5 Reasons I Love to Watch Rickie Fowler Play Golf

1. His quick swing is the antithesis of the overt mechanical style favored by golf instruction gurus.

2. Fowler is more of a “feel” player and doesn’t resemble most of the robots on the PGA Tour.

3. Fowler plays the game with a unique intensity that most likely was nurtured back in his early teens when he used to race dirt bikes.

4. You can always spot the guy from hundreds of yards away with his in-your-face, brightly colored Puma outfits.

5. He’s unpredictable. You never know when he’ll pop up on a leaderboard and make a run against the best players in the world.

To read more great GURU, go to my Facebook Page.

Great Drivers 2012

I spent several days at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando a few weeks ago where I roamed the aisles endlessly at the Orange County Convention Center and visited Demo Day (a place to try out equipment) at Orange County National Golf Club.

There were more than 1,000 companies represented at the annual show and the new product displays can be overwhelming.

Here are The Golf Travel Guru's choices for best 2012 drivers on display at the Show:

TaylorMade Rocketballz-$300

Titleist 910D2/D3-$400

Ping G20-$300

Cleveland Classic-$300

Callaway Razr X Black-$250

5 Reasons I Love Watching Tiger Woods Play Golf

1. How many golfers have changed their swing three times--or is it 4? 5? 6? 7? —and still produces at a world-class level.

2. I like it when Tiger muffs a shot and almost blows a gasket. You gotta love the clubhead smashed in the turf move or the sailor-like (or is it the Navy Seal-like) vulgar language tirade.

3. He’s the only player who elicits genuine excitement with his post great shot antics. With the fist pumps and yelps he looks more like an NBA player after posterizing some poor slug.

4. I want to be watching when the “Old Tiger” finally returns. You know, the Tiger that sunk that unbelievable chip on the par three 16th hole in the 2005 Masters (watch the video).

5. I secretly love seeing him fail and wonder how he’ll ultimately overcome. Tiger has been blowing competitors away since he was 4 years old. Let’s see if he really does have a comeback gene.

To read more great GURU go to the GURU's Facebook Page.

Tiger, Rory and Phil at the 2012 Masters

Is this the year we get an all-out battle royal at Augusta National between who most people consider the best three golfers on the planet?

I think so.

Tiger is getting his game steadily together, highlighted by his amazing “62” at the Honda Classic. Rory has rebuilt his physique to complement his awesome game and he seems primed to close the deal at the Masters this year. Phil’s scintillating performance at the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am when he shot 8-under 63 to comeback from six strokes down signaled he’s hitting all cylinders in 2012.

Is this Arnie, Jack and Gary all over again?

That’s a quantum leap, I agree, but at least we have some anticipation the 2012 Masters will be a memorable one or, as Jim Nance likes to say, “One for the Ages.”

I can’t wait.

First things first, though, the “New Big 3” will tee up today at the World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship along with former No. 1 Luke Donald, Lee Westwood, Keegan Bradley and Hunter Mahan.

In fact, all of the top 50 in the world are in this week’s loaded field tournament at Doral’s TPC Blue Monster in Miami.

If the “New Big 3” provides some fireworks this week, things will really heat up as we head toward Augusta next month.

To read more great GURU, go to the Guru's Facebook page.

5 Reasons I love Bay Hill Golf Club:

One of my favorite PGA Tour courses is Bay Hill Golf Club in Orlando.

Here’s why I love the place:

The course, originally designed by Dick Wilson and Arnold Palmer, is a masterful layout with six doglegs and water in play on 10 of the 18 holes.

The 18^th hole is a blast to play. The par-4, 485-yard (from the tips) hole requires a laser-accurate mid-iron shot over water to a huge, undulating green bordered by deep bunkers on the left side.

Though it’s a private club, you can play there if you stay at the resort’s 70-room lodge.

There’s always a chance you can meet Arnie, who is seen around the property a lot during the winter months.

The service at the course and lodge is attentive but unpretentious.

What Does Tiger's "62" Mean?

When Tiger started posting birdies and eagles in eye-popping fashion on the final day of the Honda Classic, NBC golf broadcaster Dan Hicks and analyst Johnny Miller sounded like a couple of kids who scored X-Boxes on Christmas morning.

Finally, the old Tiger had surfaced on a Sunday with the chance of pulling off a miracle comeback on a difficult course fashioned by Jack Nicklaus, whose record of 18 majors Tiger has been furiously chasing.

If not for the young Irish phenom Rory McIlroy playing steady golf through the Bears Trap holes at PGA National, the entire golf media world would be falling all over themselves celebrating the return of Tiger and his game.

Whether you’re a Tiger hater or supporter, there’s no denying people can’t stop watching this guy play golf. Haters despise Tiger’s arrogance, self-importance and general surliness around fans and the media, yet supporters are willing to forgive off-the-course shenanigans to cheer on once-in-a-generation supreme greatness.

The “62”, I believe, signals Tiger has mastered the swing techniques suggested by his instructor Sean Foley, however, Tiger has still not put together four days of great golf in a long time.

Can Tiger win before the Masters?

No. I think the “62” was an anomaly and that he still has work to regain his consistency over four days.  He has a couple of high-profile tournaments (Doral and Bay Hill) before the Masters to fine-tune his game, though.

Come Augusta time, Woods will be ready to contend for the title against Rory, Phil and all comers providing he has his putting touch for the week.

If you think Hicks and Miller were giddy last Sunday, wait’ll you hear the Tiger-fawning ESPN and CBS announcers during Masters week.

Welcome back Tiger.

What took you so long?

 

Hail King Rory-Golf's New No. 1

Golf has its new king and he comes in the form of a floppy-haired, Irish, 22-year-old, who can flat out play.

With Rory McIlroy’s victory at the Honda Classic, which pushed him over the top to No. 1 in the World Rankings, golf now has a dynamic poster boy, who can perhaps help our withdrawal from Tigermania.

While Tiger reminded the world of his brilliance with a scintillating 8-under, 62 on the final day, it was Rory who dominated the tournament on every other level.

Hopefully Tiger continues to improve and give Rory a strong rival because it would be great for golf. Rory is taking a somewhat measured view of his number one ranking. At the media conference after the Honda Classic, he was asked, “How long do you think you can stay here?”

He answered: “I don't know, I mean, it depends on how I play.  I mean, hopefully I can stay here but it depends on how others play.  It really is‑‑ you don't‑‑ I'd like to stay there for a while.  I'm not sure how far above Luke I go now or what the point difference is, but as long as I keep playing good golf and have chances to win tournaments, then hopefully I'll stay up there.”

Unless Tiger turns into a Vijay Singh, who won big-time and played fabulous golf in his 40s, it looks like the next ten years will be the “Decade of Rory”. 

Let’s raise a toast to watching some phenomenal golf by this exceptional young Irishmen. If Tiger, Phil and others can give him some serious competition, we’re in for some fantastic golf viewing in the near future.

Why Tiger Woods Can't Win

Following Tiger Wood's introduction to an Orlando Isleworth fire hydrant in 2009, we were introduced to another Tiger on the golf course. Tiger 2.0 resembles 1.0 somewhat these days, but the new version just can’t seem to win and add to his trophy case like the feared older version.

You can blather on endlessly about his new coach and swing and whether he can keep the ball on the fairway consistently, but it’s Tiger’s pathetic flat stick game that probably wouldn’t even get him a win on the Nationwide Tour.

Woods ranks 175^th in the PGA Tour Strokes Gained Putting performance stat. When you watch Woods on the greens these days he looks like an 18-handicapper overcome with anxiety at a corporate scramble with the boss watching. These days Woods hopes the ball goes in rather than knowing it will find the bottom of the cup.

Other parts of Tiger’s 2.0 game aren’t that impressive, either. He ranks 81^st in driving distance at 290.4 yards and 177^th in total driving. On the bright side, he’s first in Sand Save Percentage, and eighth in Greens in Regulation percentage and Scoring average.

The bottom line is if Tiger’s putts begin to fall, he will win again. Suffice it to say, just about every professional golfer who sticks a peg in the ground will tell you they’ll win again if they can just drop a few putts. 

Best Modern Clubhouses

Check out my list of "Best Modern Clubhouses", the greatest 19th holes ever.

5 Worst Meltdowns in the MAJORS

If you think your game is on the skids, don't forget some of the greatest golfers on the planet have crashed and burned at very inopportune times. 

Check out my list of the 5 Worst Meltdowns in the MAJORS.

Video of the meltdowns will make you cringe.

My All-Time Favorite Golf Experience

My All-Time Favorite Golf Experience

I’m one of those lucky souls to have played more than a few courses on everybody’s Top 100 list. That said, my favorite golf experience—with the criteria encompassing setting, playability and memorable holes—is Kingsbarns Golf Links near St. Andrews in Scotland.

Apparently, I’m not the only one who thinks highly of this Kyle Phillips designed gem. Golfweek recently ranked Kingsbarns the No. 1 Modern Course (built after 1960) in Great Britain and Ireland.

Late last year Golf Digest ranked Kingsbarns as No. 12 in their Top 50 Links in Great Britain & Ireland.

Opened in 2000, Kingsbarns is set on land that gently slopes down towards the coastline and almost every hole has a phenomenal view of the seas. Stretching 7,181 yards from the championship tees, Kingsbarns is part of the Dunhill Links Championship rotation alongside the Old Course at St. Andrews and Carnoustie Golf Links.

5 Tips for the Corporate Golfer That Really Work

Check out my latest post at Cvent for some golf tips, especially if you're a golfer that struggles at corporate golf events.

5 Worst (But Most Successful) Golf Swings

There's one major difference between your hacker's swing and the list of gentlemen on my list of worst golf swings. They've managed to win millions of dollars with their less-than-technically perfect swings, and you probably don't have a dime to show for efforts. Check out my latest post at Golf Partners Online to see who made my list.

5 Most Annoying Resort Practices

I absolutely love playing golf at resorts. There's nothing like a massage or herbal wrap at the spa after an arduous round or a cool libation on the veranda of a plush clubhouse. That said, there are some annoying practices by resorts that drive me crazy. Check out my latest post at the Golf Partners Club.

5 Best Golf Shots Ever

For my list of the 5 Best Golf Shots ever, go to my latest post at Golf Partners Club