The Golf Slice

I’m sure most of you have heard the news already but it was announced today that Tiger is shutting down for the rest of the 2008 season.

His reason? Oh, just a torn ACL and fractured tibia.

Yup, that’s right. Tiger Woods played 91 holes to win the U.S. Open with a broken leg and busted knee. There was a lot of talk over the weekend about how incredible Rocco Mediate was in keeping up with Tiger. And that’s true but those sentiments seem a bit hollow now with today’s news.

So now we have to trudge through the rest of the year watching guys like Phil Mickelson and Sergio Garcia struggle to set themselves apart and challenge Tiger as the best in the game. Good luck to them, I say.

The legend continues to grow for this guy who is easily on pace to go down as the best golfer in history. This weekend’s performance was just incredible.

Sahalee Country Club will be hosting the 17th Annual Junior Achievement EvergreenBank Golf Classic & Auction, on June 23, for 2008.

For those that do not have plans to play in the Golf Classic will be able to take advantage of having a good time and learning some tips and tricks from Jim Pike, the Country Club’s Instructor. He plans to be offering a educational clinic that will be including helpful lessons and receiving personalized instruction in chipping and technique, putting, and swing mechanics. Also included along with the clinic, will be an event dinner and auction ticket.

Raising more than $2 million in funds, the Sahalee Country Club, which is known as being one of America’s top picks in widely enjoyed golf courses, has raised the funds in support of many of the programs that are made available through Junior Achievement. Children in kindergarten through high school can benefit from the various programs that are offered.

A few slots still remain open and reservations are still being accepted. Individuals are being invited to come enjoy what is planned to be the biggest tournament ever for the area.

Is the most recent winner of the Memorial, Kenny Perry expected to become the next number 1 Pro Golf player of the world for the Ryder Cup Team later this fall? With his latest win, he has certainly gotten quite a bit closer to claiming this prestigious title. He now stands proudly among many other favored players, for his chance at this exciting win. Perry’s win of the Memorial makes this his third one for this particular win.

This exciting and well-earned victory, claimed for Perry the grand amount of $1.08 million. Thought to have delivered his greatest game for the year, according to Paul Azinger, U.S. captain, this win is now Perry’s 10th victory of his uprising career.

The exciting win for Perry opens way for the possibility of the U.S., soon to have a handy weapon under their belt in the Ryder Cup.

It couldn’t of come at a better time if it had been planned, for the two-shot victory. Perry was able to surge ahead for a smooth coast straight to home with a 3 under 69.

So, could it be true, as Perry thinks, that magic is always happening to him here?

Ninety-nine of the most high ranking male golfers of the United States will battle on Sedgefield’s exclusive greens in the Footjoy Invitational.

Recently completed, the historical golf course underwent a $3 million project to restore its Donald Ross design that its well known for.

This exciting battle will be held this year between June 9 and June 13. Many aspiring young teens that are between the ages of 12 and 18 will be bringing their best play to the greens during this event. It is only one highlight of many that are expected to be held during the summer season of the popular American Junior Golf Association.

During the summer season many miles will be covered as more than 5,000 junior golfers make their way across the United States to compete in other events of the American Junior Golf Association. It is a known fact these talented teens will undergo a couple months of highly intense pressure and entertaining action as they go head-to-head in some serious competition.

Later in the year, the historical golf course is planning to host PGA’s Wyndham Championship. There will of course be several well-known names attending.

Tiger Woods has every intention of making a great comeback next week for the US Open. Even though he may not be completely ‘up to par’ yet, he still feels that he will be in good enough shape to attend.

It has been quite a long time since the golf champion has been able to play the game competitively, since he under-went surgery back in April of this year. Rehabilitation and the recovery from surgery has kept him occupied and off the courses.

Many people feel confident that Tiger will have no problems at all in jumping right back in the game and pulling off another win. He has been down this road once before, when he had a previous surgery on his knee back in 2002. He wasted no time after that surgery to come back and win the Buick Invitational.

It is no small surprise to hear that Tiger plans to attend the US Open, many are aware that Torrey Pines is one of his favorite courses.

He has been taking Rehab nice and easy, perhaps he has healed enough to make a big win again on the 12th.

Updates have been lacking a bit lately because I’m actually playing golf now. With the better weather here, I’ve managed to go out a few times this year and I got off to a really rocky start. In a nice bit of irony, I’ve developed a bit of a slice over the winter downtime.

Each nine I played over the last two weeks has been better and better so I’m encouraged that I can get my golf game back on track. I’m hitting my four iron with a lot of improved distance and accuracy so far which I think is much more telling than my temporary slice problem.

I definitely need to hit the driving range more this summer though. I don’t feel like I can get out to play a round consistently enough to maintain a proper swing. I’m going to make an effort over the next few months to hit the range.

I’m sure some of you out there think you’re good enough at the game of golf to turn professional and start your own golf career. If you’re thinking about going pro, or just interested in finding a new job in the golf industry, you might want to check into the program the San Diego Golf Academy has to offer for aspiring golf professionals.

There are a lot of golf schools around the United States but the San Diego Golf Academy is certainly one of the best. The SDGA is a two-year golf college that offers both golf instruction and courses on golf business management. Graduates from SDGA have an excellent chance of finding a job in the golf industry upon graduation. The school currently has a 90% placement rate for students completing their 16-month program.

The San Diego Golf Academy has schools available in four states: California, Arizona, South Carolina and Florida. Students who attend are not required to have a particular handicap but if you’re concerned you might not be good enough you can talk to the staff at the SDGA beforehand and they can direct you as to whether or not the school or program is right for you.

A lot of new golfers forget one of the basic principles of golf: you have to swing down in order to make the ball go up. This applies to every golf club you have in your golf bag except for the putter and your driver.

Beginners sometimes think they have to lift up during their swing to get lift on the ball and that’s just not true. When you hit the golf ball on a downward swing the ball gets lift based on the clubhead alone.

You don’t need to “lift” up to get the ball in the air during your swing. When you do try and force that lift you end up missing the ball completely or hitting an awfully weak shot.

As always, if you’re unsure turn on the television and watch the professionals swing to get a better idea of what you should and shouldn’t be doing.