Here’s an excerpt of Danny Lee’s interview after his 2008 U.S. Amateur win:

Danny Lee, 18, of New Zealand, became the youngest winner in U.S. Amateur Championship history Sunday when he outlasted Drew Kittleson of Scottsdale, Ariz., 5 and 4, in their scheduled 36-hole final match at Pinehurst No. 2.

CRAIG SMITH [Moderator]: I’m going to just say, congratulations U.S. Amateur Champion. You were the equivalent of 11-under par. What a show.

DANNY LEE: Well, I played well. I played really, really well today. That’s all I can say.

CRAIG SMITH: Tell me, you said yesterday it was a dream.

DANNY LEE: Yeah.

Q.: Tell me about the dream and the week. I want to hear you talk.

DANNY LEE: This is my, like what should I say? This tournament, this is my third year trying this U.S. Amateur and I think I never felt — I tried the tournament three times and I never felt like — I don’t know what to say — I’m just so excited I don’t know what else to say right now. I have no idea.

CRAIG SMITH: That’s okay.

Q.: Given the tournament that you just won, have you ever played any, can you play any better than how you performed today?

DANNY LEE: Yeah. I mean, you know, I think I played incredibly well today and I don’t think I can play better than this, I think I played perfect golf. I’m really happy with myself and how I played.

Q.: He cut it to two when he chipped in on eight, or seven. What were your thoughts then and then you proceeded it make two birdies in a row or three birdies in a row?

DANNY LEE: No, I wasn’t really surprised, I knew that it’s going to come back some time and on some hole. And I knew he was a good player, because he made it into the finals here. He’s a good player.

I was expecting to get that, to have that happen, and since after he made that chip in, I was thinking like, I got to play well and I need to just keep focused on my game and just try and make birdies from there.

Q.: Did you watch Michael Campbell win the U.S. Open here on television?

DANNY LEE: Yes, I did.

Q.: What was your reaction when he won the U.S. Open here and what is your relationship with him?

DANNY LEE: Actually, we’re just the same New Zealanders, and we won at the same golf course, which is really nice. And that’s about it, I think.

Q.: Do you remember when he got back home after winning the U.S. Open?

DANNY LEE: No, actually not. No. Sorry.

Q.: Can you talk about the putt to win the match. And just kind of what your thoughts were when you saw that go in?

DANNY LEE: Yeah, it was an easy putt, just a little left-to-right break, you know. Uphill. Just aim at the left edge, hit it firm. I knew that it was going to go in.

CRAIG SMITH: I guess there’s a follow-up question here about your putting. You said it was good all week, today it seemed to be uncanny. If that’s an easy putt, talk about your putting just a little bit.

DANNY LEE: Oh, actually, I putted really well. I don’t know why. Maybe because of the practice that I’ve done. I think that’s what makes me putt really well, actually.

CRAIG SMITH: Do you think when you get over a putt that you’re going to make every one?

DANNY LEE: Yeah, like when 15 foot away from the hole, I still have a feeling that it’s going to drop. I was really comfortable out there.

Q.: Did you read your own putts this week? Who read them?

DANNY LEE: Actually, we both read them and it was, we were discussing about like some holes it’s breaking like opposite way, so I was listening to Boss and we were really discussing about those lies and we read it together.

CRAIG SMITH: How about just for the record we put your caddie’s name on the record. Your caddie’s name is.

DANNY LEE: Bob. And I don’t know his last name. Sorry.

CRAIG SMITH: We’ll just call him Bob.

Q.: Have you been in touch with your parents at all?

DANNY LEE: Just cell phone call every night. That’s about it.

Q.: Were they following along?

DANNY LEE: Yeah, actually they do.

CRAIG SMITH: Tell them Uncle Rambo, how he was doing with the texting.

DANNY LEE: Oh, yeah, actually my uncle called them or texted to them how I did that day or Danny hit it in the bunker and he shanked it from there, something like that.

(Laughter.)

via golfbusinesswire

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I remember reading the book, Golf My Way, by Jack Nicklaus over and over again when I was learning to play golf.  Jack has some really great insights into golf course strategy and fading the ball.  That’s probably the major reason he won so many majors, not his swing.

Anyways, Jack did make video of Golf My Way too, here’s an excerpt on Youtube.

Part I

Click Here to View in Full Screen Mode

Part II

Click Here to View in Full Screen Mode

You can get Golf My Way the Book at Amazon here

Videos

Golf My Way - Full Swing Video

Golf My Way - Control Shots Video

I remember my dad used to have Golf My Way videos.  I still have them and do recommend you watch them too if you haven’t yet.

Jack Nicklaus is still the best strategy golfer of all time.

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In honor of the British Open we would like to pay respect to the wind-cheating knockdown 5-iron. Take a 5-iron, choke up a little; open your stance about 20 degrees; play the ball toward your back foot; shift your weight forward; have your hands pressed forward; and take the club back waist high and come down aggressively on the ball with very little wrist action. This shot can be used from under trees, from out of divot, off hardpan, off loose sand, into the wind, or when loft simply isn’t necessary. The shot will produce a low roller that will keep you out of trouble.

excerpt via steveandersongolf

The above is an excerpt from a master PGA professional. Although I have full due respect for his experience, it’s in my experience through teachers like Butch Harmon and players like Tiger Woods, that that’s NOT the right way to hit the knock-down shot. First, don’t choke. Second, don’t open your stance. And third, don’t play the ball off the back foot. Finally, fourth, do not shift your weight forward.

Choking will really choke you mentally and physically. Opening your stance will only confuse you. Playing the ball off the back foot and shifting your weight forward will only make you hit down on the ball, causing the ball to shoot up in the air.

So, just take your regular stance, play the ball in the middle, have weight balanced 50-50, and do NOT come aggressively down on the ball. Just swing nice and smooth 1/2 or 3/4.

That’s my 2 cents from the best coaches and players who have played this shot. If you don’t believe me, just go ask Tiger or Butch Harmon.

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