Winter Golf Tips

• Improve your strength, endurance, and flexibility. Talk to your local personal trainer.

• Work on your swing in slow motion in front of a mirror making sure your club is in the proper positions.

• While in your living room, work on fundamentals such as grip, posture, ball position, and alignment.

• Work on your putting indoors and focus on the fundamentals such as keeping your head and body still, keeping your eyes over the ball, using a pendulum motion, making sure your back stroke and forward stroke are equidistant, making solid contact, and releasing the putter.

• Work on your pre-shot and pre-putt routine in your living room.

• Take winter lessons.

• Brave the cold and play.

• Find an indoor range and try to hit balls a few times per week.

• Find a range with heaters or covered tees and hit a few times per week.

• Purchase a hitting net for your garage or basement.

• Take a lesson with video analysis.

• Get your swing speed checked to make sure you are using the proper shafts.

• Have a club fitting done to make sure you have the right dimensions on your clubs.

• Make sure you are stocked up with all the equipment you need for the upcoming season.

• Read golf instructional books or magazines.

• Watch the golf channel and the pro tournaments to pick up tips.

• Set specific goals for the upcoming season.

Happy Holidays!

A look back on the major stories of 2009

Tiger Woods - AP / Charlie Riedel

Golf was certainly interesting in 2009 with some great play, great tournaments, several near misses by big name players, and some minor scandal that you probably haven't heard of.

Here is a look back on some of the top moments and tournaments of 2009.

Majors:

Masters: Angel Cabrera
Kenny Perry had tournament locked up until bogeying the final two holes and losing in a playoff.

U.S. Open: Lucas Glover
Former #1 David Duval came out of nowhere to contend but a triple bogey on the final day cost him.

British: Stewart Cink
Tom Watson, 59, almost became the oldest player to win a major. The five time champion bogeyed the final hole in regulation, and then lost in a playoff.

PGA: YE Yang
Yang held off Tiger Woods and became the first player ever to defeat Woods when he led going into the final round of a major.

• Tiger came back from knee surgery and an eight month layoff to win seven times worldwide. Woods won the Fed Ex Cup for the second time, won PGA player of the year, the money title, the scoring title, and was named AP athlete of the decade.
• Phil Mickelson won four times in 2009, defeated Tiger at the HSBC, and finished second in the Fed Ex Cup race despite his wife and mother being diagnosed with breast cancer.
  
• Rory Mcllroy, Danny Lee, Ryo Ishikawa, and Rickie Fowler all jumped onto the scene as the top young golfers in the world
• The United States defeated the International team 19 1/2 to 14 1/2 at the Presidents Cup

World Rankings

1 Tiger Woods USA
2 Phil Mickelson USA
3 Steve Stricker USA
4 Lee Westwood England
5 Padraig Harrington Ireland
Complete list

Obviously, the biggest story of the year in golf is the saga of Tiger Woods, which we have all heard more than enough of. Who knows when this will ever calm down and who knows if Tiger will ever be the same on the course if and when he returns.

For those of you of want more Tiger, click here for a variety of articles about his 2009 season, including his tournament play, awards, and the ongoing scandal.

Tiger breaks another record

The scandal has lead to another record for Tiger. He was on the cover of the New York Post 19 consecutive days, breaking the record for the 9/11 coverage.

Playboy Hefner weighs in on Tiger

Hugh Hefner, the founder of Playboy magazine has now spoken up in the wake of Tiger Wood's extra-marital activities.

Hefner spoke with Fox News and had the following comments.

"I don't approve of it. I just was not surprised by it," Hefner said. "The reason that I wasn't surprised is that he’s traveling the world. He's a handsome, young guy and beautiful ladies are throwing themselves at him. You never know the circumstances of a personal relationship or a marriage and how well it worked and I think that the immorality of infidelity is the lie. It isn't really the sex. It's the cheating."

On whether or not athletes such as Woods should stay single?

"It's an individual decision, it works for some people," he responded. “I was married for eight years and was faithful to it the entire time. And, I certainly had plenty of temptations. But, was I happier then? No," he said laughing, "I wasn't."

Hefner, now 83, made the comments while at a book signing with his three girlfriends.

Crazy world we live in for some people:

Hugh Hefner: age 83, three girlfriends about 6 decades younger than him.

Tiger Woods: age 33, married, approximately 16 girlfriends

Steve Williams calls out ESPN's Reilly

Tiger Wood's long-time caddie Steve Williams has vehemently denied any knowledge of Wood's extra marital activities and infidelity.

"I had no knowledge of what Tiger's indiscretion was," Williams said. "What people fail to realize is I just work for Tiger Woods. I live in New Zealand, I travel to and from New Zealand to caddie for Tiger Woods. Whilst I am a very good friend of his, I don't know what he does off the course.

"When he is not competing, I am back in New Zealand. I have no knowledge of what he is doing. Yes, I talk to him on the phone, ask him how his practice is going, how he is hitting the ball, how his family is, but I don't know what he is doing, just like he doesn't know what I am doing."

Rick Reilly, ESPN writer, recently wrote an article stating that Woods needs to fire everyone around him, including caddie Williams, because he had to of known Woods was having affairs.

“I am a straight-up sort of person," Williams said. I tell it like it is. Last year, at the same particular point of time, is when I had the confrontation with Phil Mickleson. I didn’t lie about it. I called the guy a prick. I never said I didn’t call him a prick. I never denied one word of what I said. I had no knowledge of what Tiger’s indiscretion was. And for Rick Reilly to turn around and say that I am a liar and there is no way I couldn’t know – and that I should be fired – that is sensational journalism at its height right there. I am an honest person. I had no knowledge of what was going on with Tiger. If I did, I would say I did.”

Williams has been on the bag for 13 out of his 14 major championships and has stated that Woods would be the last player that he will ever caddie for.

I tend to believe Williams. He doesn't seem like a guy that would lie.

Although I did think the same thing about Tiger, so who knows?

More Tiger cartoons

Tiger taking indefinite leave from golf

Tiger's statement:

I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children. I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness. It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done, but I want to do my best to try.

I would like to ask everyone, including my fans, the good people at my foundation, business partners, the PGA Tour, and my fellow competitors, for their understanding. What's most important now is that my family has the time, privacy, and safe haven we will need for personal healing.

After much soul searching, I have decided to take an indefinite break from professional golf. I need to focus my attention on being a better husband, father, and person.

Again, I ask for privacy for my family and I am especially grateful for all those who have offered compassion and concern during this difficult period.

Where in the world is Tiger?

Tiger hasn't been seen on camera in quite awhile now. No pictures from TMZ, National Enquirer, or anyone else that is stalking him.

If I was him, I'd probably buy an island in the middle of nowhere, go there, and meditate for about two years.


The last two weeks have probably been a living hell for him so it makes you wonder where he could be.

I guess if you have a billion dollars, you can go anywhere you want to get away from the madness.

A great suggestion would be taking a golf break in Spain. Spain has a great deal of quality golf courses to choose from and almost always has phenomenal sunny weather along the Mediterranean coastline.

The most highly rated golf location in Spain is Villaitana Wellness Golf Resort with two 18 hole golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus.

The Levante course is the championship layout and is widely regarded as one of the country's most challenging tests. The course offers a great deal of risk/reward options tailored by the Golden Bear. Aggressive play will be rewarded if the shot is pulled off correctly while mistakes will certainly be costly.

The 7, 297 yard layout features generous fairways that favor long hitters. The large greens are receptive and maintained to the highest standards.


More on golf breaks in Spain

Other locations Tiger may be:

Golf at Pebble Beach
Golf in Vegas
Golf in Scotland
Golf in Panama
Golf in Sicily
Golf in England
Golf in South America

In lighter Tiger news

Bar Refaeli, SI swimsuit model, has officially NOT been linked to Tiger Woods.

Notes from Q-School

The drama is finally over for the guys going through Q-School and the PGA Tour will see some new faces starting in 2010. The top 25 made it and the magic number to get in was 9 under par.

Troy Merritt won at 22 under par.

Rickie Fowler, 20 year old rising star, continued his great play as of late and is now a full fledged member of the PGA Tour. He finished at 11 under.

Full leaderboard

The heartbreak of the day had to go to Tom Pernice, Jr. At 10 under, he needed just a bogey on the 18th to secure his card. Unfortunately, he hit his tee shot into the water, then hit his third into the greenside bunker, from which he hit it to about 6 feet, only to miss the putt on the right edge. Devastating to end with a double bogey and miss by one shot.

David Duval, former number player in the world, finished at one over par and failed to secure his card in his first attempt at Q-School.

Whitlock sums it up on Tiger

AP / Rob Griffith

Read Jason Whitlock's article on Tiger Woods and the media.

I could not agree more, especially when he grills idiots such as Rick Reilly and Jay Mariotti.

Golf News

Since there is NOTHING going on in the golf world right now, here are some updates:



Ian Poulter and Zach Johnson lead after round one at the Chevron World Challenge.
Full scores and photos

John Daly shot a first round 72 at the Australian Open which included six bogeys, four birdies, and and eagle. He hasn't lost his fashion sense in his return to action.

Troy Merritt is leading Q-school after two rounds at 10 under par. Rickie Fowler is only three shots back at seven under par.
Full leaderboard

Tiger apologizes

From Tigerwoods.com

I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.

Although I am a well-known person and have made my career as a professional athlete, I have been dismayed to realize the full extent of what tabloid scrutiny really means. For the last week, my family and I have been hounded to expose intimate details of our personal lives. The stories in particular that physical violence played any role in the car accident were utterly false and malicious. Elin has always done more to support our family and shown more grace than anyone could possibly expect.

But no matter how intense curiosity about public figures can be, there is an important and deep principle at stake which is the right to some simple, human measure of privacy. I realize there are some who don't share my view on that. But for me, the virtue of privacy is one that must be protected in matters that are intimate and within one's own family. Personal sins should not require press releases and problems within a family shouldn't have to mean public confessions.

Whatever regrets I have about letting my family down have been shared with and felt by us alone. I have given this a lot of reflection and thought and I believe that there is a point at which I must stick to that principle even though it's difficult.

I will strive to be a better person and the husband and father that my family deserves. For all of those who have supported me over the years, I offer my profound apology.