Big Break Indian Wells 7: Double Trouble

I guess it was inevitable that there would be an episode with two eliminations in it, given that Petey had come back and we only had a few shows left, but I was still thrown for a loop on how it happened.

Imagine how the Music Man felt that morning. John had just paid the price for avoiding elimination the night, handing over $3,500; and suddenly he's right back in a life & death again situation. Talk about your loss of appetite!

John was always considered one of the favorites on the Big Break IW and yet he lost to the first man who "left" in the field in show 1.  Strange...

And even stranger was how he was eliminated.  I would never have thought John would be taken down in a putting contest, given he has a fabulous short game practice area in his back yard,  But in the battle of dueling broomsticks, Petey sent John packing...with his clubs, his guitar and a sad song.

But...Petey did not get off easy that day. No one can argue that the "elimination expert" had more than his share of make or break challenges in this series.  And although his resurrection was short lived, it was a real pleasure to see him get a second chance to show his stuff on this show.  And he has a lot of good stuff!

Sadly, his stuff was not quite good enough to beat the clutch putts from David Byrne.

Whew, that was a close one for my fellow Canuck! If I hadn't been taking notes for this week's interviews, I'd have been biting my nails to the quick. That was the most stressful show I've seen yet. Imagine what the players felt!

Okay, so let's ask them :)

But first I have a special guest - David's golf coach, Luke LaFave. I had the great pleasure of chatting with Luke before the show. I wanted to find out why David said to me that "Luke is the reason why my swing has changed so much for the better. He's the only one I trust with it."

I wonder how Luke was feeling watching the show tonight (or if he has any fingernails left). Haha!



So let's hear from the man of the hour - the one who had us sitting on the edge of our seats up here in the great white north...




Robbie joined me to talk about his thoughts on the rollercoaster day, his opinion of long putters and his new enterprise...



Check out http://www.cafepress.com/shankgolf and order a T-shirt, cap or mug. I'm definitely going to grab a few for myself and gifts for friends who are afraid to say the "S" word ;)

I connected with Carl today and enjoyed a chuckle or two over the drama of the day, the emotions of the teams and the twists the Golf Channel has introduced this season on the Big Break.  The past - it will haunt you!




Next week sounds exciting and just a little scary.  I can't wait!

Until then...
Golfgal

Big Break IW 6: Oren is Ousted

How does a golfer putt from 35+ yards out and get it to tap-in range at the hole and then miss the next putt?  I guess we'd have to ask Oren - this week's Big Break eliminated contestant. 

No question, given 100 chances to make that short putt, Oren would have sunk it 99 times.  But isn't it always the way?  It's the inches that will kill you in golf, not the hundreds of yards it takes to get to that point.   I realize it wasn't that particular putt that sent him walking, but it certainly couldn't have helped his confidence with the flat stick later in the show.

I really like Oren.  What a great smile, eh?  And he was a terrific contestant on the Big Break.  Like Russell, his is a man who served his country proudly and was awarded several medals and honors.

He showed such integrity and even kindness throughout the series; I hope that he doesn't give up his dream.  But...given how he loves to gamble, I'm betting that he won't ante up without a good fight!

But Oren wasn't the only storyline this week.  Petey proved he deserved to be back in contention, capturing his 3.5 points faster than you can say, "Game on!"  I'm really curious how the guys all felt about that.

David, Carl and Robbie were with me once again (love these guys!!!) to share their thoughts on Petey's comeback and Oren's elimination.

Up first, David, with some insights into creative editing that made the show that much more exciting...



Carl provides some new information about his match with Oren - love getting behind-the-scenes scoop on things we didn't see...



Robbie sets the record straight on John's play and what makes this Big Break group so special from all the rest...




Thanks guys for everything!  Looking forward to watching next week's show and chatting with you once more.  Until then...keep it in the short grass.

Golfgal

Big Break IW 5: Redemption is Sweet!

Or sour, depending on which Big Break hotel you happen to be staying in.

Once again, Golf Channel has come through with a great new format change to the Big Break.  Sure we've seen playback challenges before, but this one added a new twist on an old theme.  I loved it!

Offering "potential" redemtion to an eliminated contestant was a wonderful idea, especially for someone like Petey, who really didn't get a chance to strut his stuff on the show.  Well, he certainly walked tall this week and next week looks like it might flip the tables a bit on who's at the top of the leaderboard.

Watching the episode, I kept thinking about what lessons the 4 challengers could/should learn from the experience.

Justin needs to learn the difference between confidence and arrogance.  Saying it was time to "bring on the pain" was all I needed to write off his game that day.  Over confidence breeds unrealistic expectations and those are deadly in golf.  Russell was right when he said to Justin at the start of the show, "You just don't get it!"

Robert needs to learn to trust himself.  Watching him step up with a putter 25 yards from the pin set the stage for a train wreck waiting to happen. It was sad to watch.

Russell needs to learn to manage risk.  Like the blackjack game last week to this week's going for the green on that par 5, he sets himself up for failure.  The odds are against him and yet he just can't stop himself.  Maybe that's what makes a good soldier, but it's not the way to manage a golf game.

Petey seemed to come to the show with the right mix of patience and perseverance.  And during this show, he obviously learned a lot.   Letting Justin putt seemed to be a bad idea at first, until we saw Justin miss that 13 footer. I kept wondering if it was Justin's comment that his putt was not quite like the one he had earlier  that made the decision for Petey.  Perhaps Justin needs to learn another lesson - when to stop talking. 

Well, the rest of the gang had the day off. Let's hear from them on what they did and what they thought about this show - remember, this is the first time they've seen this, just like us.

First up this week...David, who was one of the few not surprised by this twist...



Carl brings a wonderful strategic look at the show, the challenges and the shots chosen by the 4 contestants...



Robbie wraps it all up for us, as only Shank can!



Well, next week certainly looks like Petey will be thrown into the lions den.  If looks could kill, Will would have had Petey swinging from under the fairway instead of on top of it. 

Looks like Will may need a little lesson in managing his emotions.  Otherwise he, his golf game and his cash may be moving over to Hotel Elimination.

Until next week...
Golfgal

Big Break IW-4: No walk of shame for Russell

After the first 2 episodes of the Big Break Indian Wells, I was a bit put off by Russell.  He seemed so wound up and aggressive - almost like he had a chip on his shoulder.  And his comments about David having it in for him last week, beating him twice, seemed so ridiculous.  But I was wrong.

This week we saw the real Russell Normandin - a gentleman, a fighter and a friend to all of the other Big Breakers.

The Blind Black Jack game, while brilliant IMHO, was also pretty devious too. Facing a 'hit or stay' decision on 18, Russell's 'Never Give up; Never Surrender' personality got the better of him, but he took defeat as a man and came out fighting again in elimination against his nemesis, David.

And when the poker chips fell where they may, Russell exited Big Break like a war hero.

Listening to him talk about his favorite on the show, Robert Floyd, and how Robert "loses really well (with dignity) - something that a lot of people can learn from." made me think that perhaps Russell took a lesson from Robert the way that Robbie went to school on Carl - both A+ students!

Take care of yourself Russell when you head to Afghanistan this summer for your 3rd combat term. We'll look for you on a different 'Tour of Duty" when you get back!

Let's hear from the Robbie, Carl and David on this week's show.

First up, Shank...whose poker face could get him a place next to Carl on The Poker Channel.



Next, Spiderman (move over Camilo!).   Carl is also the best mind game player ever on the Big Break!



Now, the man who took down Russell for the 3rd time in 4 weeks - but this time for keeps...David.



Thanks guys for another round of great golf gabs!

Well, it was a really fun show, wasn't it?  I think the Golf Channel will be hard pressed to beat the excitement of this week's show. But I'm looking forward to seeing them try!

Until next week,

Golfgal

Golf book recommendation: The Caddie Who Won the Masters

Have you ever picked up a book and knew within the first 2 pages that you were going to love it? Well, that's how I felt when I cracked the bindings on John Coyne's, The Caddie Who Won The Masters.

This book captivated me from the very beginning and I read it in record time.  It was so entertaining that I spent every morning at the gym on the staitionary bike so I could read it while "exercising".  It probably wasn't the best thing for my fitness routine, but it sure helped kick off my day with some moments of shear delight.

Picture this...an aging amateur golfer about to face the challenge of a lifetime (playing in The Masters) while his wife faces hers (dying of cancer).  His daunting quest to fulfill Bobby Jones' dream that an amateur win the Green Jacket becomes even more agonizing when he discovers that a win will save his wife's life.  Spooky, eh?

Well, there's good reason for it being a bit chilling; it's written by an accomplished novelist who has been known to haunt a few people's dreams through numerous award winning horror books, such as Child of Shadows, Fury , The Shroud and The Piercing.

John Coyne is a master storyteller, who has woven some fascinating golf history with fiction and fantasy into a riveting tale of suspense, drama, legends, heros and love in The Caddie Who Won the Masters.

As a wannabe golfer and writer, it was a real treat for me to be able to talk to John about his latest masterpiece...



The Caddie Who Won The Masters is must read for anyone who loves golf and fantasizes about playing Amen Corner with the legends of the game.  It was the first book of John's I've read, but it won't be the last.  Next up,  The Caddie Who Knew Ben Hogan followed by The Caddie Who Played with Hickory.

If they are half as good as this gem, I'd say I've found my new favorite author. What worries me is I might be tempted to read some of his horror novels and I'm easily frightened. The closest thing I ever get to horror in my life is my golf game.

Golfgal