Big Play with Patti McGowan
WHO: PhilMickelson
WHAT: Sliceddrive that bounced off a hospitality tent
WHERE: 450-yardpar-4 18th hole at Winged Foot Golf Club
WHEN: Final roundof the U.S. Open
WHY
Hitting driver at 18 and then trying a miracle recovery shot reveal the twothings that Mickelson must learn to complete his major package: He has toadjust his game plan when his mind is going haywire from the pressure, and heneeds to make his driver swing more stable and compact, like his iron swing.With the driver he still goes back too far and gets out of sync, with his kneessliding toward the target and his spine leaning away from it.
PATTI'S TIP
Big Drive? Don't Move the Boxes
To drive wellunder pressure, make a more compact swing. Also, be sure the lower body rotateswithout sliding and that it finishes stacked below the upper body. To practice,hit drives with a thigh-high object next to your lead leg. (I like to use astack of boxes.) Your lead leg should barely touch the boxes, moving them onlyan inch or so.
Patti McGowanteaches at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando.
... AND ANOTHERTHING
"The U.S.Ryder Cup team is in trouble. The Euros had 11 of the top 26 at Winged Foot andsome of them weren't even their first-stringers."
GOLFMAGAZINE
TOP 100
TEACHERS POLL
Will PhilMickelson contend at the British Open?
Yes 83%
No 17%
"Mickelson isthe best player in the world when he makes good decisions."
--EDENFOSTER,
MAIDSTONECLUB
[This articlecontains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]
Your Name Here
Earlier this yearthe USGA announced that to defray the high cost of operating 13 nationalchampionships, it is considering the unprecedented step of adding presentingsponsors. Here are some synergistic sponsorship possibilities.
Tournament | Sponsor | Synergy |
U.S. Open | NetJets | Sky's the limit for everyone, not just the top guns |
U.S. Mid-Amateur | Expedia.com | Plan those midlife-crisis golf trips today |
U.S. Senior Amateur | Ironman Triathlon | Shared concerns: sore feet and tenuous bladder control |
U.S. Senior Women's Amateur | Environmental Defense Fund | Both love their woods |
U.S. Amateur | Cleveland Wedges | That's all they hit into the par-4s anyway |
U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur | Botox | A wrinkle-free round every time |
U.S. Senior Open | AAA | They put a premium on driving too |
U.S. Women's Publinks | Apple | iPods are the new range finders |
U.S. Girls' Junior | myspace.com | Shoot 68, then go home and post about Britney's baby |
U.S. Women's Amateur | Oprah's Book Club | Pity the fool who gets caught cheating |
U.S. Junior | Adderall | Tomorrow's Ritalin, and it doesn't produce acne |
U.S. Women's Open | GM | Stalwarts struggle against newer, better-looking imports |
U.S. Publinks | MasterCard | Start-up cost: minimal. Selling out your championships: priceless |
SIX PHOTOS
COURTESY OF NBC (MICKELSON); GINA HOUSEMAN (MCGOWAN, 3); TODD BIGELOW/AURORA (BACKGROUND); ROBERT BECK (MICKELSON, BOTTOM)