THIS IS APPARENTLY A TRUE STORY NARRATED BY DAVID FEHERTY.
I just had to share it with you.
David Feherty was recently interviewed and when asked about his position related to Tiger, here was his response…
“People have accused me of being so far up Tiger’s arse that he can barely make a full swing, but I maintain that he is a special person.
There’s no one else on the planet who can do what he does or even think of doing what he does. I’ve often thought, instead of showing Tiger’s reaction to a shot he’s hit, we really should show the reaction of those around him.”
But here is the next best thing. “I’m walking down the 18th fairway at Firestone Country Club with Ernie Els and Tiger, who has popped up a three-wood about 40 yards behind Ernie into some wet, nasty, horrible, six-inch rough,” Feherty says.
“Tiger’s cursing and taking clumps out of Ohio with his three-wood. And, of course, we’re not showing this on TV because we want to be able to interview him later. Ernie and I walk past Tiger’s ball, and it is truly buried.
“Ernie is tied with Tiger and he’s in the middle of the fairway. I’m standing with Ernie and my microphone is open. Ken Venturi [in the CBS booth] sends it to me and I say, ‘Tiger’s got 184 yards with two big red oaks overhanging the green. He’s got absolutely nothing. With a stick of dynamite and a sand wedge I might be able to move this ball 50 yards. Steve Williams [Woods’ caddie] tells me [with a hand signal] that he’s using a pitching wedge.’
“Tiger takes his swing. Every muscle in his body is flung at the ball. It looks like he’s torn his nutsack. The divot went as far as I could hit the ball. I’ve got my microphone at my mouth thinking, what the hell was that! The ball sails over the trees, lands behind the hole and backs up to a bout six feet from the flag. I open my microphone and Ernie turns and says, ‘F*** me!’
“My producer comes on in my earpiece and says, ‘Was that Ernie?’ I say yes. He says, ‘Fair enough.’
“I could have described that shot for 15 minutes and not done as good a job as Ernie did with two words. This is one of the best players in the world talking, and you wanna know how good Tiger is? Ask Ernie Els.”
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Wow What A Finish To The Open
I promised myself I would get up at 3.00 am and watch the end of The Open. My wife thinks I am mad but I so wanted someone fresh to win (secretly though if one of the more established players was to sneak in I was hoping it would be Ernie - an old time favourite of mine).
Am I glad I did get up. By the time I sat down in front of the TV the front nine was history and there was Anders Romero (where the h#*@ did he come from?) up with the leaders. Steve Stricker had all but disappeared and my mate Padraig was in the mix. And suddenly there was old Ernie. I thought "here we go the boys going to do it, he's going to show these guys how experience helps in these majors".
I was literally glued to the screen and in all that time I didn't even get up to make myself a coffee. I didn't need it to keep awake.
Romero played some incredible golf. One minute he looked liked the most experienced player out there and the next he looked like a nervous rookie. He made 10 birdies! Ten birdies - that's more than one every other hole and that in the final round of The Open on a course that was not very happy handing out birdies all week never mind 10 to one player in the final round.
But it was not to be his day. It all proved too much for him as he dropped too many shots on the last two holes. It was high drama and who would have thought that within half an hour he would be completely out of mind - despite being the leader in the clubhouse after Ernie had also failed to complete his challenge? It was all terribly exciting but nothing compared with what was still to come.
Padraig Harrington was quietly going about his business and with two holes to go was well in the lead. All he needed was a 4,4 finish and then he could sit back and wait for Sergio to try and match or beat him. But oh no that was all to boring for the Gods that control this game, more excitement needed here for the paying patrons.
Why not add a little bit of drama and get the gladiators to actually come face to face despite being on different holes? So they got Padraig to push his drive (yes he used a driver too!) on 18 over to the 17th fairway where Sergio was about to play. Bounce the ball on the bridge and pretend it is going to bounce right along and through the bridge but just let it take one bad hop at the end and finish up in the drink. Now we will have Padraig waiting at the very bridge where Sergio Garcia must cross after playing his tee shot. They actually almost crossed over the bridge headed in opposite directions and didn't even glance at each other. What were there thoughts I wonder?
Drama not over - oh no. Sergio puts his second close and has a relatively easy (if there is such a thing at Carnoustie) birdie putt. Padraig in the meanwhile takes an age to decide what he is going to do. Mores the pity as I am sure he could have fluffed it in half the time he took. My heart was in my throat as he dropped his third shot in the burn (water) in front of the green. His now lying 4 and not yet on the green. Sergio misses his birdie putt on the 17th which would have made him level with Padraig. So Padraig must up and down to at least force Sergio to play the hole.
He eventually plays his chip and although good it is by no means a tap in 6. A good putt and in she goes and he is leader in the club house but now one behind Garcia who has yet to play the 18th.
Sergio takes an iron off the tee and although he finishes in the fairway he is a long way from the green (and there's that water in front!). To be The Open Champion he only has to make a par - 10 minutes before and he needed a birdie. How things change.
Sergio plays his second, I think they said a three iron, it clears the water but comes up short in the bunker. On an up slope at the front of the bunker - its not over yet. He is a great bunker player and puts it about 6 feet from the hole. The Championship rests on this putt, but if he misses he allows Padraig into a 4 hole play off. The tension in my lounge with just me was almost unbearable I cannot imagine what it was like around the 18th green at Carnoustie!
Sergio hits what looks like a perfect putt - but somehow it stays out. One of several putts that lipped out on the day. It happened to everyone including Harrington on the 16th.
So now it was down to a 4 hole play off and another hour before I could get back into bed!
The playoff was a bit of an anti-climax compared to the drama that had gone before.
The first hole was to be the first play off hole followed by the 16th, 17th and 18th.
Both players had good tee shots, Padraig on the fairway and Sergio just off. Padraig plays his second and hits it stiff - still a bit of work to do on the putt but he should make it. Sergio in the meanwhile again comes up short and has to settle for a bogey. Padraig makes his birdie and they head off to the next tee with him 2 shots up. It stayed that way until the 18th where Padraig played with discretion knowing that a bogey from him would mean Sergio needed a birdie to stay alive. Sergio had to take a driver and all went according to plan. Sergio was on in two, Padraig in three and all Padraig needed was a two putt whilst Sergio had to make his. Padraig hit it about 3 feet past, and Sergio once again missed by the proverbial hair and went about 4 foot past. Sergio makes his coming back for a four and Padraig has to miss to keep the Spaniard alive.
Both the Gods and I had had enough and thankfully Padraig finished it off. A new Open Champion and the first European in many a year (I think since 1999). He was also the first Irishman in 60 years to win The Open.
An interesting side note. One of the commentators asked what Padraig would be thinking before his playoff putt on the 18th (the first putt). He said would he be thinking "just don't three putt"? The reply was "No that is not what he would be thinking as his psychology coach would not allow him to think those sort of thoughts".
An interesting observation and something I mention in my article "The Power Of Negative Thinking".
Am I glad I did get up. By the time I sat down in front of the TV the front nine was history and there was Anders Romero (where the h#*@ did he come from?) up with the leaders. Steve Stricker had all but disappeared and my mate Padraig was in the mix. And suddenly there was old Ernie. I thought "here we go the boys going to do it, he's going to show these guys how experience helps in these majors".
I was literally glued to the screen and in all that time I didn't even get up to make myself a coffee. I didn't need it to keep awake.
Romero played some incredible golf. One minute he looked liked the most experienced player out there and the next he looked like a nervous rookie. He made 10 birdies! Ten birdies - that's more than one every other hole and that in the final round of The Open on a course that was not very happy handing out birdies all week never mind 10 to one player in the final round.
But it was not to be his day. It all proved too much for him as he dropped too many shots on the last two holes. It was high drama and who would have thought that within half an hour he would be completely out of mind - despite being the leader in the clubhouse after Ernie had also failed to complete his challenge? It was all terribly exciting but nothing compared with what was still to come.
Padraig Harrington was quietly going about his business and with two holes to go was well in the lead. All he needed was a 4,4 finish and then he could sit back and wait for Sergio to try and match or beat him. But oh no that was all to boring for the Gods that control this game, more excitement needed here for the paying patrons.
Why not add a little bit of drama and get the gladiators to actually come face to face despite being on different holes? So they got Padraig to push his drive (yes he used a driver too!) on 18 over to the 17th fairway where Sergio was about to play. Bounce the ball on the bridge and pretend it is going to bounce right along and through the bridge but just let it take one bad hop at the end and finish up in the drink. Now we will have Padraig waiting at the very bridge where Sergio Garcia must cross after playing his tee shot. They actually almost crossed over the bridge headed in opposite directions and didn't even glance at each other. What were there thoughts I wonder?
Drama not over - oh no. Sergio puts his second close and has a relatively easy (if there is such a thing at Carnoustie) birdie putt. Padraig in the meanwhile takes an age to decide what he is going to do. Mores the pity as I am sure he could have fluffed it in half the time he took. My heart was in my throat as he dropped his third shot in the burn (water) in front of the green. His now lying 4 and not yet on the green. Sergio misses his birdie putt on the 17th which would have made him level with Padraig. So Padraig must up and down to at least force Sergio to play the hole.
He eventually plays his chip and although good it is by no means a tap in 6. A good putt and in she goes and he is leader in the club house but now one behind Garcia who has yet to play the 18th.
Sergio takes an iron off the tee and although he finishes in the fairway he is a long way from the green (and there's that water in front!). To be The Open Champion he only has to make a par - 10 minutes before and he needed a birdie. How things change.
Sergio plays his second, I think they said a three iron, it clears the water but comes up short in the bunker. On an up slope at the front of the bunker - its not over yet. He is a great bunker player and puts it about 6 feet from the hole. The Championship rests on this putt, but if he misses he allows Padraig into a 4 hole play off. The tension in my lounge with just me was almost unbearable I cannot imagine what it was like around the 18th green at Carnoustie!
Sergio hits what looks like a perfect putt - but somehow it stays out. One of several putts that lipped out on the day. It happened to everyone including Harrington on the 16th.
So now it was down to a 4 hole play off and another hour before I could get back into bed!
The playoff was a bit of an anti-climax compared to the drama that had gone before.
The first hole was to be the first play off hole followed by the 16th, 17th and 18th.
Both players had good tee shots, Padraig on the fairway and Sergio just off. Padraig plays his second and hits it stiff - still a bit of work to do on the putt but he should make it. Sergio in the meanwhile again comes up short and has to settle for a bogey. Padraig makes his birdie and they head off to the next tee with him 2 shots up. It stayed that way until the 18th where Padraig played with discretion knowing that a bogey from him would mean Sergio needed a birdie to stay alive. Sergio had to take a driver and all went according to plan. Sergio was on in two, Padraig in three and all Padraig needed was a two putt whilst Sergio had to make his. Padraig hit it about 3 feet past, and Sergio once again missed by the proverbial hair and went about 4 foot past. Sergio makes his coming back for a four and Padraig has to miss to keep the Spaniard alive.
Both the Gods and I had had enough and thankfully Padraig finished it off. A new Open Champion and the first European in many a year (I think since 1999). He was also the first Irishman in 60 years to win The Open.
An interesting side note. One of the commentators asked what Padraig would be thinking before his playoff putt on the 18th (the first putt). He said would he be thinking "just don't three putt"? The reply was "No that is not what he would be thinking as his psychology coach would not allow him to think those sort of thoughts".
An interesting observation and something I mention in my article "The Power Of Negative Thinking".
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Breaking through those plateaus
Well here we are a whole week since my last post and one round left of The Open. Has it not been a fantastic display of golf on what seems an incredibly difficult golf course.
It is amazing to watch these players have to hit such long irons for their seconds as so many of the tee shots are not taken with drivers. It's all about position (something I advocate in my six week challenge) and making sure they get on the green in regulation.
At this point Sergio is 3 shots ahead of a fast closing Steve Stricker and I look forward to tomorrow's final round. Although I am not looking forward to another night of broken sleep.
Watching The Open these last few days has made me realize just how consistent these great players are. And consistency is what most amateurs lack in their week to week or month to month game.
The pros do this for a living and when not playing they are practising. They spend their life working on their swings, their short game, putting, the psychology of golf and of course their fitness.
All of these things done on a daily basis means that they sleep, eat, drink and breathe golf. Something you and I cannot do and all this leads to consistency or, in our case, lack of consistency.
Have you ever shot a really good score only to find that the next week and for months afterwards you cannot find that form again? I am sure it has happened to al of us. You go out and shoot your best score ever and on reflection feel that it was easy and you didn't do anything special. You know the feeling - you are walking off the 18th and add up your score and discover it is very low compared to normal. What went right? What did you do differently? These are the questions you ask yourself and cannot find the answers to.
The next time you go out you are thinking of this last game where you scored so well and you try and repeat it. But no matter what you do you just cannot recapture that form. You're playing your normal game but you're not scoring! You're back to the plateau you have been on for years.
How to break through that and regularly shoot below 100 or 90 or 80 whatever the case may be? What is the secret? Its not only pros that are consistent. There are a lot of players at your club that regularly shoot low rounds in the 80's or 70's. What do they know that you don't? How can you do the same?
It is probably not the ball you play with or the clubs you use (see my article on "Do I Need To Buy New Clubs?")and of course you've been for lessons and whilst they help initially you generally slip back to your old scores.
What you need is a system and a thought pattern that works and is repeatable. You need to step up to the shot knowing what is going to happen and how to execute the shot.
Jack Moorehouse is just an ordinary golfer who has unlocked this secret over the past 20 years of playing golf. Jack plays off a very respectable 5 handicap and in his program "How To Break 80" Jack takes you through the steps you need to instantly drop shots off your round. Jack acknowledges that we are not all professionals that have all day to practice and perfect our game, and with this in mind he sets about showing you the simple things that will help any golfer over come the problem of inconsistency.
Appropriately named "How To Break 80" this program is designed for the average gofer and by applying the principles and techniques he reveals every golfer will easily break through to the next level and have much more fun at this wonderful game.
There is of course the added bonus of seeing the look on your friends' faces when you start having those rare rounds all the time.
As much of my "Six Week Challenge" focuses on the mind and a lot of short game drills I find this an invaluable aide to the course.
It is amazing to watch these players have to hit such long irons for their seconds as so many of the tee shots are not taken with drivers. It's all about position (something I advocate in my six week challenge) and making sure they get on the green in regulation.
At this point Sergio is 3 shots ahead of a fast closing Steve Stricker and I look forward to tomorrow's final round. Although I am not looking forward to another night of broken sleep.
Watching The Open these last few days has made me realize just how consistent these great players are. And consistency is what most amateurs lack in their week to week or month to month game.
The pros do this for a living and when not playing they are practising. They spend their life working on their swings, their short game, putting, the psychology of golf and of course their fitness.
All of these things done on a daily basis means that they sleep, eat, drink and breathe golf. Something you and I cannot do and all this leads to consistency or, in our case, lack of consistency.
Have you ever shot a really good score only to find that the next week and for months afterwards you cannot find that form again? I am sure it has happened to al of us. You go out and shoot your best score ever and on reflection feel that it was easy and you didn't do anything special. You know the feeling - you are walking off the 18th and add up your score and discover it is very low compared to normal. What went right? What did you do differently? These are the questions you ask yourself and cannot find the answers to.
The next time you go out you are thinking of this last game where you scored so well and you try and repeat it. But no matter what you do you just cannot recapture that form. You're playing your normal game but you're not scoring! You're back to the plateau you have been on for years.
How to break through that and regularly shoot below 100 or 90 or 80 whatever the case may be? What is the secret? Its not only pros that are consistent. There are a lot of players at your club that regularly shoot low rounds in the 80's or 70's. What do they know that you don't? How can you do the same?
It is probably not the ball you play with or the clubs you use (see my article on "Do I Need To Buy New Clubs?")and of course you've been for lessons and whilst they help initially you generally slip back to your old scores.
What you need is a system and a thought pattern that works and is repeatable. You need to step up to the shot knowing what is going to happen and how to execute the shot.
Jack Moorehouse is just an ordinary golfer who has unlocked this secret over the past 20 years of playing golf. Jack plays off a very respectable 5 handicap and in his program "How To Break 80" Jack takes you through the steps you need to instantly drop shots off your round. Jack acknowledges that we are not all professionals that have all day to practice and perfect our game, and with this in mind he sets about showing you the simple things that will help any golfer over come the problem of inconsistency.
Appropriately named "How To Break 80" this program is designed for the average gofer and by applying the principles and techniques he reveals every golfer will easily break through to the next level and have much more fun at this wonderful game.
There is of course the added bonus of seeing the look on your friends' faces when you start having those rare rounds all the time.
As much of my "Six Week Challenge" focuses on the mind and a lot of short game drills I find this an invaluable aide to the course.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
British Open Week
Well the end of this week sees the start of The Open. Carnoustie is a tough course (all open courses are) and I wonder if we will have a surprise winner this year. Certainly Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els seem to have had good preparation at the Scottish Open. Ernie also seems to enjoy The Open but has not been himself since his knee op. Time will tell and I for one will be watching TV this week.
Talking about the Open - anybody wanting to get some weather practice would have been wise to be in New Zealand this last week. We have had the most awful weather and it reminds me of the Japanese gentleman who was spectating at The Open one year. It was foul weather and he was overheard asking a colleague "Why don't they play in summer?"
This morning (NZ time) Tim Clark blew a 3 shot lead with 4 to play in the John Deere Classic. I really thought he had this sewn up and that he had a ticket to The Open and also his first win ever on the PGA. But alas a bit of bad luck in the closing holes and Jonathan Bird's brilliant closing birdies (3 in 4 holes) meant it was just not to be. Clark has probably moved up the list of "biggest money winners without a PGA tour victory" and I am sure he would like to get off that list. But with something like $7,4 million before this latest pay check he isn't doing too badly. He has the talent and will be back.
Talking of tours I was following a player in the Tarheel Tour and the winning score over 54 holes was 20 under par! That is seriously good golf under any conditions and it is amazing how much talent is out there. This is just one of many regional tours in America so presumably there are lots of similar results all over the country. It also goes to show just how good the top players really are.
Right I'm off to see what the odds are on some of the players for The Open.
Talking about the Open - anybody wanting to get some weather practice would have been wise to be in New Zealand this last week. We have had the most awful weather and it reminds me of the Japanese gentleman who was spectating at The Open one year. It was foul weather and he was overheard asking a colleague "Why don't they play in summer?"
This morning (NZ time) Tim Clark blew a 3 shot lead with 4 to play in the John Deere Classic. I really thought he had this sewn up and that he had a ticket to The Open and also his first win ever on the PGA. But alas a bit of bad luck in the closing holes and Jonathan Bird's brilliant closing birdies (3 in 4 holes) meant it was just not to be. Clark has probably moved up the list of "biggest money winners without a PGA tour victory" and I am sure he would like to get off that list. But with something like $7,4 million before this latest pay check he isn't doing too badly. He has the talent and will be back.
Talking of tours I was following a player in the Tarheel Tour and the winning score over 54 holes was 20 under par! That is seriously good golf under any conditions and it is amazing how much talent is out there. This is just one of many regional tours in America so presumably there are lots of similar results all over the country. It also goes to show just how good the top players really are.
Right I'm off to see what the odds are on some of the players for The Open.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
No Golf This Week!
There has been very little golf played in New Zealand this week as we have had freakish winds ALL OVER THE country. Half the north island is underwater and there are still some 20,000 people without power. At the height of the storm there were 140,000 household without power.
Our house was shaking with the force of the winds and we had gutters ripped off and a couple of roofing sheets tear away. It could have been a lot worse and there are a lot of people who will take a long time to recover.
Back to golf.
I for one was extremely impressed with KJ Choi's golf at the AT&T. Leading by 2 with three to go I have no idea how his putt stayed out at the 16th. But talk about nerves of steel on the 17th. After missing the green and landing in the bunker with little or no green to work with he comes up with this shot.
If it wasn't such a brilliant shot one could almost feel sorry for Steve Stricker who was on the 18th fairway and needed more than one shot to go his way.
Going into the final round of the AT&T I really thought that Appleby was going to take this one. Unfortunately for him he didn't have a great day. There is no doubt that he has the talent and will win many tournaments I am sure.
Talking of Appleby it is interesting to note how strong the Aussie contingent is on the various tours around the country. Between them and South Africa they make up the bulk of the international team for the President's Cup. Gary Player has some great talent at his disposal and it will be interesting to see what choices he makes for his captain's selection. Will there be a bias towards South Africa?
After the recent storms today is a beautiful, cold and crisp but beautiful day, in Auckland and whilst it is like this I am going to head off to the putting green and practice my short game. I suspect the course will be closed so I won't be able to play a round. Pity.
Our house was shaking with the force of the winds and we had gutters ripped off and a couple of roofing sheets tear away. It could have been a lot worse and there are a lot of people who will take a long time to recover.
Back to golf.
I for one was extremely impressed with KJ Choi's golf at the AT&T. Leading by 2 with three to go I have no idea how his putt stayed out at the 16th. But talk about nerves of steel on the 17th. After missing the green and landing in the bunker with little or no green to work with he comes up with this shot.
If it wasn't such a brilliant shot one could almost feel sorry for Steve Stricker who was on the 18th fairway and needed more than one shot to go his way.
Going into the final round of the AT&T I really thought that Appleby was going to take this one. Unfortunately for him he didn't have a great day. There is no doubt that he has the talent and will win many tournaments I am sure.
Talking of Appleby it is interesting to note how strong the Aussie contingent is on the various tours around the country. Between them and South Africa they make up the bulk of the international team for the President's Cup. Gary Player has some great talent at his disposal and it will be interesting to see what choices he makes for his captain's selection. Will there be a bias towards South Africa?
After the recent storms today is a beautiful, cold and crisp but beautiful day, in Auckland and whilst it is like this I am going to head off to the putting green and practice my short game. I suspect the course will be closed so I won't be able to play a round. Pity.
Friday, July 6, 2007
Where have I been?
Embarrasingly I note that my last post was the end of May!!
My sincere apologies but we had a bit of a drama in the family and that has taken my eye off the ball - lifted my head (so to speak) and had an "air shot"). I have also been very busy these last three months with setting up an exciting new venture with my wife. So I have my excuses but I am now back.
Despite all the distractions I have been following all the golf tournaments and it is so encouraging to see a lot of first time winners emerging on the PGA tour. And I have never seen such an exciting finish as The Travelers produced. I was on the edge of my seat with my wife screaming in my ear that we were late for an appointment. Well we were even later when it went to a playoff because I wasn't movint until that game was over.
The weather over here in New Zealand has been awful these past two weeks and I haven't been able to get out on the course as much as I would have liked - but then who does?
I have had some very positive and encouraging feed back from some of the students on my six week challenge. It seems they all find the course to be totally different to what they expected, in a positive way. Thanks guys and gals the feed back is always appreciated.
I promise that from now on I will make appearances at my own blog more regularly.
Thank you for your patience.
My sincere apologies but we had a bit of a drama in the family and that has taken my eye off the ball - lifted my head (so to speak) and had an "air shot"). I have also been very busy these last three months with setting up an exciting new venture with my wife. So I have my excuses but I am now back.
Despite all the distractions I have been following all the golf tournaments and it is so encouraging to see a lot of first time winners emerging on the PGA tour. And I have never seen such an exciting finish as The Travelers produced. I was on the edge of my seat with my wife screaming in my ear that we were late for an appointment. Well we were even later when it went to a playoff because I wasn't movint until that game was over.
The weather over here in New Zealand has been awful these past two weeks and I haven't been able to get out on the course as much as I would have liked - but then who does?
I have had some very positive and encouraging feed back from some of the students on my six week challenge. It seems they all find the course to be totally different to what they expected, in a positive way. Thanks guys and gals the feed back is always appreciated.
I promise that from now on I will make appearances at my own blog more regularly.
Thank you for your patience.
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