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

I don’t know if you had a chance to see the first Champions Tour event over this weekend from Hawaii won by Tom Watson in a great duel with Fred Couples. Yes that’s right! Watson winning and Couples in the lineup here on the Senior Tour. This is great for the Champions Tour.

Fred Couples quietly tuned 50 yrs of age not too long ago and is now a ’senior’ and playing on not only the Champions tour but will compete on the PGA Men’s tour. He’s even talking about qualifying for the British Open this summer at St. Andrews. Please check his driver’s license and birth certificate for me please. For someone averaging 322 yds for the event that ain’t no senior tour guy. Putts dropping right and left with his belly putter left hand low grip.

You got to admit it here. Despite the bad backs and all the accumulative injuries, these guys can play. There are awesome. A winning score of 22 under par means a lot of birdies and eagles man. And these guys play just three rounds to boot not four like on the regular tour. That’s an average of more than 65-66 for each round. Holy Bat Man! These guys are really good.

I kept going back and forth between the tournaments on the Golf Channel from the Hope to the Champions event and then I had the realization that I knew more of the players and their stories on the Champions tour than whose who the young guns playing at the Hope by far.

On top of that when I then discovered whose on  rooster playing on the Senior Tour these days  I could not believe it. Just this years’ new additions include Freddie Couples, Corey Pavin , and Mark Calcaveccia, and I’m telling you this is the tour to get watching more. They’re playing with the likes of Bernard Langers, Loren Roberts, Fred Funk, Tom Watson, Mark O’Meara,  and a host of other really great players of the game  who can really play some super golf. 

You know these guys can not only play great golf but seem to know how to enjoy themselves at the same time. Imagine playing a game where you actually get paid to perform and have fun doing it, and seeing all your friends at one location. They’re playing golf man!

I think these guys’ pinch’ themselves every day and count their lucky stars or something that they are able to play golf for a living at this time in their life. They seem to have put the word “fun” back into the game as they compete for more golf titles and wins.

I think I’ll keep the TV channel on the same spot for now.

Let’s get back to playing for the enjoyment of the game here in 2010. That’s one of my new golf goals of the year. 

How about yours?

Let me know if you need to tune-up a part of your game.  Our season begins here very soon.

Plus with my new instructional method I have developed here, Plant and Pivot along with our new balance-right swing trainer, you will see some even greater improvement here this year.

All for now. Bob Cisco

 The Golf Doctor. www.allaboutgolf.us

Hi Guys:

You may have missed this during “Tiger Slam” but this news which was rather more inconspicuous than Tiger’s, was surfacing a few weeks ago from “down under” in Australia there.

In December when Australia has its majors, an American pro golfer quietly tied up it named John Daley. Yes, the real Daley who stayed long enough to play a couple of the majors there and finished ninth in one of them. Many of the Aussie fans weren’t sure if it was him at first. But it was the real John Daley, minus about 100 lbs of him.

Daley not only has slimmed down 100 pounds or so and looks even better than when he ventured on and won the PGA in the early 1990s but is back with an intensity and desire to make his golf game here heading into 2010, his comeback year and “the year OF THE DALEY”.

With Tiger Woods probably not retuning till June for the US Open or later or not at all this year, John could have a break out year here and move to the top of the leader boards. Who knows he might even contend and win another major at the British or PGA Championship this summer.

I remember what Tiger said had said about big John Daley. He’s got more talent than anyone golfer I know. Well maybe that talent will find its way again.  Golf sure needs a star to return or step up to the plate this year with a certain person missing in action on an indefinite leave from the game.

I have to tell you I saw John hit what I would say was one of the most memorable and magically crafted shot I have ever seen at a golf tournament. This was at Riviera CC in the LA Open several years ago and it was on the par three fourth or fifth hole there, where he hit the green with a long iron and was stymied by a sand trap that was imbedded or situated in the green there.

A very unique and rather famous hole on Los Angeles golf history. Instead of putting Daley took a sand or lob wedge and “flipped it like a flap-jack” with his wedge straight up and down next to the hole from about 45 feet away. It was sort of magically and definitely ALL FEEL! I’ll never forget the image and this shot. One of the best I’ve ever seen.

John probably figures that with all the media attention on ‘Tiger Slam’ and where’s Tiger these days that he could move more quietly around at golf courses and make a statement with his better play and cash more in where he’s been missing. You have to recall some here that he was suspended by the PGA Tour for his behavior last year  “as golf’s bad boy” and sat out six months or so. of that suspension. from the commissioner.

Daley I would think feels a sense of relief in a way that he’s not the singled-out player in the dog house and with all the media trying to figure out Tiger’s next move, a remunerated Daley is on the move and lookout here. You got to also like the new outfit with the pants. Right?

So let’s watch and see what a new waistline, girlfriend and attitude can do for John Daley. If it will have him hitting stronger or will it be too much of a change like when Craig Stadler dropped 50 pounds. He later said phooey and went back up in weight. It changed his swing tempo according to him too much. Maybe it was the wine and deserts were too much to give up as well. Who knows.

Anyway this could be an interesting year here in 2010 with anything goes and let’s place the casting call at: calling all new faces, young guns and old and let’s get it on in the new year. There’s events and lots of cash to win and fund raisers to help with a good cause.

Let’s see what happens here.

Bob Cisco - The Golf Doctor.  www.allaboutgolf.us

But at this point many of us have lost a bit of faith and need some good news to get thru the Holidays and to get through all of this. Do you have any to share especially inspirational golf ones?

The events of this past period and what is to come in 2010 with the PGA tour is a bit unpredictable to say the least. Drug testing for PGA players is planned and has been readied since this past year meeting of the PGA Tour and players division.

For the first time that I can remember I can’t think of a more engaging  moment that has engrossed our attention and focus in a compromising manner. More so that than some of the greatest come from behind charges that got are attention by the golfing greats themselves, we face an uncertain shaky future this coming year.

The business and direction of tournament golf and its orbit has been shaken to say the least and golf will suffer and more sponsors will most likely withdraw their support for such tour events.

Despite it all as I see it it with our No. One top player Tiger Woods, off handling  his personal life  which is really none of our business, even though we think it’s a bit of out of orbit itself, I do believe he can pick up the pieces here. It’s an important  time  for new players and those who have lost their might, to step up to the tee and play their best golf and play it now. I’m thinking of players like Ernie Els, V.J Singh, Phil Mickelson, Steve Stricker, Retrif Goosen, Padrig Harrington, Jim Furyk,  and a few others who have played man to mano with Woods to come forward and play their best golf. I’m even thinking this could be a break out year for John Daley who has dropped 100 lbs and played well in Australia lately and could surprise a few people  next year.

New young guns need to step up as well like Anthony Kim and play with total conviction and confidence. What happened to the Aussies and their incredible talent of players.

It would be a real kick and thrill to see Michelle Wie take off like a rocket and win not only several LPGA events but her first major at the Nabisco in April here.

It’s time for some real good stuff to happen in golf starting in 2010. We could use some stories of incredible comebacks, a new triumverate in golf, new young guns to emerge.

But don’t count out the Champions Tour here in 2010 with the additions of Freddie Couples, Corey Pavin and Kenny Perry. That’s no misprint here. Your best bang for your golfing bucks.

I think I’ll be watching these guys play great golf who are playing more for the fun of it that the big bucks. Plus then again there are the reruns of All Star Golf and the Big Three and they certainly enjoyed playing and beating one another as they went. The three amigos of Nicklaus, Palmer and Player. You can’t beat that combination in black and white shooting under par.

All for now, Bob Cisco

P.S. Remember life is a lot like golf: It’s how you play the game that counts! Life is best likened to a game.  

www.allaboutgolf.us

Everyone is wondering if Tiger will arrive in California to play and host his special event this week at Sherwood in Westlake Village, CA.

He is scheduled to speak with the media at a press conference here on Tuesday but event officials still have not gotten the final word on if he is coming or can play this week due to injury from his recent accident in Florida. And then’s there’s the media controversy that’s going on.

Knowing Tiger he will come and will come to play some serious golf this week with his game face on and host his event nicely  as he  has in the past.

A victory here would mean some serious money going to his Tiger Woods Foundation as he has given his total winnings to the Foundation in the past and I think that is more important  that all the media frenzy going on. Proceeds go to improving education in Caifornia schools and several very cool projects.

It was  a smart move to move the tournament up one week as the weather here in So Calif is super around 70 degrees each day for the tournament.

I am looking forward to the crowd roar when his name is announced at the first tee and the tournament gets going this week. Great field and there should be the fantastic scoring this week.  

Let’s play golf guys!

Best, Bob Cisco.  The Golf Doctor

Michelle Wie holds off a strong field of talented players to win her first LPGA golf event beating Paula Creamer. She go up and down out of the trap on the 18 th almost  holing the shot to tap in for her first victory as a pro player.

This is not only a super win for Michelle getting that first victory out of the way but a big PR step for the LPGA  to now promote her star power and the ladies pro ranks.

I had mentioned in a previous post in Sept after her fine Solheim Cup performance that due to her play she was destined to win this Fall in my crystal ball. I guess the crystal ball doesn’t lie from my view.

Anyway this is very good for golf as we have Tiger and Phil playing great golf finishing up their seasons with the expectation of going mano-to-mano in 2010 here and perhaps we now have Wie ready to fight it out with the likes of Creamer and  Ochoa in next year.

You got to love their great balance, timing and ability to not only hit long and straight but in the feel and finesse games

It’s all good for golf as I see it! Come great golf coming our way.

Talk soon,  Bob Cisco

Get ready for an intense spirited competition between the greatest golfers in the world as they compete here in San Francisco for the 2009 PRESIDENT’S CUP tournament.

It’s the US team and captain Freddie Couples up against the International team captained by Greg Norman in a “mano to mano” team competition of  players along with single matches much like the Ryder Cup event.

Look for a possible rematch between Tiger Woods and Y.E. Yang in a single match affair would be great for TV viewing on Sunday!

Our best players and the hottest are Tiger Woods, Phil Michelson, Steve Stricker and Kenny Perry.

The International  team looks pretty tough with Retief Goosen, Ernie Els, Vj Singh and Geoff Oglivy leading the charge for their side.

Harding Park GC in San Francisco area here in the States is the venue and should prove to be a great match-up between both squads.

In case of a tie, if I had it my way, I would like to see a sudden death play-off between Couples for the US and Norman for the Internationals to settle it with Freddie winning a close one!

What’s your take?

Talk soon,

Bob Cisco - Golf Doctor

www.allaboutgolf.us

So kudos to Phil playing at his best and putting lights out to win the Tour Championship over the weekend. He closed super over the weekend with rounds of 66-65 to win.

Mickelson said in the interview afterwards he shot 65 to Tiger’s 70 to win yet Tiger gets $10 million for winning the Fed Ex Cup in total points. He checked himself at this point and changed the subject to the merits of the Fed Ex Cup and how well he’s been playing as of lately.

Credit a putting tip from Dave Stockton former PGA winner himself for getting Phil back to putting like he did as a kid. Stockton is a feel putter and teacher and likes to help his friends do better.

As a feel teacher myself and sport game specialist it’s hard to see a feel player like Phil  become more of a mechanical putter and “go against his nature” and I think that’s what he has done with Dave Pelz and his approach to putting.  Phil is driving the ball super as well and I would say is a real threat to Tiger’s quest for several majors in 2010.

Good going  Phil!

If you’re having putting troubles you can see my Ultimate Putting book which has a great section on feel in putting and a mention of Dave Stockton as well. www.allaboutgolf.us/books or www.lulu.com.bobcisco.

Talk soon,  Bob Cisco

Bob Cisco Comments:

As you can see they have their favorites and motley collections of stand-by and even old faithful clubs that work for them and have found over the years in their travels and experimenting with what works to score their best.

Steve Stricker has become one heck of a player on the PGA tour the last two years.

He gets better and better and with being a great putter he is having his finest season on the PGA tour and leads in the Fed-Ex point’s standings now. And on top of that is No. 2 in the world of golf now. He’s been close to a major the last 1-2 yrs. Not bad for guy from Wisconsin. Next years spot for the PGA Championship not far from where he hails. So look out.

Great putter of the game and one of the best over the last 10 years on tour.

Goes to show you that when you have are a real good putter you can make things happen like knowing you need to birdie the last two holes to win.

I tell many of my students that the key importance to scoring is the short game from 60-70 yards and in and the ability to make key putts!  Oh what a feeling when you feel confident with the flat-stick.

I have a RULE about practice that it should be 70% short game at all times — if you want to master SCORING like the pros do.

I help golfers with various parts of their game and specialize in short game work. You can see some of this at my www.allaboutgolf.us. Go to the golf tips page for some good short game tips.

Let me know how it goes and scoring better!

Talk soon,  Bob Cisco