Wish he was teeing up this week?  Believe me, so does he…

And hitting good tee shots will be paramount, as always, at a national open.  Woods’ driving of the golf ball seems to be constantly crawling from out from under the bus, but in the summer of 2000, it was dialed.  Enjoy the clip below – one of TW’s patented “stingers” – taken during a clinic at Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club just two weeks before he won his first U.S. Open Championship, by an unprecedented 15 strokes.

2009 British Open Champion Stewart Cink demonstrates wonderful posture and balance with this drive.  Taller players – and really, ALL golfers – take note of Cink’s stable position at address: bent from the hip sockets (as if bowing to the golf gods), knees flexed but not bent (this is golf, not a bar stool), arms hanging like ropes from shoulders (not ‘tight’ as if you were going to cut a loaf of bread on them), a bit more space between butt of club and legs/crotch (optimal for a driver, not so much for a short shot), chin out a smidgen – not tucked into his chest (stay PROUD in front of those golf gods – and away from bifocals), and weight distributed somewhere under his shoelaces (as if someone is going to come and try to push him over).  Although your body type may not be exactly that of Cink’s, adopt these set up elements and your results shall improve.

http://www.nike.com/nikeos/p/nikegolf/en_US/products/apparel – cool stuff from a leader in the industry.

http://coolibar.com/- the Aussies are way ahead of the game when it comes to sun protection.

http://www.blackflyoutfitters.com/ – super versatile, 95% protection from UV rays – plus World #1 Martin Kaymer wears one…

Now, for those of you who can handle the truth, here’s the lowdown on sunscreens: http://www.ewg.org/2010sunscreen/

Not just a little water sipping here and there, but the ‘right stuff’ well prior to (like the day and eve before an important round), during, and after the round – to ensure recovery, especially if you are playing the next day.

WHAT? Consider an ISOTONIC beverage.  An isotonic solution has the same salt concentration as the normal cells of the body and the blood, and may be drunk to replace the minerals and fluids which the body uses during physical activity (as opposed to a hypertonic or hypotonic solution).  One of my favorites is coconut water, not to be mistaken with coconut milk, a natural elixir of sorts found inside young coconuts.    Naturally fat-free and high in potassium, coconut water has long been a popular drink in the tropics, especially in South and Southeast Asia and the Caribbean, where people are intimately familiar with heat, humidity and its accompanying effects.

WHAT NOT? Anything with high fructose corn syrup and/or excessive amount of caffeine.  Such concoctions can lead to drastic emotional and physiological highs and lows, in addition to the “shakes” on and around the putting green.  Unfortunately, this list would include most of the supposed energy and ‘sports’ drinks on the market.  If you don’t already do so, time to start reading labels…

WHEN? Hydrate well prior to game time.  That means the day, night and hours prior to your tee time, not just 20 minutes or so before putting the peg in the ground on the first hole.  And remember, we are dehydrated long before sensing actual thirst.  So, consider adding a step to your pre-shot routine: upon plopping your bag down on each successive tee box, grab that healthy fuel of choice from your bag (no plastic containers, please) and take a little swig – whether you are thirsty or not.  This added step, in combination with smart food nibbling/grazing every three holes or so, will help keep your mind and body sharp until your reach the clubhouse.

Carl Jackson consoling Ben Crenshaw after his putt to win The Masters in 1995

• I carried for Billy Burke in 1961, my first Masters.  Although he was near the end of his career (Burke won the U.S. Open in 1931), he was still a wonderful ball striker.
• I missed the 2000 Masters due to illness (colon cancer).  I learned a lot about myself and what I needed to do to stay healthy after that.  The importance of nutrition, alternative/natural medicines, and the close relationship between physical and spiritual well being and health.
• Ben (Crenshaw) was out of position in 1995, I noticed it in on Tuesday of that week.  Looked like he was playing hockey.  We went to the practice tee, and I suggested he move the ball a little closer to his body and a bit back in the stance, and to tighten up his shoulder turn.  I sat down right next (outside) to the ball, so that any swing coming from the outside would have hit me in the knee or my bad toe.  I didn’t get hit – and Ben started hitting it better.
• Ben always treated putting like a “little golf swing.”  His stroke has great rhythm and his transition (from back to front) is wonderful.  Mark McNulty, Tom Watson, Phil Mickelson and Tiger Woods, those fellows are some of the other great putters, to name a few, who I’ve seen over the years.
• You have to be patient when you play Augusta National.  You can’t get cocky, just have to let the round come to you.
• Mr. Roberts (Clifford Roberts, Augusta National co-founder and Chairman from 1934-1976), Ike (President Dwight Eisenhower) and Mr. Stephens (Jackson Stephens, Augusta National Chairman from 1991-1998) all had big influences on me.
• The old caddies – they were all true professionals.  Nothing better now than sitting down with a mint julep and talking about the old caddying days.

Jackson is now passionately involved with the Carl’s Kids Foundation (http://carlskids.org/), a program providing young people an opportunity to develop life-enhancement through golf.