From the outside, Sammy Schmitz is your typical American guy. He's married, has a couple kids, and schleps to work everyday as a regional director at a healthcare services company. What isn't typical about this 35-year Wisconsin resident is the opportunity that awaits him next April when he tees it up at Augusta National Golf Club for The Masters. Schmitz earned the opportunity of a lifetime by winning the U.S. Mid-Am Championship victory two weeks ago at John's Island Club in Vero Beach, … [Read more...]
2015 Masters Recap: Jordan Spieth Wins in Dominating Fashion
I don't know about you, but when I was 21 years old, all I cared about was which bar had the best happy hour specials and how many ladies were going to be there. I certainly wasn't flushing long-irons into Augusta National par-5's and draining clutch par putts to hold onto a lead at The Masters. What Jordan Spieth did over the last four days at The Masters was truly something special. At 21 years old, he becomes the second youngest player in Masters history to add a Green Jacket to his … [Read more...]
The Masters is Upon Us and It’s Going to Be a Good Weekend
It's one of the best weekends of golf throughout the entire year, if not THE best. The best players in the world will be teeing it up tomorrow morning in the 79th edition of The Masters. There's just too many storylines to hit on them all, so here's the couple that come to mind real quick: Tiger Woods is making his first start since his WD at Torrey Pines after just 11 holes. He showed up to Augusta smiling and jamming out on the chipping green on Monday. Since then, he's hugged … [Read more...]
Front9Back9 Fantasy Golf Picks: The Masters Edition
Some call Augusta National Golf Club the holy grail of golf. Tiger Woods said in his press conference that this tournament means so much to him that he plans on playing in the par-3 contest on Wednesday, something he hasn't done in 10+ years. There's not much more I can say to set this golf tournament up. My fantasy golf picks this week will be made via Draft Kings. They are offering a chance at a $1 million grand prize to the person who picks the perfect lineup this week and comes out on … [Read more...]
Chip-In’s & Chunks: Bubba Wins Green Jacket and Big Names Miss Cut
Chip-In’s & Chunks is all about the good and bad in the game of golf from the past week. Do you have something to add? Let us know on Twitter @Front9Back9 , Facebook or Google+. Chip-In's (the good) Bubba Watson Wins His Second Green Jacket I have to admit I was the first to say I didn't think Bubba had it in him. I mean, he hasn't done anything since 2012 when he won his first major championship and I thought no way in hell he would ever do it again. I was wrong. Everything came … [Read more...]
Is There a Better Sunday in all of Golf?
Ah yes. Sunday at The Masters. Is there a better Sunday in all of golf? The azaleas are in full bloom, the golf course is perfect, and CBS Sports has somehow figured a way to put a microphone on the birds. There's currently only 13 players under-par going into the final round. All these guys are within 5-shots of the lead, which means anything can happen today and the green jacket is up for grabs to anyone who wants to shoot a good round today. Leading the way is Jordan Spieth and … [Read more...]
Front9Back9 Golf Picks: The Masters
Ah yes, it's that time of the year. The azaleas are blooming, the birds are chirping, and Tiger Woods will miss his first Masters in 20 years while nursing a back issue. It's Masters Thursday and Arnie, Jack and Gary will be hitting the ceremonial first tee shot and then we can finally get into some real golf action. Frankly, I am tired of the hype already. Let's just get to playing some golf. The "experts" say this is the most wide open Masters ever. I guess because Tiger Woods is not … [Read more...]
Will We Ever See Another Double-Digit Major Winner in Golf History?
I know I am probably in the minority when I tell you I have not yet counted out Tiger Woods in his pursuit of breaking Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships. Even with news coming out yesterday that surgery for a pinched-nerve will keep him out of the 2014 Masters, I am still not writing off his chances yet of winning four more majors to at least tie Nicklaus. It was the 2008 U.S. Open when Tiger won his last major championship. He limped around Torrey Pines as the world watched a … [Read more...]
Tiger Woods vs The Aussies
It’s no surprise that I am a Tiger Woods homer. I root for the guy and I want the guy to always dominate. I picked Tiger Woods to win The Masters in a couple different posts leading up to this week and I’m not backing off that pick. But if Tiger Woods doesn’t win The Masters, I am rooting for anyone from Australia. You see, I am one-quarter Australian. My grandma who I never really knew (Yo-Yo) is from Australia. My dad is half Australian which I believe makes me one-quarter Australian. … [Read more...]
Front9Back9 Golf Picks & Predictions: The Green Jacket Edition
After completely failing at my Valero Texas Open golf picks and predictions last week, I’m back again this week to redeem myself. These picks are bigger and these picks are right-on! Below are my picks and predictions for the 2013 Masters. Bubba Will Not Be Close to the Leaderboard on Sunday Look, nothing against Bubba Watson. He played great last year and he is a tremendous golfer that can do wicked things with the direction of his golf ball. I just don’t think he can do it again at … [Read more...]
Is Tiger Woods on the Cusp of Another Multi-Year Run?
For more than a year now, me and a couple buddies have done nothing but speculate on when Tiger Woods would win again. In the end, nobody was anywhere near to being correct. But each time we had our little discussion, we all pretty much agreed on one thing – Once Tiger Woods got back into the winners circle, it could be the start of another dominating run for the man who will soon be back to #1 in the world. So after his first win today at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in nearly 30 months, … [Read more...]
Tiger Woods Brings the Buzz Back to Augusta
There’s still a lot of golf to be played and I think most people are taking the “let’s wait and see if he can carry it to the weekend” approach, but the one thing I know for sure is golf needs Tiger Woods near the top of the leaderboard and the buzz was back in full gear yesterday. I was out playing golf in the afternoon yesterday and around 4:30 PM I started receiving text messages from buddies asking me if I was watching Tigers run. When I got in the truck to head home I called my dad who … [Read more...]
Front9Back9’s Golf Picks & Predictions: The Masters
If my fiancé wants something done this weekend, well it’s going to be slow going. If someone calls to go play golf, it will probably be the only time I will say no. The only thing I wish more is I was in Augusta watching the tournament live. I’m not so I have to resort to watching it in HD. Oh well, here are my picks for the 75th Masters. Tiger Woods- Who knows what Tiger is going to do at Augusta this week. For some reason I just can’t seem to pick against him, especially this week. … [Read more...]
Tiger Losing Control
I am sitting here watching the Masters right now, and it seems Tiger Woods is starting to lose control of his emotions. The announcers are all noticing it right now and Peter Kostis just mentioned he has noticed Tiger is starting to walk a little faster and hurry his shots a little more. It seems as though Tiger has had complete control of every part of this game over the first two days. He has now just bogeyed the seventh hole for his third bogey in the last five holes. Right when TV … [Read more...]
Tiger Woods Coming Back for The Masters
While some people will say Tiger Woods should get a tournament under his belt before the Masters and others will say the Masters is the perfect place to make his first start, I am somewhere in the middle. But the one thing I can be sure about is how happy I am to finally hear it from the man himself. He is done with the intense therapy. He is making amends with his wife and family. He has been seen working at his game like crazy. And now it's time for him to get back out and do what made … [Read more...]
Welcome to Front9Back9.com
FORE!! Hello my fellow golfers and welcome to Front9Back9.com. "Hello. My name is Ryan, and I am a Golf-aholic." Golf is a love of mine and I can honestly say I am addicted to the game. I wanted to start this blog as a place to talk golf and discuss eveything involved with the game. I have wanted to start a blog like this for a while now and have finally figured out how to get everything launched and going. I have a couple other projects I have built so this is my third blog project. So … [Read more...]