Best ball striker you have seen in person?

[BottleCap]

Adam Scott

[tmartin89]

I'm guessing this is my 15 seconds of fame (cool)

 

http://www.golfwrx.c...seen-in-person/

[TapInPar]

I’ve been lucky enough to attend the Masters regularly over the past few years and I’ve seen some excellent ballstriking by the best players in the world, as you’d imagine.

 

But two of the most solid, dead solid perfect shots I’ve seen hit were by Ian Woosnam. Even in his mid-50s...5’4”, built like a fire hydrant, strong hands. Saw him up close for a hybrid club off the tee on the short par 4 3rd hole and an iron off the 16th tee. Had a deep THUMP that didn’t sound like the other guys’ shots. Ball flight wasn’t jaw dropping like some of the top players, but something about a guy of his stature and age hitting it that SOLID really stood out to me.

[Frostfield]

Played with Cameron Beckman in a mini tour event in 1997. Par 70. I shot 67 and made EVERYTHING. He shot 63 and made NOTHING. Every single iron was at the flag. The only question was how good was the distance control. I new on that day I had zero chance at making a living at golf.

[thesaxemachine]

On the range at the Canadian Open a few years ago, I think the year Sneds won. Was watch Gmac hit probably 4 or 5 iron...like 10 balls in a row, all just covering the flag. Followed him for a few practice holes and he was all over the yard lol

[tapinbirdie16]

I’ve been to some PGA Tour events, but the best ball-striker I have seen (and have played with on numerous occasions) is Cole Miller, a PA Amateur champ. The kid is beyond PGA tour long and accurate.

 

Remember this post when he’s leading the ballstriking stats of whatever tour he ends up on.

[Baitkiller]

Chi chi.

Total stud. I watched him smoke 3 wood after 3 wood from the same ever deepening divot.

[playa]

Seen most all of the best, nobody even close to Moe Norman.....I watched that guy hit probably 2,000 balls combined in a few sessions in Palm Coast, Florida. It was ridiculous!...

I think you have to put an asterisk next to Moe as his legendary ball striking is based on clinics at driving ranges in retirement. There isn't much video of his ball striking from his playing days, and his PGA tour record is nothing to get excited about. Not saying he wasn't a great ball striker, but hitting on the range is not the same as under tournament pressure. Never seen him live but Tigers range sessions are legendary for the purity of strike and ball control.

As far as my opinion, the best I have seen live is Greg Norman and it isn't close. His driving and long iron play back in the late 80s was other worldly. The accuracy and length he had with a persimmon driver was ridiculous, as was the towering trajectory and length of his long irons. Not to mention the sound, his drives echoed like rifle shots.

On tv the greatest ball striking exhibition I've ever seen is Tiger at Augusta in 97, no words could do justice to the display he put on.

But it would be hard to argue against Hogan as the greatest ball striker ever. He didn't have the athletic gifts of Tiger and the shark, but pound for pound he hit it better than anyone. Trevino, Miller, Seve, Nicklaus, Watson, Weiskopf, DL3, Freddy, JD, Stenson, Lyle and Price also immediately come to mind as ball strikers who stood out from the pack.

Of the younger players, DJ, Rory and Day are the standouts.

Middle of the range, RIGHT directly in line with the 100/150/200/250 markers, which were a 4x8 sheet of plywood painted white, and numbered. EVERY stinking shot was straight as an arrow, over the boards, every club, EVERY shot.......Not saying he was a great tournament player, but NOBODY, EVER, hit the ball more pure, shot after shot...Even Tiger said that!, and Faldo, and Price, etc......LOL. Oh, and while I got you, Peter Jacobsen said the last time he played with Johnny Miller, Miller birdies the BACK 9.........THAT is ball-striking.......LOL

If you want a good chuckle watch the Moe Norman shot tracker video. Someone has got a video of one his clinics and superimposed shot tracker. High exaggerated slices, duck hooks, cold tops (on the 'shot tracker'). A bit disrespectful but hilarious.

[talktoafade]

Admittedly a limited sample size, based on a week-long pass to the PGA at Sahalee in 1998.

 

Watched practice rounds, tournament rounds and spent the most time watching the practice tee.

 

Four players stood out:

 

Couples. Stood about 10 feet behind him on an empty range while he went through his whole bag for warmup. Tempo and athleticism non pareil.

 

Love III. Watched him hit long irons with just his left hand for 5-10 minutes. Was hitting beautiful shots around 200 yards.

 

Daly. People forget that he was a super-great athlete as a kid...I think he won Punt, Pass, Kick Challenge for his state or region as a kid. He appeared to be able to do anything with the ball. Without trying. If anyone was more athletic than Couples, it was Daly. Hit a number of drives off the top of various sized plastic pop bottles. All WAY past 300 yards. And enjoyed putting on a show for the gallery at the range.

 

SLUMAN. Seriously. Saw him hit the best shot I've ever seen. Can't remember the hole #, but he put it into a fir tree about 100-125 yds off the tee with driver on a 400+ yard par four. Ball ended up in in the rough under some tree branches. He took a long iron and flat smoked the ball 200+ in the air -- never got more than ~10 feet up -- and another 50-75 yds on the ground. Bumped up the chip and made par. That was the shot that made the biggest impression on me. Not a big guy. And that's a situation where most of us end up making double or triple.

[loop_]

I spent the week at The Open in 2000. Watched a lot of Tiger and spent hours on the range. Never seen anything like it, machine like.

 

Beyond that, I know everyone talks about Bubba for maneuvering the ball but Sergio is incredible. 2010 Open he just put on a clinic. High, low, fades, draws, he hit them all and the trajectory control was superb.

 

I agree 100%. A lot of players are very one dimensional in their efficiency. Sergio can do whatever he wants with a golf ball. I spent a lot of time on the range at the 2016 Ryder cup and he was in a league of his own. High, low, draw, fade, whatever shape he wanted, hitting his number every time.

[Terry Gold]

The guy I would like to see on a range if I ever go over the pond again would probably be Furyk. Objectively, he is the best ballstriker in our time. His swing was on for like 20 straight years. Shaky legs at sunday and not the longest of hitters, but just so consistent with his swing. And see that octopussy swing should have its own aestethics. Have anyone seen Furyk in person?

 

Saw Jim in 98 at the driving range hitting alternate driver-wedge for like 15 minutes before playing. Gawd the man had more rhythm and tempo than a ballet dancer. Unbelievable.

 

Followed him up close in the 2015 WGC Match Play vs. Kaymer. No one else has ever made it look so simultaneously easy yet difficult.

His target proximity with long irons and hybrids was astounding.

[vleisman]

Ben Hogan playing a practice round at the 1970 PGA Championship. He withdrew after the round due to how hilly the course was. The ball made a completely different sound as it came off the club. I've seen Snead, Tiger, Palmer, Nicklaus, Trevino, Norman, Faldo, Player and most all of the guys from the '60's, '70's, and '80's and none of them hit a shot that sounded like his. The trajectory was lower than most players but it just kept going and his fade was very much a straight shot. It only fell about 3 feet to the right. He could also hit a draw that just dropped a little to the left. High, low, left, right it was something to see.

 

I've mainly seen South African golfers, which is limiting, and unfortunately not a firsthand story, but basically from the horse's mouth. (not Horse Henning, Dennis Hutchinson) Hutch was playing a practice round before a major somewhere in the USA and they were on the green of a long, difficult par 3 when Mr. Hogan walks onto the tee, just him and his caddie - so they call him through. He hits 4 balls into the green, a light fade to the middle right, a draw to middle left, one to the back and one to the front. Perfect control. He walks up, doesn't bother to putt, caddie gets the balls, moves onto the next hole past four extremely impressed golfers.

[Awsi Dooger]

Weiskopf is the first one who comes to mind. My dad took me to Doral beginning in '68. It was a low rising jet trail era but Weiskopt hit towering powerful shots. I was immediately amazed. I couldn't believe how quickly it gained altitude and stayed there. For the next dozen years or more I'd mostly follow either Nicklaus or Weiskopf at Doral and Inverrary. When they were paired together like the 36 hole finale at Doral in '78 it was always a special treat. Very, very similar ball flight but Weiskopf was normally just a bit higher, longer and prettier. He seemed to know it and savor it. The two Tourneys would be side by side but Tall Tom would confidently stride to the one a few yards furthest ahead.

 

I remember one time at #2 at Doral with a blind landing area on a short par 4 that Weiskopf walked forward only to be told by Jack and Angelo to get back there. This time Nicklaus was the deep ball, even though it didn't look that way from the tee. They all laughed about it.

 

Of course, the result normally went the other way also.

 

Trevino was the best ball striker I've seen given low margin for error. He'd attempt shots that didn't seem possible given the requirement and the trajectory. But he was so confident and precise he'd pull if off. That continued well into his senior tour career, when it still looked almost exactly the same.

 

Miller definitely had the highest standards. I remember him hitting a wedge to within 10 feet on the old par 5 8th at Doral, after laying up on his second shot. My high school buddies and I were standing right there for the third. The shot looked gorgeous. Tightly tucked over water. High Doral winds. My friend clapped. Johnny glared our way, as if he thought we were mocking him. Johnny then gestured to his caddie about what a terrible shot it was. He had that prissy walk even though the back was ram rodded. So when he walked away my friend was so upset about that glare he started cat calling to Miller. Four decades later he still doesn't like Johnny Miller due to that one incident.

 

I was impressed someone named Angel Cabrera. I assumed I would be the only one. In recent years the guy who amazes me with that quick altitude and staying power is Cabrera, especially given the age he was when I first saw it.

 

On the women's side there's a current player I don't like but I have to concede I've never seen compression and powerful ball flight like that in person from a female...Ariya Jutanugarn. It is a moderately low trajectory by LPGA standards.

 

Ignoring power, the best LPGA ball striker I've seen in person is Karrie Webb. Gorgeous consistent draw.

[97speedster]

I worked for the Nicklaus family for 6 years and have had the luxury of playing golf several times with Jack. I first met Jack in 1991 at the US Amateur at The Honour's Course when he was there watching Gary, so he was already 51 and well past his prime. I didn't get to actually play in the same group as Jack until about 1999, but I could still see why he is the greatest of all time.

 

The first time I played with Jack I shot 68 at The Bears Club and me and his youngest son Michael beat Jack and Jack Jr out of $5. From that day forward I felt like I earned Jack's respect and he was always very nice and personable to me and always asking me how my game was. I got my Amateur status back a few years ago and was in a playoff with Gary Nicklaus at the US Mid Am qualifier for one spot and Jack was caddying.... it was a 4 man playoff at The Dye Preserve and the first playoff hole was #17 which is a tough par 3 over water and I was the first to hit and striped it 12 feet past the hole, Gary dumped it in the water and then one of the other players named RJ Nakashian dropped a 50 footer and I missed my 12 footer, but it was still fun hitting a frozen rope under pressure with Jack watching me.

 

From 1987-1990 I played golf at TCU in Ft Worth and also had the luxury of watching Ben Hogan hit balls.... he also one day watched me hit balls for 15 minutes on the range. I swore he was going to give me a lesson, but instead he gave me a set of the new model of Forged Apex Edge irons. To this day it is the most nervous I have been with a golf club in my hand and I wasn't even on the golf course, just the range, but my hands were literally shaking.

 

Lastly, the best iron and wedge player I have ever had the luxury of playing with was Paul Azinger.... especially before he had cancer. Up until 1993 when he won the PGA his iron shots sounded different than anyone else, they were solid and piercing. I still think if he didn't get cancer, he would of won at least one or two British Opens. His best finish was 2nd then he got diagnosed with cancer a few months after winning the PGA. After his chemo and radiation and beating cancer he was still good (won the 1998 Sony Open), but never quite the same. I'm actually playing golf with him today too.

[97speedster]

Have anyone seen Furyk in person?

 

Furyk and I roomed together on the AJGA Tour in the mid 1980's and I was actually rooming with him the week he broke through with his game and then went on to win twice that summer on the AJGA Tour. I haven't played with him for quite a few years, but what is most impressive about him is his short game, it is world class and he one of the best clutch putters I have ever seen.

[Hankshank]

Have anyone seen Furyk in person?

 

Furyk and I roomed together on the AJGA Tour in the mid 1980's and I was actually rooming with him the week he broke through with his game and then went on to win twice that summer on the AJGA Tour. I haven't played with him for quite a few years, but what is most impressive about him is his short game, it is world class and he one of the best clutch putters I have ever seen.

Yeah, a guy that has shot both 59 and 58, won the US Open and FedEx will have a sharp short game. But he has won surprisingly few tournaments over the years. Only one Major so far. With that accuracy and short game you would have supposed he should have won more majors and big tournaments. My impression is that sundays down the stretch has not been the strongest part of his game.

[dcrocketman]

Been around the game along time. I have watched Jack, Tiger, Knudson, Weskopf, Moe etc. Two stand out as " whoa I can't do that"

1) Mac O'Grady in his prime, his mechanics and teachings have changed the instruction game. Watched him in the mid 80's at Bayhill and Canadian Open

2) Bobby Clampett I watched at the first two rounds of the British Open in 1982 before he doubted himself.

 

Both looked different than anyone

[super20dan]

greg norman in his prime. with a wooden driver and balata ball. you could hear the air parting as the ball took off like a rocket

[Scooterboy59]

Trevino, Norman, Sergio, with a slight edge to Norman. He was incredible during his prime.

[sdandrea]

Last Monday I played in a Hickory fun event with a young man from South Carolina named Bo Turocy. We were all playing with 80 to 90+ year old hickory clubs (originals) with sole widths like razor blades and tiny dimples or shallow grooves. This guy had a Bobby Jones-like swing and hit nothing but solid high draws all day long. Beautiful sight. Man crush!

[gioguy21]

best I've seen in person:

 

Freddie Couples (2014 Masters)

Tiger Woods (2009 AT&T National)

Adam Scott (2014 Masters)

[LoveG]

Last Monday I played in a Hickory fun event with a young man from South Carolina named Bo Turocy. We were all playing with 80 to 90+ year old hickory clubs (originals) with sole widths like razor blades and tiny dimples or shallow grooves. This guy had a Bobby Jones-like swing and hit nothing but solid high draws all day long. Beautiful sight. Man crush!

 

Nothing like a hickory shafted club to prove ball striking prowess!

[speeler_kda]

Great thread. Hard to argue with the names that keep popping up: Couples, Price, Norman, Tiger... FWIW, here's a quote from Men in Green by Michael Bamberger in conversation with Mike Donald: "Many knowledgeable people, like Mike, will argue that nobody has ever hit a higher percentage of flush shots than Fred Couples"

 

Been to many Canadian Opens, 2007 Presidents Cup, 2013 PGA Championship and a few Web.com events. Best shot I ever saw in person was Fred Couples, 1991 Canadian Open, 16th hole at Glen Abbey. Ball was in the rough, not a great lie and semi blocked by a tree. He rifled a long iron under the branch that barely got airborne and still carried 200+ yds and rolled onto the green. Sound and flight of that shot truly was awesome. The amazing thing is, he was in the same place the next day and hit the same shot! Of course, nowadays that hole is a 360 yds drive and a wedge...

 

Other guys who stood out to me:

 

- Bob Tway, Craig Stadler and Bill Glasson in the 80's. Also saw Calc ace #3 at Glen Abbey with a pured PING BeCu Eye 2. I wanted that set so bad after that...

- Price and Couples in the 90's

- Tiger in 1996 with the Cobra driver, when he still pretty skinny. Saw him carry one 320 on old #8 at Glen Abbey, a hole they were using to measure drives. It finished 342, volunteer said it was the longest drive by 20 yds.

- O'Meara at 98 Canadian Skins in PEI, shortly after he won 2 majors

- Hank Kuehne at 2002 CPGA Championship (web.com event at the time) Hammerin' Hank is the longest I've EVER seen but I missed Viktor Schwamkrug that day

- Graham Delaet at 2013 PGA Championship. As a Canadian golfer, If only we could combine the best of Delaet and Mike Weir... Also had a front row seat to Charlie Beljan side by side with Stenson. Slight edge to Beljan that day, his iron style hybrid looks like an avg Tour driver. That said, Stenson hits gorgeous irons

 

Let's keep this thread going, I could read these stories all day. Cheers

[johnnypro]

Weiskopf is the first one who comes to mind. My dad took me to Doral beginning in '68. It was a low rising jet trail era but Weiskopt hit towering powerful shots. I was immediately amazed. I couldn't believe how quickly it gained altitude and stayed there. For the next dozen years or more I'd mostly follow either Nicklaus or Weiskopf at Doral and Inverrary. When they were paired together like the 36 hole finale at Doral in '78 it was always a special treat. Very, very similar ball flight but Weiskopf was normally just a bit higher, longer and prettier. He seemed to know it and savor it. The two Tourneys would be side by side but Tall Tom would confidently stride to the one a few yards furthest ahead.

 

I remember one time at #2 at Doral with a blind landing area on a short par 4 that Weiskopf walked forward only to be told by Jack and Angelo to get back there. This time Nicklaus was the deep ball, even though it didn't look that way from the tee. They all laughed about it.

 

Of course, the result normally went the other way also.

 

Trevino was the best ball striker I've seen given low margin for error. He'd attempt shots that didn't seem possible given the requirement and the trajectory. But he was so confident and precise he'd pull if off. That continued well into his senior tour career, when it still looked almost exactly the same.

 

Miller definitely had the highest standards. I remember him hitting a wedge to within 10 feet on the old par 5 8th at Doral, after laying up on his second shot. My high school buddies and I were standing right there for the third. The shot looked gorgeous. Tightly tucked over water. High Doral winds. My friend clapped. Johnny glared our way, as if he thought we were mocking him. Johnny then gestured to his caddie about what a terrible shot it was. He had that prissy walk even though the back was ram rodded. So when he walked away my friend was so upset about that glare he started cat calling to Miller. Four decades later he still doesn't like Johnny Miller due to that one incident.

 

I was impressed someone named Angel Cabrera. I assumed I would be the only one. In recent years the guy who amazes me with that quick altitude and staying power is Cabrera, especially given the age he was when I first saw it.

 

On the women's side there's a current player I don't like but I have to concede I've never seen compression and powerful ball flight like that in person from a female...Ariya Jutanugarn. It is a moderately low trajectory by LPGA standards.

 

Ignoring power, the best LPGA ball striker I've seen in person is Karrie Webb. Gorgeous consistent draw.

 

I'm with you on a couple of points.

I used to go to Westchester every year in the late 60's and 70's and I always was amazed at Weiskopf.'s ball-striking. It was a beautiful thing to watch. Seemed to me a person couldn't swing a golf club better than that. Fifth hole was a dog-leg left par 5 with an elevated tee and he it a tee shot that I can still see in my mind's eye. The nicest, highest draw you could imagine. The ball actually seemed to move twice following the dog-leg: from right edge of fairway to right side of fairway and then from right side to the middle. Just an awesome talent who should have won a lot more!!

 

Of later guys, Cabrera also impressed me. Watched him on the range at Bethpage and he just killed it. Incredible power.

[pcs11]

Louis Oosthuizen. I watched him on the range at Erin Hills a couple times. Wow his swing looks even better in person.

[nikegal]

Sam

[mocokid]

Weiskopf is the first one who comes to mind. My dad took me to Doral beginning in '68. It was a low rising jet trail era but Weiskopt hit towering powerful shots. I was immediately amazed. I couldn't believe how quickly it gained altitude and stayed there. For the next dozen years or more I'd mostly follow either Nicklaus or Weiskopf at Doral and Inverrary. When they were paired together like the 36 hole finale at Doral in '78 it was always a special treat. Very, very similar ball flight but Weiskopf was normally just a bit higher, longer and prettier. He seemed to know it and savor it. The two Tourneys would be side by side but Tall Tom would confidently stride to the one a few yards furthest ahead.

 

I remember one time at #2 at Doral with a blind landing area on a short par 4 that Weiskopf walked forward only to be told by Jack and Angelo to get back there. This time Nicklaus was the deep ball, even though it didn't look that way from the tee. They all laughed about it.

 

Of course, the result normally went the other way also.

 

Trevino was the best ball striker I've seen given low margin for error. He'd attempt shots that didn't seem possible given the requirement and the trajectory. But he was so confident and precise he'd pull if off. That continued well into his senior tour career, when it still looked almost exactly the same.

 

Miller definitely had the highest standards. I remember him hitting a wedge to within 10 feet on the old par 5 8th at Doral, after laying up on his second shot. My high school buddies and I were standing right there for the third. The shot looked gorgeous. Tightly tucked over water. High Doral winds. My friend clapped. Johnny glared our way, as if he thought we were mocking him. Johnny then gestured to his caddie about what a terrible shot it was. He had that prissy walk even though the back was ram rodded. So when he walked away my friend was so upset about that glare he started cat calling to Miller. Four decades later he still doesn't like Johnny Miller due to that one incident.

 

I was impressed someone named Angel Cabrera. I assumed I would be the only one. In recent years the guy who amazes me with that quick altitude and staying power is Cabrera, especially given the age he was when I first saw it.

 

On the women's side there's a current player I don't like but I have to concede I've never seen compression and powerful ball flight like that in person from a female...Ariya Jutanugarn. It is a moderately low trajectory by LPGA standards.

 

Ignoring power, the best LPGA ball striker I've seen in person is Karrie Webb. Gorgeous consistent draw.

 

I'm with you on a couple of points.

I used to go to Westchester every year in the late 60's and 70's and I always was amazed at Weiskopf.'s ball-striking. It was a beautiful thing to watch. Seemed to me a person couldn't swing a golf club better than that. Fifth hole was a dog-leg left par 5 with an elevated tee and he it a tee shot that I can still see in my mind's eye. The nicest, highest draw you could imagine. The ball actually seemed to move twice following the dog-leg: from right edge of fairway to right side of fairway and then from right side to the middle. Just an awesome talent who should have won a lot more!!

 

Of later guys, Cabrera also impressed me. Watched him on the range at Bethpage and he just killed it. Incredible power.

 

I remember Sam Snead at Westchester in the mid 70's, his swing was like a gentle breeze blowing through the trees, natural like..

[johnnypro]

Weiskopf is the first one who comes to mind. My dad took me to Doral beginning in '68. It was a low rising jet trail era but Weiskopt hit towering powerful shots. I was immediately amazed. I couldn't believe how quickly it gained altitude and stayed there. For the next dozen years or more I'd mostly follow either Nicklaus or Weiskopf at Doral and Inverrary. When they were paired together like the 36 hole finale at Doral in '78 it was always a special treat. Very, very similar ball flight but Weiskopf was normally just a bit higher, longer and prettier. He seemed to know it and savor it. The two Tourneys would be side by side but Tall Tom would confidently stride to the one a few yards furthest ahead.

 

I remember one time at #2 at Doral with a blind landing area on a short par 4 that Weiskopf walked forward only to be told by Jack and Angelo to get back there. This time Nicklaus was the deep ball, even though it didn't look that way from the tee. They all laughed about it.

 

Of course, the result normally went the other way also.

 

Trevino was the best ball striker I've seen given low margin for error. He'd attempt shots that didn't seem possible given the requirement and the trajectory. But he was so confident and precise he'd pull if off. That continued well into his senior tour career, when it still looked almost exactly the same.

 

Miller definitely had the highest standards. I remember him hitting a wedge to within 10 feet on the old par 5 8th at Doral, after laying up on his second shot. My high school buddies and I were standing right there for the third. The shot looked gorgeous. Tightly tucked over water. High Doral winds. My friend clapped. Johnny glared our way, as if he thought we were mocking him. Johnny then gestured to his caddie about what a terrible shot it was. He had that prissy walk even though the back was ram rodded. So when he walked away my friend was so upset about that glare he started cat calling to Miller. Four decades later he still doesn't like Johnny Miller due to that one incident.

 

I was impressed someone named Angel Cabrera. I assumed I would be the only one. In recent years the guy who amazes me with that quick altitude and staying power is Cabrera, especially given the age he was when I first saw it.

 

On the women's side there's a current player I don't like but I have to concede I've never seen compression and powerful ball flight like that in person from a female...Ariya Jutanugarn. It is a moderately low trajectory by LPGA standards.

 

Ignoring power, the best LPGA ball striker I've seen in person is Karrie Webb. Gorgeous consistent draw.

 

I'm with you on a couple of points.

I used to go to Westchester every year in the late 60's and 70's and I always was amazed at Weiskopf.'s ball-striking. It was a beautiful thing to watch. Seemed to me a person couldn't swing a golf club better than that. Fifth hole was a dog-leg left par 5 with an elevated tee and he it a tee shot that I can still see in my mind's eye. The nicest, highest draw you could imagine. The ball actually seemed to move twice following the dog-leg: from right edge of fairway to right side of fairway and then from right side to the middle. Just an awesome talent who should have won a lot more!!

 

Of later guys, Cabrera also impressed me. Watched him on the range at Bethpage and he just killed it. Incredible power.

 

I remember Sam Snead at Westchester in the mid 70's, his swing was like a gentle breeze blowing through the trees, natural like..

 

True. Sam and Julius Boros were probably the only two who looked like that.

But, except for them, I can't buy into what the teaching pros always tell us about how "easy" the tour pros are swinging.

I've been up very close to enough tour players to see that they are going after it pretty hard. Not 100% but pretty hard!

[cliff1675]

When I was 10 I caddied one hole for AP.

[andyk856]

Sat right behind Vijay and watched him go through a full bucket before his round. It was the year he won PGA with conventional putter, we saw him at the Buick just prior to the PGA. He could've hit every ball through a hallway that day it was so straight.

A friend of mine is friends with Vijay's caddie and i got to meet him and play golf with him this summer. He said Vijay's ball striking is unreal, Danny (his caddie) is no slouch himself the dude can flat out play. He has a win on the Canadian tour and will be playing in a few events this season.