***Buick Invitational Live Thread***[Golf Ping]

The Golf Channel, PGA.com and various print sources ^ | January 23, 2008 | Golf Ping List

[Zuben Elgenubi]

2008 Buick Invitational

Mickelson Fit for Play at Buick
By Associated Press - January 23, 2008

SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The Buick Invitational will have the Nos. 1 and 2 players in the world, after all.
 
After three days of bed rest and antibiotics for respiratory problems, Phil Mickelson said Tuesday he was feeling better and will play in the pro-am Wednesday at the Buick Invitational, paving the way for him to make his '08 debut at Torrey Pines. He also has a practice session planned with swing coach Butch Harmon.
 
"I'm feeling much, much better," Mickelson said. "I'm happy about that and looking forward to working with Butch to make sure everything is in order for this week."
 
Mickelson has not played since winning the HSBC Champions in China in November. He suspects the respiratory problems, which included shortness of breath, stemmed from either cleaning up debris outside his San Diego County home after the wildfires, or something he picked up in Asia during a two-week stint last fall.
 
Mickelson is a three-time winner of the Buick Invitational, ending Tiger Woods' six-tournament winning streak in 2000 and last winning in 2001 in a playoff.
 
Woods is the three-time defending champion.
 
Related Links:

• Full Coverage - Buick Invitational
  
• GOLF CHANNEL Airtimes

[budwiesest]

I was told shaft is 60% of the equation

The clubs I use belonged to my dad. We were the only left-handers. The driver is a wood with graphite shaft. It sounds and feels nice when hitting- I get 250yds with it easy (range balls).

I'd like to try a metal driver but the prices mean a committment to a club I may not like later. From the surveys, Cleveland is one I'd probably consider first. Forget all the fancy weights, just give me a good clubhead.

Ball tehnology has added a new dimension, too. I'll have to try something solid-core but am concerned about not being able to 'stick' it.(Nothing like making the green only to bounce across it ;^)

My greatest confidence is with irons. Perhaps that would help in determining what type of shaft to look for in a wood.

That seven wood sounds interesting. Is it like the hybrids I've read about?

[cleveland gop]

Yep! I guess that’s why I find golf the great game that it is! I play very little, if at all, but find the game just as enjoyable!
Other than Tiger, the return of Steve Stricker has to be the big talk of the last year. From the top, to the lows and now 4 in the world so quickly? A major maybe, and the Ryder Cup?
As for Duval. Maybe if he moves to the right, his game might get better.

[cleveland gop]

BREAKING NEWS!!
Tiger -5 through 13. Sabbatini also -5.
I guess Jim Brown thinks that Tiger should have been more proactive in response to the “lynch” comment. Like I said before when he is done with his round, go up to the tower, push Nick Faldo out of the way and put an end to this so that those that wrongly want her fired can shut up!

[Professional]

If that driver is old, fuggetaboutit, the new stuff is good for at least 25-40 yards, I’m talking 10 yrs or so. I’d have zero, zero pre conceived notions about make/model. Just grab everything you can get your hands on, find something that you like, makes the ball fly...

I hit my ball so high, that it doesn’t matter very much which ball I hit, the ball is within 36 inches of the landing spot unless you’re talking rock hard greens. I think ball matters most in the short game, much less than full swing. Also from a driver, the ball can have some difference, and if you spray the ball at all, the lower price less spin balls frankly do me much more good. The Bridgestone E6 for me is less likely to slice or hook. Give me an expensive ball, and I’ll generally spin it so bad off the box that on a bad day I’ll be OB all day.

A 7 wood looks like a traditional club, which I really like. Something about the look of the hybrids, just doesn’t sit right with me, looks too much like a putter. Also, the hybrids typically have a closed face and makes it very hard for me to hit the high fade that I’m most comfortable with. I’ve seen a few guys with 7 woods, and they always look twice as good as their hcp when they hit that club. 7 wood is straight, high, and a great compliment to the driver. Also, a super duper club for second shot in a par 5. Gary Player said he would have won at least 2 more Masters if he’d had one, as Nicholas was the only guy that could hit a one or two iron high and soft.

If you’re budget conscious, and consider the internet, ebay for buying something, I’d think twice. I bet at least half that stuff is knock offs from singapore/china...

[Professional]

You make some super points. There is no team to carry you, or fail you. Stricker decided to show up, and John Daly on the other hand is a slow motion wreck... Daly drops out of half the tourneys he enters all of a sudden...

[Professional]

(Tiger down 2, Mickelson down 5 to surprising leader Troy Matteson)

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Tiger Woods delivered the score he expected in his 2008 debut, just not the game.

Despite playing from the sand, rough and behind a few trees early in his round, Woods began a much-anticipated season Thursday with a 5-under 67 on the tougher South Course at Torrey Pines. That left him two shots behind Troy Matteson, and gave him a strong presence on the leaderboard as he goes for his fourth straight title in the Buick Invitational. ....

http://www.pgatour.com/2008/tournaments/r004/01/24/buick012408.ap/index.html

[budwiesest]

I have a 5 wood in my bag but can't recall the last time I used it;-) After reading your post, I'm anxious to give it a shot. Usually, with a fairway lie, I grab an iron- due largely to my confidence with them. I guess if you can overcome the fear of digging too deep and sweep it clean these woods will gain added distance and accuracy.

The club feels so light- clubhead speed would have to be increased immensely. I've got a few range tokins left and will definately give this club a shot off the 'grassy' part of the tee pad.

Given the clubs I'm using are 60's vintage, I could probably use the extra distance a 5 will give over a 7, as I won't be getting as far out from the tee.

I've wondered about something for a while and it goes like this: I almost hit a hole-in-one on a par three when I wasn't really trying. My friend and I were being waved-on by the foursome ahead so, he went first and hit a squirrel-killer into some weeds. He tossed his club, it was my turn, and I said something like, "Don't worry, watch this", where I quickly set the ball on the tee, looked at the green and smacked a 3 iron on the green where it rolled back to less than a foot from the cup. My friend looked at me 'strikingly', but the look from the other group was a priceless, "who is this guy?" as we approached the green.

Has anyone ever broached the subject of quickness and the effect that may have on a shot? Is there a connection between making a great shot and allowing little time to confuse the mind-body communication that can take place? As I often feel hurried on a couse, this has happened more than a few times. I just wonder if it's happened to anyone else.

[mdittmar]

You guys, I avoided the leader board all day,darn it,haven't seen it yet.

And I have the next two days off work;)

[Hot Tabasco]

Has anyone ever broached the subject of quickness and the effect that may have on a shot?

Nope but a friend of mine and I were playing in a fundraiser and on the par-3 which was a Closest to the pin hole, he hooked his tee shot and hit a tree about 40 feet to the left of the green and the ball bounced back and landed about a foot away from the hole to win the closest to the pin prize.

I guess the only thing I can say is that quickness and shaft speed will always take a back seat to blind luck......... LOL!

[Professional]

I’m a fan of a pre shot routine that is effective, but doesn’t take too long. I don’t think going up and just whacking it is a good idea. Pros don’t take practice swings I think mostly because they want to save some wear and tear on their body...

I find an aim point between the ball and my target on any shot, I line my body up to it, typically take two practice swings to get a rythm down, and to make sure my grip on the club is at the right point so I don’t fat the ball, or skull it. As soon as those are done, I hit the damn thing! The intermediate target thing I just mentioned, is mentioned repeatedly in books and pro interviews. It REALLY helps your aim and alignment.

I have a friend that has a pre shot routine that is crazy long, drives me nuts...

One tip that helps, especially for irons, tee the ball higher a bit, than you think. I used to tee my iron tee shots just barely off the ground, now I tee them up about the width of my pointer finger, and actaully kind of swing up on the ball. The difference for me was huge. Golf magazines routinely talk about people teeing the ball too low for a reason. The rule of thumb for any club, should be the equator of the ball aligned with the top of the club face.

If your clubs are THAT old, then you’d might consider finding something new if you can, especially if you fall in love with the game. Savvy want ads shopping locally, might score you some really good clubs, cheap. Most people that love the game, wind up going hog wild buying stuff, and eventually considering selling some of the stuff. I wouldn’t be surprised if you could score some nearly brand new clubs, for 25 cents on the dollar.

I have Mizuno MP32 irons, very highly rated, blade irons. You just about can’t get better irons, but I’ll bet some desperate guy would sell them for 250 bucks, when they cost new about 800. A club like that, wouldn’t need replacing for like 10-20 yrs, and I’ve seen some pings still in play after 25-30 yrs!

Drivers even easier to score a deal, but the last thing you want is to buy a nice club, that flat out doesn’t work for you. A good driver is the MOST important club to pick, without question. The wrong club, you flat out can’t use it. When you find the right one, you’ll smile every time you hit the thing.

Hope that isn’t too much information, as you can see I’m mentally consumed by the game...

[Professional]

Boy, just finished watching the golf channel replay, and man were there too many commercials!

A little TOO much coverage of Tiger, not enough of anyone else. Don’t remember seeing any shots by Baddely, Villegas, and they are right up there.

Tiger is going to be at least 20 under, and win by 10. Boy did his short game and putting look good!

Mickelson, his up hill chip shot that checked up, is a mistake I’d made for years, always trying to fly my short game shots to the hole. I’m better now, when I play it on the green, let them roll out. He can pull that shot off most of the time, but unless you’re trying to fly over something, why does he always do that?? I’ve heard Dave Pelz kind of criticize him for it too.

[Professional]

I’m surprised that in all golf coverage, they don’t do a better job of showing the broad view of what each hole looks like, a bit more in detail. The use of 3d etc, would be pretty interesting, especially in the majors where the putting surface is such a big part of the game. I also wish that under the screen shot, they had distance to the hole, wind direction speed, and some more stats. The do a bit more of the latter for the Euro tour. Also, like the euro tour, they should post the country or state players come from.

[Zuben Elgenubi]

FRIDAY's RECAP from the Golf Channel. I worked late and did not get to see it live.

2008 Buick Invitational

Tiger Quickly Builds Lead at Torrey
By Associated Press - January 25, 2008

SAN DIEGO -- Tiger Woods made short work of the easier North course Friday at Torrey Pines, leaving everyone else long odds of catching him at the Buick Invitational.
 
Woods chipped in for par, escaped from a couple of trees and wound up with a 7-under 65 to match his best start ever at Torrey Pines, building a four-shot lead over alternate Kevin Streelman as he tries to win this event for the fourth straight year.
 
The hard part might be reminding himself the tournament ends Sunday.
 
"If they handed out the trophy today, then it would be over and no big deal," said Woods, who was at 12-under 132. "But since we have so many more holes to play ... as you've seen on tour, anything can happen."
 
In this case, "anyone" might be more appropriate.
 
Streelman, a 29-year-old rookie who made it through all three stages of Q-school, was third alternate Thursday morning and was not expecting to play until someone tapped him on the shoulder to say he had four minutes to get to the tee when Matthew Goggin withdrew.
 
Moments earlier, Streelman had his head down hitting a few putts when he looked up and saw Woods for the first time.
 
"Boom! He was right there in front of me," Streelman said. "I was kind of awestruck for a second and I said, 'Wow, I guess I am on the PGA TOUR. It was pretty cool."
 
But he still hasn't met him.
 
"I was too scared to do that," Streelman said, smiling.
 
Two days of solid play means introductions will be in order Saturday morning on the first tee. Streelman followed his opening 67 with a 69 on the tougher South Course, which will host the U.S. Open this summer, and will be in the final group with Woods.
 
The world's No. 1 player said he had never heard of Streelman, and when told that he was No. 1,354 in the world ranking, Woods replied, "I think he might be going up."
 
Joining them will be Stewart Cink, who shot a 69 on the South and was another shot back at 7-under 137.
 
Troy Matteson got turned in the wrong direction. After a 65 on the South Course that he said he couldn't top, he was 10 shots worse on the North Course, shooting a 75 to fall eight shots behind.
 

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Let's see whether I can import the live player's scores from the Golf Channel:

2008 Buick Invitational
Torrey Pines Golf Course
Jan 24-27, San Diego, California
Defending: Tiger Woods
Purse: $5,200,000

Find a Player
Scoring View
Sort By

 Pick your favorites with our Custom Leaderboard!

Pos.	Player	Overall	Today	Thru	R1	R2	R3	R4
1.	Woods, Tiger  -SC-	-12	E	3	67	65
2.	Cink, Stewart  -SC-	-8	-1	3	68	69
2.	Streelman, Kevin  -SC-	-8	E	3	67	69
4.	Mickelson, Phil  -SC-	-7	-6	9	70	73
4.	Senden, John  -SC-	-7	-2	5	70	69
4.	Adamonis, Brad  -SC-	-7	-1	4	66	72
7.	LaBelle II, Doug  -SC-	-6	-2	8	68	72
8.	Ferrie, Kenneth  -SC-	-5	-1	8	73	67
8.	Imada, Ryuji  -SC-	-5	-2	8	69	72
8.	Franco, Carlos  -SC-	-5	-1	7	71	69

[Zuben Elgenubi]

I'll try to link in the live video link from the PGA.com site:

• THIRD ROUND LIVE VIDEO: LIVE@PGA.com

[Zuben Elgenubi]

There’s some nice, picked-up dialogue between the players and their caddies on the live mike link. Just heard a discussion between Phil and his caddie Bones about club selection on the par 3.

[cleveland gop]

I guess Tiger looks a little rusty, no? Only up 7! That kid Streelman isn’t playing that badly considering who he is taking the walk with today.
I read that Feherty article again. That is one of the best words ever put on paper these eyes have ever read.
Hey Bay, if you could post that thread here- I would, but I’m to computer stupid to figure out how, THANKS!

[Zuben Elgenubi]

Feherty's Tour of Duty (CBS Golf commentator visits troops).