Nick Flanagan's 1st USA Nationwide Win

Nick Flanagan has held off three challengers to win the Henrico County Open on the third hole of sudden death play-off on the Nationwide Tour today. This was Nick's first win on the Nationwide Tour, and it is the result of a steady development as a player on his path to the PGA Tour. I have no doub't that Nick will be a complete player in every facet of his game when he gets to the PGA Tour. A golfers Technique, Physical, Mental and Strategic skills must be ready when you play on the PGA Tour or the statistics say they won't be competitive. Nick after winning the US amateur in 2003 as a 19 year old turned pro. Some will say that this was to early, but my opinion is that you don't win the US Amateur at that age unless you are already years ahead in golfing maturity. Nick has now played in The Masters, US Open, 2 British Opens and this is his 2nd year on the Nationwide. In the picture above Nick is having a practice round at the Masters with Tiger Woods and Stuart Appleby. These experiences are all valuable in developing the confidence and self belief not to mention the experience required to play against the best in the World. Nick's first USA win on Nationwide is another step toward achieving his goal to play and win on the PGA Tour. Well done Nick.

Northeast PGA Instructors Conference

I am back in the USA and the past two days I have been presenting at the Northeast PGA instructors conference for the Connecticut section. Over the two days I presented two 75 minute indoor powerpoint sessions. The first day on the 3 ways technique can change and the second on building a winning game. Building a winning game is an overview on the holistic approach to training and is based on the programs we developed at the VIS and is now world renowned for its results. Each day I then did 3 break out sessions, splitting the attendees (about 80 PGA members) into three groups, and we did workshops on training with the Leaderboard and Clubkite and how activating a new motor pattern and putting it under resistance will create a new pattern of movement to replace the old habit. The final sessions I presented were on skill development using the 9 shot drill and the confidence cycle, demonstrating competitive games and skills testing. There were two other presenters: Henry Bunton from Canada, Henry presented on Long Term player development and how Canadian golf has adopted a similar approach to Australia by adding golf into their Institute of Sport programs. Henry was also very close to Moe Norman and was able to give us some wonderful insights into who Moe was and what his genious was about. Fred Shoemaker was the third presenter. Fred, the author of Extrodinary Golf presented on transforming the Paradigm of teaching and coaching and personal exploration and discovery. Fred gave us an insight into a different approachch to learning, that could well be the future of golf instruction.

The Masters Sunday

What a week!!!!Andy Prodger, KJ Choi's caddy and former caddy to Nick Faldo and Jose Olazabal summed it up perfectly when he asked Wayne Grady in front of a couple of Augusta officials "What is it like commentating on double bogeys?" Prodg is qualified to ask the question because this was about his 20th Masters as a caddy and he has seen all the changes to the course that resulted in the highest winning score in history. In the end it was a great tournament and a tremendous result for Zac Johnson. Zac is focussed and a hard worker with a great nerve and determination. Not to mention he is a very humble and an all round good guy. I thought Stuart Appleby was going to get the job done and win Australia's 1st Masters. After a nervous double on the 1st he settled and by the 12th he was equal leader at 3 over. He aimed to far right and caught a gust. The ball caught the edge and rolled back in the water and he doubled for the second time during the week on the 12th. He could only manage 6 pars coming in for a tie for 7th, which is still his best result at Augusta. Stuart now has the belief that I think he needs to win majors, so I am sure one or more will be coming his way in the near future. He won't spend to much time dwelling on what could have been? He will analyze what was good and what mistakes he made, and work out a strategy to minimise those big numbers in the future. I am heading back to Australia for 12 days before going back to the USA to present at a PGA coaching conference in Conneticutt and then meet up with Apples and KJ for the build up to the Players Championship in May.

The Masters

Stuart Appleby had his last practice round on Wednesday afternoon before the Masters starts tomorrow. In the photo he is hitting off the 16th tee to one of the dramatic and famous finishing holes at Augusta. Stuart's preparation has been his best and most experienced one this year. This is his 11th straight Masters. It is very difficult not to get caught up with all the hype and emotion of the event. Lee Trevino once said thet even his car chokes when he drives up Magnolia Drive. This year Stuart just practiced short game on Monday, played 18 holes with KJ Choi on Tuesday and Today he hit one bag of balls, played the back 9 only and then putted for an hour before heading home early to relax and spend time with his family. I think he will play well this year, as he is coming off a confidence booster after finishing second last week in Houston and it is his 5th event in a row, so he is well conditioned to competitive stress. They call it match fit in other sports.

Shell Houston Open

Stuart Appleby has played his way back into good form after a slow start this year. Sunday's final round at Houston was fantastic spectators golf. Both Adam Scott and Stuart were paired together at 11 under par, 3 shots behind Bubba Watson. Adam birdies the 1st hole and then Stuart and he traded birdies and were both 4 under for the day and in the lead after 7 holes. For the next few holes the birdies dried up until Adam birdied the 12th and then Stuart the 13th. Adam made a 10 footer for par and 14 and Stuart missed his par. They both birdied 15 and then Adam broke 2 clear after Stuart 3 putted the 16th. Apples came back strong with a birdie at 17 to get within 1 and then the 18th was a debarkle. First Apples drove into the fairway bunker but had a good lie and then Scotty pulled his into the water. It looked as if all Stuart had to do was hit his second on the green and then there would be a playoff. Stuart went for the kill by going straight at the pin and he pulled his into the water. Scotty found the right side of the green safely and then holed a 40 foot putt for par for what ended up a 3 shot victory. But it was much closer than the end result. We flew to Augusta last night and I have to say with the most confidence I have had for Apples game in a few years. Ther are now 5 australians in the top 20 players in the World and quite a few experts are predicting an Australian win at the Masters from one of them to break the Aussie drought at this major.