Tip of the Month

By John Pallot
Director of Instruction

May 08: Scandinavia vs The Golf of Mexico

Was it Ochoa's talent and relentless pressure that hastened Annika Sorenstam's announced retreat from tournament golf?

Pros, fans, and supporters were surprised and disappointed to hear the news. How could the #2 player in the world forsake further opportunities for setting the record for most career LPGA wins or most career majors?How could she retire before regaining her #1 ranking? Sorenstam carefully avoided saying outright that she was retiring. "I'm not used to the 'r' word, she said. "I'm stepping away from competition. When you acheive so many great things, I'm just very happy with life and you start thinking what else is important in life and what else do I want to achieve on the golf course."

At 37 she will do other things with her life, starting with marriage in January to Mike McGee, a former sports agent and son of former PGA Tour golfer Jerry McGee. McGee now works as managing director of the "Annika" business brand, which includes clothing, golf course design and a golf academy. "I have other priorities in my life," she said, and she listed them: a golf academy, a chairitable foundation, golf course architecture company(she is working on her fifth course, with two more planned), corporate relationships, clothing lines and hosting golf tournaments. She said there were more, including starting a family.

Her career numbers are staggering. She has won 72 tournaments, including 3 this calendar year. She ranks third in all time wins behind Kathy Whitworth (88) and Mickey Wright (82). She has won 10 majors, 8 LPGA Player of the Year awards, 8 leading money titles and 6 Vare trophies for the lowest scoring average. Since her 1994 debut, she has won $ 22,248,776 , the most by any female professional, shot a 59, and in 2003 was inducted into the LPGA Hall of Fame, a rare honor for an active player.

In 2008 only Ochoa has won more money and that doesn't sit well with Sorenstam. "I'm a huge competitor, "she said, " People that know me know I don't settle for second." I have another six months left, and my goal is to win tournaments, many tournaments."

This month's tip talks about Annika's awesome downswing. Here's how she explains it. "I try to keep my swing simple, so it works under pressure." "The last thing you want to do when you're trying to win a golf tournament is think about your swing. I've tried to make my technique simple, very A-B-C, taking out any unnecessary motion, so when I get in position to win I can concentrate on hitting the shots."

Keep your back to the target for as long as you can at the start of the downswing. This encourages you to initiate the downswing with your lower body, not your shoulders, so you can swing the club on a shallower,more inside path. It also helps you keep wrists hinged longer, generating more club-head speed at impact. If you start down with the upper body first, your weight will thrust out over your toes, throwing the club on a steep, out-to-in slice producing path.

The best drill to ingrain the feel of your back facing the target and your wrists staying hinged is THE 1-2-3 PUMP DRILL.Take your backswing and stop at the top of your backswing. Now pump the club 3 times then swing to your finish. When initiating pumping or pulling the club down keep your back facing the target, the lower body shifting slightly, and wrists stay hinged. The butt of the club should be pointing at the target line.This drill is one of the keys to emulating Annika's awesome action.