Big Play With Jim Suttie Relying on the Tour's most supple and natural swing, Steve Flesch blasted a 335-yard drive right down the pike on 18 to wrap up the Colonial

ANALYSIS

The first time I saw Steve Flesch swing a club, during a lesson I
gave him at Cog Hill in 1997, I thought he was destined to become
a Tour star. He had a natural motion that was loose, long and
flowing and generated enormous lag, putting him in a perfect,
Hoganesque position at impact. But after a few winless years
Steve changed his swing so it became shorter and more mechanical,
a switch that backfired. Early last year Steve went back to his
old swing, and since then he has blossomed into the top-tier
player that I always knew he could be, winning twice and earning
more than $4 million.

THE TIP

Feeling Perfect Impact Position

ADDRESS and impact are not the same position. At impact, your
hands should be ahead of the clubhead, your left wrist should be
flat (the wrist aligned with the forearm) and the right wrist
bent, or cupped backward. To practice impact, stand at address
with the clubhead against something firm, such as the leg of a
chair. Press your hands forward and slightly open your lower body
to the target. When the left wrist is flat, you are in the
perfect impact position.

AND ANOTHER THING...

"The Golf channel's Mark Lye is the best TV golf analyst. ABC
should hire him to replace Curtis Strange."

"Everyone, including Sergio Garcia, says that Garcia's made big
swing changes, but he hasn't. His swing is virtually the same now
as when he turned pro in '99."

"Political pressure will force Augusta National to admit a female
member within two years."

COLOR PHOTO: ANDREW GOMBERT (SUTTIE)

COLOR PHOTO: COURTESY OF CBS (FLESCH)

COLOR PHOTOMONTAGE: ANDREW GOMBERT (SUTTIE)/JIM GUND (BACKGROUND) ADDRESS

COLOR PHOTOMONTAGE: ANDREW GOMBERT (SUTTIE)/JIM GUND (BACKGROUND) IMPACT

Jim Suttie runs the Suttie Golf Academy in Naples, Fla., and
Frankfort, Ill., and is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher.