2013 Masters Favorites: My Top 10 for Augusta in 2013

Once again the Masters tournament is right around the corner, so I wanted to keep up with annual tradition and write my blog post for my 2013 Masters favorites. Who are my favorites to take home the green jacket this year? Below are my top 10 picks for the 2013 Masters tournament at Augusta National.

#10: Steve Stricker

Steve is playing a very limited schedule this year, and although his game doesn’t seem to fit Augusta on the surface, he is always a factor on any course where putting is at a premium. Stricker is playing well this year even at the age of 46, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him have a great week.

#9: Adam Scott

Runner-up to Schwartzel in 2011, not to mention his heartbreaking loss to Ernie Els at the Open Championship last year. It wouldn’t surprise me to see some long putter magic from Adam Scott at Augusta (and give the USGA another ridiculous reason to ban the anchored putter). Expect him to shoot one really low round this year at the Masters & create some buzz as a top 2013 Masters favorite.

#8: Justin Rose

This is a second-shot golf course and Justin Rose is one of the best iron players in the world…put 2 & 2 together and you will see why he is one of the top players to watch for in the 2013 Masters.

#7: Brandt Snedeker

Some people may not agree with him being on this list consider he has missed his last two cuts, but I think it is justified. Brandt is the guy on tour that can get hot & make 5 or 6 twenty-foot putts in one round. I wouldn’t be surprised if he had a strong week.

#6: Lee Westwood

He is always in contention at major championships, and he is probably making the turn and heading to the back 9 of his career. Westwood is a great player, and maybe this week he finally proves it with a major championship.

#5: Bubba Watson

I don’t know how Bubba will put the jacket on himself as defending champion, but I would like to see him try! Although he hasn’t been playing great coming into this year, I think Bubba can draw on all of the positive events of last year and have a great tournament.

#4: Keegan Bradley

Bradley is as long as anyone on tour, and hits a high draw with a lot of spin that is a really nice shot shape to have at Augusta National. He is really coming into his own, and has been practicing with Phil, who probably knows Augusta National better than anyone on the planet. Don’t be surprised if Keegan is wearing green come Sunday, he is certainly one of my top Masters picks for 2013.

#3: Rory McIlroy

It was challenging for me to put Rory at #3, because as talented as he is he had been struggling…Until last week in San Antonio at the Valero Texas Open. With his game, he can play B- golf and still be around on Sunday, and if he plays his A game the man in the red shirt may have something to worry about.

#2: Phil Mickelson

3 time champion, and plays well year in and year out around Augusta. Phil seems to play his best on these hallowed grounds, and don’t be shocked to see him in contention come late Sunday afternoon (Especially since he has his 8.5 degree “Frankenwood” in the bag).

#1: Tiger Woods

Last year John Daly picked Tiger to win the 2012 Masters by 5-10 shots. I think he should have saved that prediction for the 2013 Masters, because the way Tiger is playing now it could be a beat down. Could you see him going out on Thursday & Friday and posting a pair of 66′s to leave the field in the dust going into the weekend? I sure could.

These are my 2013 Masters favorites, and I encourage you to leave a comment below!

How to Rebuild Your Golf Swing After Shoulder Surgery

For older and younger golfers alike, a bad shoulder can be a significant handicap (no pun intended) on you being able to swing the golf club properly, and thus enjoy the game that you love to its fullest potential.

I want to say that I am not a physical therapist, so the following article is NOT medical advice (I encourage you to visit your doctor or therapist before performing any of exercises). I am simply revealing a few options that have worked for some people who wanted to get back to playing golf after shoulder surgery.

When it comes to rebuilding your golf swing after shoulder surgery, there are two main components that must be built: strength & range of motion. If you can build up your strength and get back any lost range of motion that you have experienced, then you will be on your way to a successful recovery from your shoulder or rotator cuff (with the part that usually needs surgery being the Labrum) injury.

How much time will it take after surgery until I can play again?

I’m not qualified to answer this question, because only your doctor knows your specific situation. However, under normal circumstances most golfers can recover from shoulder surgery and start rebuilding their golf swing within a 2-6 month window. While you should consult with your physician, coming back any sooner could increase your risk of re-injuring your shoulder.

Exercises to improve range of motion & flexibility after shoulder surgery

Some of the first exercises you may perform as part of your rehabilitation will likely include range-of-motion exercises with exercise bands. These bands are essentially big, strong rubber bands that allows you to stretch your muscles lightly and recover some of your lost range of motion.

While many golfers (especially men) find these exercises boring, they are important to the overall shoulder rebuilding process. It is important that you listen to your doctor or therapist and make sure that you do everything you can in order to work with them, because your quick and speedy recover is also in their best interest!

Exercises to get back your strength

Regaining strength in your rotator cuff after surgery can be a little more difficult, and a wide variety of workouts are used in order to accomplish this feat. Often times rebuilding strength in the shoulder will involve some light weight-lifting, as well as some yoga exercises to strengthen not only your torn shoulder, but your core as well.

Remember, it is important to listen to your therapist, and follow their advice as they have likely worked with hundreds of patients with injuries very similar to your own.

Patience is key when recovering from shoulder surgery

Rebuilding your golf swing mechanically will take care of itself with a little practice, but the keys are to make sure that your strength returns, and that you maximize your range of motion post-surgery in order to get your golf swing back to where you want it to be.

Let Michael Breed Show You How to Stop Pushing Putts

In this video, Michael Breed from The Golf Fix (on the Golf Channel) shows you how to stop pushing putts. Most amateur golfers let their hands take over on short putts, and fail to finish the stroke properly. As a result, they tend to push a large majority of their putts (especially short ones).

This video is going to give golfers of all ability levels some practical tips on how they can stop pushing putts and start shooting lower scores.

How to Hit Crisp Iron Shots: 3 Tips for Better Iron Play

While it might be just a bit of an exaggeration to suggest that any golfer can hit crisp iron shots every time, there are a few iron play fundamentals that you can start practicing today in order to hit better iron shots more consistently. If you are frustrated with your lack of consistent iron play, and want to hit better shots, hit more greens in regulation, and ultimately shoot lower scores then follow the tips listed below.

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HITTING CONSISTENT CHIP SHOTS AROUND THE GREEN

Today on golfingforbirdies.com we are happy to welcome Adam Bazalgette. Adam is an experienced instructor (make sure to check out his website at the end of this article) in the Naples, FL. area.

Even tour professionals fail to hit about one third of the greens they play in regulation (i.e. putting for birdie). In spite of this they have scoring averages of around two under par. Simple math will tell you that in order to do this you must have a great short game.

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