[Hennybogan]

How do you get good at reading lies and reading greens? Does that plum bobbing stuff work?

Do pros line up perfect every time? Or do you have to watch their alignment?

What tourney treats the caddies best?

Do you think Duval will every get it back?

Do you ever get tired of goofballs asking you questions?

Bucket,

You get good at reading lies by paying attention and taking notes. When you have the eight iron shot I talked about before (160) except it's in a light, dry, bermuda rough -- you tend to notice when the crowd behind the green raises their heads as the ball sails over then into the grandstand. That ball must have jumped. To prevent this occurance, you hit balls from all kinds of lies during the practice rounds and note how they react.

I worked for a young player I didn't know at Pinehurst 05. During the practice rounds I'd get him to pull a club from the rough, hit it, notice, and then try one or two other clubs just to see what they would do. It probably wore him out, but I needed to know. I usually think less club goes farther from rough, but I can hit jumpers with the best of them

Some guys don't hit jumpers, some do. Smaller heads with smaller grooves go through the rough better, but can be unpredictable. Really bit aggressive grooves grab the grass and make the ball go short. Some can't hit more than a six iron from any kind of rough. I worked for one of the best from the rough. Like the saying goes, "Not my first rodeo." The guys good from trouble are the guys who hit it into trouble alot.

When my man hits a shot, I have an expectation about where it will land. If it does something else, I'll think about it until I figure it out. I might have to ask how he hit it. Was there a gust? Has the wind shifted? Sometimes you just screw it up. I want to be clear so I know how to file it in the data bank. It might confuse you later if don't resolve the issue. Some players want to be involved in that conversation. Others, who are into "staying in the present," just want to let it go. Either way, I need to know.

Reading greens. I've always been good. I guess I have a good sense of what level looks like. I try to imagine where the water would go. That's a good trick--look at your greens when it's pouring down rain.

No--plumbbobbing does not work. Just don't tell all those great putters that do it. Makes no sense to me.

Pros do not line up well all the time. They do pretty well when they walk into the shot, but can get off hitting from the same spot on the range. Some struggle more than others. I would never line up a player in a tournament round. I don't think it should be allowed. I don't ever see them change the player anyway. I could say, "That looks good" just as well from the side of the tee where I'm supposed to stand. You do have to look in a practice round, but that's often the swing as a whole.

Best i've ever been treated was in Mexico this year. Steaks, grilled grouper, etc. all week long.

I hope Duval makes it back. He's my favorite that I have not worked for. I think that he will win again but not rise to the highest level.

Remains to be seen.