Big Play with T.J. Tomasi
WHO: JimFuryk
WHAT: Six-footpar putt
WHERE: 478-yardpar-4 18th hole at Quail Hollow
WHEN: Firstplayoff hole at the Wachovia Championship
WHY
How come Furyk is the Tour's most clutch short-game player not named TigerWoods? First, Furyk never tinkers with his full swing and is a feel player withhis woods and irons, so his approach with those clubs filters down to hischipping and putting. Second, Furyk always goes through an elaborate preshotroutine, which gives him the preternatural calm he showed on the crucial parputts he holed at 18, both in regulation and the playoff.
T.J.'S TIP
Holing ShortPutts Is As Easy As A-B-C
The best shortputters keep the blade low going back. To do that, you must maintain the cup,or bend, in your right wrist from start to finish. This drill will help. Gripthe putter with your right hand only. Address the ball so that the shaft pointsat the middle of your chest. Place a second ball on your line but in front ofyour back foot (A). Take the putter back low so it pushes the rear ballstraight back (B). Finish your stroke (C).
T.J. Tomasiteaches at Nantucket (Mass.) Golf Club.
... AND ANOTHERTHING
"The Tour isfull of overhyped boy wonders like J.B. Holmes and Camilo Villegas but woefullylacking in consistent winners and real rivalries."
Coat Tales
As the winner ofthe Wachovia Championship, Jim Furyk received a crystal vase, a check for $1.13million and a bright blue blazer. The Wachovia coat does not yet have thecachet of the illustrious green jacket that goes to the winner of the Masters,but it can hold its own when compared with these five other jackets that go totournament winners. Here's a look at the PGA's coat collection and where eachmight best be worn off the course.
Tournament | The Look | Other Uses |
Mercedes | Miami Vice (the original) | Waiting tables in a hotel ballroom |
Bay Hill | Normal | Well, um, anytime and anywhere |
Masters | AstroTurf | Camouflage at an outdoor wedding |
Heritage | Wallpaper at the Rotary Club | Filling in as the pitchman for Johnnie Walker Black |
Wachovia | Kmart manager | The Kansas City Royals' team picture |
Colonial | Doggie sweater | Imitating a '70s lounge singer |
84 Lumber | Color-blind game-show host | A cranberry festival |
GOLF MAGAZINE TOP 100 TEACHERS POLL
Will Michelle Wie ever win a men's pro event?
Yes... 20%
No... 80%
" Michelle hasn't even won a woman's pro event, soat this point we just want to see her win something."
--JIM MURPHY SUGAR CREEK COUNTRY CLUB
THIRTEEN PHOTOS
COURTESY OF CBS (FURYK); ERICK W. RASCO (TOMASI, 4); JIM GUND (BACKGROUND); M. GARCIA/WIREIMAGE.COM (MERCEDES); CHARLES W. LUZIER/REUTERS (BAY HILL); ROBERT BECK (MASTERS); MIKE EHRMANN/WIREIMAGE.COM (HERITAGE); SAM GREENWOOD/WIREIMAGE.COM (WACHOVIA); DARREN CARROLL/ICON SMI (COLONIAL); MARC FELDMAN/WIREIMAGE.COM (84 LUMBER); LEE JIN-MAN/AP (WIE)