Big Play With Bryan Gathright
With his rhythmic swing in sync, Carlos Franco won the U.S. Bank
with a flurry of laserlike tee shots, including his bomb at 15 on
Sunday
ANALYSIS
Years ago my mentor Harvey Penick told me that if you have only a
few minutes to warm up, you should skip the driving range and hit
a few chips and pitches. Franco takes Harvey's advice to an
extreme. He never goes to the range and just hits short shots
around the practice green. Franco's regimen works because he has
a long, rhythmic swing that produces great power--his 297-yard
three-wood off the tee at 15 set up a key birdie on
Sunday--provided he maintains his timing. Preround short-game
work is perfect for getting your swing in sync for both short and
full shots. Of course, if Franco practiced more, he might have
more than four wins in six seasons.
THE TIP
Why Franco's Method Works for Anyone
As Harvey Penick said, if you have only a little time to warm up,
you should simply hit some chips and short pitches to a green.
Here's why:
1. Instills the feeling of solid contact.
2. Creates good rhythm because your torso and arms must work
together.
3. You learn the pace of the greens.
4. You practice releasing the right side (hip and knee) through
impact (left), which is vital for all shots.
5. Rushing to the range will ruin your tempo.
AND ANOTHER THING...
"As the father of four children, I am shocked at Michelle Wie's
parents for subjecting her to such intense pressure and not
giving her time to be a kid."
******
"If I were Hal Sutton, my two Ryder Cup captain's picks would be
Scott Verplank (experience and guts) and Jay Haas (warrior
mentality and leadership)."
******
"Ernie Els is too strong to let his close calls in majors hurt
him. He'll contend again at the PGA."
COLOR PHOTO: ERICK W. RASCO (GATHRIGHT, 2)
COLOR PHOTO: COURTESY OF CBS (FRANCO)
COLOR PHOTOMONTAGE: ERICK W. RASCO (GATHRIGHT, 2)/TODD BIGELOW/AURORA (BACKGROUND)
Bryan Gathright teaches at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antonio
and is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher.