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Archive for November, 2011

Golf Pitching Tips and Pitching Drills to Correct Golf Shot

Sixty percent or more of your golf score occurs within 100 yards of the cup. That is why golf instructors emphasize the importance of the golf short game including putting, chipping, bunker shots and pitching shots.

Though becoming an effective putter is probably the most important component of an effective short game, it can be argued that developing a solid pitching shot game (for golf shots 60 yards and in) is close behind. If you can effectively pitch the golf ball as close as possible to the cup, then the potential to putt the ball into the cup in fewer strokes is dramatically improved!

Here are a few of our favorite golf pitching tips and pitching drills to develop a solid golf pitching game.

Golf Pitching Tip 1 Pitching Shot Setup

When hitting golf pitching shots, use a lofted club such as a sand wedge (54 to 58 degrees loft) or lob wedge (59 to 62 degrees loft).
Slightly open stance.
Ensure that your ball position is slightly forward from the middle.
Place your weight so that sixty percent of your weight is on your left foot and 40 percent is on your right foot – keep this weight distribution throughout the golf pitching shot.
Move hands down the grip and in front of the ball. Grip the club slightly firmer in the golf pitching shot than you would for a normal golf shot.
Keep steady pace and swing torso back and through the golf pitching shot.

Golf Pitching Tip 2 Pitching Distance Control

To control your distance, use the 7-8-9 golf pitching shot method where you swing your straight left arm back to the particular hours of a clock to achieve consistent distance control.

For example, if you swing your left arm back to the 9-oclock position and hit the ball 40 yards, then your 9 oclock shot is for 40 yard golf pitching shots. Practice this approach until you know your distance for 7 oclock, 8 oclock and 9 oclock shots.

Golf Pitching Shot Practice Drill 1 Pitching Extended Club Drill

This pitching shot practice drill encourages firm wrist and hand position at impact.

Grip two clubs together holding one in normal position and the other on shaft near club head. Hit 5 to 10 practice pitch shots.
The extended club takes wrists out of pitch shot. If wrists break at impact, shaft of second club will hit left side this should not occur with proper pitch shot swing.

Golf Pitching Shot Practice Drill 2 Pitching to Target Drill

This pitching shot practice drill helps aid the feel and accuracy of your pitch shots.

Place four or more targets at various distances from 30 to 60 yards away.
Pitch balls to each target using your normal club for pitching shots.
Hit three or more shots in a row for each target; feel the backswing length necessary for each distance.

Designed by top PGA instructors for on-course play and off-course preparation, Golf Genie provides easy-to-absorb golf tips and golf practice drills to accelerate your development and rapidly lower your score. Golf pitching tips available to help you.

Children are learning golf in school. Most schools recognize golf as a sport and have golf teams. They teach the kids the art of golfing with instructional videos and professional lessons. Parents sometimes send their children to golf schools if they express an interest in playing golf. Golf is a family sport if you want it to be. Besides learning school and at private lessons, some parents start their children off on the driving range and teach them what they know. More and more children are participating in golf and becoming leaders in the field. Look at Tiger Woods. He started early and is a young golf pro.

If you start golfing early enough in life and continue to improve your game, you can become the next Tiger Woods. It takes dedication and practice to become a pro and anyone can do it with the right teacher and determination to become the best. Golfing does take skill. You have to have distance, which comes from you stance and swing. You need to be able to judge the distance to the green while avoiding any bunkers and water holes. Trees are another obstacle to avoid. Even the bet golfers can slice a ball and send it flying off course.

Many golf courses have children’s golf leagues during the golfing season with tournaments and competitions. This helps kids improve and learn different techniques to improve their game. While playing as a child they are essentially grooming themselves for future golf tournaments and competitions. The game of golf has become a sport that kids who do not like football or basketball can play and receive credit for in school. If you belong to a school team, this counted as a credit for your gymnastics class in some states.

You can buy accessories and golf clubs for children. As a child grows, they need to find clubs that fit them better. You always need to have the right size clubs for playing golf or you could hurt yourself as well as not play a good game. To buy golf clubs, you need to visit a pro shop or even a sporting store and try the club on for size. Just because you think the club is the right size, it may not feel comfortable when you swing. The shaft flex and the grip are important factors when buying a new club. The younger you are, you can probably use a shaft with less flex than what someone older would use.

When you are learning to play golf as a child, you will spend a great deal of time learning the basics. Scoring, swinging, stance and terminology before you actually start a game. Once you have the basics, you start learning to improve your swing, how to improve your distance and the precision needed when hitting the golf ball. A child learning to golf is nothing new, it is just becoming more popular today because of other young pro’s that encourage kids to take up the game.

Golf Injuries – A Beginner’s Guide For Common Injuries Experienced By Golfers

The notion that golf is just a sport that only involves hitting the golf ball to make a point may just be the number one reason for injuries to happen on the course. The real thing is, any golfer should know how their body reacts with their every move or swing and they should know how to perform these moves correctly. If not, it can possibly lead to having a preventable golf injury

A golfer has a high chance of experiencing the pain of being injured while playing if they were not able to condition themselves before the game. More so, if he doesn’t know the right body mechanics and the right approach to every move that they will be doing.

In golf there are different types of injuries that any golfer can experience in their career; knowing these injuries could somehow help you prevent them in the future. Thus, it is good to have a brief understanding about some common golf injuries:

Back Injuries:
There are different types of back injuries in golf: sprain, strain, lower back pain, herniated disks, backaches and stress. Again, all of these can be prevented with proper body mechanics, proper body conditioning and observance of proper execution of every move.

Shoulder Injuries:
Shoulder tendinitis, bursitis and impingement syndrome (which are similar and often occur together) are just some of the common shoulder injuries that a golfer can experience if they won’t be careful in playing. Moreover, other injuries are glenohumeral arthritis, shoulder separation, rotator cuff tendonitis, shoulder instability, torn rotator cuff injury and frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis).

Elbow injuries:
Golfer’s elbow or medial epicondylitis and the bursitis of the elbow are the most common among all the elbow injuries in golf. These injuries can happen because of repeated use of the muscles of the arm and the forearm. Tennis elbow or lateral epicondylitis can also occur to any golfer for the same reason of overusing of the said muscle groups.

Wrist and Hand Injuries:
There are still other injuries caused by overuse of certain body parts, or due to accidents or falls during the game; it can also be due to the usage of poor equipment. Wrist sprains, finger fractures, wrist tendinitis, trigger finger and tenosynovitis are examples of these injuries.

Other Pain and Injuries:
Aside from what was mentioned above, a golfer can also suffer the pain caused by injuries like delayed-onset-muscle-soreness, knee pain, plantar fasciculitis, sprains, strains, stress fractures and blisters on the hands or feet.

The bottom line is that most, if not all of the injuries sustained due to playing golf are due to the overuse of certain muscle groups or body parts; due to poor body posture and body mechanics; and also due to improper swings and the use of poor equipment. You must remember that if in case you will have an injury you must really follow the advice of your doctor regarding your rest period if you don’t want to worsen your situation.

Golfworld Tenerife.com has, this week, launched an excellent and informative website dedicated to golfing holidays in Tenerife.  Tenerife has become the top golfing destination in the Canary Islands offering a choice of magnificent courses to suit all levels of expertise and Golfworld Tenerife pride themselves on offering an informative and beneficial service to all keen golfers.

Due to Tenerife-s wonderful climate it is the perfect destination for winter golf breaks. Golfworld Tenerife is offering some amazing free introductory offers which include free rounds of golf, 50% off accommodation and free airport transportation to your resort in the South of the island.  Whether you are choosing hotels, villas or apartments, Golfworld Tenerife have locations that are ideally suited for every golfer’s needs.
As Tenerife is so very popular because of the wide variety of golf courses available, there are obviously, many people who come regularly to enjoy the facilities that this island offers to those who play golf outside of the UK.  For many, however, a first trip to Tenerife also means a first time on one of the many golf courses.  Amongst the various services on offer to players is the opportunity to have a free golf lesson.  This is of particular value to those who have never played on the courses before, but can also prove invaluable to the seasoned visitor.
Golfworld Tenerife will be more than delighted to arrange your next golfing holiday.  Their concierge service will arrange all your tee times and car hire (if required) before your arrival on the island.  Tenerife offers some stunning and picturesque locations and they will be only too pleased to arrange any excursions for you during your stay. The spectacular peaks of Mount Teide and the dramatic landscape of the National Park are sites which are not to be missed so a visit to enjoy the almost lunar spectacle is certainly well worth a visit during any stay on Tenerife.  The year round warmth of Tenerife enables golfing visitors the ability to relax by the pools of the many resorts and enjoy what is known as ´The Island of Eternal Spring`.
The gastronomy of Tenerife is both varied and excellent and there is a wide variety of restaurants offering food to please the most discerning palate. Specialities to be found in the South of Tenerife, include the vast array of fresh fish and seafood restaurants located in the village of Los Abrigos and also in La Caleta. There is also a superb selection of restaurants or Asados as they are known, for the meat lover too!.  Once your holiday has been booked, the staff at Golfworld will be delighted to recommend a selection of restaurants for any occasion or gastronomic theme.
Golfworld Tenerife announce that they are pleased to launch the specialised and informative service to the golfing public and their new website offers a fully comprehensive array of offers and services not to be missed.
For further information please contact www.golfworldtenerife.com
 

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Whenever someone plans his holiday vacation he puts emphasis on few basic things such as the location, the season, the activities and festivals he wants to enjoy and many other factors which create the essence of his vacation and then finally plans the budget accordingly. If you experiment a new thing with every holiday vacation, it can add new dimensions to your travel records. How about planning your stay in hotels which have golf courses nearby? Many might not have tried their hands in this game and many might not even have given second thought to that. But trying to play some shots like Tiger Woods and Arnold Palmer is not at all harm. So, choose your golf holiday destinations which have hotels as well as golf courses in close neighborhood.

If you plan to visit North Africa, Tunisia offers amateur as well as expert golf players the opportunity to try some strokes in various golf courses located close to sea or those adorned by palm trees. Golf courses at Hammamet, Djerba, Tabarka, El Kantaoui, Monastir and many other places in Tunisia are exquisitely designed and spread across vast acres of land. For playing in these golf courses it is not at all required to have a valid membership. And if you do not have a golf-kit, you can hire it from clubs at reasonable rate.

Other than the stunning landscape which attracts you to the golf courses in Tunisia, there are some other factors that can be helpful in determining your golf vacation in Tunisia. The climate and weather conditions also play a vital role in planning your golf vacation. Some like playing in extreme conditions, whereas few like to play in milder weather condition. As Mediterranean climate prevails in North Africa it creates favorable conditions to play golf in Tunisia.

Playing golf is rather a challenging game but if you find favorable conditions conducive for playing golf then planning to stay in a hotel close to the golf course in Tunisia is not an unprofitable travel deal. Whether you are playing alone or playing with your friends, the extensive golf-courses in Tunisia take you across hills, sand dunes, olive grooves, beaches and the wonderful landscapes of Tunisia. So, book your hotels in Tunisia with golf courses nearby and add a new taste to your vacation.

About Author

The Author is a contributing writer to the website http://www.sunnytunisia.com which provide Tunisia hotels accommodation and travel guide to Tunisia.

SunnyTunisia.com is a part of Discount City Hotels Ltd. Discount City Hotels is an expanding company that provides serviced apartments and hotels accommodation to travelers within Europe.

For additional information, please visit: http://www.sunnytunisia.com

Phone: +44 20 8680 3001
Fax: +44 20 8603 7321
E-mail: admin@discountcityhotels.net

The Mediterranean and in particular Spain is benefitting from golf holidays as those keen on the sport head to the Costa del Sol and islands like Menorca to pursue their favourite pastime.

One region known for great golf getaways is the “Coast of the Sun,” otherwise known as the Costa del Sol. Located in the south of Spain, the Costa del Sol is in the autonomous community of Andalucia, and encompasses coastal towns and communities along the Mediterranean coast of Malaga province. The city of Malaga is in this popular tourist region.

The region is home to approximately 60 lush golf resorts from Sotogrande in the west to Velez Malaga in the east. Combined, these golf destinations contribute significantly to Spain’s tourist economy.

The lure for golfers on the Costa del Sol is the dry, sunny weather conducive to pleasurable playing. Golfing in the winter is the perfect antidote to the grey, cold climates of northern Europe.

With golf’s popularity growing significantly in the past 20 years, so Spain’s influx of tourist euros grows too.

Golf vacation providers work hard to attract clientele their way. For golfers, some providers offer personalised green fee booking at some of the finest courses in Costa del Sol and other regions. Competition for holidaymakers’ euros is intense, so bargains await those looking to golf in the region.

Preferred bookings at discount prices signify the high demand for tee times in these exotic locales. Often, golfers can obtain special rates if they book golf course times in conjunction with accommodations or other services. Vacation golf packages abound on the Internet offering packages to golf in Antequera, Benalmadena, Marbella’s Golden Mile and more.

The effect on Spain’s economy in general and Cost del Sol’s in particular is easily measurable. The golf courses and resorts benefit, but so do other sectors of the economy.

The golf courses bring increased business to accommodation providers, restaurants, cafs, clubs and transportation providers in Costa del Sol and its environs – recognising the importance of golf tourism, Spain has the welcome mat out to ensure golfers come in their hordes.

Tourists descend on Malaga airport and for Menorca Mahon Airport, a bustling hub of activity, and major employment provider. Taxis and public transportation also benefit from the diverse holidaymakers who make their way to this vibrant resort region. With golfers galore arriving on the Costa del Sol, attractions such as the Benalmadena Aerial Cable Car benefit. The Picasso Museum in Malaga and the shops along the street of San Miguel in Torremolinos also benefit.

And for Minorca similarly the whole island benefits.

Many of the golf courses have stunning views of the sea and mountains. In addition, the variety of courses available to play offers much choice to golfers. The areas golf courses are suitable for players of all levels.

East of Malaga are courses such as the Baviera Golf Club and the Anoreta Golf Club. The Guadalhorce, Lauro, Malaga Parador and El Candado golf clubs are available in Malaga for golf enthusiasts. There’s also the Torrequebrada Golf Club in Benalmadena Costa and the Alhaurin Golf facility between Mijas and Coin in Costa del Sol.

In Sotogrande, there’s the La Reserva de Sotogrande course. The La Duquesa Golf and Country Club sits between Sotogrande and Estepona. In addition, the Atalaya Golf and Country Club is in Estepona, as is the El Paraiso Golf Club. These golf options are a small sampling of the host of courses available in the region.

The province of Malaga has the most extensive network of hotels in Spain. The area offers other activities for golfers to engage in when away from the links. Water sports are popular and 11 marinas exist on the Costa del Sol. A pulsating nightlife, top-notch restaurants and stylish boutiques and shops contribute to the ambience of the region.

Golf continues to refresh tourists and the Spanish economy. The sport provides enjoyment and employment throughout the region. With inviting and challenging golf courses and more, Spain is scoring a hole-in-one with holidaymakers and Spain’s residents both on the mainland and islands like Menorca and Majorca.holidays in Minorca and other travel resources are available with http://www.yourmenorca.net/holidays

In golf, holding the club in the correct way is the most crucial aspect of hitting the right stroke. You may choose any type of grip, but fundamentals remain the same. While striking a ball, both hands should work together as a single unit. Also, you should apply moderate pressure on the golf club when you strike the ball. Holding the club tight can lead to a slice shot which everyone despises. A lighter grip will improve your wrist hinge and also increase the quantity of club face rotation. Thus, you will be able to hit a powerful stroke with a squared club face during impact. Before moving on to various golf grip tips to improve your swings, let us look at the different types of golf grips.

Types Of Golf Grips

Overlapping Grip
This grip is also known as the Vardon overlap and is the most preferred grip among great players. It was Harry Vardon who made this grip famous somewhere in the late 1990s. Most golf instructors choose to teach this grip to youngsters. For this grip, you will have to place your little finger of the hand below, between the middle and index finger of the hand above. The thumb of the above hand should be placed in the lifeline of the hand below.

Interlocking Grip
This is another common grip use by famous golfers including Tiger Woods. The name comes from the fact that your hands interlock when you hold the stick this way. Golfers with small hands or weak forearms prefer the interlocking grip. Chances of the stick handle slipping onto the palms are high with this grip. To hold this grip, the little finger of your hand below should be intertwined with the index finger of the hand above. The thumb of the hand above should be placed in the lifeline of the bottom hand.

Baseball Grip
Of all the three grips, the baseball or ten finger grip is the least preferred among golf instructors. There are though some advantages of the baseball grip as well. This grip is used by people having joint pains or small hands. Beginners are often taught this grip, as it is easier to learn compared to the other two. For this grip, hold the stick in the proper lead hand grip position and then position the little finger of the bottom hand near the index finger of the hand above. The thumb of the top hand should be covered with the lifeline of the hand below.

Read more on:
How to Hit a Golf Ball
Step By Step Golf Swing
Golf Terminology
Important Golf Grip Tips

These tips given below are for a player whose leading hand is his right hand. However, players looking for left hand golf grip tips can simply substitute their left hand for the leading hand in the tips discussed below and follow them.

Tip #1
The grip plays a very important role when it comes to fixing a slice. To ensure you have the correct one, look down the handle and you should be able to view the first two knuckles of the lead hand. Also, a ‘V’ should be formed on the lead hand between the index finger and thumb and pointing in the direction of your right shoulder. The right hand ‘V’ should be pointing in the direction of your chin.

Tip #2
A basic golf grip tip, which most beginners ignore is alignment of hands along the club head. The grip needs to be aligned with the club face before you swing. In case the shaft rotates from this position, the club face moves away from its position, resulting in a bad shot. Spend some time on this basic aspect so that you do not face problems later on.

Tip #3
When you grip your right hand tightly on the stick, unwanted tension is created. This causes the swing to go awry as the stick cuts across the ball. To avoid this, try relaxing your arm, shoulder and wrist muscles before you swing. Apply moderate pressure on the stick with your right hand as well.

Tip #4
This is one of the more important putting grip tips. The wrists need to work together while putting. If you are having problems in coordinating your wrists, try switching hands on your grip. Place your right hand where your left hand normally is and your left hand takes position of the right hand. It may be difficult to adjust to this grip at first, but your wrists do work together and help you while putting.

Tip #5
To ensure a successful golfing stint, it is vital to have strong forehand and wrists. The wrist on the leading hand often breaks down from the pressure of the trailing hand, resulting in the shot being a miss-hit. A good way to strengthen your forearms is to hold the club suing last three fingers of your leading hand in a straight position in front. Now with help of your wrists, move the club up and down about 15 times. Do three sets of this drill and your muscle memory will get the correct movement while swinging.

Tip #6
The ball’s flight is directly affected by your hand movement. To get this right, take your normal grip and let the index finger of your trailing hand lie pointed down towards the ball along the stick. While swinging, the finger should be pointing down on the target line at the time of follow through.

Read more on:
How to Fix a Golf Slice
Improve Golf Swing Speed
Golf Tips
These golf grip tips should definitely help in improving the way you strike the ball. With this I will end my article, leaving you with one final tip – Hold the club like you are holding a baby bird in your hands, and you should be good.

Golf gifts are significant gifts for men or women because of the popularity of golf in the United States.  Golf is a club-and-ball sport in which the golfer tries to hit the ball with the clubs into each hole in a golf course with the fewest number of strokes. According to the National Golf Foundation, there were 26 million people who played golf in 2005, with 4.6 million people playing golf at least 25 times per year.  These active golfers would certainly love to receive golf-themed gifts for any occasions.  For the golf enthusiasts in your life, sending them golf gifts as holiday, birthday or thank you gifts should be better received than any other gifts. This article provides some golf gift ideas, and explains the use of some common golf accessories that may be sent as gifts.

1.  Golf Gift Basket:Golf gift baskets are attractive and affordable, and usually contain golf-themed gourmet snacks, golf gadgets, and a book of golf wisdom.  The golfing gadgets may vary with each design, but generally consist of practice golf balls, golf tees (small pegs used to elevate the ball a few centimeters above the ground for the initial stroke on each hole), hand towel. ball spotter, and divot repair tool to repair the scar left on the turf by the impact of a golf club.  For gourmet snacks, the recipient may find pretzel twists, gourmet coffee, cream filled cookies, beef salami, cheese, water crackers, or golfers fortune cookies. Your golfer will be thrilled upon receiving these golf-themed toys and treats to be enjoyed on and off the course.
2.  Golf Sports Bag:This gift consists of a cooler tote that is filled with sweet and savory snacks, cheese tins, golf designer cookies, practice golf balls, and a note pad for writing down all the golfing hints and tips. The cooler tote can be used to keep the drinks ice cold while on the golf course. This is a popular gift for golfers.
3.  Gift Chest:Alternatively, you can send a decorative wooden gift box with hand painted golf design on the top that will compliment any golf fan's desk or office. This attractive gift chest is filled with tasty treats, gourmet coffee, and some golfing gadgets for the golfer to remember you by when they are out on the course.
4.  Lady Golf Gift:For the female golfer in your life, you can send her a gift basket for women golfer. She will find both useful and practical equipments for her games and savory gourmet treats.  This gift includes a pack of golf tees, a practice putting cup, and MC Lady golf balls which are designed for golfers who find the traditional golf balls too firm.  The lady golf balls can provide optimal performance at lower club head speeds.  She will also find a book of anecdotes from professonal golfers.  She can enjoy the tasty snacks while reading the stories about the professional golfers.
5.  Personalized Putter Set:Golf clubs used by golfers to hit the ball are composed of a shaft with a grip on the top end and a club head at the bottom.  The length of each club depends on the distance the club is intended to propel the ball. "Putters" are golf clubs used for short distance shots to roll the ball into the cup.  For your champion golfers, you can send them an elegant golf set with a putter that can be disassembled for easy storage, two balls and a wooden practice cup. The entire gift set is stored in a lustrous wooden case with brass handle, and has a brass plate in the front that can be engraved with the recipient's initials.  Alternatively, you can select a putter set stored in a lustrous wooden case adorned with a personalized golf image.
6.  Personalized Towel:For a practical gift, you can reward the golfer in your life with a handsome golf towel. The towel is extremely absorbent and can be embroidered with three-letter monograms of the recipient. A convenient hook is included for hanging.
7.  Personalized Shoe Bag:You can also send a shoe bag for your golfer to carry his/her shoes to the game.  The shoe bag contains an end zipper for easy access and two pockets for storing essential accessories. A convenient handle makes carrying easy and ventilation keeps this personalized shoe bag fresh.
8.  Ball Marker:Ball markers are used to mark the position of the ball when it is in the way of another golfer's putting line, or when the ball needs to be picked up for cleaning.  The ball marker is usually a coin.  You can send your golfer a personalized state quarter ball marker with belt clip.  It is made of sturdy stainless steel, and is permanently attached to a magnetic back that easily slips off the holder for easy marking of the ball in the green.
In summary, golf gifts are ideal gifts for avid golfers.  You can select from golf gift basket, gift bag, personalized putter set, personalized golf towels, ball marker, and shoe bag. The golfer in your life will appreciate your thoughtfulness while they are out playing their games.
Kate Schaffer is the CEO of Giftbasketforall.com. You can visit her site by clicking on the link below:
Gift Basket
Giftbasketforall.com offers gourmet gift basket, anniversary, new baby, and birthday gifts.To browse for golf gift ideas, please click on Golf Gifts.

By Vincent Musco Sports Central Columnist

How were your brackets this year

No, not your NCAA brackets. Your Accenture Match Play brackets. You know, golf.

Believe it or not, offices now have gambling pools for golf’s major tournaments — some even for non-majors, like the Match Play. Why? Another residual effect from Tiger Woods’ popularity, probably. Or we’re a nation of addicted gamblers.

But there’s irony present. In many of these pools, Tiger Woods is excluded. You can’t pick Tiger. How about that? Some even say that they have pools to pick the runner-up.

So Woods generates the popularity, but then is the taboo pick? Is that fair, dear usurpers? More importantly, is that logical? In other words, is Tiger such a lock in the majors? And if he is, who else merits your attention? Sergio Garcia? Ernie Els? Mike Weir?

To find out, I fastidiously employed a technologically progressive device (calculator) to handle the prodigious task of translating complex data into layman’s terms (addition, subtraction, division).

Actually, I looked at the results of the major champions of the past five years in each major tournament played since 1999. I was forced to exclude the late Payne Stewart, winner of the 1999 U.S. Open, and Rich Beem, who has played in just four major tournaments.

I have also included four players who have not won a major in those five years, namely Davis Love, Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson, and Jim Furyk. Davis is the only one with a major in his career, but all four are perennial favorites to contend. Why 1999? Because that’s the year Tiger put the PGA Tour in his back pocket.

Twelve of the 13 players competed in at least 16 of the 17 major tournaments between 1999 and 2003. Paul Lawrie played in only 14. There is only one player with more than one major in that time (guess who?) and only Lawrie has not accumulated more than one top-10 finish in that span.

Of course, Tiger is at the top. In the 17 major tournaments since 1999, he is an aggregate 89-under-par, a statistic made even more astonishing when considering only one other player has managed to break par over that stretch. Woods has two green jackets, two Wanamaker trophies, two U.S. Opens, and a Claret Jug, totaling seven in all (again, calculator). He has 11 top-10 finishes and has never missed a cut. In fact, his worst major performance in that time frame was when he tied for 29th at the 2001 PGA Championship. Devastating.

So maybe Tiger should be expelled after all. But then, who to pick?

Mike Weir might be a popular pick, now that he has won the Masters. In his 16 major performances during our chosen time frame, however, Weir has missed more cuts (three) than he has top-10 finishes (two). He is also 62-over-par during that stretch. Hopefully, Weir’s best days are to come.

Ernie Els is off to a hot start this year, as well, but unlike Weir, he has proven his consistency in the majors. Two wins (one during the past five years), eight top-10s, only two missed cuts, and a scoring average of less than one stroke over par per major tournament, best among the major winners on my list not named Eldrick. Vijay Singh is right behind him with one win, seven top-10s, and the fourth-best scoring average among the group.

Jose Maria Olazabal is a solid pick, with four top-10s and a win, and a scoring average better than the likes of Sergio Garcia, Retief Goosen, and David Toms, but he really only has a chance at the Masters. He’s too wild off the tee for the other majors.

Speaking of Toms, he is a model of consistency on the PGA Tour. But not when it counts. Toms, despite winning the 2001 PGA, has missed has averaged a missed cut per year and has finished in the top-10 only three times. He is a whopping 88-over-par in 16 major tournaments since 1999. And you thought you wouldn’t learn anything useful today.

Jim Furyk, also considered a model of consistency despite being winless in the majors, has six top-10s, but has missed four cuts and is 73-over in the 17 major tournaments. Retief Goosen glided to a U.S. Open victory, but has missed five cuts and has only contended seriously at one other major.

Paul Lawrie, the one player who should not be on this list, dwells in the cellar with his Van de Veldeian gift of a major at Carnoustie where he finished 6-over-par, and which happens to be his only top-10 finish in any major, ever. He has missed six cuts and has the worst scoring-average of the group.

That leaves David Duval as our last major tournament winner, and he has proven to be solid, as well. Seven top-10s and a sixth-best scoring-average make him a contender, but he has missed the cut in each of his last three majors.

Sergio Garcia has played in 16 of the 17 majors since 1999, and he’s finished in the top-10 six times. He has missed three cuts, but he is the youngest of this group, so we’ll cut him some slack. His plus-49 aggregate score would look a lot better, too, if it wasn’t for his 89-83 display at the aforementioned Open Championship at Carnoustie.

On now to the paradoxical left-hander. Phil Mickelson is the only other player under-par during that span (17, to be precise). He has a second-best nine top-10s. He has missed just one cut, also second-best. Hmm, second-best in scoring and average finish — sounds like a pretty good pick, right? But could you possibly pick him to win, after all these years? Would you wager your dignity, as well as your hard-earned Abraham Lincoln on the human-ATM who can’t seem to ever win one?

Who knows? Tiger is the only good pick, but he’s illegal. Phil’s number two, yet he can’t win. Everyone else is hit-or-miss.

Alas, maybe the lesson here is that golf is not meant to be subjected to a pool. Maybe we should just stick to the “Daddy-needs-a-new-pair-of-shoes” sure-things of the NCAA men’s tournament, where our foreknowledge of the competitors translates into a plethora of cold, hard five-dollar bills.

Kentucky beat Oklahoma in the finals, right?

Article courtesy of Sports Central.