Deutsche Bank Championship / PGA TOUR / September 4-7, 2009
 

The field is off and running in this second of the FedExCup Playoff series.

The TPC Boston is another tough track that is not exactly Brian Gay's cup of tee -- pun intended! :mrgreen: -- but he'll be grinding all the way (as usual). A win or very high finish here is about his only hope of making the President's Cup team. Captain Freddie Couples has all but said he is going with Lucas Glover and Hunter Mahan. Lucas was a pretty easy call: He is next in line in the FedExCup rankings and is, after all, the reigning U.S. Open Champion.

Hunter is a bit more problematic, at least from my perspective. He ranks behind BG in pre-playoff eligibility (13th vs. 12th); behind him in FedExCup Playoff points (15th vs. 8th); behind him in Official Money (by $320,484 / #14 vs. #10); behind him in victories for the year (as in zero versus two of the most dominating); and regarding current level of play, behind him last week at The Barclays (T-20 vs. T-12). But, who's counting, right? It "is what it is".

After an 8:28 a.m. start on #10, BG is even through five.

:golf:

Good Start
 

Bg's in at 70 (-1 / T-48 ). A solid round.

Hunter's in at 73 (+2 / T-83). Not quite so solid.

:)

Getting your ducks in a row
 

After teaching a few celebs and many high rolling amateurs on the Practice Range all afternoon for Thursday's Pro-Am at the Deutshe Bank Championship, I had the pleasure of catching up to walk inside the ropes with Brian and Kip for a few holes. Brian birdied 17 and stuck it close on 18 and was very helpful an encouraging to his amateur partners. Alignments looked really good. But, I expected nothing less. Now the amateur's alignments in the field, however, were another story entirely :eyes: .

Brian off to a good start today. 2 under on his first three holes. I hope I don't jinx him this time!

Movin' On Up!
 

BG's in with 67 (-4) and 137 (-5). At T-28, he moved up twenty spots today and made the -1 cut by four. Hunter shot 66 (including an eagle 3 on the par five 7th) and is now at 139 (-3 / T-43), two shots behind Brian.

:golf:

I know Phil friends with Couples but its hard to me to believe he would play the Presdent's Cup...he looks listless out there right now with millions on the line, let along what would be an exhibition for a team comp which is like his 20th. If he does not play wouldnt that make Glover on the team and then another pick?

Deutsche Bank / President's Cup Finish
 

Well, BG didn't finish well this weekend, shooting 73-72 to finish at 282, T-54. Both Lucas and Hunter shot 279 (T-36) and beat him. In the 'black box' that is the FedExCup Points System . . .

BG dropped from 8th to 13th.

Lucas dropped from 9th to 14th; and . . .

Hunter dropped from 15th to 23rd.

So, BG leads the two Presidents Cup Captain's Picks in FedExCup Points.

He ranks 12th in Presidents Cup Eligibility (trailing Lucas (11th) but leading Hunter (13th).

It was a close contest.

That's why there are ten qualifiers and two Captain's Picks. Freddie has made his choices. Play well, everybody!

:salut:

Nobody's Fool
 

Congrats to Steve Stricker on his Deutsche Bank win. Also to Tiger on his terrific closing 63.

Here's a photo (#1) I took of the two at this year's PGA Championship at Hazletine. The Finish (Station Three) similarities are obvious and should be emulated by all who aspire to an improved level of play.

Also, check out Steve's Address (Station One) alignments (#2), particularly the On Plane Right Forearm. Kind of reminds you of Brian Gay, doesn't it (#3-#5)? Remember him? This is the same guy who inspired these words from the CBS Tower during his dominating Memphis win:

"Nobody in the game sets up with his right arm like him."

Well . . .

Almost nobody (#6).

Who now is definitely a somebody!

:)

Not to mention Joe Durant, and, oh yeah, this dude:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdblO...eature=related

:)

Hi Yoda,

Can you or one your machinist give us a TGM break down on Steve Srickers swing pattern? Johnny Miller was commenting on how little wrist action he uses and how it might be a good swing pattern for amateurs emulate.

With the lack of accumalator lag how does he get 290 out of his driver? Drive load? hitter or swinger? Angle hinging?

thanks!

sorry about the typo's it's Monday...err Tuesday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fB0B...eature=related

Looks like a swinger to me - goes past top and looks to be a horizontal hinge.

I saw that part of the telecast, also, and I think he was hitting a very controlled iron shot into the green on that one. If I had to guess, I think he purposely used less #2 there. Looking at the above video, he's got close to a 90 degree bend between his left arm and the club shaft, and his right elbow is definitely bent, further indicating he's established an out-of-line condition. Looks to me like he sustains that angle deep enough into his swing that it would be power generator. Personally, I think #2 is a little overrated for distance; not saying you won't hit if further with more #2, just that you can hit it plenty far without a lot of #2.

Ben,

yea it was the short iron shot I was looking at too that appeared to be angled.

I always get #2 and #3 confused. Is #2 the left wrist throwing out or swiveling back up plane?

thanks

My apologies; I was using shorthand and should've been more specific. When I was referring to #2, I was referencing what a lot of people call "accumulator lag" and what you and Johnny Miller were referencing in regards to Stricker's seemingly never cocked/uncocked left wrist.

So #1,2,3, and 4 all reference a power accumulator and a corresponding pressure point. The 2 we've referenced are 1 and 2, and they are somewhat related.

#1 accumulator is the amount of bend in the right arm (for a righty), and the pressure point is the right heel pad pressing against the left thumb. For a swinger this is passive, as the right arm straightens but isn't consciously driven straight.

#2 accumulator is the angle between the left arm and the top of the left hand (cocked vs. level wrist). This is most easily seen by the angle between the left arm and the club shaft, or simply by looking at accumulator #1. Assuming a level right wrist, if the right arm is bent more than it was at impact fix, then there is some amount of #2 accumulator established. This is what most talking heads refer to when they say "lag" and is what guys like Hogan, Sergio, and Boo Weekly all max out then release very late in their swings. The #2 pressure point is the last 2 fingers in the left hand, and you really feel this when the club 'throws out' and that angle between the left arm and shaft gets inline.

I gotcha, I know about #1 and #4, thanks for clarifying #2...

One more question, when you say "further indicating he's established an out-of-line condition" what are you referring to?

flying wedge out of wack?

thanks

All 4 power accumulators are out-of-line conditions that are trying to get inline or straight - eg. a bent right arm, cocked left wrist, angle between your hands and the club shaft (this one is a little confusing, as the angle doesn't really increase during the swing), and your left arm across the chest. Every power accumulator is loaded by increasing the angle and the power is released when that angle is straightened or seeks an inline condition. Each accumulator is felt and monitored through a corresponding pressure point. More angle doesn't necessarily mean more power, but more pressure does.

What I was saying in my previous post is that you can usually identify left wrist cock by looking at the wrist or the right arm bend. I say "usually" because this depends on a flat right wrist, or as you put it a non-"out of whack right arm flying wedge". Since the bending right arm also cocks the left wrist, the two accumulators are closely related, although one of the two is usually passive depending on whether you're hitting or swinging.

good stuff, thanks Ben...