Based on my standing on the PGA TOUR, I will be competing in the Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancun this week!  Follow the scores of the Mayakoba Golf Classic live at PGATOUR.com. The tournament starts on Thursday, February 18!

My tee times are:

Thursday, February 18, 12:15 off Tee #1 with David Duval and Robin Freeman

Friday, February 19, 7:40 AM off Tee #10 with David Duval and Robin Freeman

To stay updated on my Tour schedule, visit my website.

How the USGA’s Groove Rule Change will Affect the PGA TOUR Professional

The new rule implemented by the USGA which went into effect January 1, 2010 will change the game of golf in several ways. The rule puts restrictions on the shape of grooves in irons and wedges for professional competitive golf. Visit the USGA’s website for more details about this rule change.

The ball is going to have as much as 50 percent less spin on irons and wedges. This means the ball will fly lower, land harder, and react totally different on shots from the rough and around the greens. For example, a 175 yard shot from medium height rough is going to have half as much spin which will cause the ball to fly inconsistently and scoring to be more difficult. Manufacturers have spent the last 30 years making the ball harder with less spin to create more distance. The new groove regulations have caused manufacturers to spend extra time and money to make grooves that conform and golf balls with more spin. For PGA TOUR players this is a big adjustment which will take time and effort to find the correct ball to accommodate the new V-shaped grooves. Both long and short hitters will be affected in different ways. Long hitters will not be able to get the extra yardage they have grown accustomed to. Since the ball spins less, a softer ball must be played to get the ball in the air on the proper trajectory. Short hitters will also have to find a softer ball to help them with getting the ball in the air and this could add to their distance disadvantage. The ball will feel different on and around the greens for all players. The flyer from the rough will be much more common which should cause players to be more conservative on approach shots.

Everything considered, the groove change is going to affect all players and make scoring more challenging. As many as 90 percent of PGA TOUR players will need to change their golf ball to accommodate the new grooves. Any equipment variations take time and effort in competition. This is the most significant equipment alteration in a long time and it will be interesting to observe who can make these adjustments effectively.

People often comment that living the dream of being a PGA TOUR player is the best occupation in the world. This statement is true, especially when performing at a high level. To fully enjoy the thrill of success a player needs to know what components are necessary and how to execute each one.

The physical and mental grind of the PGA TOUR is demanding and requires a desire that is unflappable for a player to achieve their potential. To correctly balance the physical, mental, and emotional wear and tear of traveling and playing golf against the best competition is no small feat.

The body takes a pounding from the constant travel, walking seven miles a day, and making several thousand golf swings each week. To keep the body in top shape a healthy diet, workout, stretching and rehabilitation schedule is very important. Having a trainer, physical therapist, masseuse, sports medicine professional, and an acupuncturist are a few methods of healing and preventing injuries. A healthy body is paramount for a player to compete on a consistent basis against the best players.

To live the dream and win on the PGA TOUR, being mentally and emotionally strong is a reality that has to be attained. The constant stress of having to play well to keep the job is a huge challenge. Methods for improving your mental capabilities include consulting with life coaches and sports psychologists as well as listening to positive affirmations or practicing yoga. Practice of these or other forms of mental and spiritual advancement can lead to remarkable results.

Each week on the PGA TOUR 155 players begin on Thursday with the hope of winning. At the conclusion of Fridays round, the top 70 and ties make the cut to play on Saturday and Sunday. There will be one winner and the top 25 finishers will make a good profit for the week. The next 45 places will make enough money to cover their expenses, and those who missed the cut will receive no winnings. Over half of the players each week will lose money. Some players have endorsement contracts to help offset expenses. These facts, along with the traveling lifestyle on the PGA TOUR adds to the strain that players must be able to perform under. Players who exhibit the physical, mental, and emotional proficiency to handle the pressure will prevail. For those players who find the formula to play their best and execute successfully, the life of the PGA TOUR player is second to none.

In 1983 I asked our local professional if he thought I could make it on the PGA TOUR. His reply has stuck with me to this day. He said, “There is no way anyone else could ever answer that question for you. You have to believe in yourself and what you are capable of. What you achieve will be a reflection of your own thoughts.” This was great advice because it made me realize that the amount of effort, the intensity of my desire, the ability to overcome adversity, and the level of tolerance and perseverance needed to succeed are all controlled by my own self motivation.

Ability is a factor in being able to play any sport professionally. However, there are extremely talented athletes that never achieve their potential. On the PGA TOUR numerous players have done extremely well contrary to what many critics believed they would do.

PGA TOUR Player Personas:
There are many examples of players on the PGA TOUR who have created their own winning personas. Corey Pavin has had many PGA wins including a major championship during his career. He makes up for a lack of distance with gritty determination and an outstanding short game. Additionally, Corey has a tremendous desire to win and works nonstop on all parts of his game. Scott Verplank has been one of the most consistent money winners in the history of the PGA TOUR. His caddie once told me that on approach shots from inside 100 yards Scott rarely ends up with a putt of more than six feet. Since forty-three percent of all strokes are taken from inside 100 yards, mastering this aspect of the game, short game and chip shots, has led to his success. Many criticize Jim Furyk’s unorthodox golf swing; however, results are what matter. Jim has improved his golf swing to perfection which now produces consistently good shots and top finishes with regularity. Corey Pavin, Scott Verplank, and Jim Furyk have developed outstanding skills to go along with the work ethic needed to be successful on the PGA TOUR.

The first stop on the PGA TOUR each year is in beautiful Hawaii for the SBS Championship. PGA TOUR winners from 2009 will be heading to Kapalua in Maui for this exciting event. The fantastic views and tropical windy weather provide a great venue for the first event of the year.

The course is extremely hilly, and a lot of local knowledge is needed to be competitive, even though it is the smallest field of the year. Extreme wind conditions and strong grain on the greens combine to challenge golfers to hit shots they normally do not face with regularity.

In the second round of the Mercedes Benz Championship in 2004, I was faced with these conditions on the twelfth hole of the Plantation Course at Kapalua, a 390 yard Par 4. I was tied for third coming into hole #12 and hit a sand wedge on the green past the hole. The ball spun back off the green and down the severe slope settling 60 yards from the hole. The next several shots I proceeded to spin the ball back off the green to finish the hole with a score of eight, which took me out of contention. The difficulty of this course is not evident on television as many of the uphill holes are into a strong prevailing wind. This combined with the severity of the slopes and the strong grain of the greens that draw the ball toward the ocean make scoring extremely difficult and mentally taxing. Whoever wins the SBS Championship definitely earns it!

Kapalua Plantation Course is one of the most challenging walks on the PGA TOUR, even more difficult from a conditioning perspective since it is the first event of the season. The walk is a good way to start a conditioning golf exercise program for the New Year. The stress and challenge of the golf course is counter-balanced by the breathtaking Maui views. It is common to spot whale spouts on the ocean horizon during the tournament.

While in Maui be sure to allow time for site seeing. There are various places to snorkel including Honolu’a Bay and Makulei’a Bay, nearby Kapalua to observe the plethora of colorful fish and other sea life. Horseback riding is another fun Maui adventure. The horses take their riders along mountain and oceanside trails to see the spectacular views of Maui and the other islands. The Road to Hana is also very popular in Maui for its gorgeous landscapes, numerous waterfalls, and a black sand beach. There are volcano tours in Maui to see the active Haleakala Volcano at Haleakala National Park in East Maui. It is also a pleasure to play a round of golf or relax on the beach.