It was hard not to enjoy watching the young Irishmen tear around The Ocean course in South Carolina this years very deserving venue for the 2012 US PGA Championship. As all of the majors this year there was a lot to take away from the playing of this event. There were some well taken points during the coverage and some fairly ill-informed comments that really don't help the viewers perception of how the game is played. Rory's tournament winning scores where 67 75 67 66, with one of the commentators announcing that with out the 75 this would have been a great score! Thankfully this was picked up and retorted to the fact that the average score for the day and indeed the course rating was 78, which tends to make the 75 not seem so bad and make the scores in the 60's seem even better. A lot of players these days measure their rounds on what score they had and not take into consideration, the course, the elements, even how they feel on the day. A lot was also made of Rory changing shafts in his driver was the key to the success he had this week although on that final round he only hit 7 from 14 fairways. I wonder how many club golfers will go googling Rory's club specs to find his new shaft specs and purchase the same, when i remember Rory winning last years open driving the ball like a demon with a different shaft in his driver. The fact (that at least did go noticed) was that Rory had 23 putts in the final round (and i believe he one putted the final 6 greens). This was the key to Rory's success this week. He putted like a great player putts and the reality is even if he hadn't of driven the ball on 7 out of 14 fairways in the last round he was putting well enough to clean it up anyway. Tiger was the real anomaly this week. He came out of the gate at 100 MPH and like he has done in every major just couldn't keep it going on the weekend. Failing to break par for the 8 weekend rounds played in the majors. There are two main points to be taken from this, firstly during the first two rounds he was putting as well as anyone in the field, but on Saturday and Sunday that just vanished and secondly for a change it wasn't his ball striking. Our games don't change that much over night. Tiger was driving the ball great (he actually hit more fairways than Rory), hitting precise irons shots, but his putting and his head were just not in the right place. If you don't feel like playing or you're not in the right mood to play it won't happen and it isn't for Tiger at present, although he obviously feels the difference between Regular Tour events and Majors at the moment, as he is the only three time winner this year but hasn't put it together in a major. But in saying all of that, it won't be long and he will be back. All players have mental blocks during their careers and they play their way out of them, they learn what they need to do and then relearn over and over again. Just like a player learns to break 100 - 90 - 80 and 70, win a match play game, win their first competition, the reality is we all go through it and we all succeed. Guys on the mini tours of the world will be watching Tiger and taking great heart that they know what he is going through.
This leads perfectly to a short note on Tim Frazers Dakotas Tour campaign. Over the past two weeks Tim has played some great golf with his low scores putting him right in the mix, but due to these few bad holes he just isn't quite reaching the heights he aspires, but it's all learning. He's learning to get over these hurdles and when he scales these there will be more hurdles (just ask Tiger). Tim's in Wyoming this week playing a new course in a new tournament and he's having a ball. Keep at it mate, you're going great.
Dave and I are within 4 weeks of heading to the USA for our third trip to play Pebble Beach and what a trip it will be. We have two groups of players this year and our tour goes to San Francisco, Monterey and Palm Springs playing Spyglass Hill, Spanish Bay and Pebble Beach as well as Silverrock, the La Quinta Resorts Norman course, Nicklaus Tournament and PGA West. We can't wait. Will keep you posted as we get closer and while we are on tour, you might like it so much you will want to come with us next time.
See you on the course.
Jeff Mansfield
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