Charming Champion
Hello Golfers,
Was it really a year ago that the mild mannered West
Australian Greg Chalmers won the Australian Open in sensational fashion, and
then followed up bagging the PGA a week later? How time flies.
Well the wait is almost over, the much anticipated return of
the Australian Open is to be staged at the Lakes G.C. this Thursday, featuring
some of the world’s best players, including Justin Rose,
Adam Scott, John Sendon, the legendary Tom Watson and defending champion Greg
Chalmers.
Greg Chalmers is relishing the chance to play alongside
eight-time major winner Tom Watson as he aims to defend his title at this
week's Australian Open. The left-hander has been paired alongside Watson and
youngster Jake Higginbottom for the first two days of the Open.
Chalmers contacted Tom Watson and some other all time greats
for advice, it appears that Chalmers is working extremely hard on his game, as
I personally witnessed last year when I saw him hitting balls on the range at
7.30am in the morning after he won the PGA. The man is dedicated and the
results are starting to reflect his efforts.
"I played a practice round with Tom Watson. I wrote him
a letter. There were some things this year that I had not done or it was a
while since I had done them.
"I spoke to Tom, I spoke to Nick Price this year, Paul
Azinger. I'd love to chat to Greg Norman, too.
"I wanted to get into Tom's head a bit and find out if
I was on the right path. The game comes very easily to some people. I think he
(Watson) is one of them."
"It is a battle for me. If you can stand over the ball
with one thought in your head, you are about 1000 steps in front of most
guys," he said.
"Sometimes I wish I was a lot better at it, other times
I am thankful I can process a few things.
"It's a strength of (Watson's). That why he has won
eight majors and all those tournaments. It is something to aim for."
"There are the majors and then you want to win your
nation's Open.”
Chalmers and his playing partners will tee off in the
afternoon groups, just after midday on Thursday, with the likes of Adam Scott,
Geoff Ogilvy, John Senden and world No.4 Justin Rose all playing in the
morning.
Belly Up
Should belly putters be taken out of golf? American golf
great Tom Watson says there should be a ban on Belly Putters. "I agree (it
should be banned), and I say that with mixed emotions," Watson said.
"My son Michael has a conventional putting stroke and couldn't make it
from two-feet half the time. He went to a belly putter and he makes everything.
The game is fun to him.
"And there lies the danger. To take away the ability of
people to have fun because it is not a stroke of golf? I firmly believe it is
not.
"Do we go to two sets of rules, so people can use it in certain
competitions and the PGA Tour can't? I don't know.
"I thought Ernie Els said it perfectly when he won last year's Open
Championship. He was asked why he went to the long putter and he said, 'He was
cheating like the rest of them'.
Other News
Australian golfer Steve Bowditch wrote a great tweet after
his q-school experience, emphasising how hard it is to get a place on the tour.
"Bowditch: What I just went through, I wouldn’t wish
that on anyone. #qschool "
Job well done.
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PRO TIP:
With fast, firm, quick greens at this time of year getting
the ball to stop near the hole becomes harder on those tricky downhill lies.
Instead of hitting the ball in the sweet spot, try lining the ball up with the toe
and striking from that position.
Hitting the ball from the toe instead of the middle will
give the ball less momentum and deaden the strike, resulting in more putts getting
nearer the hole.
Remember, We Buy, Swap and Sell Used Golf Clubs. Send us your trade in!
Have a good week,
David Fearns (PGA)
Golf Traders
Golf Traders is a
Used Golf Clubs Specialist. We buy, swap and sell used golf clubs
[Golf Traders](www.golftraders.com.au)
