Big Play
WHO: Vijay Singh
WHAT: Greenside bunker shot from a plugged lie to eight feet
WHERE: 543-yard par-5 18th hole at Pebble Beach
WHEN: Playoff at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am
WHY
Singh's Sunday collapse (four bogeys on the back nine) proves how hard it is to rely on a new swing under pressure. Singh has been retooling his action since last year, moving the club more in front of his chest through impact, but he reverted to his old swing down the stretch and hit hooks, slices, pop-ups and skulls. After his approach in the playoff plugged in a greenside bunker, however, Singh finally hit a sweet shot, forcing Steve Lowery to respond.
MIKE'S TIP
Bury the Head to Play a Fried Egg
Singh made a textbook-perfect swing for a plugged lie in a bunker, and you can too. Use a slightly open stance and open the club face a little extra at address. After making a full backswing with a full wrist-cock, hit down hard. Then, and most important, make virtually no follow-through, so at the finish the clubhead is buried in the sand just past impact.
Mike Lopuszynski teaches at the David Glenz Golf Academy in Hamburg, N.J.
Rarin' to Go
OCHOA
WEBB
GRAZEBIEN
Last season was a year of transition on the LPGA tour, with Lorena Ochoa (eight wins) taking over for Annika Sorenstam (none) as the top-ranked player. Here are the five pros who had the biggest gains and the five with the largest declines in earnings in 2007, plus five rookies to watch during the '08 season, which kicks off with this week's SBS Open at the Turtle Bay Resort in Kahuku, Hawaii.
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FALLERS | 2006 $ | 2007 $ | - |
1. Karrie Webb | 2,090,113 | 630,030 | 1,460,083 |
2. Annika Sorenstam | 1,971,741 | 532,718 | 1,439,023 |
3. Julieta Granada | 1,633,586 | 412,440 | 1,221,146 |
4. Hee-Won Han | 1,147,651 | 116,246 | 1,031,405 |
5. Julie Inkster | 1,326,442 | 736,521 | 589,921 |
ROOKIES TO WATCH
Anna Grzebien, 22. Duke star was '05 NCAA individual champ and national collegiate player of the year.
Liz Janangelo, 24. Also a former Dukie, she was the '04 player of the year; won twice on the Futures tour in '07.
Hee Young Park, 20. Three-time winner and rookie of the year on Korean LPGA in '05.
Ashleigh Simon, 18. Won a pro event in her native South Africa at age 14; also a winner last year on Ladies European tour.
Taylor Leon, 20. Curtis Cupper and '06 SEC freshman of the year at Georgia went pro after sophomore season.
...AND ANOTHER THING
"Ernie Els is too busy flying around collecting appearance fees (Dubai, India). He should focus on the majors and beating Tiger Woods."
GOLF MAGAZINE TOP 100 TEACHERS POLL
Will Annika Sorenstam overtake Lorena Ochoa and regain the No. 1 ranking?
Yes ....21%
No ....79%
"Annika inspired women to attain new heights, but now all she can do is look up to the current and future stars."
—JANE FROST, SANDWICH HOLLOWS GOLF CLUB
PHOTO
*COURTESY OF CBS (SINGH)
PHOTO
ERICK W. RASCO (BACKGROUND)
TWO PHOTOS
ERICK W. RASCO (LOPUSZYNSKI)
PHOTO
TODD BIGELOW/AURORA (OCHOA)
PHOTO
TODD BIGELOW/AURORA (WEBB)
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SAM GREENWOOD/WIREIMAGE.COM (GRZEBIEN)
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KAMRAN JEBREILI/AP (SORENSTAM)