By D. A. Weibring
This week is the PGA Senior Championship at Oak Tree in Edmond, Oklahoma. I played in the 1988 PGA Championship at this site; I remember Oak Tree having severe angles into the greens, wind, hard fast greens, and high rough. OUCH!! I am sure those characteristics will be in play this week once again. I also remember vividly the hangman noose in the tree on the 16th, which I now understand has been removed.
As in most major championships my emphasis and preparation this week will be on driving the golf ball. I will have a strong focus of putting the ball in the fairway, no matter what the club might be off the tee. It will be a priority for accuracy versus distance in many cases this week. I have found that management of your game in the majors is of utmost importance.
My strategy in a major is to put very few shots at risk. I do not play defensive golf, but calculated risk managemen. This week, my shots will not be hit if the odds are only 3 out of 10 of success. This week the odds of success must be 9 out of 10. The all time great, Jack Nicklaus said "I won many majors not due to my great play but due to the fact other players eliminated themselves." I do not want to be in that crowd this week at Oak Tree.
Wind is the #1 reason for high scoring, so this week with a very good possibility of wind, I won't forget we are playing in Oklahoma, and severe rough; it is my goal to be at the top of the statistics after Sunday in Driving Accuracy. I believe if this is the case, I will have put myself in a position to win the PGA Championship. Good positioning off the tee can set up high percentage shots into the greens. I hope to pick my spots when to attack the tucked pin placements.
Pars are always good in majors as you try to eliminate mistakes and play consistent for the four rounds. Please note, good driving is only effective if you make good decisions playing into the green. Firing at every pin causes short sided mistakes that lead to high scores! Apply this focus and preparation to your game and I bet the boys will be paying off regularly to you.
