they hit the quarterback. If the quarteback doesn’t go down or eludes the defender he’s not going to take a knee is he? The game moves so fast how can these guys pull up and keep from hitting a guy running towards the out of bounds line. Apparently Hines Ward can only block guys who are aware of his presence. Maybe there should be a new rule where defenses have to announce who they’re going to tackle and offenses announce who they will block.

OK so they need to keep the Quarterbacks safe. OK so we don’t need guys head hunting. OK we don’t need flagrant fouls 3 yards out of bounds. I agree somewhat. They do all have helmets and equipment on. It reminds me of playing backyard football as a kid, when the QB couldn’t be tackled. He had special privileges because not every kid could throw a football, we had to preserve the guy with the arm.

Why so many injuries these days? I usually hear people say guys are so much bigger and faster. Probably true, but is that countered by the fact that guys in the past were meaner and possibly a little dirtier?

I think many of these guys are lazy, overpaid premadonnas. The other problem is that the food we eat doesn’t give our bodies the vitamins and minerals we need in the amounts we need them. This makes it tougher to rebuild or keep those connective tissues, bones, ligaments and everything else in tact. Sounds reasonable to me. I have been saying this for several years now. Some guys probably supplement but the lazy guys probably do not.

If you listen to Tiki Barber or Jerry Rice, they talk about how much work they put into staying healthy all those years. They also played smart- knowing when to go down and when to go for the extra yard. The smart guys probably use all kinds of specialists like chiropractors, physical therapists, acupuncturists personal trainers and many more.

Sure luck plays a role, Tom Brady is a good example. Peyton and Farve are good examples of guys who have avoided injury their entire careers. That’s not all good luck. Maybe they will share there secrets one day.