How'bout 'dem Jets? I know, good thing I found other ways to amuse myself during the second half. More on that at the bottom, but a quick warning that tomorrow is a travel day.
Anchor What? - You'd think that we'd already put every issue related to this to bed, but there's still fun to be had in picking at the carcass. Jason Sobel takes us on a tour of the history of anchoring, though he only starts in 1961. We'll pick him up at c2000:
Even if the floodgates never officially opened, anchoring became more fashionable infollowing years. When Paul Azinger claimed a victory in 2000, he insisted of the method, "I was instantly better." When Steve Flesch won while anchoring three years later, he concluded, "This is like cheating."
Whatya mean like? And, of course, the best quote ever on the subject:
Before his Open Championship victory, Els famously maintained, "As long as it's legal, I'll keep cheating like the rest of 'em."
Comedy gold. Golf Digest Equipment Editor E. Michael Johnson posted information that I neede to know, though I didn't know it. No, really....
OK, smarty-pants, did you know this?
4.) Watch those forearms.No, we’re not talking about table manners. Under the rules your forearms are allowed to rest against the body, but only if your hands are not separated on the grip (see photo). If your hands are split (much like you would see from someone using a long putter), then your forearms may not be in contact with the body as that is deemed to have created an anchor point.
Johnson also deals with the Kooch method with this:
For those who want to try bracing the club against your forearm, there are some putters on the market specifically designed for such a stroke. Bettinardi offers a Kuchar-style putter as does BioMech, whose putter has been used on the PGA Tour by Bo Van Pelt, Heath Slocum and Tim Clark among others.
I've thought about and even tried briefly the Kooch method, but as I understand the physics of it you need 8-9 degrees of loft on the putter for it to roll properly. In fact, as I type this Charlie Rymer is using the Bettinardi putter on Morning Drive and confirms the loft noted above.
The Tour Confidential panel is back and they were asked to speculate on the effect of the rule change. Here's a sample of their thoughts:
SENS: Hank Haney has said it already and it's hard to argue with him. Players who adopted the long-putter did so for a reason, and the reason wasn't that they thought it looked cool. They did it because they'd developed the yips, or some other malady with a conventional flatstick, and desperate times call for desperate measures. Those sorts of ailments don't just vanish, so it stands to reason that any player transitioning away from an anchored stroke is going to struggle. Keegan Bradley. Adam Scott. Ernie Els. Tim Clark. Take your pick. You've got to figure there's a challenging year ahead for all on the greens.
I'm sure it's a personal failing, but the career arc of Keegan Bradley isn't keeping me up nights, as he's sucked while anchoring was legal. But Josh and Hank make the important point, that the guys who anchor are guys that struggle on the greens...
Guess They Didn't Hear The game is Dying - I'm not sure this is a business I'd go into, but surprising news on the equipment front:
Although the PGA Tour is a few months into its 2015-’16 schedule, the start of the new year remains the time when equipment companies typically add new players to their tour staffs. Making the biggest splash as the calendar turned was start-up Parsons Xtreme Golf (PXG), which announced Monday the signings of British Open champion Zach Johnson and former FedEx Cup champ Billy Horschel, as well as James Hahn, Chris Kirk, Charles Howell III on the PGA Tour and LPGA players Cristie Kerr, Gerina Piller and Alison Lee.
What's the strategy? They're not exactly positioning themselves as a value brand:
During the past season, word on PGA Tour ranges was that Parsons would be a major player in the endorsement game. That talked gained further credence when the company respected PGA Tour rep Matt Rollins from Ping. Still, one had to wonder just how active PXG would be given that its business strategy does not appear to be predicated on appealing to the masses. Its drivers sell for $700, its fairway woods for $500, hybrids for $400 and irons at $300 each—not exactly the kind of target audience heavily influenced by what tour players use.
Kind of surprised to see Zach take such a leap into the unknown at this stage in his career. It would seem he's got only a handful of years to make further hay, you'd hate to see him waster one on adjusting to new equipment. On the other hand, we don't know how many zeros might have been involved...
Wee in What Sense? - Something like that can be bad for a fellow's reputation, though I'm guessing he's beyond that now. The subject of the Irish News profile is Rory, and there's several bits worth noting, none more so than this:
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| I'm the proud owner of Holywood GC swag, courtesy of my buddy Lowell. |
Young McIlroy wasn't just a golf machine, though. St Patrick's Primary School has a photo of him in a First Communion group. While his fellow communicants look suitably solemn, Rory is seen sticking out his tongue. His teacher Geraldine Teer called him a "cheeky wee boy" and said if anybody was asking who killed Santa, it would be the sports mad McIlroy in P5.
Why wouldn't they have included that photo in the gallery accompanying the piece. Though I don't think you can pin that on the lad without a corpse...
But for Erica's sake, let's hope he's outgrown this sort of thing:
But unlike that perfect connection between iron and little white ball, McIlroy's career to date has had just enough wobbles to make things interesting. In his private life, he has definitely been in the rough a couple of times. While living with Holly Sweeney, McIlroy admitted he fancied Danish tennis player Caroline Wozniacki as they watched a match on TV at home.
Let's hope Holly has moved on by now, but give the item a read.
The Shark Undressed - It's been hours since we've feature a picture of the Topless Shark, so I'm pleased to report that our long national nightmare is over. The tenuous hook is this paywall-protected WSJ article informing that our Shark is now a VC (I always thought he was Australian:
The tablet maker selected the fund, an investment arm of Mr. Norman’s sprawling Great White Shark Enterprises, lead bidder for its business at a hearing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Del. The fund has also agreed to finance Fuhu’s bankruptcy case with a bankruptcy financing package.
The entry of Mr. Norman’s fund sets the stage for a bidding war over Fuhu, whose lawyers spent most of Wednesday in court fighting for the right to conduct an auction at all.
And here he is studying the case file:
You're welcome.
Confidentially Yours - The above-noted panel kicked around a couple of quasi-interesting subjects, so shall we listen in?
1. Which majorless player is most likely to win a major in 2016? (Bonus points will be awarded for correctly pairing the player with a tournament.)
Strongest support goes to DJ, who is picked to win at either Oakmont or Troon. Among the eccentric answers are David Linmerth and Danny Willet. And notables noted include Rickie, Branden Grace, Sergio! and Patrick Reed.
Well, I'm pretty sure we can rule out Sergio, after all he has... Rickie seems the obvious choice since he's learned to close, but the guy that threw out Patrick Reed might be on to something. As for DJ, has he actually scheduled the lobotomy?
2. Which young player not yet on the average golf fan's radar will make the biggest splash in 2016?
Names thrown out include Kisner, Schniederjans, Thomas, DeChambeau, Fitzpatrick and, amusingly, Patton Kizzire.
I would almost argue that all except that last are already on the golfing public's radar... Patrick Rodgers certainly belongs in that group, and I'll guess that Bryson DeChambeau, much as I love good copy, will struggle initially. How's that for ducking a tough one?
4. Just one week separates the Open Championship (July 14-17) from the PGA Championship (July 28-31) this summer, and the Olympics come just two weeks after the PGA (and fall on the same week as the John Deere Classic). How will players respond to the crowded and demanding schedule?
This is probably the most substantive answer:
SHIPNUCK: It would be awesome if Spieth skips the Olympics in favor of the Deere. Short of that, I think the Barclays and Deutsche Bank will be most affected, as burnt-out players cut back their FedEx Cup schedule, especially with the Ryder Cup looming. I can see folks also scheduling lighter in the spring, so Quail Hollow, Memorial and the Texas events may be missing some familiar faces.
It's been an eternity since we've beaten up on Travelin' Joe, but he's always there when you need him:
PASSOV: The great ones always adjust, and the losers make excuses. Yes, it will be a grind, but these guys are healthy, hungry and adrenaline-fueled. Cynics scoffed when Jordan Spieth chose to defend at the John Deere last year, leaving him a long flight and little prep time for the Open. And then he nearly won the Open.
I just love the man's absolute certainty... Call me a cynic, but does Joe even consider that an extra week of prep might have been worth a shot or two? Just askin....
More Tiger - But mercifully not much more. By the way, did you hear that he turned forty? Golfweek had its writers relate their favorite Tiger quote, and surprisingly none involve reps, feels or glutes activating. It's mostly run of the mill, but I did like this !a. from Jim McCabe:
1a — “The dimple pattern from a distance looked like a Precept.” — When asked if heknew what kind of ball came flying over his head as he putted on the 12th green at Augusta National in Round 3 of the 2000 Masters. The ball had come from a wild shot at adjacent Augusta Country Club and Woods said he caught a glimpse of the “dimple pattern” as the ball flew overhead at a speed that was quite substantial. Said it with a straight face, too.
There's never enough funny to go around...
Metaphor Alert - Curmudgeonly James Corrigan writes a senseless column, especially for January, but at least he has the grace to do it well:
So who will he be? Old Captain Blunder who unforgivably allowed the Europeans to win the Ryder Cup twice on United States soil? Or The Redemption Man who fought back from being the victim in the Miracle of Medinah and broke the blue-and-gold stranglehold?Regardless of their nationality, anyone who has enjoyed dealings with Davis Love would hate for the kindly figure from North Carolina to be classified as the former.But then, the Ryder Cup does not respect reputations as the Starred and Striped have discovered to their embarrassment in the past two decades of European dominance.
I'm not sure what triggered this column in early January, but I do hope he had Tiger in mind when he typed "Striped." And it's early to lay markers down, but don't we think that the Yanks win? Corrigan points to the issues that Darren Clarke faces in this concluding 'graph:
Darren Clarke happens to be extremely close to Love, but will certainly not want to join Sir Nick Faldo as the only Europe captains in eight matches to fall short. He will look to the likes of Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Luke Donald to make comebacks after their slumps this season. The Ulsterman has some fine youngsters in Danny Willett, Matt Fitzpatrick and Andy Sullivan, but he will not wish to go to Hazeltine with too many rookies.
I would bet that none of those first three Englishmen is even on the roster, and the latter three will not strike fear into American hearts. But more than anything, everything regresses to the mean, and I'm confident that the Americans will win at least once more this century.
Sunday In January - Employee No. 2 got home yesterday and suggested, just as the Jets-Bills went to half-time, that we take a walk on the golf course. But she also had a further suggestion, that I grab a golf club and a couple of balls and make a few swings out there. So off we trod with my six-iron and a Callaway SuperSoft and a marvelous time was had by all.
I think you'll all agree that the swing looks to be in mid-season form:
Shockingly, my touch around the greens was off just a bit... This was no doubt the hardest shot of the day:
Willow Ridgers will recognize that as the bunker near the 13th green.... Not only am I on the downslope, but the green is some 10-12 feet above the bunker... oh, and my caddie for some reason gave me my six-iron.
But I did make a nifty up and down for par at No. 14, but mostly it was a lovely walk with my bride.
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