I have to credit my wife for my recently improved golf game. During a maniacal cleaning session in our home she rediscovered my Tour Tempo device. For those out there unfamiliar with this item, it is the best way I have ever seen to teach your self the proper swing sequencing. Also, it turns the golf swing, chipping motion, and even putting stroke into reactionary movements. This is when the true, innate brilliance can come through and make golf a whole lot less complicated.

In a recent outing to my favorite course, I stood in agony of the score I had just posted. 83. How the heck did I shoot 83? Upon further analysis I realized I was +5 on the par fives....I guess an 8 on number nine did not help, but the true cause of the big number was the 2 fairways I hit, yes, that's correct, 2 out of 14 fairways. Now I know what Mr. Woods feels like.

Golf is the greatest game. And I do not believe anyone with a brain could argue against it. No other sport is self policed, in no other sport is there a much time to get in your own head between actions. There are not multi-million dollar contracts...you eat what you kill. There is no trash talking, though a little gamesmanship is certainly in play from time to time.

As the newest member of The Back Nine on 101.1 ESPN, I've been given the privilege of creating a new segment. The idea of "The Humidor" struck me as appropriate, due to the fact any opinion let alone mine, is mostly the equivalent of "blowing smoke up your (you know what). At least here at the Back Nine, we all play the game we love to talk about and have a desire to improve, no matter what level we've reached. At any rate, hopefully you will glean from this tiny bit of rhetoric is to open your eyes and ears to the lesser known stories, people, events, in the world of golf. Some will make your laugh, cry and hopefully all will make you smile.....of course while enjoying a fine cigar.

Getting into a good position at the top is important because it sets you up to make the proper downswing from inside the target line into the ball. An easy way to learn what a good position at the top feels like is to do this simple exercise: