Why Aren’t Golfers Improving?

Nick Flanagan at IIG

Nick Flanagan came to IIG www.iofgolf.com to work with me for 2 days. Nick is preparing for the last 8 events of the Nationwide Tour. Nick has been back in Australia for 2 months recharging his batteries. He has been surfing with his dad and mates daily and as a result his physical condition and upper body strength has improved tremendously. In the picture we are working in our swing catalyst room www.swingcatalyst.com at IIG. We use this room to accurately assess weight distribution and movement, ball trajectory, speed and spin and motion analysis with the combined camera, launch monitor and force platform. We are looking forward to Nick getting back to his winning form.

Putting Technique

The most important element of technique in putting is aim. 80% of the influence of the direction of the ball is the face. What we found with Stuart Appleby’s putting early this year was a tendancy to aim the face left. The putting triangle he is using to correct his aim in the photo is also used to practice reading. Stuart has placed a tee behind the hole at his aiming point. Once he makes 3 putts on the triangle he takes it away and makes 3 more from the same position using his normal routine. He then moves to another putt from a different position and starts the routine again. We have been doing this drill for 10 weeks now and his reading and aim have matched up again. More importantly Apple’s has been making a lot more putts the last few tournaments. Some good results are very close.

Hee Young Park career best finish.

Hee Young Park has career-best week. Second-year LPGA Tour member Hee Young Park had a career week at the Honda LPGA Thailand, despite being ill early in the week, recording a runner-up finish behind World number 1 Lorana Ochoa, at 11-under-par 277 (79-64-69-65). Park, who earned $139,852 of the $1.45 million purse on Sunday, overcame an opening-round 7-over-par 79 with a career-low 8-under-par 64 in the second round to move from a tie for 59th into a tie for 19th after 36 holes. Her third-round 3-under-par 69 moved her up to a tie for fifth entering the final round, which started off with back-to-back birdies on the second and third holes. On the par-4, 287-yard fifth hole, Park sank a 60-foot putt after driving the green. From there, she was flawless with birdies on holes eight, 15 and 16, where she made 25- and 30-foot putts, respectively, to move into second place.

Hee Young spent 3 weeks in Melbourne with me in January before returning to the US LPGA Tour. My prediction for Hee young this year is she will win on the LPGA and move into the top 10 on the money list. She is a fabulous young lady to work with and has a terrific, fun and bubbly personality.

Appleby getting ready for Australian Tour

Stuart Appleby has been at home in Australia since the Tour Championship. The Appleby’s have just had their third child, a boy named Max, here to play with his two big sisters Ella and Mia. As a consequence of focussing on being a dad, Apples hasn’t played since September. We have set up a Leaderboard and net in his back yard, so he can work on his technique and keep his body functioning correctly. appleslbdrillshome1 Next week we will hit the range again and start working on some skills and targeting as he tunes his game for the up coming Australian summer events. The first event is in two weeks at Huntingdale in Melbourne for the Australian Masters.

BMW Bellerive St Louis

Wednesday after the morning pro-am both KJ and Apples were getting some final short game practice before the first round of the BMW at Bellerive in St Louis. Both guys need a strong finish this week in the 3rd Fedex Play Off before the Tour Championship in Atlanta in two weeks. KJ is currently 12th on the standings and Apples is 17th. Vijay is way out in front after winning back to back in the first two playoffs. KJ and Apples will be happy with their years if they finish in the top 10. To do this they both will need two top ten finishes in the last two events.

The Fedex Cup Playoffs

We were in New Jersey last week for the 1st of this year’s Fedex Cup Playoffs. The Barclays Classic at Ridgewood Country Club was a good event for both KJ Choi who finished 12th and moved to 11th on the rankings and Stuart Appleby finished 19th and moved to 13th. Both, if they have a win or 2 top 5 finishes the next 2 events will go to the Tour Championship in Atlanta in 4 weeks with a chance to win the 10 million dollar Fedex Cup bonus. In the picture KJ is working on his pitching. If you look closely you will see a glove under his right arm. We work on this to keep his arm swing linked to his body turn. This creates far more consistency with contact, spin and distance control. KJ’s full swing is very good now and I think he can find a shot or two a tournament with improved pitching. He shot 68, 69 and 68 the last 3 rounds at Ridgewood to move from making the cut on the number to 12th and had sevral tap in birdies after great pitch shots.

The PGA Championship 2008

We are in between the 3rd and 4th rounds at the PGA at Oakland Hills in Detroit. Apples went back out and finished his 3rd round after Saturday’s wash out. Apples had 6 holes to play. He had a difficult 3 putt bogey on the 13th and then played solid golf coming in with some good sand saves at 14 and 15. He shot 69 and it looks like that will move him into the top 20 for the final round this afternoon. 76, 70 and 69 is following the same trend as last week at the WGC, where he is now getting more focussed and free as the tournament goes on. A good round of 1 or 2 under this afternoon should get him a top 10 finish and place him well for the start of the Fedex Cup playoffs in two weeks.

WGC Bridgestone Invitational

Stuart Appleby had his best finish for the year when he finished tied second with Lee Westwood, one shot behind Vijay Singh at the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational. The great thing about this weeks event, and a turning point in the year for Apples, was that he was 5 over par for the tournament after 7 holes in the first round. He made some ball position and mental adjustments and managed to make 5 birdies to get get back to even par for the day. Stuart hasn’t been finishing tournaments off well after being in good positon several times in the past 2 years, but this is the type of comeback that builds confidence and momentum. On Sunday he was through the turn at one over for the day and at that stage 5 shots back from the lead. He had another great back 9, shooting 3 under and had hit a very good birdie putt from 20 feet at the last to force a playoff withh Vijay that just stayed out. This week we are at Oakland Hills in Detroit for the last major of the year, The PGA. I think Apples will be going into this major with great belief after his strong finish at the Bridestone.

Birkdale The Open 2008

I caddied for Stuart Appleby on Monday for his first practice round at Birkdale. The course is in sensational condition, with the best greens I have ever seen at an Open. We worked out some strategies for tee shots and approach shots. The course is very penal of the tee and a few holes have been lengthened since 1998. It is difficult judging the wind and bounce, but Apples settled in well, so I feel really confident that our week in Ireland will pay good dividends this week. On Tuesday we had a practice round with KJ, which always makes my day easier when I can watch both guys at the same time. KJ’s swing is back to it’s best and he struck the ball beautifully. So I am looking forward to a good week as both KJ and Apples are ready to play.

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