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Don't look for Tiger Woods to run away with this weekend's PGA Championship, says tour instructor Chuck Cook.
As host of this week's Golfspan.com chat show, Cook talked about how the conditions at Valhalla Country Club in Louisville, Kentucky should keep the field closely bunched at the top of the leaderboard. Cook also touched on how to improve your putting and when to get your kids some instruction.
An edited transcript from Cook's Aug. 17 chat follows:
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Slap master: What is the one thing that makes Tiger Woods so dominant? Is it his swing, mental game
or what?
Chuck Cook: In my opinion, I think the main thing that makes him so much better than everyone else is that he
has no fear. A lot of players on tour have the same capabilities as Tiger, but he is not afraid to use
them. He takes chances most guys wouldn't take.
I think he doesn't have any real weaknesses in his game. All aspects of his game are consistent.
His coach Butch Harmon has taught him how to manage a golf course even better.
Slap master: Give us a couple of other players you think can make a run this week at the PGA?
Chuck Cook:
I think the conditions this week at Valhalla will allow a lot of players to be competitive with Tiger. It has very
generous fairways, up to 50 yards wide. In that climate, the greens have to be watered a lot to keep them from turning to concrete and will be slower than
you would usually see at a major. Plus, it has rained lately and that will keep the fairways soft. So those conditions
will even out the competition. I think it will be a more closely bunched at the top of the leaderboard..
I think Colin Montgomerie, Phil Mickelson, and Ernie Els are my picks to give Tiger the best run
this week.
JR: What is your idea of a perfect swing ?
Chuck Cook:
I think all teaching pros have a picture of an orthodox form. But the way people are built, where they
play, the conditions they play under all effect a players swing. With that said, I think that if I did have a form, it is one you can adjust it to that particular student. I think
you have to teach the best set of fundamentals you can and adapt them to each student.
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COOK'S FILE
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Cook's accolades include: 1996 PGA of America Teacher of the Year, 1984 and 1995 South Texas PGA Teacher of the Year and listed in Golf Magazine?s Top 50 and Top 100 best teachers in America. Cook is also listed by Town and Country Magazine as one of the Top 10 golf teachers in America. Cook has coached four U.S. Open champions in the 1990?s: Payne Stewart (1991/1999), Tom Kite (1992) and Corey Pavin (1995). He also coached 1997 U.S. Amateur Champion Silvia Cavallieri and 1997 NCAA Champion Heather Bowie.
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I like Tiger's swing, Tom Kite's swing, Peter Jacobson's -- I like the fundamentals of those players
swings, they are very similar.
GolfNut: Don't the conditions at Valhalla actually favor Tiger more than they favor the rest of the field?
Chuck Cook:
I don't think they give him any special advantage. The most distinct advantage will be his distance
and his management skills. But I think the only advantage he has is the wide fairways so he can
hit a driver more often. The fairways are large and soft. The conditions of the golf course should bring the field much closer together.
Hackmaster: What is the chance of Tiger or any other players breaking minus 20 this week?
Chuck Cook:
My initial thought when I saw the course and the conditions was that -16 would win it. But I don't
think it is out of reach to get to -20. But once the tour sees the scores (Thursday), I think they will start
hiding the pins and make it more difficult for these guys.
: I have two sons (9 and 6) who are interested in playing golf. How much instruction should they
get at these ages and when should they really start taking lots of lessons?
Chuck Cook:
My feeling on junior golf is that because kids change their physical and mental capabilities while
they grow, kids under the age of 12 are not real adequate for instruction. Group instruction would
be good for the youngster to learn the fundamentals of the swing, but private lessons shouldn't
start until after 12 years old.
Kevin: I know you are a great coach, but why don't you play on the tour? You know so much and have
been so successful, but I never see you in any of the tournaments?
Chuck Cook: Those that can, do. Those that can't, teach. I tried to qualify for the tour in 1976 and didn't make it. So I think
it made me a better teacher because I had to learn to try and get better. I have played the Senior
Tour on occasion so I am a respectable player. Just not up to par with the guys I teach.
Bob Estes and Omar Uresti, Tom Kite, and Corey Pavin are some of my students on the PGA
Tour. Helen Alfredsson is another on the PGA Tour that I instruct.
Jay: Please help me to stop shanking whenever I have a pressure tee shot. Under pressure in a match,
I shank a lot off of the tee. Any advice?
Chuck Cook:
It is hard to shank a tee shot. I'm assuming you are hitting it to the right.
My main recommendation to people that have trouble playing under pressure is to go through the
process of making a good swing instead of thinking about "not hitting it in the bunker, or out of
bounds". Don't think about the end result, but rather just making a good swing.
I recommend developing a shot that you can always make and go to it when you have a
pressure shot. Recognize a bail out shot that you can go to in those situations. But it just comes
down to making a good swing instead of trying to hit the ball.
John: Are you associated with any golf instruction schools in the Austin area?
Chuck Cook:
I am affiliated with the Barton Creek Country Club in Austin. (512) 314-9122 is the golf school
number.
What the best club grip?:
Chuck Cook: What I say is that the best grip for most people is the overlap grip. It gives a good balance in the
use of your hands. But if you have small hands, a ten-finger grip is better for lengthening out your hands.
The interlocking grip is probably the most ineffective for the average player. If you use it, have it
checked by a pro because most grip to hard and the hands tend to roll under the club if the grip is
out of line.
GolfNut: There has been a lot of discussion recently about Tiger's tournament selection. He states that his
main focus is the four majors. From there, he plays the required minimum and schedules them to
set-up his game for the majors. Some believe this is bad for golf while others think Tiger can do
what is best for him. What is your opinion?
Chuck Cook:
I think the players should be able to play where they want. Most of the players that I know chose
the tournaments that best fit their skills. That is the sort of thing Tiger is doing -- picking
tournaments where he enjoys playing.
The only problem I would have is that I think Tiger should play the tournaments that gave him
exemptions when he was trying to get is card in 1998. They made it possible for him to skip
Q-school when he was trying to get his card. I would just like to see him go back to those
tournaments once or twice.
Philnoto: I shoot in the eighties and I can't putt. I work on it all the time but don't seem to improve. Any
thoughts?
Chuck Cook:
There are two common things among great putters.
1. While you are making a putt, your grip pressure shouldn't change much.
2. Players that remain great putters are all right-brained. It is more of a feel thing rather than an
analytical function.
If you are working on your putting a lot, work more on the feel (getting the ball to roll correctly)
instead of worrying about your swing.
Robert Sanchez: Why don't the networks show the type of clubs certain players play?
Chuck Cook: The networks make their money through marketing and advertising. Many companies that sponsor tournaments
have a foot in club manufacturing so the networks don't want to show favoritism. If they did, the
other clubs manufactors wouldn't want to advertise on their network.
That's all the time I have for now. I hope everyone enjoys the PGA Championship. Take care and
we'll do this again soon.
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