Big Play

WHO Tommy (TwoGloves) Gainey

WHAT 50-yard wedgeto six feet

WHERE 455-yardpar-4 8th hole at Orange County National's Panther Lake course

WHEN Fifth roundof the PGA Tour Q school

WHY Gainey, 32,who got a Tour card on his seventh trip to Q school, will be an impact rookiebecause he has character. Over the years Gainey has worked on a water-heaterassembly line and delivered furniture. Now he plays golf without fear, provenby his gutsy par at the 8th after a poor approach left him 50 yards shortof the green. I also like his unwillingness to abandon his unorthodox ways: Hewears two gloves, puts his putter cover in his back pocket on the green and hasa wildly unorthodox swing. I hope he sticks to the things that got him to wherehe is today.

On 50- to 75-yardwedge shots you need a steep angle of attack to make clean contact and compressthe ball. Practice by placing a two-by-four, or something of a similar size, afoot behind your ball and be sure your club doesn't touch the board on the wayback and through. That will force you to cock your wrists quickly on thebackswing and strike the ball with a descending blow.

AND ANOTHERTHING...

"I give TigerWoods a 50-50 chance of winning the Grand Slam in one of the next couple ofyears."

Mike Lopuszynski teaches at the David Glenz Golf Academy in Vernon, N.J.

GOLF MAGAZINE TOP 100 TEACHERS POLL

Who gets your vote for player of the year?

Lorena Ochoa....37%

Tiger Woods....63%

"Every year Woods redefines himself as the bestplayer in the game. Every year!"

--SHAWN HUMPHRIES, COWBOYS GOLF CLUB

MIKE'S TIP

Get Steep to Hit Sharp Wedges

ILLUSTRATION

PHOTO

COURTESY OF GOLF CHANNEL (GAINEY)

TWO PHOTOS

ERICK W. RASCO

PHOTO

FRED VUICH (WOODS)