What Will Phil Mickelson Do Next?

What will Phil do next? Wasn't that the opening question in a TV commercial?

Do you remember when Phil first put two drivers in his bag? I believe it was at the 2006 Bellsouth Classic.

As a custom golf set fitting expert at Probe Golf from 1987 through 2002, I know what is involved with making a driver that will hook or fade. I can understand what Phil was attempting to do with the two drivers. And it worked! He not only won the 2006 Bellsouth Classic going away, but he also won the Masters the next week!

My question to Phil is, "Why did you stop playing the two drivers?"

One driver was 46 inches, the other was 45 inches. With the 46-inch driver, Mickelson said he hit a 305-yard draw; with the 45-incher, he hit a 290-yard cut.

That made sense to me. There are many ways to change how the ball flies off a driver; the loft, the lie, the stiffness (flex), the flex point (low, mid, or high), the torque, the length, the grip size, etc.

So, if anyone knows why Phil stopped using the two drivers, I would like to know. I haven't been able to find the answer on the Internet. And if anyone has another example of a well-known golfer doing something similar, please share it with us.

Steve Stricker moving to No. 1?

Steve Stricker and Jerry Kelly won Greg Norman's Shark Shootout on Sunday, closing with a 13-under 59 in the final-round scramble for a one-stroke victory over three teams.

Stricker made an eagle on the par-5 17th - hitting the second shot and the putt - to give the team the lead. Kenny Perry and J.B. Holmes, three strokes ahead of Kelly and Stricker with five holes to play, both missed birdie putts on No. 18 that would have forced a playoff.

You may recall that a month ago I predicted Phil Mickelson would pass Tiger as the best player in the world in 2010. That was before Tiger took himself out of the race due to his marriage problems. I also predicted that Steve Stricker would give Phil a run for his money for the Number One spot. Steve is not only one of the best putters on tour, his short backswing, with minimal twist break make him one of the most consistent players on tour.

Most amateurs make the mistake of taking a long backswing, which causes them to transfer too much weight onto their left foot at the top. This results in a reverse weight shift. Try keeping your right elbow tight to your right side on the backswing. If your right elbow moves away from your right side, you have gone too far back. You may have heard Johnny Miller comment about Stricker's short backswing with very little wrist break. Try it yourself, and you will be a more consistent, and more accurate player.

What other top golfer do you think will contend in for the top spot on tour in 2010?

Phil Mickselson has the Upper Hand Now!

I came across this article yesterday, and wanted to share it with you. It was written by Jack McCallum:

When it comes to Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson, it's clear who has the upper hand now.

The world's two best golfers stare out at me from two quite different places. Over here, a tabloid newspaper carries an action shot of Tiger Woods splashed next to a photo of — if I'm not mistaken — Bimbo No. 4, though it could be Bimbo No. 2, unless it's Bimbo No. 7. And over here, from a full-page ad in the New Yorker, Phil Mickelson gazes squarely into the camera with a CEO's self-assuredness, arms folded, hair coiffed, left sleeve casually rolled up to display a Rolex. "The People's Champion" reads the ad copy.

Mickelson is indeed that, though it is an encomium I never quite understood. The fact that Lunch Bucket Larry related to Lefty, a multi-millionaire who seemed a little whiny, a little smug and a lot prone to collapse whenever a Tiger prowled nearby, (and even when he didn't), was, as far as I was concerned, one of the mysteries of sport.

What is easy to understand, though, is that — with the exception of the tabloids, the artificially-enhanced, show-me-the-money mistresses and the phalanx of attorneys — no one stands to gain more from Tiger's fall than Lefty, his eternal foil. Indeed, despite Woods's constancy (we're talking about on the course) and Mickelson's roller-coaster inconsistency over the years, they remain 1 and 1-A, the one rivalry that has outlasted Woods v. Els, Woods v. Garcia, Woods v. Harrington and Mickelson v. his own foolish shot selection. Woods v. Mickelson truly mattered, not just because of their primacy as players but also because they were, like Magic Johnson and Larry Bird once were, the archetypes of record. Woods the steely-eyed master of his domain, Mickelson the gambling, smiling, club-twirling man of the people.

As a fan, you were to some extent either a Phil Guy or a Tiger Guy. If you were the former, you liked that Lefty signed more autographs, made more eye contact and was willing to try more high-risk shots than Tiger. In other words, you liked that a human heart apparently beat under that famously un-sculpted chest. But Phil Guys had to accept the limits of their man. Mickelson has had his moments against Tiger — two of them came last season when he overtook Woods for victories at the Tour Championship and the HSBC Champions in Shanghai, a World Golf Championship event — but you knew which one had the eternal edge, which one was Mozart and which was Salieri.

Tiger never let anyone forget it either. Their feelings toward each other have warmed over the years; witness their bonding at the President's Cup. (Witness, too, that they were not paired together.) But the most enduring snapshot of their relationship remains the dagger look that Eldrick flashed Lefty at the 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills in Michigan. Mickelson had just deposited his drive at the 18th hole somewhere near the Canadian border, thereby ensuring that their afternoon alternate-shot pairing would be as disastrous as their morning four-ball pairing had been. I knew this guy would choke, Woods's look seemed to say.

To the extent that I was either, I was a Tiger Guy, solely out of respect for his talent because I don't know the man. My resistance to Mickelson was not based on outside observation, though. I understood the guy's-guy part of him. We tossed around a baseball (he pitched, I caught), did card tricks (they were his), rode around at high speed in his rented sports car (he drove), and thankfully we never reached the point where he took me for everything I was worth in high-stakes NFL bets. But what prevailed, as far as I was concerned, was the I'm-smarter-than-you part of Mickelson's personality, the self-satisfied smugness. This was before he had won a major, too, and his air of bravado rang hollow.

My feelings have evolved over the years, though. Say what you want about him, but Lefty has remained Lefty. He has won majors (three of them), just like he said he would. He might have a plastic smile crazy-glued on his face, but, dammit, he signs every post-round autograph and meets every post-round gaze, just like he said he would. He loves his wife and children and makes sacrifices to his golf game to spend time with them, just like he said he would. Contrast that with what Woods said about himself. Make that, with what Woods seemed to be saying about himself.

Clearly, we have reached a new intersection in golf's most fascinating pas de deux. The contrast in their respective images stands in clear relief, the one a serial womanizer starring in a soap-opera domestic tragedy, the other a dedicated family man helping his wife, Amy, and his mother, Mary, fight brave battles against cancer.

Even before all the Tiger Tales came to light, one of the story lines going into the 2010 season was whether this was the year that Lefty could challenge him for the top spot. Maybe it will happen and maybe it won't, but, to a degree, Mickelson doesn't have to reach No. 1 — there were a lot of Phil Guys even when he was looking up at Woods. We're five years removed from their disastrous Ryder Cup in Michigan, and look whose lie is unplayable now.

More on the New Golf Equipment Rules for 2010

The new golf equipment rules for January 1, 2010, have to do with the width, depth, and sharpness of the grooves on irons. Basically, square grooves are out next year; but it does not apply to over 99% of casual golfers until the year 2024.

Only professional tournament golfers must comply next year. That's why I started the discussion about which tour players will move up in the world rankings starting this coming January, due to their ability to hit more fairways off the tee.

Amateur golfers who play in most USGA tournaments will have to comply by 2014. So don't worry about rushing out and buying yourself a new set of irons! The ones you are playing right now are good for at least another four years, and that is only if you are a top amateur.

Will the New Equipment Rules affect who Becomes the Number One Golfer in 2010?

About a month ago I mentioned the new rules change for golf equipment in 2010. I have also addressed the question of which player, if any, will overtake Tiger Woods as the number one player in the world. Before Tiger defaulted due to the recent marriage problems, I predicted Phil Mickelson would be number one by the end of 2010.

The rules change and who will excel in 2010 are intertwined topics, because hitting the fairway off the tee will be much more important in 2010. In 2009, big hitters could drive it 300 to 350 yards, into the rough, but still hit it close to the pin out of the rough due to square grooves.

If square grooves can't be used in 2010, it is obvious that hitting the ball close to the pin from out of the rough will be more difficult.

Tournament commentators this year have suggested shorter hitters will be moving up in the tour rankings next year, because they hit more fairways off the tee. I have heard Tim Clark's name mentioned as a likely candidate to move closer to the top of the rankings.

How do you think the rules change will effect who will move up in the world rankings next year?

Phil Mickelson #1?

When I predicted Phil Mickelson would pass Tiger as the #1 golfer in the world next year, I did not know at the time that Tiger would default! So let's forget Tiger for now. Who will challenge Phil in 2010 for the Number One spot?

The PGA Tour currently lists Steve Stricker as the #3 player in the world. I like Steve. I agree with Johnny Miller that Steve's lack of a wrist break on his back swing keeps his swing simple and consistent.

The PGA lists Lee Westwood as currently the #4 player in the world. I do not agree with this assessment! I have never liked Westwood's swing. Too much jerkiness. And he can't putt under pressure.

Padraig Harington is presently #5, and this is a good pick for 2010 in my opinion. Padraig is like a stubborn bulldog who will not let go when he is contending.

Who do you think will move up in the standings in 2010, and be #1 by the end of the year?

Speaking of Golf Radio Interview with Tom Horan

I was on the phone with Tom Horan early this morning, live, during his Speaking of Golf radio broadcast.
You can listen to the program at http://www.speakingofgolf.com/.

After discussing what Reciprocal Golf's toll-free, 24/7 services were all about, I promised I would give Tom's listeners a 25% discount off our normal Business Traveler Sign-Up of $585.

I want to offer that same discount to everyone who contacts us from www.reciprocalgolf.com by the end of the day Sunday, December 20,2009.

Just mention "Tom Horan" and "Speaking of Golf" to receive the 25% discount code from our office. Please remember that we must receive your request by the end of the day Sunday, December 20. We look forward to serving your reciprocal play requests at private country clubs.

Just one more comment, in Tiger's defense.

For years, Tiger has reaped the financial rewards of his family-friendly image, in the form of sponsorships, but so has the golf business in general. Every pro on the PGA tour is now making more money, because Tiger's rise to fame brought increased audience attendance. And, now, they're turning on him.

After news of the affair broke, Tiger's long-time friend Jesper Parnevik said he "probably thought [Tiger] was a better guy than he is." Charles Warren, a six-year veteran of the PGA Tour, hinted that Elin Woods might have known about Tiger's extramarital affairs all along. "She's no fool." He said she probably "turned a blind eye because of the money and the kids and the lifestyle he provides." Ben Crane, who has two wins on the PGA Tour, said "This is no surprise to anyone who knows Tiger. He's a phony and a fake, and he can't retain that squeaky-clean endorsement deal any longer."

It seems to me that jealousy could be at play here. If it's true that these fellow pros new about Tiger's indiscretions, why didn't they say anything about it until now? I'll tell you why: money. They knew that Tiger's image was helping THEM make money. Like I said, their pay is higher since he rose to super-stardom and ushered in the most lucrative era in golf history.

Let's not forget that we're talking about a man's personal life. We all sympatize with his family, but it does not help to put them all in the spot light, especially if the press further degrades Tiger's reputation. In the long term, if fans stop watching the tournaments, this could mean less pay for all PGA pros. Let's not take one family's personal tragedy and turn it into a catastrophy for the golf industry.

Now that I've spoken my mind, I promise not to blog about Tiger again for a while. Let's hope next time he's in the news it's because he's back on a winning streak. After all, he still has a family support.

What caused Tiger's Marriage problems?

I hate to continue dwelling on Tiger Woods' personal life, but he and Elin need professional help with their personal lives. Once the press gets ahold on a famous sports figure, they don't let up.

In Tiger's defense, I have "been there, done that!" I'm not famous, of course. I'm just a "+2" handicap father who had thoughts of giving the Senior PGA Tour a try, but I decided to raise two fantastic sons instead. Their mother and I divorced, because she critiqued my business endeavors so frequently that I felt as if I didn't have her support. I remember taking Dale Carnegie's sales class in college, where he argued that if a woman insists that a man put his wife ahead of his career, it usually ends in divorce. On the other hand, if she supports her husband, he will put her on a pedestal.

If Elin has put pressure on Tiger by insisting he cut back on his businesses to be with her, some of the blame for their problems could be placed on her. That would explain Tiger's strange absense from so many tournaments during the weeks preceding the late-night car crash.

What is your opinion? What do you think caused Tiger and Elin's marriage problems? Is Tiger just a plain old cheat or does it take two to keep a marriage strong?

Tiger and Elin in the news again, not due to golf

Tiger is in the news again, after another 911 call, this time because Elin's mother had to be rushed to the hospital from his home in the middle of the night.

When Tiger and Elin fought at their home over a week ago, why did it take the press over 12 hours to report it? I believe it was because the press has known for years about Tiger's other women, but the media "in the know" protects him so they can remain within his inner circle.

It took over twelve hours for a reporter who was not "in the know" to learn about the 2:25 A.M. fight at their home outside Orlando, and then report the story.

The public is now outraged. To be honest, any man who is famous is hit on by women who want the spotlight, fame, and money from being with him, or around him. If Tiger were not married, he'd be well within his rights to have many women friends. But as a married man, he does not have that option. Especially if he has made hundreds of millions of dollars in endorsements from his public image.

What do you think about my assessment of the media in this case? Do you think they have known for years about his other women, or do you think they were as surprised as the public to learn about the other women eleven days ago?

Proper Putting Techniques

Do yourself a favor, and save yourself some money at the same time! Do not pay for a golf lesson until you practice, and perfect, my previous weight-shift lessons (blogs). Without a proper weight shift, you are wasting your time trying to hit a golf ball!

Now, this blog (lesson) covers putting. In 1972 I was flying into San Francisco, reading the Sports Illustrated magazine on the plane. It had an article about an 81-year-old man who challenged anyone to a putting contest, and he was blind! All he wanted was for his son to line him up toward the hole before he putted.

His secret to winning putting bets was his grip. Look at picture (1) here. Most golfers pick up their putter the same way they pick up any other club, with the shaft in the meat of their palm. That is a mistake. Look at picture (2), where I have the shaft along the lifeline of my right palm, and aiming straight up my forearm. Now put the left hand on the shaft the same way, with the shaft along the lifeline. Notice your wrists are arched upward, with a more upright angle to the putter. Now the putter cannot turn off line if you putt with your arms.

Finally, in picture (3), bend your thumbs so the tip of your thumbs are into the putter, instead of the flat, front (fingerprint) part of your thumb down the shaft. Now your wrists are locked, and you cannot turn the putter offline!

Now stroke every putt back, then forward, the same distance back as forward, with a smooth pendulum stroke.

The only thing better for you to do now is buy one of my PROBE 20/20 putters that I invented in 1992, if you can find one; they are not longer being manufactured. http://www.probegolf.com/

The Ultimate Network!

Two weeks after graduating from San Diego State, I went to my local golf course, Stardust, and joined two strangers, both potato farmers from Boise, ID. By the time we finished 18 holes, I had talked them (and two other potato farmers they called on the phone) into putting up $100,000 to buy stock in my first company, Intertel, Inc. We ended up manufacturing and selling worldwide the world's first cordless telephone, and the world's first "touch-pad dialer", allowing everyone in the world using rotary dial phones (81% of the USA, and 100% of the countries outside the USA) to convert to a push-button phone! The dialer sent electronic pulses out over the phone line, and was used for decades before “tone” dialing was available.

That was my first of many success stories that were started on the golf course. Golf is a great way to meet likeminded people, to make friends and forge business relationships. That is the main reason I started Reciprocal Golf, giving members the ultimate opportunity to network. We make it easy for golfers to play private country clubs while traveling, without having to pay tens of thousands of dollars to join each private club.

Golf teaches us all honesty, integrity, perseverance, patience, and other life lessons. You can find out more about a stranger in four hours, during 18 holes, than you can learn in six months over a conference table. Know the rules of golf, and play by the rules, and everyone you meet and play with will know you are to be trusted, on the golf course and in business.

What is your favorite story about meeting someone on a golf course, becoming friends, and doing business together? I'd like to hear your success story.

Golf Lesson Two of Three

The previous golf swing lesson covered the importance of your proper weight shift. Your "Muscle Memory" practice should precede any swinging of a club! Now, in Step Two of that weight shift practice you may pick up a 5-iron, and go through the weight shift motions all over again.

In the first picture, you are at address, with your weight evenly distributed on the inside of both feet.

On the back swing, picture 2, put 60% of your weight on the inside of the right foot, and 40% on the inside of the left foot. The club should be moving toward the small of your neck, so it is on plane.

In picture 3, your weight is moving to the left, and the club is on plane to finish at the small of your neck, just as in the backswing!

In picture 4, all of your weight is on the left foot, with your right tow in the ground just for balance, your belly button is at the target.

As in the first lesson, without a club in your hand, everything stresses the weight shift. If you have any weight remaining on your right foot after the swing, you are not shifting properly. Your weight shift is all-important!

Golf Swing Not Complicated!

Golf lessons do not have to be as complicated as many instructors make them sound. If you will practice my three simple "muscle memory" swing tips, I guarantee you will become a much better golfer, and you will enjoy the game more than ever.

The secret to a good, consistent golf swing is "weight shift". Most new players want to swing a club immediately, and hit balls, so most instructors let them do just that. In my opinion, you should never pick up a club until you learn the proper weight shift.

MUSCLE MEMORY is the secret in Al Geiberger's training video, Psycho Cybernetics, remember?

LESSON ONE OF THREE:

Place a club across your back, held in place by your elbows. Memorize the five pictures at the left, as you go through each step yourself. Ask your playing partner if you are in the correct position for each of the five steps: (Pictures are for right-handers; left-handers are just the opposite)

(1 and 2) Weight equal on the inside of both feet, and starting to sit. 3) Shift right until 60% of weight is on the inside of the right foot, and 40% of weight is on the inside of left foot. (4 and 5) Shift and turn to the left until all weight is on the left foot, belly button facing the target, left leg straight, right toe down (FINISH POSITION).

Ask your playing partner if your weight is as depicted in each photo, especially in the finish position. If ANY of your weight is still on your right foot, practice this exercise until you have moved all of your weight to the left! DO NOT PICK UP A CLUB UNTIL THIS IS PERFECT!

Golf lessons do not have to be as complicated as many instructors make them sound. If you will practice my three simple "muscle memory" swing tips, I guarantee you will become a much better golfer, and you will enjoy the game more than ever.

The secret to a good, consistent golf swing is "weight shift". Most new players want to swing a club, and hit balls, so most instructors let them do just that. In my opinion, you should never pick up a club until you learn the proper weight shift.

Where and how to play golf during the off season

Where do you play golf during the winter months, when your club closes due to snow? Do you just hang up your clubs for four months, or do you travel south to play? And if you travel south, do you play public golf courses or private clubs? And did you know that quite often it is possible to play private clubs for a lot less than it costs to play public courses during their "peak" season?

If you are a member of a private country club, you probably know you may play other private courses when you travel, providing you can reach your own head pro at home to call the private club you want to play, and have him set up what is known in the industry as reciprocal play. But if your home club is closed during the winter, how can you reach your head pro and ask him to set up your play down south?

If you are a member of Reciprocal Golf, all you have to do is call our toll-free phone number, 24/7/365 and make your request! And, while most public courses raise their green fees substantially during their peak season, most private clubs have a consistent guest rate year-round.

We've all heard the phrase, "You can work hard, or you can work smart." At Reciprocal Golf, our pro is always in. Since February of 2003, we have provided round the clock concierge services to our members, setting up their reciprocal play worldwide.

Some of the testimonials we have received from our members are amazing, and remarkable considering this tough economy. And as far as networking is concerned, whether personal or business, there is no better place to meet new friends and future business associates than on a private country club, playing with members of the club!

Let us hear from you regarding your own success story of networking on a private golf course.

What happened to Tiger Woods this week?

What happened to Tiger Woods this week? He was supposed to be playing in the Dubai Desert Classic. In fact, last week, during the Australian Masters, the commentators mentioned many times that Tiger's last tournament of the year would be this week's Dubai Desert Classic.

What about Tiger's own tournament every December, The Target World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club near Los Angeles? A month ago I predicted that Phil Mickelson would pass Tiger as the World's Number One player because Tiger was too preoccupied with outside interests.

Where is he this week?

Tiger Woods vs. Phil Mickelson

Will Tiger Woods maintain his #1 standing in the world in 2010, or will Phil Mickelson overtake Tiger next year?

Many sports writers have commented that Phil is becoming more motivated to become the world's Number One golfer at this time, while they feel Tiger is placing more emphasis on his "outside" interests!

Tiger, the world's first sports "billionnaire", has received more and more requests for appearances recently, taking him away from his long, daily practice sessions! He has tried to get more into a 24 hour day than ever before, and it is showing (believe it or not) in his game.

His driving off the tee is nowhere near as consistent as in previous years, when he was winning almost every time he teed it up in a tournament. One week, he will win, or come close, and the next week he won't finish in the top ten!

Tiger's putting also has been inconsistent in 2009, often his excuse for not winning.

Phil Mickelson, on the other hand, has found a new putting stroke in the last month which, if carried over to 2010, could be the difference in how the two finish at the end of 2010!

I know that many golfers will disagree with my assessment, because they have jumped on the Tiger bandwagon, and think Tiger is not human! But look at Phil's newfound motivation to become Number One, and Tiger's increased distractions, and that may make the difference in 2010.

Groovy?

Are you in the groove for 2010?

Remember back in the 1980's when the PGA Tour tried to abolish square grooves? Mark Calcavechia entered the Tour with Ping irons, with square grooves, and the former PGA caddy started outplaying other tour players out of the rough! So the PGA Tour made a rule that square grooves could not be used on Tour. PING, faced with the possibilty of not being able to sell millions of sets of irons with square grooves, sued the PGA! The PGA gave in, and allowed square grooves.

Now, the PGA, after an agreed upon "cooling off" period, has ruled that, beginning January, 2010, Tour players may not use square grooves on Tour! Obviously, 156 tour players that tee it up every week will not determine manufacturing decisions that are made by the chief executives at PING, Taylor Made, Titleist, Nike, Cleveland Golf, Adams Golf, and other iron manufacturers. 25 million amateur golfers in the USA will continue to play their square gooves, UNLESS the USGA rules that square grooves are no longer legal.

But what if the USGA makes such a ruling? In my experience, amateur golfers will continue to play clubs that give them an advantage, so they can win their "weekend nassau bets" with their buddies. Only entrants in official USGA tournaments will comply with such a ruling.

Click here for more information.