Mercedes-Benz Championship / January 8-11, 2009
 

Last year's PGA TOUR winners -- and only last year's winners! -- teed off today in this year's Mercedes-Benz Championship at The Plantation Course · Kapalua Resort, Maui, Hawaii. Go here for introductory material: http://www.pgatour.com/2009/tourname...hot/index.html.

The Mercedes is a no-cut event being contested with a limited 33-man-field on the PGA TOUR's only Par 73 golf course. Here's The Leaderboard after today's Round One http://www.pgatour.com/r/leaderboard/ and a summary of the action http://www.pgatour.com/2009/tourname...des/index.html

Our Hero, Brian Gay, today shot a 1-under-par 72 and is in the middle of the pack. Three more days . . .

May the best LBG player win!

:laughing9

I was watching a little of this last night and the player who especially caught my eye was Ernie Els.

Anyone have any inside info on what he has been working on lately and who with? His rhythm was exceptional and for once he was holing putts. To my (untrained) eye, he looked to be more rfop with his putting.

I know that he has relocated his family from England to the US, early signs look very good.

He has been working with Butch Harmon for the past year after leaving the Leadbetter camp. Seems to have worked but its taken him a bit of time to get back to form after changing coaches and getting over his ACL surgery of a few years back.
Alex

Island Master
 

Brian today shot a fine 3-under par 70 and is now at 142 (-4) and T-15. The past two years' Masters champs, Messrs Immelman and Johnson, are four shots back at 146. http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/...016/index.html

Tough game.

:salut:

http://www.pgatour.com/2009/tourname...des/index.html

Mr. Gay's performance of late sparked my interest in your premium video where you are coaching him.

Brian Gay - "The right forearm has been the key to EVERYTHING for me."

Another great video. Thanks Yoda!

Kevin

Brian Gay -- Golf Stroke Fundamentals
 

Thank you, Kevin for your endorsement and comment. There is much to be learned from this video, and I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to see how the principles of The Golfing Machine are applied at the pinnacle of the game. And, also, how these same principles can be applied to their own game.

This session took place at Brian's home club, Golden Bear Club at Keene's Pointe, in Windermere, Florida. I had originally intended to do just a brief video to stream on the site -- we did put up a free extract in The Gallery -- but as we got into it, I thought, "What the heck, let it roll." Next thing you know, I looked down at the camera and saw that we were right on the 60-minute mark and the tape was at an end.

Since we shot the video (Winter 2007), Brian has won more than $3 million on the PGA TOUR and picked up his first win. Those interested in learning more about the principles I teach and seeing them demonstrated by both Brian and myself will find this video an invaluable resource.

Spend an hour with Brian and me -- as many times as you like! -- by clicking here and purchasing Brian Gay -- Golf Stroke Fundamentals http://lynnblakegolf.com/cmps_index.php?page=proshop. You will gain immediate and permanent access to this streaming video and will be watching it in minutes. Enjoy!

good going BG! Top 15 after two rounds.

Are there world ranking points in this limited field event?

As for Els, the Golf Channel did a 'spotlight on' segment on him during last nights coverage. Els said of his work with Butch.

"We want to create more width on the back swing and we need to get my hips working better on the down swing" or words to that effect.

I took it that he was working on extensor action and hoola hoola!!!!

:salut:

Ernie, give Mr Blake a ring - Yoda knows best!

Butch and Extensor Action
 

I don't have my Golf Digest issues with me, but I do know that, in the last month or so, Butch Harmon wrote of achieving 'width' -- one of his 'Big Deals' -- by striving to keep the Right Arm straight in the Backstroke. Obviously, Butch knows his alignments and would insist that the right arm fold as the left arm 'leash' dictates, despite its 'stretching' attempt to remain straight.

But, anyway . . .

I thought it interesting that Homer Kelley's Extensor Action concept is finally being recognized by those who make a difference in the public perception of golf instruction.

It only took forty years.

:salut:

League of the Best
 

Brian Gay today fired another 3-under-par 70 and stands now at 212 (-7). He was T-15 when he teed off and was at T-15 when he holed out.

http://www.pgatour.com/leaderboards/...016/index.html

You shoot 3-under on Moving Day, and you don't move.

Tough league!

:salut:

Solid driving
 

Brian leads the driving accuracy category with 84.44%!:thumleft: Field avg 71.45%
Pretty solid, even if the Plantation Course is not famous for being narrow off the tees.