After Michelle Wie resorted to Google to find a cure for her putting woes, we take a look at some other professionals who've taken desperate measures.
After Michelle Wie confessed that she'd resorted to Google to try and find a cure for her putting woes, we take a look at some other professionals who've taken desperate measures in a bid to to save their game.
Michelle Wie
Michelle Wie's putting troubles became so bad that the American is said to have turned to Google for a cure to her problems. Once touted for greatness, Wie, who remains one of the most recognisable figures in the game, resorted to desperate measures after missing the cut in January's Pure Silk Bahamas LPGA Classic, despite hitting 34 out of 36 greens.
Wie's Google search is thought to have encouraged her to move away from her characteristic table-top putting stance, with which she finished in a lowly 105th position on the 2016 LPGA Money List, to a claw-grip, similar to that used by Sergio Garcia.
Sam Snead
Golfing legend Sam Snead became so disillusioned with his putting during the 1966 PGA Championship that he began experimenting with a croquet-style stance on the greens. Snead, who despite being past his prime remained a superb ball-striker, suddenly saw his form on the greens resurrected. Unfortunately, his putting brilliance didn’t last long. Within the space of a few months the USGA and Royal and Ancient had met to outlaw the move and Snead was forced to return to a traditional putting method.
Ian Baker-Finch
The tale of Ian Baker-Finch is enough to make any golfer shudder. Shortly after winning the 1991 British Open at Royal Birkdale, the Australian’s game irreversibly collapsed. By 1998 the situation had grown so dire that in a two period he failed to make a single cut on the PGA Tour. In a desperate bid to cure his game Baker-Finch made it through more than 30 coaches, psychologists, hypnotists, nutritionists, healers, gurus, swing doctors and spiritualists. No one ever managed to save his game.
Yani Tseng
The questions concerning Yani Tseng's rise and fall are perhaps more baffling than those regarding Ian Baker-Finch. In her early twenties, the Taiwanese golfer looked set to become the greatest female golfer of all time. It seemed fitting that Tseng should purchase the former Florida home of Annika Sorenstam. After all, she too needed a substantial trophy room to fit all that silverware. Yet, by 23, after winning five majors, nine tournaments and over $9 million in prize money on the LPGA, Tseng appeared to disappear from the face of the earth altogether.
Tseng has so far switched coach, caddie and made major swing changes in an attempt to change the tide, but to no avail. She instead cites the pressure of being number one as the main trigger behind her downfall and continues to work with mental coach Bob Rotella to work through her issues.
Doug Barron
American journeyman Doug Barren was banned from professional golf for a year after testing positive for beta-blockers in 2009. Although Barren was the first golfer found guilty of using the substance since a ban on the drug came into place the previous year, he is said to be far from the only player to have resorted to unethical methods in a bid to steady his nerves. Gary Player made headlines at the 2007 British Open when he suggested a number of players were on performance-enhancing drugs.
"Disco Dick"
Canadian pro Richard Zokol was born ahead of his time. The quirky golfer resorted to listening to music on the course in a bid to tune out debilitating nerves, a habit that earned him the nickname "Disco Dick". The method may be commonplace nowadays, at least on the range, but failed to work for Zokol who gave up the method within a year.
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