Sony Open In Hawaii / PGA TOUR / January 15-18, 2009
 

Brian's at it again, leading the driving accuracy and #3 in putts per GIR still leaves him one back of the leaders. http://www.pgatour.com/players/01/98...2009/r006.html


I wish I was as straight from the tees. :crybaby:

Should be another exciting weekend. Go Brian!

Kevin

Hawaii Hit Man
 

Brian Gay scorched Waialae CC in Honolulu on Thursday with a 4-under-par 66 that left him T-2. On Friday, he birdied his last three holes to finish with a 67 and a two-day total of 133 (-7 / T-3). His Driving Accuracy leads the field: 75 percent of fairways hit versus the 49.8 percent average for the field. That stat tells us that he is hitting 50 percent more fairways than the field average. Impressive.

Sidelights. Brian called the week before he left for Maui and the Mercedes-Benz Championship. We talked about the importance of Clearing the Right Hip in the Backstroke and the independence of the Hip and Shoulder Turns. What better time to talk about 'Hula Hula' Hip Action? :mrgreen:

Also, he had just broken the shaft in his driver, or rather, his wife had broken it.

:shock:

Somehow or other, his Taylor Made R7 got under the wheels of Kimberly's SUV as she backed out of the garage, and -- snap! -- the shaft was history. This was during Christmas week, and the Taylor Made folks were closed. So, the driver that he used to win more than $3 million the past two years was temporarily out of action. Not to worry, though: the re-shafting was done in Hawaii, and Brian's rifle-like accuracy with the 'big stick' obviously remains intact.

:salut:

I saw part of the Sony yesterday and they talked with his caddy, Kip Henley, who gave rave reviews on Brian's ballstriking, particularly when he gets a wedge in his hand.

Moving Day At the Sony
 

Brian Gay today shot 68 and is now at 201 (-9) and T-2, one shot behind leader Zach Johnson. Here's a bit of what he had to say after the round: http://www.pgatour.com/2009/tourname...gay/index.html.

Sunday cometh.

All the best, Brian!

:salut:

Lately Master Y has used this "technique" when responding, so I´ll try do the same

Needless to say

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fg3vzl_VwLc

Cheering from the far side of the pond.

Go Brian!!!! Not managed to see Brian in any of the coverage yet but hopefully we will see him on tonights coverage as he will be in on of the final groups.
Alex

It's a Sunday. In New York: snow flurries. 27 degrees F. We're in a snow globe watching Brian Gay in Hawaii on HD. "Yoda's Guy". Good luck today Brian!
Birdie Chance

Brian got a lot of nice coverage in round 3.

It seems one or two of the background announcers count themselves among Brian's friends.

One said he was getting a lot of text messages during the broadcast from Brian's buddies in Orlando.

If anyone here has the ability to text any of The Golf Channel announcers during this evening's broadcast, I'd like to hear them mention Lynn Blake as Brian's coach. A plug for the yellow book is in order, as well. :salut:

Go BG!!!!! Should be fun to watch this tonight in "primetime" . . . . Aloha Mr. Hand!!!!! Lotsa "scrappers" on the board. Good luck B . . . here's to you gettin' after it!!!

Far Away Leader
 

Good idea, asleep. You do need to get these guys attention!

Kimberly Gay led the charge in '07 when Brian finished 4th at Memphis, and Bobby Clampett gave me a prime-time CBS mention. And John Riegger texted Ian Baker Finch during the same event. I was surprised at how many of my students and club buddies heard it. Even my accountant called me! Other than that, though . . . nada. :crybaby:

Actually, I kinda goofed this one up. The announcers make their rounds among the leaders as they warm up for the final day's play. If I'da been on the tee with Brian, who knows? In my own defense, Hawaii is a long way to go for a weekend. And the last time Brian held court was at the Mayakoba in Mexico. I gotta get this guy 'in the hunt' somewhere closer to home!

:laughing9

I got this feeling that there is this tour stop near Augusta that you guys are going to be working soon. Maybe even this year. Nice and close to home.
Good sandwiches too.

OB

We must let the world know who the torchbearers are!

Here we know you have your well-earned place inside the ropes, Mr. Blake. It seems knowledge of these things, a paradigm shift back to the swing coach, take time to permeate through the golfing world.

The truth will out. ;)

Aloha Hawaii!
 

Brian Gay today finished birdie-birdie -- the guy never quits -- for a fine 2-under par 68 in the final round of the Sony. For the week, his 66-67-68-68=269 (-11) earned a T-5 and $205,200.

Congratulations, Brian!

And now . . .

It's off to next week's The 50th Bob Hope Classic hosted by Arnold Palmer in LaQuinta, California!

:golfcart2:

Zach Johnson -- The PuttMeister
 

Zach Johnson today won the Sony Open In Hawaii with a masterful display of ball striking skills, including putting. I spent an hour or so on the putting green with Zach and his long-time caddy, Damon Green, at the 2008 AT&T Classic. Zach was okay with my camera as they worked, and the 'up close and personal' video -- On the Green With the Zach Johnson Team -- is here free for you: http://lynnblakegolf.com/gallery/sho...ry.php?cat=541.

I also spent a couple of hours with Zach and his coach, Mike Bender, on and around the putting green at The TOUR Championship in 2007. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me, but I did write a post on the experience. Check my archives.

:golfcart2:

Way to go Brian and Yoda
 

It was great to watch Brian getting the coverage recognition he deserved on Saturday. Golf Channel did not cover him much on Sunday. They did show his great iron shot on 17 and the birdie putt. They only showed the tap in birdie on 18.
Congratulations Yoda on Brian’s great play. He is a golfing machine.