Tom Watson’s Perfect Storm of Golf

Tom Watson’s performance at The Open Championship was not just inspirational, it was educational. The iconic golf legend turned back the clock to a time when he was the dominant player in the world. But how? He did it by utilizing the three critical components to a superior golf game. The experts from the PGA Center for Golf Learning and Performance explain. Eric Hogge (PGA Director of Club fitting and Performance) — Tom Watson’s (almost) winning ways: The greatest links player of my generation and maybe of any generation, forgoing the two and three iron in windy Scotland, and almost pulling of the win of the century. The High MOI and low Center of Gravity (CoG) of Tom Watson’s two (18 & 20 degree) Adams hybrids were the perfect combination for the week. The low COG kept the ball down and out of the Scottish wind while the high MOI made them easy to hit under Open Sunday pressure. Are these clubs made for the average player to get the ball up in the air- of course! Can they produce multiple shots in multiple conditions — you had better believe it! Dave Donatucci (PGA Director of Fitness) — The ability of a 59-yr old to compete against individuals 10-30 years younger: Tom’s rehab strengthening program from his hip surgery was the most important aspect in his recent play. Most good physicians have a great rehab team and they rely on it to help the patient return to normal daily living. Along with the rehab for his hip, Tom needed to increase strength, mobility, power, and stability in his entire body. As anyone will tell you are only as good as your weakest link. Thus Tom’s strengthening of his weakest link help his entire body improve. As we age the body declines in mobility, strength, power, balance, and flexibility unless you continue or start a conditioning program. Tom has continued his conditioning program to maintain his hip and shoulder turn, maintain his core stability and thus minimized his decrease in power. The long and short of it is this: Tom has maintained his body’s performance and his recent hip issues have helped him make gains during his rehabilitation - all while allowing him to compete against some who had yet to be born when he won his first of five Open Championships Joseph Hallett (PGA Center for Learning and Performance, GM) — Clearly — while the other two factors would be the most obvious approach as to why Watson has been able to accomplish the recent play that had us all captivate — there is an instructional factor at work here. The reasons are twofold: one is psychological (experience) and one is a benefit of today’s modern technology. First and foremost —- has Watson tried to make swing changes (like all great players have at one point in their career)? Yes, but that was years ago. What you saw at Turnberry was a “return to form,” the “Watson of Old” if you will. He knows that his swing has produced multiple major championships and thus, Tom has taken a route that all great players do at one point or another. They strive to get back to their winning form. For Watson (as you probably noticed), that means his characteristic upright swing and fast tempo. Surely with all the advent of technology in video and other areas — Tom has the ability to compare himself to “days gone by” and see where his club/arms/body were at various parts of the swing and to work hard to get them back there. Now if that is not a reason to use video at the peak of your career for “later on” comparison, then I dont know what is. What you saw this past weekend was priceless - a true “perfect storm of the three keys to golf” moment in the best way that allowed Tom Watson — though his conditioning, with clubs that would give him the maximum performance, to produce a swing that he knew and trusted. Let’s leave it at that. And don’t even get us started on putting. It was a great experience to watch, not just as golf fans but as golf teachers. What a tremendous performance by a classy champion! Now let’s get out there and practice!!