Watch Ernie and Luke to Master Rhythm

Last Friday, I played nine holes after work. It was the first time I've played since mid-December, so I expected to play like, well, crap.

But I didn't.

To my surprise I played very well. Strike that. Absurdly well. In fact it was one of the best ballstriking days I've ever had.

This shouldn't be the case after a long layoff. If anything, rhythm should be the hardest thing to get back.

So, why was I swinging as easy as, well, The Big Easy? Because I spent most of Friday afternoon watching the Ernie Els-Luke Donald match at the Accenture. They have two of the smoothest swings on Tour. The more I watched, the more I picked up both men's rhythm.

Simple as that.

Most of us are visual learners. We remember what we see more than what we read or hear. And watching those two hit the ball in balance, with great rhythm carried over when I played. The game never seemed easier.

With that in mind here are two real time swings from Els and Donald. Watch them, absorb their swings, picture yourself being them the next time you play.

Let us know if it works for you.

Geoff Ogilvy's Golf Swing

Here's the swing of your 2009 Accenture Match Play Champion, Geoff Ogilvy:



Our quick, Monday morning analysis focuses on how the Aussie's physique dictates a more upright swing plane.

The PGA Tour media guide lists Ogilvy at 6'2" 180 pounds. He's lanky and tall, like Jim Furyk and Vijay Singh, two other golfers who, because of their height, stand closer to the ball and swing the club on a more upright plane.

Since golf clubs tend to have a standard length and lie, it's easy to imagine how different Ogilvy's posture and stance are, versus, say the 5'4" Ian Woosnam (who stands farther from the ball and swings on a flatter plane).

The takeaway? Fit your swing to players who have similar physiques.

Tim Clark Beats Tiger Woods 4&2 at the Accenture

TV sets all over the world just went dark.

Here's the swing that took Woods down:

What We've Been Missing

With Tiger on the sidelines for the past eight months, the PGA Tour, while still filled with watchable moments (Greg Norman's close call in the Open, Padraig Harrington's two major wins and The Ryder Cup to name a few) has functioned more like a 10-watt bulb hanging in an airplane hangar. There just hasn't been enough electricity to light up the joint.

If you've forgotten what it's like to have Tiger around, this video should jog your memory. Click to witness the mind-blowing putting clinic he put on at last year's Accenture Match Play when he came from 3 down with five to play to beat J.B. Holmes.



Remember GT readers, no matter how far you hit your driver, no matter how crisply your irons are struck, if you can't putt you're never going to score.

Brendan Jones vs. Tiger Woods

Tiger returns tomorrow with a first round match against Brendan Jones at the Accenture Match Play Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Dove Mountain, Arizona. The 33-year-old Aussie said he was "overjoyed" when he heard he'd play Woods.

Click here to watch an interview with Jones and see clips of his swing.

During our research we scoured youtube looking for videos of Jones' swing, but all we could find was this...



...and something tells us it's not the same Brendan Jones. If it was a drum off, the 15-year-old Brendan Jones would take Tiger 9 & 8.

He's Baaaack

Tiger returns next week.

Do you think the PGA Tour needs him? This video might answer that question.