Blip or demise? Tiger Woods' career at the moment?
I was right with Torrid Pines for Tiger last week. What is happening to the greatest golfer of our generation and possibly of all time? Further injury to a once impenetrable force has left many considering whether Tiger may have come to the end of his unbelievable career. Perhaps he has over done the gym work? Is his left knee part of the problems that plague his now fragile back? Maybe he needs to cut back somewhat on the weights and just build up his golfing muscles instead?
As I mentioned last week,he is once again in the throws of swing changes that have yet to "cure" his height loss problem into impact. Yet his new issues look to be more around his Laurel and Hardy pitching skills. One thin, one fat (keep up) and all of high comedy value for someone who has been unbeatable with a wedge in his hands.
Perhaps he is suffering with the yips with a wedge? Who knows. Tiger has withdrawn from his next event and hopes to be ready for the Florida swing to work on his build up to The Masters in April just 9 weeks away.
Let`s hope he recaptures the form that put him where he once was. With all the young bucks looking so good and a Tiger back in top form golf would get the lift it needs to ignite the enthusiasm of golfers worldwide.
The passing of "Buffalo" Billy Casper and Charles Sifford might have gone unnoticed among some of you. Casper was the buffalo eating golfer known as one of the best putters ever. He was the second golfing millionaire after Arnold Palmer with 51 wins and 3 Major Championships.
His biggest Major win was in the big comeback in the US Open to overcome a deficit of 6 strokes with just 9 holes to play again from Arnold Palmer. Sifford, was the first African American to play on the US Tour. Not the easiest thing to do back then when segregation even took place on local buses!
Ladies deliver in The Mail…
Having seen the handicaps of their opponents in the first round of The Mail on Sunday, the Orsett Ladies knew they were to expect a difficult match against StockBrook Manor. Playing so early in the season is never easy and awkward opponents to further this, yet the ladies came through with flying colours.
A couple of the players were even having to give 11 shots each, hence their concern, but the team rose to the occasion in hand. A 4-1 win set Lady Captain Ali`s team off on the start they wanted in the quest to reach the final…about 10 more matches away! With many competitive players to choose from, who to leave "on the bench" will be the team captain's nice problem to consider.
Beard does it again
Ok, it was this Sunday sweep that again has taken the brunt of another cuffing from Marc Beard. Just the 40 points this time helped him to a substantial win and this may now give Marc the belief he needs going into the qualifying events in the next few weeks. He certainly is a man on form in the Club.
Watch this space
The latest offering from Mizuno has arrived folks. It is a fabulous piece of craftsmenship, probably the best Metalwood they have made.The JPX EZ was pretty good, but the JPX 850 has all the bells and whistles(ok nuts and bolts on) that you now come to expect on a top branded product. There are loads of different loft settings with moveable weight technology in a vibrant blue colour. It will not only have shelf appeal but definitely have playing appeal too!
Why not try it out either by hitting the demo or being fitted on the GC2 launch monitor we use. I tried it last weekend and I`m carrying it 9 yards further than my existing driver. Click here to book a fitting with me!
Also just arrived are the 2015 Pro V1 and Pro V1 x balls. If you have never tried them before, these might be for you. The Pro V1x flies a little higher, although around Orsett the lower flying Pro V1 could be perfect for you. The price hasn`t changed this season either so even better news.
So some great new products are out there for you this season to help you enjoy your golf even more. Why not pop in store and see what we can do for you!
Nice work if you can get it…
Premier League teams must be laughing all the way to Switzerland this week after the announcement that The Premier League sold the TV rights to 186 league matches for £5.163 billion at an average of £10.3 million a game!
Nice work if you can get it.A bad day on the pitch will beat any good day in the office at that rate.
Honestly I`m fine…
Many thanks to all of you who tried to either phone or text me with concerns about my well being last Friday evening. Having a received a last minute ticket to a must see match,Wales V England in Cardiff it was so thoughtful of you all to have me at the forefront of your mind. Of course it had nothing to do with the result down there did it?
The Millenium Stadium is the best stadium I`ve ever been in and no I`m not being biased(it was the Emirates before it)Even without the roof on, the atmosphere was electric, the singing amplified perfectly,no wonder England wanted the roof left open for the match,it would have been deafening otherwise.
As always with the rugby, there was great banter and humour from both sides and excellent renditions of favourite Welsh songs in the pub beforehand. England deserved their win (that wasn`t easy to admit)They had the answers to Wales attacks and laid a few ambushes themselves that worked.
England host Italy this week,Wales go to Murrayfield, never easy, and France take a trip to Dublin to play pre tournament favourite and defending Champions Ireland.
Ireland v England should be the big Championship decider, with The World Cup not too far away to have the psychological edge is all important. Thanks to my pal Jim for organising the tickets. He became an honoury "Dai" for the night as out of the 4 who travelled, he was the only one not called Dai, Dave or David!