Tap-Ins

A few short strokes at items that have caught my attention ...

A Wie Bit. I'll admit, I've been starting to like Michelle Wie lately. For years, it seemed like she was wasting her formidable talent through mismanagement: She spent so much time as a teenager trying to play in men's event (and LPGA majors) that she went years without a win of any kind before finally, at age 20 nabbing her first LPGA win at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational last November. The victory seemed like evidence that she was finally coming into her own, and was on the verge of realizing some of her prodigious potential. In the meantime, I was impressed that she was committed to completing her college education at Stanford, where she continues to be a full-time student in the off-season.

     This weekend, however, she showed she still has some maturing to do. Wie was in contention at the Kia Classic in California when she was assessed a penalty. After taking a swing at a ball in the water, her ball failed to officially exit the hazard, after which she clearly set her club down in the grass within the bounds of the hazard, a two stroke penalty. She did not handle it well (you can watch the video here). (Image: golf.com)
     Wie claimed that she felt "off-balance" after the shot and was merely trying to steady herself with her club. But it sure doesn't look that way!  And even if that were the case, I don't think that would absolve her of the penalty (but I'm not sure of this). This is apparently not the first time that Wie has had difficulty following or knowing the rules. On Golf Central today, Tim Rosaforte called her an "airhead" when it comes to the rules (while acknowledging that she is otherwise clearly quite intelligent). I think that's a bit harsh, though for someone who's been playing golf her whole life, this strikes me as a rookie mistake.
     I am disappointed, however, that she didn't react better. It's all part of the maturation process – she is just 20 years old, after all. Hopefully she'll learn from her mistake, and from the criticism, and grow as a result.

UPDATE: Some very interesting commentary on the matter at "Free Drop," a blog written by a PGA Rules official. In a nutshell, he thinks the official involved overreached in this particular situation. Read it (including a familiar-sounding headline) here. (Hat tip: Daily Flogging blog at golf.com.)

Freddie on Fire. After getting edged out by Tom Watson in his Champions Tour debut, Fred Couples has been untouchable, winning all three senior circuit tournaments he's played in since. His latest victory, at the Cap Cana Championship on Sunday, included a blistering Sunday 62 (a course record). Pity poor Corey Pavin, the runner-up. How often does a guy go into the final round with a two-stroke lead, then shoot 66 and lose by two? Freddie is so hot, in 12 tournament rounds this year his worst score was the 68 he shot in the first round of the Ace Group Classic, his first win. Granted, the Champions Tour courses do not play to regular-Tour standards, but do you think he's not looking forward to Augusta?

     Couples, of course, has a reputation of being one of the most laid-back golf champions ever. He does notoriously well during golf's "silly season," the cash-rich unofficial events that take place after the official season ends. It's apparently because he thrives under no-pressure, a trait that is no doubt working in his favor as he tees it up with the over-50 set. I've always loved Fred's famous quote about not answering the phone when he's at home –  "because there might be somebody at the other end." It's definitely an attitude The Whiffler can relate to! (Image: bridgestonegolf.com.)

A Sprinkle of Bad Luck. Speaking of Corey Pavin, his chances were not helped on Sunday when his second shot at the par-4 14th hit a greenside sprinkler head and bounced 60 yards over the green into a waste area. He made bogey to lose the lead for the first time all day.

     I could swear this is the second time this year I've seen something like that happen. And I understand that bad breaks are a part of golf, but this is such an artificial sort of bad break. It makes me think of the times I've missed a fairway by just a few yards, only to see my ball carom deep into the woods off a cart path that has no business being so close to the short grass. It just doesn't seem right. If Pavin's ball had come to rest on a sprinkler head, or if it interfered with his stance, he'd be entitled to relief, no penalty. But when it bounces 60 yards over the green, he has no recourse. Maybe they could put a little piece of artificial turf – or even sod – over the sprinkler heads around the green during pro tournaments, a little something to cushion the blow if a ball hits it. It would be a little extra work, but if they can take the time to paint the insides of all the holes for TV, surely they could find the time to put some miniature hair pieces on the sprinklers.

Stronger than Irons (of Old). Johnny Miller made an interesting comment on Sunday about modern clubs. While marveling with Arnold Palmer in the booth about how far players today hit their irons, Johnny pointed out that he's done some testing and found that irons today are about a club-and-a-half stronger, in terms of loft, than they were in his day. This is not a controversy, of course, but it's interesting to think how this has come to be (assuming Miller is correct). I suspect it's the result of clubmakers imperceptibly delofting clubs over the years in order to get a little extra distance over the other guy. The vast majority of golfers probably pay no attention to the degree of loft on an iron, only to the number. So if they're comparing demo 5-irons at the pro shop, for example, and one brand's club seems to go a little farther, they may not notice that it's the result of a tiny bit less loft. And even if they did, would they care?

     This theory also fits in well with the trend toward multiple wedges and fewer long-irons. I've sometimes wondered where these new-fangled wedges fit in on the "loft continuum," but if today's pitching wedge is more like yesteryear's 9-iron, it kind of makes sense. It's also quite conceivable that modern perimeter-weighted irons launch today's livelier golf balls at trajectories that are still somewhat similar. (Plus, with the advent of hybrid clubs, you barely ever see true 3-irons anymore, let alone irons with a "2" or a "1" on the sole.

     Again, I don't consider this to be a controversial matter. But where it does make a difference is when comparing player performance among different eras. Something to keep in mind when I post my "long-awaited" analysis of the changes made through the years at Augusta National.

Masterly Performance. And how about that Ernie Els, another guy who makes family a priority and is easy to like. It's easy to forget how close he's come to winning The Masters a number of times. He certainly seems to be coming into form at just the right time, and he'll be on my short list of guys I'm rooting for.