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19th Hole

Tiger Woods breaks down his famous ‘Nine Window’ warm-up drill

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Tiger Woods is widely considered to be the best iron player of all time, and the magic behind his ‘Nine Window’ warm-up drill has long intrigued golf fans.

In a video uploaded recently by TaylorMade, the 15-time major champion gave a fantastic in-depth breakdown of the routine to TM Rep Chris Trott.

In the vid, Woods demonstrates how he pulls off the shots, which comprises of three straight iron shots, three draws, and three fades, all with a low, mid and high trajectory. 

Here are a few highlights, but make sure to check out the video in full below.

How to hit the ball low, medium and high (2:38)

TW: “Obviously, the easiest thing to do is play the ball back in your stance (for the low trajectory). That adds an element of a draw to it, so for me to hit a low-straight one like that, I move the ball maybe half a ball back in my stance. But I do stand closer to it to get me on top of the golf ball. And then, from there, I really concentrate on my follow-through to determine how high I want to hit it.

So my dad used to say, want to hit one low? Have your hands stop around rib high. Want to hit it a little higher? Have them stop about shoulder height. Want to hit the highest shot you possibly can? Make sure your hands finish above your head.”

On the shaped shots (3:55)

CT: “Do you ever manipulate handle position in relation to ball position? So, handle forward for draw, handle back for fade?”

TW: “Absolutely not. I do it all with my hands and my clubface. I’ve never even thought about hand and shaft angle and all that stuff; I don’t understand it.”

Tiger also stressed how each shot, regardless of whether it’s a draw or fade, is always center strike.

On Visualisation and how Nine Windows helps in competition (5:35)

CT: This is a range session, but the visualisation you will go through, I’ve heard you talk about red flag and turn it, we’re into the cut shots now, would you go middle of the green and turn it, and pick a start line and pick a defined finish line?

TW (Points to small ball on edge of green): “So I’ll start this golf ball at that little ball there and then cut it to the right palm tree. 

When I get into a tournament situation, under the gun, I don’t think of anything but that (Nine windows). Now, do I do a hell of a lot of position work? Yes. In front of a mirror or on the range? Yes. But if I have to hit a shot now, to play this shot in a tournament, how I talked you through that little cut, where I need that ball to start off at that little ball and end at the tree, that’s all how I’m looking at this golf shot and feeling it.”

How the Nine Windows drill relates to his putting (8:04)

TW: “That’s how I putt. I put to the picture. All this information, I’m taking it into account, and then I’m putting to a picture, or I’m hitting my shot to my picture. So that gets rid of all mechanical thoughts. I just put all the information in, and the shot I want to hit, and how far I want it to go, what trajectory you want and then it’s all on my feel.” 

Watch the full video below.

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Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected].

19th Hole

‘I really think it’s possible’ – 4-time major champ says Scottie Scheffler could win the Grand Slam in 2024

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During the Sky Sports commentary after the PLAYERS Championship, analyst and golf legend Laura Davies said she believes Scottie Scheffler could win the grand slam this year.

“He’s on a different level,” said the four-time major champion.

“As soon as he started holing those putts at Bay Hill the rest of the field must have thought ‘oh we’re in a bit of trouble here’ because they know statistically, he’s No.1 in every category apart from the putting. But he now looks so relaxed over his putts.”

In his last two events, Scheffler has gained an average of .87 Strokes Gained: Putting on the field, which is more than enough for him to be absolutely dominant.

“The fact he won this week with an injury in the third round, and it was uncomfortable for him, but it was really nice to see on Sunday because he did feel more comfortable that he turned it into an 8-under 64, and the others have got their hands full now,” Davies added.

“Going forward, I don’t think it’s a long shot to say he’s going to win at least two of the four majors this season, maybe even three, maybe even the Grand Slam.

“I really think it’s possible.”

It would be an amazing feat, but if anyone can do it this season, it’s Scottie Scheffler.

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19th Hole

Rory McIlroy takes shot at Greg Norman while discussing Monday’s Saudi PIF meeting

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Rory McIlroy has recently changed his tune on both LIV and the Saudi Arabian PIF, but according to recent comments, he still isn’t a big fan of LIV Golf CEO, Greg Norman.

While speaking to the media after his final round of the PLAYERS Championship, McIlroy expressed optimism for PIF Governor Yasir al-Rumayyan’s intentions in the game of golf.

“They’re a sovereign wealth fund. They want to park money for decades and not worry about it,” McIlroy said of the PIF.

“They want to invest in smart and secure businesses, and the PGA Tour is definitely one of those, especially if they’re looking to invest in sport in some way.I have spent time with Yasir. I think the people who have represented him in LIV have done him a disservice, so Norman and those guys.

Reportedly, a meeting will be taking place in Ponte Vedra today with the PGA Tour Board of Directors and the PIF. According to Bob Harig of Sports Illustrated, that meeting will include Tiger Woods.

“I think it should have happened months ago, so I am glad it’s happening,” Rory said.

“Hopefully that progresses conversations and gets us closer to a solution.”

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19th Hole

Scottie Scheffler had an interesting response when asked how he ‘quiets the noise’ following Players victory

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After Scottie Scheffler’s incredibly impressive victory at the PLAYERS Championship, he spoke on camera about his approach.

Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee asked the world number one “how do you quiet the noise?”

Scheffler replied, “I just try to do my best to stay in my own little world. You know, I don’t have social media, I spend most of my time on Apple News.”

Scheffler added that he clicks “not for me” when golf articles come up to ensure that he doesn’t see anything regarding golf news.

“I really just do my best to stay out of reading things that are either good or bad about myself. If I’m reading bad things about myself, it’ll frustrate me. If I read good things about myself, my head will get too big. So, I really do my best to stay out of the fray and continue to put in the work”.

Scheffler’s approach has clearly been a good one, as he’s playing some of the best golf of any professional in recent memory.

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