Big Play with Jim Suttie
WHO: AaronBaddeley
WHAT: Pitchingwedge to 24 feet for birdie
WHERE: 148-yardpar-3 16th hole at the TPC Scottsdale
WHEN: Final roundof the FBR Open
WHY
Over the last twoyears Baddeley has ditched his long, high swing and adopted the swing fad dujour: the compact and powerful one-axis move. While making his dramaticallyshorter swing, Baddeley stays more centered over the ball while his torsorotates around his spine rather than shifting back and then forward. As aresult Baddeley has gained accuracy and power, as he showed with his monsterwedge to birdie range at 16.
JIM'S TIP
Start YourSwing
From the Top
A shortenedbackswing can improve your swing by reducing the moving parts. I've had 150players practice by starting their swings at a position three quarters of theway to the top of the backswing. The players lost 10% of their distance butbecame 20% more accurate. It's a good drill, and you can even play that way.Simply address the ball, rotate three fourths of the way back (right) andpause, then continue to the normal end of your backswing and hit the ball.
Jim Suttie teachesat the Club at TwinEagles in Naples, Fla.
... AND ANOTHERTHING
"Jeff Slumanhas my favorite swing on any professional tour. It's golf's most efficientmotion, with no wasted movement and perfect timing."
His Turn
Marc Turnesa(right) tied for fifth in his 2007 Nationwide tour debut at the recent MovistarPanama Championship, but he already is a household name among golf fans.Turnesa's grandfather (Mike) and six great-uncles were all pro golfers. Five ofthe seven Turnesa brothers played on Tour, while the other two were noted golfinstructors during a 30-year period lasting from the 1920s through the'50s.
Match the Turnesawith his career highlights
[This articlecontains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]
Turnesa (from oldest to youngest) | Accomplishment |
A Phil | 1. Played in 153 Tour events, winning six times, and was runner-up to BenHogan in the '48 PGA |
B Frank | 2. Played in 46 Tour events |
C Doug | 3. Played in 334 Tour events with two wins, including the '52 PGA;runner-up to Sam Snead in the '42 PGA |
D Jim | 4. Lifelong amateur won the U.S. Am twice ('38 and '48) and the British Amonce ('47), and played 10 Tour events |
E Willie | 5. Longtime pro at Metropolis Country Club in White Plains, N.Y. |
F Joe | 6. Played in 184 Tour events with 15 wins, a second to Bobby Jones in the'26 U.S. Open and a second to Walter Hagen in the '27 PGA |
G Mike | 7. Longtime pro at Briar Hill Country Club in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y. |
Answers (in order): A-2; B-5; C-7; D-3; E-4; F-6; G-1.
>>>ANSWERS <<<
Who Am I? ... A)Matt Gogel (left)
Trivia Andy Beanaveraged 344.2 yards a drive at the 2003 Allianz Championship. He finished 29thin that event and 59th on the Champions tour money list that year.
GOLF MAGAZINE TOP 100 TEACHERS POLL
Should the men's U.S. Open go to a three-hole playoff,like the Women's Open?
Yes ... 48%
No ... 52%
" Eighteen holes on Monday is the mostanticlimactic event in sports."--T.J. TOMASI, NANTUCKET GOLF CLUB
PHOTOMONTAGE
ANDY COSTELLO (SUTTIE, 2); ERICK W. RASCO (BACKGROUND);
THREE PHOTOS
COURTESY OF NBC (BADDELEY); STAN BADZ/PGA TOUR/WIREIMAGE.COM (MARC TURNESA);ROBERT BECK (GOGEL)
PHOTO
COURTESY OF JOE TURNESA JR. (TURNESA BROTHERS)
The Turnesa brothers in 1936.