Miller's unique swing leads to Long Drive title

In 2010, it seems appropriate that the longest meaningful drive in golf (414.4 yards) came in the event with one of the longest names in golf (the RE/MAX World Long Drive Championship Powered by Dick’s Sporting Goods).

That tapemeasure drive was hit in the RE/MAX final by Killer Miller, otherwise known as Joe Miller, a 26-year-old fitness instructor from London, England.

Although the final was held Nov. 5 in Mesquite, Nev. (elevation 1,600 feet), it is set for its traditional Christmas telecast on the ESPN family of networks (Dec. 25, at 2 p.m. Eastern time on ESPN2, and Dec. 26, at 2:30 p.m. Eastern time on ESPN).

What viewers will see is Miller winning the title by defeating 16-year-old long drive prodigy Domenic Mazza of Concord, Calif., in the final.

Miller, 6-foot-4 and 279 pounds, possesses one of the most unusual golf swings in a sport overflowing with unusual swings. At impact, Miller appears to launch his body off the ground with a fierce rotational force.

Keep in mind that long-drive competition is not the same thing as golf competition. In each round, only the longest of six drives is counted (it has to finish inside a grid that is 60 yards wide). The other five balls can be miles wide of the target.

Regardless, there are obvious similarities between the two sports. For example, long-drive warriors now study their swings as carefully and expertly as do regular golf fanatics. This reflects a belief that improved technique means improved distance.

“The dedication among these professionals is tremendous,” said two-time World Long Drive champion Art Sellinger, now the promoter of the event. “Their fitness routines are pretty amazing, and they are achieving results that a few years ago were considered impossible.”?

Technically, of course, not all of them are professionals. Mazza turned down a $70,000 second place check to maintain his amateur status (Miller, the winner, got $150,000).

When Sellinger speaks of “results,” consider this: Measurements at this year’s RE/MAX showdown were taken with Trackman launch monitors, and some of the numbers were stunning.

For example, three contestants (Miller, two-time winner Jamie Sadlowski of Canada, and Ryan Louw of South Africa) achieved ball speeds greater than 224 miles per hour.

The highest ball speeds on the PGA Tour are somewhere in the 185- to 195-MPH range. It’s a good bet that no touring pro reaches 200 MPH, although real golfers must swing with a measure of control because generally they cannot afford to sacrifice accuracy for distance.

Here are some corresponding swing speeds (in MPH) from the RE/MAX: Sadlowski 150, Louw 148, Miller 147. These swing speeds are measured on the same hits in which they reached 224 in ball speed.

Most amateurs have swing speeds less than 100 MPH. The average is thought to be somewhere in the 85-to-95 range.

For golf watchers who analyze stats, it is interesting to look at launch angles (in degrees) and spin rates (in revolutions per minute) on the longest drives from the same three RE/MAX competitors.

Launch angles: Sadlowski 9.3, Louw 8.2, Miller 10.7.

Spin rates: Sadlowski 1767, Louw 2254, Miller 2111.

By comparison, most golfers need both a higher launch angle and a higher spin rate. This is because long-drive competitors sustain themselves with tremendous clubhead speed. Without that kind of power and speed, the only way to increase trajectory, carry distance and hang time is with a higher launch angle and a greater rate of spin.

May all of us dream of 414.4-yard drives.

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Els leads in South Africa; to play 36 Sunday

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Ernie Els during Round 2 of the South African Open.

DURBAN, South Africa – Four-time winner Ernie Els took a two-shot lead into a marathon last day of the South African Open, after the country’s biggest stars rose into contention on Saturday for the 100th national title.

Els’ second straight 65, a flawless second round of 7-under par, lifted him to the top of the leaderboard at 14-under 130, two strokes clear of Retief Goosen, who finished with a 68.

That means South Africa’s big two - Els and Goosen - will play the final 36 holes Sunday with 19-year-old Frenchman Romain Wattel, who turned professional after he won a European Challenge Tour event as an amateur in his hometown of Strasbourg in September.

Wattel carded a 6-under 66 to lie third, one stroke behind Goosen.

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Woods leads Chevron after opening 65

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Certainly, it wasn’t like the salad days of majors and walkovers that ushered in this century, but in a small way it felt like the good old days.

Though there was plenty of golf still on the course, fans were seen headed for the gates because Tiger Woods was done for the day. To them, the show was over.

OK, first disclaimer: “Plenty of golf still on the course” means just six players were still touring the last few holes at Sherwood Country Club, but hey, that’s a third of the field here at the Chevron World Challenge.

Oh, and a second disclaimer: We recognize that it’s a silly-seson event, meaningless perhaps for 17 of the 18 who are assembled here, but not for Woods. To him, this tournament carries great significance – not just because for the first time he’s able to play for his Chevron sponsors and not just because the charitable funds benefit his Tiger Woods Foundation. No, the importance of his first-round 65 that provided a one-stroke lead over that likeable entry from Northern Ireland, Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy, rests within the mind.

“A tournament like this at the very end of the year, if you play well, it does give you a shot of confidence,” Woods said after a performance that incuded 16 greens and birdies on each of the five par 5s.

Now there was a time when Woods overflowed with confidence – like Gates with cash or Trump with ego. Then came . . . well, Thanksgiving 2009 and a year’s worth of fallout that touched all parts of his life. While he worked hard to keep much of the wounds private, there was nothing he could do about the golf. It was out front for public consumption and in so many ways it wasn’t pretty.

The fact that he went winless for the first time in a PGA Tour season? Yes, it bothers him, but what truly stung is the way in which his golf ball went so off line at so many times. When finally in August he made the leap to trust his swing to Sean Foley, he insists he embraced a key component to the transition.

“I was putting togther streaks of holes earlier,” he said. “Two, three, four, five – and then I’d lose it for a little bit. Eventually I needed to get to a full round and then eventually a full tournament and today was a full round. So that’s a good start.”

And a rare one, too, because in this upside-down season, Woods played 14 tournaments and 53 rounds (and that includes the Australian Masters) and had the lead at the end of the day just once.

Repeat, once.

Not exactly positive stuff from the greatest front-runner in the history of golf, but now that he’s gone into the lead for a second time in 2010, he’s excited to see what happens.

“Most of the year, if I did get something going, I’d make some kind of mistake,” Woods said, and that was the case back in August when after opening with a 7 under 65 to lead the Barclays and pushing to 8 under on his first nine in Round 2, he bogeyed four times coming home then made a triple-bogey to start his third round.

Another tournament was kissed goodbye.

Now even if that scenario were to repeat itself here, Woods insists he’s happy with the progress he’s making with Foley. No, things aren’t perfect. “It’s not totally natural yet,” he said of the swing, but he’s committed to their collaboration.

For all of those reasons, Woods appeared to be having the most fun on the first day of an event that might appear casual – at least until you look at the purse. It’s a very serious sum, $5 million, and while Woods has the inside track on the top prize of $1.2 million, Anthony Kim seemed intent on taking the last-place $140,000 crumbs.

Going through the motions to the tune of 79, Kim made just one birdie and seemed no closer to finding an answer to his puzzling game. Ranked 19th in the world when invitations to the Chevron World Challenge were mailed out Sept. 20, Kim is still at 26, though playing like No. 260.

No worries, perhaps, since it’s a festival of fun, a rich party to celebrate a season well played, and that explains why so many had smiles. None as wide as Woods, of course, although Nick Watney came close.

“I wasn’t in this tournament on Saturday,” he said, “so I’m thrilled to be here and to have shot even par.”

Only a few weeks ago, Watney got married and honeymooned on the other side of the world. First in Shanghai where he played four rounds in the HSBC Champions, then in Bora Bora with his wife, Amber.

“I’m not so sure she liked getting on the plane for a 12-hour ride to China,” Watney said. But, yes, Bora Bora made up for that.

? ? ?

Extensive travel also was required by McDowell, McIlroy, Luke Donald, and Ian Poulter just to get here, the four of them having played last week at the European Tour finale in Dubai. They are globe-trotters, each of them, but proving he’s getting wiser by the day, 21-year-old McIlroy made the trip even more worthwhile by mixing business with pleasure – he stopped by a nearby Oakley office to sample the products he’s entitled to thanks to a new business partnership.

“A two-year deal,” McIlroy said.

Presuming that it meant 2011 and 2012, curious reporters suggested McIlroy was jumping in a bit early, wearing Oakley sunglasses and the company logo on his shirt and pants. He smiled and conceded that it might be construed a two-year-and-one-month deal, but he had to break them in.

? ? ?

Storylines being thin this time of year, McIlroy and Oakley qualified as news, and so, too, did a caddie shuffle of sorts. Sean O’Hair has split with veteran bagman Paul Tesori, though Tesori is here this week working for Camilo Villegas. That’s because Villegas’ caddie, Brett Waldman, is at the final stage of Q School. As for O’Hair, he has teamed with Brennan Little, Mike Weir’s longtime caddie, but it makes sense because the Canadian is on the sidelines nursing an elbow injury.

Going forward into 2011, O’Hair said he wasn’t sure what he’d do. Being friends with Weir, “I would never get in the way,” O’Hair said, and a serious option is his father-in-law, Steve Lucas, who caddied for him for years.

“We’ve talked about it,” O’Hair said.

There will, of course, be more time to talk, because what sits on the horizon is the off-season. Then again, “off-season” is a matter of perspective, because while a good many players will start next season in less than a month, whether it be Jan. 5 in Maui or Jan. 12 in Honolulu, Woods figures to have seven weeks off, assuming he’ll start the next season at Torrey Pines Jan. 27.

To help ease his winter hibernation, Woods would love to store up the confidence, and a 65 surely has him pointed in the right direction.

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Poulter leads Dubai, eyes back-to-back wins

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Ian Poulter broke free from a crowded leaderboard Saturday to take a two-shot lead into the final round of the Dubai World Championship.

The Englishman was at 12-under after a third-round 69, two shots ahead of Ross Fisher of England, Thailand’s Thongchai Jaidee and Francesco Molinari of Italy, who all were at 10-under.

Poulter, who won last week’s Hong Kong Open, started Saturday in a tie for the lead with Fisher, and the two were even for much of the day. Poulter made his move on the back nine with two birdies while Fisher three-putted the 15th hole and went in the water on the 18th, which forced him to settle for a bogey.

“You know, I think it was important today to go out there and play solid, bank a few birdies,” Poulter said. “I felt I dropped two silly, silly bogeys on holes that I really feel I should have taken advantage of. That was the only frustration of the day.”

Fisher, who tied the course record with a 64 in the second round, was left to rue what could have been a solid round and a chance to at least tie for the lead several times on the back nine. His best chance came on the 15th, when he hit his drive to the green on the 371-yard, par 4 hole. His first putt for eagle rolled past the hole, and he missed what should been an easy putt for birdie.

“I made it harder, I didn’t play as well as yesterday,” Fisher said. “I missed a couple of putts at key times ... Hit a great drive on 15 onto the green and unfortunately didn’t capitalize there.”

Jaidee and Molinari charged up the leaderboard, with the Thai shooting a 3-under 69 while the Italian had a 4-under 68 to put themselves in contention. No. 1-ranked Lee Westwood also was in the mix, shooting a 1-under 71 to remain three shots off the pace.

Westwood won the tournament last year, shooting a course record 64 on the final Sunday on his way to an easy victory.

“Kept giving myself a lot of chances at birdies, and nothing would go in,” Westwood said. “I had to hit some good shots coming in just to make a couple of birdies in the last five holes, which has kept me in the tournament probably.”

Graeme McDowell’s hopes of winning the European money title took another hit after he finished four shots behind money-leader Martin Kaymer and far down the leaderboard in a tie for 30th.

Kaymer, the U.S. PGA champion, will claim the money title and a $1.5 million bonus by finishing higher than McDowell, who can only overtake the German in the Order of Merit by winning the tournament or ending up alone in second as long as Kaymer finishes no higher than a tie for third. If McDowell is tied for second, Kaymer could afford to finish as low as sixth.

“Barring the impossible, I think Europe’s No. 1 is probably not a reality for me any more,” McDowell said. “Unless I shoot 55 tomorrow, which unless one of you boys comes and putts for me tomorrow, I don’t think will happen.

“You know he (Kaymer) is going to win the Race to Dubai tomorrow and he’s the best. He’s been one of the best players in the world this year and certainly deserves everything he has achieved.”

After failing to break par in the first two days, McDowell made three birdies on the back nine to reach 2 under for the tournament.

Kaymer effectively ended the two-man battle for the Order of Merit on Thursday, surging to a five-shot lead over McDowell after shooting a 67. The lead ballooned to eight shots Friday, when Kaymer hit a 70 for a share of fourth place.

Kaymer occasionally struggled Saturday, shooting a 1-over 73. It was an up-and-down day that ended badly with a double-bogey on the 18th, when the No. 3-ranked Kaymer’s chip onto the green rolled back into the water.

“It was a very frustrating finish, very disappointing,” said Kaymer, whose chances of overtaking Westwood at the top of the rankings also appear unlikely. “I thought if I could finish with a birdie I might have a chance tomorrow ... Tomorrow I will play as aggressive as possible.”

McDowell, though, never could take full advantage of Kaymer’s errors because of his poor putting.

“The big issue this week is really that I can’t hole putts and, without the putter working, it’s very difficult to get on top of the golf course,” he said. “Like I said yesterday, I feel like every time I miss a green I feel like I’m making bogeys because I’m not holing the 6- and 8-footers.”

McDowell’s fellow Northern Irelander, Rory McIlroy, shot a 6-under 66 – the lowest round of the day – to climb back into contention at 7 under. He made seven birdies, including three in a row after the turn.

“My iron play improved, I gave myself a lot of chances,” McIlroy said. “I was hitting a lot of greens but just not getting it close enough, and today, I birdied a few of the par 3s and played really well. “

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Bettencourt leads Pebble Beach Invitational

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. – PGA Tour winner Matt Bettencourt shot an 8-under 64 at Del Monte on Thursday to take a two-stroke lead in the Pebble Beach Invitational, while Annika Sorenstam opened with a 69 at Del Monte in a rare competitive start since her retirement in 2008.

Bettencourt, the Reno-Tahoe Open winner in July who finished 114th on the 2010 money list, had two eagles, five birdies and a bogey in the Callaway Golf-sponsored tournament that features 76 male and female players.

“I started slow, but hit a great shot on No. 9 from about 250 yards to 12 feet and got the eagle,” said Bettencourt, who tied for fourth in the tournament last year. “I didn’t know I was in the lead, but I knew 64 or 65 was out here. Del Monte on a day like today is a pretty benign course.”

Bettencourt birdied three of the final four holes, but missed a 15-inch birdie putt on the 14th.

“It was a good round, although I left some putts out there,” he said.

LPGA Tour player Morgan Pressel, PGA Tour veteran Bryce Molder and New York club pro Heath Wassen opened with 66s, also at Del Monte.

Five players, including Champions Tour player Tom Purtzer, shot 67s.

Ten of the top 11 opening-round scores were posted at Del Monte, which is used in rotation with Spyglass Hill and Pebble Beach for the first three rounds. The final round will be played at Pebble Beach.

Defending champion Mark Brooks, the only three-time Pebble Beach Invitational winner, had a 77 at Del Monte. Juli Inkster, who in 1990 become only female player to win the event, shot a 2-under 70 at Pebble Beach.

The winner will receive $60,000 from the $300,000 purse.

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Pettersen leads by 1 at Lorena Ochoa Invite

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Suzann Pettersen during the first round of the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.

GUADALAJARA, Mexico – Suzann Pettersen moved into position for her first LPGA Tour victory of the year, shooting a 3-under 69 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead in the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.

Pettersen, the Norwegian star who has 10 top-five finishes season, was 12 under on the Guadalajara Country Club course. She had five victories in 2007 and also won the 2009 Canadian Women’s Open.

“I’ve been in this situation a lot,” Pettersen said. “Hopefully my experience from previous tournaments this year can help me play well tomorrow.”

Ai Miyazato (68), Stacy Lewis (69), In-Kyung Kim (68) and Karine Icher (68) were tied for second, and second-round leader Paula Creamer (72) was another stroke back at 10 under.

“If there’s that many people that close, some of them will go low,” Pettersen said. “You can’t really look back. Just try and look ahead and try and bring it home.”

Pettersen birdied five of the first 10 holes to reach 14 under, but dropped two strokes with bogeys on the par-4 15th and par-3 17th.

“It’s just a roller coaster out there,” Pettersen said. “I made some really good birdies and made a few sloppy on swings on the few bogeys that I made. But I made a good putt on the last and that kind of helped me get my momentum going for tomorrow. I’ve been feeling really good on the greens and making some nice putts.”

Ochoa, playing her first LPGA Tour event since retiring in April, shot a 69 on her home course, leaving her 10 shots back in a tie for 24th.

Miyazato has a tour-high five victories this season.

“I played really good, because it was kind of one of the tough days I think, because the wind just keeps switching around,” the Japanese star said. “And it was tough to make a decision on every single shot, but I had very good focus. I’m very happy. I played good today.”

She’s close friends with Ochoa.

“That would be great,” she said about winning. “But you never know what’s going to happen, because with the top 10 players, it’s getting really close right now. So I need to be like playing good and just need to be patient, I think. So one more day, you know, just having fun.”

Michelle Wie, the winner last year, withdrew Thursday because of a back injury after an opening 78.

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Watson leads PGA team to 3-Tour title

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Bubba Watson during the final round of the PGA Championship.

HENDERSON, Nevada – Bubba Watson made an 18-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to cap a comeback victory for the PGA Tour team in the Wendy’s 3-Tour Challenge on Tuesday.

Watson, Dustin Johnson and Boo Weekley finished a combined 14 under in the two-player, best-ball format that allowed each team to discard one score per hole. The group shot 11 under over the final eight holes to overtake the Champions Tour team of Nick Price, Bernhard Langer and Kenny Perry, which finished at 13 under at Rio Secco Golf Club.

The LPGA team of Cristie Kerr, Suzann Pettersen and Natalie Gulbis finished third at 11 under after winning the event last year.

With the PGA Tour team trailing by two heading to the par-5 17th hole, Johnson reached the green in two and made an 8-foot putt for eagle.

“I knew I needed to make something happen on 17,” Johnson said.

Watson followed with a birdie at 17 as the PGA Tour group moved into a tie for the lead, erasing a four-shot Champions Tour lead after 11 holes.

Watson then put his 150-yard approach at the par-4 18th hole in good position on the right side of the hole. He converted the putt and celebrated with a huge fist pump.

“Having a chance to make that putt is something you dream about,” Watson said. “When you actually make it, you don’t know what to do.”

Watson, who enjoyed his best season on the PGA Tour this year with more than $3 million in earnings and his first victory, said he wasn’t thrilled with his second shot.

“My wedge backed up more than I wanted it to, but it was a good uphill putt and I made it,” Watson said.

That forced Langer to hit a 12-footer with huge break to force a playoff, and the putt ran left of the cup.

“I was really high up and had far more break than (Watson),” Langer said.

The PGA Tour won the event for the eighth time, collecting a $500,000 purse in the made-for-TV event featuring three-person teams from the PGA Tour, Champions Tour and LPGA. Both the Champions Tour and LPGA have six wins.

The Champions Tour won $270,000 for its second-place finish and the LPGA took home $230,000 for placing third.

Johnson and Watson each shot 4-under 68, tied with Perry for low individual honors.

Through 11 holes, the PGA Tour looked to be in deep trouble, including Weekley posting an 8 at No. 11. Weekley’s score was cast aside under the new format, keeping the PGA Tour team within striking distance.

“This format is just right,” Watson said. “One guy, one lady, you’re gonna have a bad score. You can throw it out and it makes it more competitive.”

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