I have watched Phil since he was 18 and I followed him around at Arizona State (I was 13 then). That guy made so many long putts and I think became very mechanical the past few years. I do think that helped him on the short putting but he just did not make as many 15 footers as he used to.
The other thing I saw was a confidence in his swing and a "I am going to play the shot I feel comfortable with, not what the book tells me", now one can say that could cost you my feeling is playing by comfort is what made Phil good. For example, when he started the 3-wood out over the water on 17 and hit a draw into the middle of the fairway. The shot really was a cut starting far right back to the left but he had been drawing it all day, why do what the book says when you know your swing.
I hope Phil sticks to being Phil and not what "other" people think he should be doing.
I didnt see Phil on the weekend. In addition to the changes mentioned did he adopt Hitting putting , like Dave Stockton employs? Was he thrusting?
Phil lit it up on the front nine of THE TOUR Championship Saturday, using only ten putts in the nine holes. As it happens, I was having lunch with Butch Harmon in caddie/instructor hospitality at the time. He obviously was pleased with the performance and began to tell me about Phil's visit with Dave Stockton (which, at that time, few knew anything about).
I had to ask:
Yoda: Interesting. But, Dave and Phil's strokes are entirely different. What did he learn . . . ?
Butch: [Blank stare.]
Yoda: I mean, Dave freezes his right shoulder and bends and straightens his right elbow. In right-handed terms, Phil freezes his right elbow and rocks his right shoulder. Two totally different strokes. And, it appears to me that Phil has not changed his basic action.
[For TGMers . . .
DAVE -- Putt Minor Basic Stroke (10-3-E / Motionless Right Shoulder) and PushMajor Basic Stroke (10-3-C / Right Elbow 'up and out' and bending and straightening).
PHIL -- PunchMajor Basic Stroke (10-3-A / Right Elbow at 'side') with the Right Arm Power Accumulator (the Bent Right Elbow) Zeroed and with Power supplied by the PawMinor Basic Stroke (10-3-H / Rocking Shoulders).]
Butch: Well, they worked on some things in the stance. And confidence. He helped his confidence.
Yoda: Yeah, Dave's great there. Got a lot out of his own game, that's for sure.
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