I communicated via email recently with Morgan Pressel. I had a few questions about her regimen leading up to this week’s U.S. Women’s Open. The amateur golfer can learn much from Pressel’s determination and “eye on the prize” attitude. I wondered how her enthusiasm after winning the Kraft Nabisco Championship would translate into this third major event of the season. Here is our correspondence. Stacy: What do you do to prepare for a golf tournament, both physically and mentally? Morgan: Practice practice practice. there is no substitute for quality practice. I like to make sure I know the golf courses that we play ...

Click here to listen. Lorena Ochoa will be heading into the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open exuding confidence after her sudden-death victory at the Wegman’s LPGA this past weekend. She has also successfuly knocked Annika Sorenstam off of her perch as the number-one golfer in the Rolex Rankings. Congratulations Lorena! Michelle Wie will also be in attendance at the Open (since this Golf for Beginners broadcast was produced) but we believe, with less self-assurance than in previous years. Wie has decided to skip the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic due to the length of the course so it is uncertain how she ...

While Michelle Wie might appear to be making a sound decision by skipping the PGA Tour’s John Deere Classic in a few weeks, she still intends to play golf at the U.S. Women’s Open. If Wie’s injured wrist is still in a sling, why would she be compelled to play in a tournament which comes sooner rather than later? Michelle complained that Deere Run (7,080 yards) was long, “and I just don’t have the length to play there right now” but, in reality, it is only about 460 yards longer than Pine Needles (6,616 yards). Michelle’s swing is her swing. She ...

Click here to listen. Butch Harmon and Hank Haney’s heavyweight contenders for the first ever FedEx Cup failed to produce results at this year’s U.S. Open and hoist the coveted trophy. Woods came so close yet could not seize any opportunities and Mickelson was eaten up and spit out alive, never even witnessing the fast, tricky greens of weekend competition. Some Phil fans might be disappointed over Lefty’s whining commentary after 2nd round action but, in retrospect, there were plenty of golfers at Oakmont this weekend who were tossing their sticks around in disgust. Abyssmal etiquette abounded! As for Tiger Woods, the U.S. ...

Nick Dougherty is exuding confidence after his exemplary two-under-par first round at the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont. “I expected to play well this week. I expected to think about my round or think about my game and have the right attitude to it, which I’ve achieved today and hopefully will do for the rest of the week,” stated a cheerful Dougherty after “complaining” that even though he scored well, “I didn’t actually play that well tee-to-green, but obviously I was hitting it in the right places when I missed.” Dougherty teed off in the morning after a rainstorm so the greens ...

Click here to listen. U.S. Open week is one of the most highly anticipated times of the year for both professional golfers and fans alike. Where the Masters is like a “spring fever” wake-up call to all golfers, this second major of the season has the PGA Tour pros in fine form, ready to take on all competitors as well as a golf course which proves to be a real “tester". Geoff Ogilvy related a bit of his concern for both the greens and longer holes at Oakmont in a recent pre-tournament interview. Last year’s winner talked in particular about both the ...

Annika Sorenstam is not one of the many Michelle Wie fans crying, “Poor Michelle” after her withdrawal from the Ginn Tribute last week. In fact, Annika is a bit miffed (and rightfully so) after being snubbed by Wie. Etiquette is obviously not one of Michelle’s strong points after leaving without so much as a “goodbye” to the hostess of the event. After hearing that Michelle had reinjured her wrist, Sorenstam then spotted Wie a mere two days later practicing at Bulle Rock. “It’s a little funny that you pull out with an injury and then you start grinding. My doctor told me ...

Click here to listen. This past week, Barry and I were guests at the Canyon Club, a private golf club located in Armonk, New York. The course was both well manicured and picturesque. My main problems stemmed from the side-hill lies. Barry took issue with the undulations on the green. Tiger Woods, being one of the most creative golfers on the PGA Tour, helps us alleviate problems with the ball being both above and below your feet on this week’s Golf for Beginners broadcast. Although we utilized a cart during our round (you had to be a billy goat if you wanted ...