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Wow! What a finish at the PGA Championship at Whistling Straits! A great three hole play-off decided on the last hole!
The battle of the titans off the tee as Dustin Johnson, Budda Watson and Martin Kaymer launch massive strikes down the fairway. Putts dropping nicely in the hole when needed. Even Steve Elkington at age 47 yrs. almost winning as well.
Unfortunate for Johnson, the confusion between all the spectators and a fairway sand trap or waste bunker cost him a two stroke penalty and perhaps an American victory. After finishing on the last hole. Captured on TV and the Internet for review.
Where was his caddie and the rules official to help him out with this? There are close to 1,000 sand traps on this course and other Pete Dye courses have waste bunkers, where you can ground your club in them.
Martin Kaymer is Europe’s next super star! Great demeanor, super swing and cool mind set. Reminds me of Nick Faldo in many ways. He hung in there all the way and the great putt he made on the 18 th hole to force a playoff from about 12 feet or so was fantastic under all that pressure. You got to like his balance and footwork in his golf swing. Real effortless power in the golf swing. www.lulu.com/perfectbalance
Great iron shot on 17 and the birdie putt. One of golf’s greatest holes. Kudos to Pete Dye. Whistling Straits This is a real masterpiece of a great course for a major. A Pebble Beach on Lake Michigan in Wisconsin.
You got to like Budda Watson and yes he did play some great golf! Did Budda have to go for the green on 18 in the play-off to win? Why not lay up like Kaymer did. Aren’t we suppose to play from our strengths when the heat of competition is on? I tell all my golf students that.
What you can learn from Kaymer is a lot of things. When in trouble, get out of trouble as he did on 18. Hang in there all the way and believe in yourself and give yourself a chance to win. Keep it in the fairway even if you need to lay up with a three wood or hybrid metal like he did on key holes at Whistling Straits.
I would say at this juncture that the US team is in trouble next month in their Ryder Cup showdown with the Europe in Wales. Regardless if Tiger Woods makes the team or not.
Anyway, it was a great close to golf’s last major here in 2010 and it does mark the first season that Tiger has not won a major as I recall.
Looks like there’s a new ERA emerging in pro golf these days. More and more young strong super stars making it and believing in themselves. Golf has truly gone global and it’s a new day for golf!
Golf is king!
Bob Cisco - www.allaboutgolf.us, www.swingmentor.com
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