Steve Stricker Won theMemorial by 1 Shot

Steve Stricker Won the Memorial by 1 Shot, and it was the tenth time for him to win in the PGA Tour.
During the competition, with a three-shot lead, Stricker had to spend more than two hours in the clubhouse waiting for the finish of the storm which retarded his play and left more than five holes uncompleted. 
Striker completed the front nine holes with 20-under par, including a 30 in the final round.
Stricker's play made the competition more interesting than it needed to be, especially after two hours' storm delay that slowed his momentum following a spectacular bunker save behind the 12th green. He saved par with a bunker shot behind the 12th hole which was his last hole before the delay.

Stricker was confronted with two clutch par putts down the stretch -- from 15 feet on No. 16 and from 7 feet on No. 17 -- and he poured them both in the center of the cup. On the final hole, Striker needed only a bogey to win, but he hit it into a fairway bunker and missed the green to the left. Finally, he chipped onto the top tier to 20 feet that locked up his first win of the year.He finished his final round with a 4-under 68, which let him won the competition with 1 shot ahead of Matt Kuchar and Brandt Jobe.

The Five Most Peculiar Holes Throughout The World

Perhaps you have experienced the fierce wind in The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, or the troublesome water in the Pebble Beach, but if you consider them the most surprising golf courses, then you must have missed a lot. The following holes I will tell you are voted by golf fans the five most peculiar holes in the world, which will bring golfers the most wonderful playing experience. Certainly, here the holes do not represent themselves merely, actually, the golf courses where they are located are usually peculiar very much.

(1) Shark Hole

In Australia there is a Carbook Golf Club, feeding 30 bull sharks in the lake. When playing there, you'd better not pick the ball up if it flies into the water. Of course, if you are accustomed to toss club to vent your anger, then you must restrain yourself there, for the sharks won't give it back!

(2) Glacier Holes

Every year in March, Greenland holds the Golf Championship. As to the venue, it is a nine-hole course naturally formed on the ice land. Since the land form of the glacier is changeable, payers in this championship must deal with different holes every year. Of course, playing on this golf course you can not use the little white ball, because you have no way to distinguish it from the ice. Four rounds were held in two days with a total of 36 holes. Only 20 players are qualified for this championship each year. All of the Kick-offs there are in average temperature of minus 14 degrees Celsius.

   

(3) Midnight Holes

Iceland is very proud of its 65 golf courses, including 15 of them equipped with full 18 holes. Perhaps the most unique one is in the Oddur. Oddur Golf Course is highlighted by its stadium: if you come there in summer, you can play golf at any time, both day and night, because during the summer, Polar day phenomenon stays within the Arctic, the sun is hanging in the sky for 24 hours. Even better: There are no trees blocking your shot line. Well, if you hit a bad ball, you may direct the ball into another hole. Oddur Golf Course opens since 1997, if the weather permits,this course is open to pick up passengers.

(4) Volcano Holes

In Indonesia, there is a golf course--Merapi Golf Course, located on the foot of Mount Merapi volcano. Yes, the volcano will erupt occasionally, just like what has happened in October 2010. After eruption, the ash and dust will become very fertile soil, which is suitable for the growth of trees and grass. When you play there, please carefully distinguish the holes from craters. You may have experienced some artificial hill holes that golf courses make to test your shot skill. However, in the Merapi Golf Course, they are true mountains. Lava has destroyed a number of holes, designers have to solve these problems with measures adjusting to the local conditions.

(5) Double-way Hole

The most challenging hole in golf competitions must be the one in Dubai: the 18^th hole is a 651-yard par 5. There is a very twisting passage on the fairway, including shoals and rocks. The fairway falls into two parts, though the twisting way cannot frustrate you, the bunker left to the left fairway may swallow your little ball. As to the right fairway, its field is more narrow and has much more danger to hit ball outside the boundary. Thus, if you can complete this hole within the par then you are very lucky indeed!

Sweet Spot Contact

You may have many ways to hit your ball farther, such as using the newest shaft, purchasing the latest driver, creating as much lag as possible on the downswing, keeping a flat wrist at impact, etc. Though these things may possibly help you, what simply leads to a far ball comes down to three things:

1) Sweet Spot Contact
Theoretically,when you miss the sweet spot on your driver, you will lose five yards for every quarter of an inch, that is, if you miss the sweet spot by even only an inch, you could lose 20 yards on your drive. Consequently you have to hit 2 more clubs to hit your ball into the green. It's harder to shoot lower scores that way!

One of the best ways to improve your ball-striking is to keep your head as still as possible throughout the swing. It will effectively keep the vertebrae where your  neck, shoulder, and spine intersect roughly in the same point in space during the
swing.

Your vertebrae is a key measurement to the ball, because moving it around too much makes you more difficult to play consistently good ball strikes.
It will make a big difference, if you make sure that you are consistently hitting the center of the club face.

The Achievements of the USGA Green Section

The Green Section developed and published the Specifications for a Method of Putting Green Construction, which is used throughout the world now. And in 1989 it produced a 25-minute videotape on putting green construction.

An expenditure of more than $27 million for Green Section operations successfully sustain its advances over years. The combination of research and direct golf course visits is the key to success. The subscribing courses are directly benefited by the research information from the Turf Advisory Service (TAS) program, thereby they contribute to better playing conditions at lower costs, which is really a win-win situation to both the USGA Green Section and its subscribers.

The Green Section supports research and offers sound, experienced agronomic advice about the practical and scientific management on golf course turf, therefore, its Turf Advisory Service provides ever greater value and better golf turf for the member courses.