Is ADD The New White Belt Of Golf?

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Cameron Morfit explores whether having Attention Deficit Disorder is a positive for professional golfers and while many players suspect they have ADD, many don't want to know.

The clinical characteristics of adults with ADD vary but include fidgeting, impulsivity and inattention. Those with the condition can also come off as cocky or brash, experts say, but that's because they're compensating for often feeling invisible. The ADDed Dimension, by Kate Kelly and Peggy Ramundo, cites a 2001 study showing that people with ADD/ADHD tend to thrive in natural, outdoor and preferably green environments—yes, like golf courses. Hallowell says people with ADD crave both stimulation and structure, which is why the Navy SEALs, for example, tend to attract ADD/ADHDs.

Does that mean SEALs aficionado Tiger Woods has ADD? No. And what does it matter? Who cares whether or not Bradley, Day, Poulter, Watson and so many others on Tour have ADD/ADHD? Answer: Because a growing body of anecdotal evidence suggests that it can be a tremendous asset. "I always say it's bad for [school] teachers," Garrigus says, referring to the high rate of ADD among school-children, "but good for golfers."

And there was this from Bubba Watson:

"When you get under the gun you get hyperfocused," Watson says. "Payne Stewart got hyperfocused." (Stewart, who was diagnosed with ADD, was so hyperactive that his family used to sit in the church loft so as not to disrupt the service.)

If Louis Oosthuizen Loved Golf Like He Loves John Deere...

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The sweet-swinging South African might be number one in the world?

Just wondering after reading this Craig DeVrieze PGATour.com story about the Oosthuizen clan's visit to the John Deere factory on the eve of the John Deere Classic.

I love the passion, but this is also mildly disturbing:

Louis Oosthuizen has no need for a combine on the 150 acres where he raises cattle on the Indian Ocean coast near his parents’ farm. He is eager, however, to step into the new John Deere R450 Windrower tractor he recently ordered. It will join a 6000 Series John Deere tractor that was among the first items he purchased with his British Open winnings.

Piet Oosthuizen said his son’s love of John Deere green knows no end.

“You can ask him anything about John Deere,” the father said. “He is on the computer every day, and he knows every spec of every piece of John Deere equipment. He loves it.”

Videos: Muirfield's 9th And 10th

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The world famous par-5 9th at Muirfield is a bit of a mess these days, with a new back tee on neighboring Renaissance Club ground and the ancient wall demolished to accommodate the new tee needed because of all those stomach crunches by today's golfers.

The Golf Monthly/Strokesaver flyover shows the risk-reward beauty of this hole muted by rough up the left side off the tee, eliminating any flirting with the fairway bunkers to open up the best angle to go for the green in two.

The ancient wall rebuilt to accommodate modern distance:


The optimum view to attack the green after flirting with fairway bunkers...at least in another era. Now it's all rough.


The 10th features fairway bunker and not much else besides length heading into winds from the north.

Video Preview Of Omaha CC, U.S. Senior Open Host

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I wasn't sure what to expect of U.S. Senior Open host Omaha Country Club but what's shown in this USGA preview of the course exudes character and a lot of Southern Hills. Not surprising with architect Perry Maxwell having renovated William Tucker's original, recently restored by Keith Foster. I could do with a little less blinding white sand but otherwise it looks like a really neat course.

And it's as hilly as it looks, based on this Greg Midland USGA story about how much fitness will play a role this week for some players used to taking carts.

"While we're young" Was All Rodney

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Gary Mihoces talks to Rodney Dangerfield's bride, Joan, who thinks Rodney would be doing cartwheels over the new USGA ad campaign using his ad-libbed "while we're young line," even if they aren't doing anything about slow play in their men's and women's Open championships. Okay I threw in that last part.

As she prepares to laungh a new website, www.rodney.com, she puts into context what Caddyshack meant to Rodney's career:

She says Dangerfield "forfeited a high-paying Vegas gig to do Caddyshack — and for peanuts," she said. "He actually lost money making the movie. But it did open doors for him and helped him kind of live the movie star life, which you know was fun for him."

Caddyshack was her husband's "biggest break in film." It helped launch him into starring roles in films such as Easy Money and Back to School.

She said she contacted Jon Peters, executive producer of Caddyshack, to confirm Rodney had come up with the "while we're young" line.

"He assured me that Rodney did," she said. "And it sounds like a line Rodney would come up with anyway because of his comments just in general life ... born out of impatience and frustration.''

There was also this about Tiger:

"Rodney was aware that Tiger Woods had mentioned that Caddyshack was his favorite movie," she said. "... He was especially proud of that because, again, he always wondered, 'Does the golf crowd really look down on the movie?' "

Alex Myers talked to Paula Creamer about how her "while we're young" spot came about and she acknowledged that while there's a long way to go, the timing of the launch might not have helped matters.

"I think it's coming around," said Creamer, who has a 10-year-old cousin that came to see her play, but isn't interested in picking up the game because 'it takes too long.' "That whole service announcement might not have had the best timing, but now that the two hardest venues are out of the way. Who knows?"

Punters Beware: Poulter Takes To Twitter For New Blade

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One of the best putters in the world has decided his putting is flat and based on his history, would benefit from a new look. So Ian Poulter took to Twitter in search of opinions, nominations and submissions for a fresh blade heading into next week's Open Championship at Muirfield. He's currently 40-1 but drifting upward with a few sites before news of his putter change.

 

 

Videos: Above Castle Stuart

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John Huggan in Golf World Monday defended Castle Stuart links, host of this week of the Scottish Open and criticized recently by Graeme McDowell (but defended ably by Paul Lawrie.)

Anyway, I stumbled on these overhead videos posted on YouTube that brought back some fine memories of one of the coolest tournament venues and settings on the planet and made me downright jealous I won't be there this week.

The first, set to Coldplay:



And a different but equally compelling view:

Videos: Muirfield's 7th And 8th Holes

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Two-time winner at Muirfield Nick Faldo believes a key to success in an Open there is managing its set of difficult par-3s and while the 4th is severe because of the green complex, the slightly uphill 185-yard 7th is sneaky because of its relatively benign green complex. However, the green is exposed to the elements, framed dreadfully by a horribly misplaced course structure that pops up behind the green's all-important horizon line. Using a 3-iron in his prime, Faldo calls the shot a "giant chip shot" because of the vital need to keep the ball out of the wind here.

The seventh is not a particularly interesting bit of design, but because of the wind and uphill angle, a miss-hit can get in a lot of trouble here and spoil a fine start.

Golf Monthly's 7th hole analysis and Strokesaver flyover:

View from the tee and that building which, when completed, no doubt made for an interesting meeting of the Green Committee:


The eighth hole features a lovely setting and some nice ground features, plus a deceptive second shot, but the fairway pinching to 81 yards may discourage a risk taker from using their driver unless the wind is helping out of the left. Last year the rough was worse on this hole than any other, but hopefully the warm weather is thinning it out.

The video:



The fairway view:


The bunker fronting the green that is actually thirty or so yards short of the uneventful putting surface:

NY Times Profile Of Casey Wasserman

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Brooks Barnes files an NY Times Businss profile of 39-year-old Wasserman Media Group head Casey Wasserman, who has amassed 1300 clients, at least $150 million a year in revenue and significant clout, may be contemplating a bid for IMG.

And there was this:

Mr. Wasserman, who is married with two young children, works from an office near U.C.L.A. But he conducts much of his business in the field. Last month, he flew to Philadelphia and hung out around the putting green at the Merion Golf Club, where the United States Open was about to begin.

Wearing aviator sunglasses and chewing cinnamon gum, an asthma inhaler tucked inside a trouser pocket, Mr. Wasserman warmly greeted clients like Kyle Stanley and Rickie Fowler. United States Golf Association officials pulled Mr. Wasserman aside to ask for help with a new ad campaign. Perhaps one of his young players would participate? After some banter that took place outside of my earshot, Mr. Wasserman said brightly, “We will see if we can make it happen.”

And Just Like That, Stephen Gallacher Is In The Open!

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After narrowly missing, Stephen Gallacher is in courtesy of John Daly's rare pre-event WD due to pending elbow surgery.

JOHN DALY WITHDRAWS FROM THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

8 July 2013, St Andrews, Scotland: Former Champion John Daly has withdrawn from The Open Championship at Muirfield due to injury.

Stephen Gallacher is the 1st Reserve and will take his place in the Championship which is played from 18-21 July. The Scot is the next non-exempt player in the Official World Golf Rankings.

The 38-year-old won his second European Tour event at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in February. His best finish in The Open was tied 23rd at St Andrews in 2010. There will now be ten Scots in the starting field at Muirfield.