We each have criteria for determining who we root for. Swing, style of play, place of origin, personality, and ability to play under pressure are just a few of the leading filters on most fan’s screening lists.
What was not necessary until lately was their choice of equipment – at least not for this fan. But [...]
The Mickelson Effect: how a typical fan has been impacted by his defection
September 24th, 2011 · No Comments
Tags: The Game
Mickelson set to defect to golf’s dark side
August 25th, 2011 · 3 Comments
In his book, God Save the Fan, Dead Spin founder Will Leitch said it was not good to know our favorite athletes too well. His point: the better we know them, the more likely it is that we are not going to like them.
Case in point is Phil Mickelson. I have rooted for him for [...]
Tags: The Game
Why Mickelson skipped the press conference
August 11th, 2011 · No Comments
When preparing for the PGA, Phil Mickelson likely has been coached by his caddy on course strategy, Dave Pelz on the short game, Dave Stockton on putting, and Butch Harmon for his swing. That’s quite a stable of advisors.
And yet, that’s not all, for he has quietly added Washington, D.C. based mental game coach Julie [...]
Tags: The Majors
PGA could decide the Player of the Year
August 10th, 2011 · No Comments
Glory’s Last Shot is also the candidates for the Player of the Years’ last chance to bag a major and possibly put a stranglehold on the top spot.
The double major winners deserve it method points towards Charl Schwartzel, Rory McIlroy, and Darren Clarke. The winners of the first three are obviously the only players with [...]
Tags: PGA Tour · The Majors
Odds are fluctuating at the PGA
August 9th, 2011 · No Comments
There is a saying in investing that you should let the trend be your friend.
Many investors look at the recent movers and put their money on those stocks that have been strong of late. Well, we can apply that technique to golfers as well.
Twelve days ago I made a list of the favorites at Ladbrokes.com. [...]
Tags: PGA Tour · The Majors
Darren Clarke wins the Open
July 18th, 2011 · 2 Comments
Darren Clarke went out and won this Open. There was no back up and no signs of choking in the final 18, something that could not be said of his closest pursuers.
Clarke, it has been said, is one of us, a common man who just so happens to play great golf. His win is wildly [...]
Tags: PGA Tour · The Majors
British Open set for stirring final act
July 16th, 2011 · No Comments
If Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods pre 2009 were leading the Open by themselves after 54, this one would be over. But at the top we have Darren Clarke (-5), who has not finished in the top 10 in a major since 2001. One shot behind him is Dustin Johnson, who shot a final round [...]
Tags: The Majors
Open favorites with 36 to play
July 15th, 2011 · No Comments
The cruelest cut of all took place on Friday as WGR #1 Luke Donald and #2 Lee Westwood ballooned to rounds of 75 and 74 respectively, earning a weekend pass after entering the Open as the co-favorites behind Rory McIloy. Ouch!
Indeed, those who missed the cut are considered such lepers that the Open’s leaderboard has [...]
Tags: The Majors
Super longs shots lead the Open (for now)
July 14th, 2011 · No Comments
After the first round at the Open, a group of five players separated themselves from the rest by two or three shots with their 65s and 66s.
After perusing their names, I would say that none has a much better chance of winning than before the round because this group of long shots faces 54 nasty [...]
Tags: The Majors
McIlroy and the long shots at the Open
July 13th, 2011 · No Comments
Remember the days when Tiger went off at ridiculously low odds like 5/1 and such, and yet he was a good bet at that!
Well, now that he’s still recovering from his injuries, Rory McIlroy is the favorite going into the Open at 8/1 – odds this low largely because he is coming off an eight [...]
Tags: Tiger vs. Jack