Tiger has just unseated Michael Jordan as the World’s most popular sports star. Now that’s an amazing task and I may be wrong, but I don’t believe any Golfer has ever been number 1 before. Maybe Arnold Palmer, but I doubt that since at his height of popularity he would’ve been up against Mickey Mantle.

So what does this say about the game of golf? I believe it shows that Golfers are now considered athletes. In reality, they’ve always been athletes, albeit they didn’t always look like it – but if NASCAR is considered a sport, then their Drivers are probably athletes also.

But why did Tiger get so popular?

Because he looks like an athlete. He’s in great shape – he’s got a chiseled physique – he hits the ball a long way – and according to my wife, he’s got a great smile. And that’s the same characteristics as Michael Jordan, Muhammad Ali and David Beckham – most likely along with Tiger the most recoginized athletes around the world.

So what does this mean for your golf game? It means Tiger took the game to a whole new level when he started working out to become Symmetrical. Yes, Gary Player was always preaching with his South African charm about the virutes of staying in shape for golf and for life.

Though Tiger took it to another level!

His fitness program wasn’t just built upon getting stronger! It was assembled to get both sides of his body to be of equal strength and coordination – to become Symmetrical. And yet you don’t hear about any other Golfer doing that. Yes, you hear about Golfers lifting weights – but not the dedication of working on their weakside of their body more than their strong side.

And this goes to practicing your game also – what clubs does a Monkey practice with? A Monkey is always practicing their strengths – and very seldom their weaknesses. For example – Do you average more than 36 putts per round? The answer for 7 out of 8 Golfers is – YES. Yet, how much time do you practice your putting? 50 minutes a week? 45 minutes a week?

Heck, how about 10 minutes a week?

The point is that Tiger is the most popular Athlete in the world because he’s realistic about his weaknesses and he practices them until they become his strengths. He has a goal of playing the very best golf he can play and he does everything possible to do it.

Now Tiger probably has more time on his hands to practice his weaknesses than you do – he plays golf for a living. So when you’re in your office doing your work – he’s outside on the golf course or in the gym doing his work.

But that brings up the point that Tiger is up every morning before 5:00 AM to workout so that he can be the most Popular Athlete in the World.

What time does your workout begin? What time does your Pilates class begin? Or Yoga class? How about a walk around the block?

Is 10 pushups asking too much?

Monkeys continually work on the mechanics of their swing without improving their physical conditioning

Players understand it’s easier to improve mechanics once their bodies get better

“Go ahead, Be A Player!”

Regards,

Marc Solomon – Your Instructor For Life
Golf Made Simple!