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One On One

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One on One with Masters Champions

Former Masters Champions offer their tips to Glenn Monday.

BY GLENN MONDAYPublished: April, 2005

Augusta National is the course most golfers would love to play — it’s also the tournament most professionals would love to win. The inaugural Masters tournament took place in 1934. It was won by Horton Smith with a score of 284. The tournament record is by Tiger Woods, who shot a remarkable 270 in 1997. The course record is 63 held by Nick Price and Greg Norman.

Here are some tips from past Masters champions.

Arnold Palmer: “Grip pressure is very important. I keep my hands on the club firmly throughout the swing. Not so tight that it would restrict any movement but firm enough so the club does not move in my hands when I swing and hit the ball.”

Jack Nicklaus: “Keeping your head in position throughout the swing is what I call the absolute fundamental.”

Gay Brewer: “Learn the fundamentals. Practice repeating these basics. I work a lot on grip, alignment and I make sure my club goes back the same on each takeaway.”

Gary Player: “The most important part of the golf swing is putting the club on the right plane going back and the way you initiate the downswing.”

Billy Casper: “I work on the takeaway because that is the key to making a successful golf shot. The first six to 12 inches back is so important. Here’s a tip, try not to pick it up with the right hand and try to go slow and smooth.”

Mike Weir: “My pre-shot routine looks mechanical but it gives me the feel of putting my shaft on plane and clubhead in position. I try to feel the same positions going back every time. It has been a key to my confidence. My grip pressure on a scale of 1 to 10 (10 being tightest) is 8 with glove hand, 7 with other.”

Larry Mize: “I’m working on keeping my posture, keeping my spine angle.  Maintaining spine angle is another way of saying keep your head in position during the swing.”

Glenn Monday is a Los Angeles-based teaching professional and author of “Know Your Swing” available at www.amazon.com. He can be reached at (310) 322-8924.