Hi Guys:
A great utility club to use around the green
is a chipper. It’s a specially designed club
for chipping and running the ball along the
ground like a putter with some loft.

There are a few golf mfg. cos that make good
ones now. Cleveland Golf has a one with a
weighted back that I tested out a few months
back and liked.

The other day and what got me to think of
writing this story was that I was in a thrift
shop around the corner from where I live.
I found an old Mac Gregor chipper that caught
my eye. I like collecting old clubs. You can
find them sometimes at such stores.

I liked the feel and weight in the back. I
reckoned it most be 35-50 yrs old and so I
forked over the $2.99 and took it home. The
Cleveland one costs around $80.00 to $90.00.
I think.

I have a golf studio at home so I was able to
try it out quickly and found it works really
good.

A good chipper can save you strokes around the
green and get you out of some awkward situations
on the course where you just need to hit it back
into play a short distance or from under a tree
or something.

A hybrid can work too but they are longer in
length and I find the chipper being shorter can be
the real winner especially when you get it close to
the hole or you hole the chip shot. I can use my
regular putting stance with it.

I’ll let you know when I hole my first one with
this new find..!

Let me know your thoughts on this as well.

Need any help with your short game? You can contact
me for a one on one lesson or series to sharpen your
short game.

Hope you’re doing well on the links.

Keep cool, Bob Cisco
The Golf Doctor
www.allaboutgolf.us

Hi Guys: 

British Open one of my real favorites is up and running at St.Andrews with players facing the elements and unpredictable weather predicted most of the tournament.

Outcome will be decided with those players who can keep the ball down and in play especially off the tee. And who play smart on the key finishing  holes 17 and and 18. Two of the best finishing holes in championship golf I might add.

You got to like the Thurs-Fri pairing of Woods-Rose-Villegas going at it and a  big draw and crowd pleaser I would think with the fans there.

Putting will be the key for Tiger Woods.  Look for Villegas to make a run at it. Rose is the hottest player right now in the world of golf. Europe is hot right now with the majors.

Phil Mickelson needs to get off to a good start to contend for Sunday run.

I got a feeling there will be a playoff to this championship. Any predictions out there?

Best shooting,

Bob Cisco - The Golf Doctor, www.allaboutgolf.us  (Bob Cisco golf books)

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Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Hi Guys:

Steve Stricker is hot as a pistol with his golf as he goes real deep at the John Deere Classic to win his second back to back PGA event there with  a record performance.

This is Steve’s fifth win in 15 months on the PGA tour and vaults him back to the No. 2 spot in the world rankings behind No. 1, Tiger Woods. By the end of the summer we might see a new number one on the world of golf, either Phil Mickelson or Steve Stricker, depending on the final majors. It happened in tennis this summer. Will it happen in golf?

What I like about Stricker and you can learn from is that he’s got a great scoring game from 125 yards and in. He’s great with the wedge shots and has a smooth silky putting stroke and this is where birdies and pars are saved along with making the super eagles he makes.

He drives the ball well off the tee. Not a long hitter by tour standards yet he knows how to position his tee shots in place to make the difference and he’ s smart when it comes to his course management and strategy skills.

Look for Steve to seriously contend in the summer final majors here especially back in his home state of Wisconsin, where the PGA Championship is next month in August at Kohler.

I especially like his great balance in his swing and has very good timing in hitting his golf shots.  Steve swings within himself and is an excellent model to emmulate, never forcing the shot with a consistent tempo. 

The British Open looks like a great third major getting underway on Thursday here from St. Andrews in Scotland.

All for now, Bob Cisco,  The Golf Doctor

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• Stricker wins second straight John Deere Classic (cbssports.com)

Graeme Mc Dowell’s win at this weekend’s US Open was nothing short of a stellar feat for the N. Ireland native.  He definitely made it happen despite all odds.

He played some really good golf in what turned out to be more of a bit of an all European final with the  tough  fast greens that turned lightning fast.  A  Frenchmen named Gregory Havret, also played fantastic golf,  to almost force a playoff as well.

Grame defeated golf’s big three who all had chances to win by far, but they could not mount  steady charges and do their thing, including that of Tiger Woods, who looked like he was back once again.

Not since Tony Jacklin won in 1970 have we seen someone from the British Isles win the US Open here on American soil.

Hats off to Greame Mc Dowell and his great play at historic Pebble Beach on Dad’s Day with his father present at the 18 th green to acknowlege his great triumph.  It doesn’t get much better than that now does it!

What was Greame’s secret to success and his play?

It was his driving in the fairway, his putting and self confidence in himself in a game introduced to him by his Dad, who believed in his son’s ability to play the game and be a great  golfer.

Not the longest driver of the ball by far but steady and long enough to be in the fairway most of the time mixed with mastery of the greens with his putter, he prevailed.  These key statistics along with his good iron play made the difference enough to win by one shot at the famed Pebble Beach layout.

It sure was good theatre and a great day to be with your Dad and win golf’s greatest tournament, our U.S. Open.

What I liked especially about this Irishmen was his resolve and determination to hang in there and make things happen.  He made up his mind and hit the golf shot in a decisive manner. Excellent  short game as well around the greens.

Golfers can learn from his routine and get into hitting shots with determination. Take dead aim and fire!

All for now and onto the Bristish Open at St. Andrews in Scotland for golf’s next and third major of the season.

Best,  Bob Cisco, The Golf Doctor

Tiger’s back this week at Muirfield Village as Jack Nicklaus hosts his  Memorial golf tournament with a  star studded field of players.

This should be the start of his ramp up for the US Open in a couple of weeks in Calofrnia at famed Pebble Beach.

Tiger seems to be on the mend from his neck injury and hopefully will have a good tournament having won here several times and coming from behind last year to win with a closing 65 in the last round.

This is a super tournament and close to a major in the eyes of many of the players.

The course is modeled after many of the greatest holes in golf that Jack Nickluas has played in his great career.

Can Tiger regroup and get back on track and be a favorite to win at the US Open?

Can Phil Mickelson regroup after missing the cut this last week and surpass Tiger and take over the No.1 spot in the world rankings here in June?

Maybe some good old great golf would be just what Tiger needs.

Let’s tune in and see this week at Jack’s place in Columbus, Ohio.

All for now,

Bob Cisco - The Golf Doctor

www.allaboutgolf.us

With an exciting Masters in the books, the PGA tour heads to the southeastern city of Charlotte, South Carolina next week with Hilton Head, a great venerable tour stop in between. Love that lighthouse there

Both Tiger Woods and Phil Michelson head up a stellar field of players at Quail Hollow in Charlotte  next week on a stunning venue that requires accuracy and distance.

With the US Open looming in less than two months now it looks Quail Hollow provides a major venue type course to work on key shots  in preparation for Pebble Beach in June at the US Open.

Could this be a preview of the showdown we’re looking for between Woods and Michelson going ‘possibly mano to mano’  for golf’s second major, the US Open?

Look for Phil to continue to use the three wood as a real driving weapon off the tee in his bag like he did at Augusta.  Then again he hit probably one of the best golf shots of all time in a major at The Masters out of the pine straw there on the back nine. Seems he just can’t always stay out of trouble and when he does he is a real magician on finding the green with his shot-making skills.

Can Phil overtake Tiger in the world rankings here this summer? Wow! That would be something else and a great summer for golf here. And then there’s the Ryder Cup in September as well. Exciting stuff!

Talk soon,

Bob Cisco, the Golf Doctor

www.allaboutgolf.us

The shot on the 15 th hole the par five out of the pine straw to a tight pin over Rae’s Creek is one for the ages in tournament golf. He made birdie and win onto win his three Masters title and Green Jacket by three strokes. Tremendous!

Phil delights the crowd an the millions watching on TV. You have to admit this was great theater and one of the highest Sunday ratings of any sports event in recent years.

There was also Tiger Woods trying  to get back on track and winds-up fourth overall. Pretty good stuff.

Bob Cisco comments –

Phil wins due to his course management skills being firmly in place driving mostly with a three wood throughout the day.  He also relies on one of his greatest strengths which is courage and went for the ‘impossible’ shot and makes it happen. Then the legendry putting  king.

Lee  Westwood is poised for his first major for sure. Just needs to relax and know its going to happen and be totally himself. Golf is truly a mental game.

Tiger plays remarkably strong despite long lay-off.  Will hit stride in second or third major this summer for sure as he clears away personal problems with a major in sight.

Freddie and Tom played great golf at the Masters and got our attention for sure.

Anthony Kim poised for a great year and potential major winner here. A real young gun who can light it up!

Phil could over take Tiger’s No 1 world ranking this summer. Wow!

Should be a great boost for golf with this summer from this exciting Masters tournament.

All for now and most respective of a great Masters event 2010!

Bob Cisco — The Golf Doctor, www.allaboutgolf.us

Golf’s first major of the year, The Masters is fast upon us with a field of old guard internationals playing great golf along with some new young talent and star power. Veterans like Els, Goosen and Lee Westwood are on their games and should do real well at Augusta.  

Anyway its Spring time in Augusta and time for a real shoot out at the Masters perhaps golf’s greatest championship.

Let’s see who wins in Houston athis week and then onto Augusta and the Masters tournament.

Amen Corner is where it will be at coming down the stretch on Sunday. Will it be Els who’ll make it happen this year. Can Phil or Tiger be in contention at the end. Or can Kenny Perry make up for his loss at last years Masters.  

Ernie Els off to his best start in years with victories at the Honda Classic and AP’s Invitational. The “Big Easy” is back! And looks like the man to beat and could be readied to win for the first time at Augusta.

Ernie looks really comfortable with his putting and confident with his ball striking. What great timing in the golf swing. He reminds me so much of Sam Snead’s great rhythmic swing.

The Aussies are hungry for a win at Augusta as well with Allenby and Oglivy leading the charge down old “Magnolia Lane”.

Then again don’t count out the old guard guys like former Masters champion Freddie Couples, who is also hot as a pistol, playing the Champions tour like a junior star for the first time in his inaugural season at age 50 with three straight wins. Freddie’s really driving and putting great! 

Then there’s VJ Singh whose won here and plays well here too.  Former champion Phil Michelson looking to break thru as well and win here in 2010.  Jim Furyk looks like he’s in form as well with two victories in the last four months to his credit. Ian Poulter, recent winner of the World Golf Championship should be up there on Sunday on the leaderboard as well.

This should be a great Masters tournament  and go down to the wire as usual.

Whose your pick to win at Augusta? Will it be a playoff?

All for now, Bob Cisco

Steve Stricker wins the LA Open here in So California and is his fourth win since last May’s victory at the Colonial Invitational.  He surpasses Phil Mickelson for the Number Two spot in the world rankings behind Tiger Woods.

Stricker averaged arounf 270 yards + off the tee for most of the rain soaked event and was the best putter in the pack. His first three rounds were 26, 26 and 22 putts and with this kind of putting you win golf tournaments. That’s what wins golf tournaments.

What I like about Stricker is that he plays smart golf.  He swings smoothly never trying to hit hard. He has a great scoring game from 100 yards and out. This is where he is one of the very best in the world. He’s great with the wedge and the putter.

You can learn a lot about his rhtymm and smooth putting stroke. It is a thing of beauty and he is very consistent in his putting. Not just a good putter but a great one which is what you have to be to play on tour. Emulate s routine. It’s very effective.

He’s made some great changes in his game over the last few years and has gone from a good PGA tour player to a super one. He’s playing to his potential becuase he plays to his strengths and gets the most out of his game. Not super long he knows the value of a drive placed in the fair way. Smart player who knows how to score.

I had a chance to see the players practice on Tuesday before the rain set in and it was a real highlight  to see their great tempo and timing in their practice sessions. I even had a chance to talk with Robert Allenby, the Aussie player who is one of the hottest players right now.

If you’re going to work on your game at all, practice on the short game shots and putting and build your scoring game and confidence here first as these on begins for you in your part of the country. You can even practice that putting stroke on the carpet and your chipping/pitching outside in the back yard with the weather being bad.

Work on the scoring game first and then the long game and you’ll see better scoring! That’s where it’s at with scoring and better scores

Here’s to playing better golf,

Bob Cisco - The Golf Doctor.

www.allboutgolf.us