The Fedex Cup Playoffs

We were in New Jersey last week for the 1st of this year's Fedex Cup Playoffs. The Barclays Classic at Ridgewood Country Club was a good event for both KJ Choi who finished 12th and moved to 11th on the rankings and Stuart Appleby finished 19th and moved to 13th. Both, if they have a win or 2 top 5 finishes the next 2 events will go to the Tour Championship in Atlanta in 4 weeks with a chance to win the 10 million dollar Fedex Cup bonus. In the picture KJ is working on his pitching. If you look closely you will see a glove under his right arm. We work on this to keep his arm swing linked to his body turn. This creates far more consistency with contact, spin and distance control. KJ's full swing is very good now and I think he can find a shot or two a tournament with improved pitching. He shot 68, 69 and 68 the last 3 rounds at Ridgewood to move from making the cut on the number to 12th and had sevral tap in birdies after great pitch shots.

The PGA Championship 2008

We are in between the 3rd and 4th rounds at the PGA at Oakland Hills in Detroit. Apples went back out and finished his 3rd round after Saturday's wash out. Apples had 6 holes to play. He had a difficult 3 putt bogey on the 13th and then played solid golf coming in with some good sand saves at 14 and 15. He shot 69 and it looks like that will move him into the top 20 for the final round this afternoon. 76, 70 and 69 is following the same trend as last week at the WGC, where he is now getting more focussed and free as the tournament goes on. A good round of 1 or 2 under this afternoon should get him a top 10 finish and place him well for the start of the Fedex Cup playoffs in two weeks.

WGC Bridgestone Invitational

Stuart Appleby had his best finish for the year when he finished tied second with Lee Westwood, one shot behind Vijay Singh at the World Golf Championship Bridgestone Invitational. The great thing about this weeks event, and a turning point in the year for Apples, was that he was 5 over par for the tournament after 7 holes in the first round. He made some ball position and mental adjustments and managed to make 5 birdies to get get back to even par for the day. Stuart hasn't been finishing tournaments off well after being in good positon several times in the past 2 years, but this is the type of comeback that builds confidence and momentum. On Sunday he was through the turn at one over for the day and at that stage 5 shots back from the lead. He had another great back 9, shooting 3 under and had hit a very good birdie putt from 20 feet at the last to force a playoff withh Vijay that just stayed out. This week we are at Oakland Hills in Detroit for the last major of the year, The PGA. I think Apples will be going into this major with great belief after his strong finish at the Bridestone.