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February 5, 2026Observations from the 1st round of the WM Phoenix Open
I usually spend one day down in the Valley at the WM Phoenix Open, and this year was no exception—especially with the chance to watch the number one player in the world, Scottie Scheffler. He was paired with Jordan Spieth and Chris Gotterup. You would expect Gotterup to be a bit intimidated playing alongside two players of that stature, but he wasn't at all. In fact, he easily outplayed both of them, firing a tournament-leading 8-under-par 63. What impressed me most was not just the score, but the qualities in his game and his composure. He showed poise, confidence, and control that suggest he could rightly be a major tournament contender in the near future.
Scottie, on the other hand, had a very un-Scottie-like round. The mistakes appeared to be mental—something he rarely allows to creep into his game. He made five birdies, but they were offset by five bogeys and a double. I don't know what was going on in his mind, but his body language and temperament never gave anything away. Even on an off day, he remained impressive.
Jordan fought hard the entire round. He was three under par standing on the 18th tee, only to make double bogey. As I mentioned in last month's blog, he often plays 15 very good holes and then makes a mistake when you least expect it. The reality is that he doesn't strike the ball nearly as well or as consistently as the top 20 players in the world. His putting and wedge play will always keep him in the game, but to win another major, he will need an exceptional ball-striking week.
After finishing with Scottie's group, I headed over to watch the afternoon players warming up on the range. I don't usually do that, but I was tired and figured maybe something would jump out at me. Something did.
First, these are extremely fit athletes—much stronger and more toned than players even 10 years ago. Compared to my generation, it would be a mismatch if golf were a boxing match. Distance has increased significantly over the last decade, and it isn't just equipment or golf balls. Training and conditioning now maximize the full athletic potential of these players.
I've watched numerous YouTube videos of PGA Tour professionals during their workouts. Along with traditional strength and leg exercises, there is a strong emphasis on speed drills—explosive movements that include jumping, lunges, and rotational exercises designed to increase swing speed.
Watching these players warm up, I was struck by how fast their hips rotated through the hitting area. Clubhead speed has clearly increased over the last 10 years, and I believe greater body rotational speed is a major reason for this added distance.
Without getting too deep into mechanics, here's what I believe has changed in recent years: First, there is more explosion in and through the hitting area. Second, because the hips are moving faster, they are also rotating further through impact. I would estimate an increase of roughly 10 degrees, meaning the hips are more open at the moment of contact. This allows the club to swing more freely for a longer time on its path, which is very positive for consistency because there is less need for the hands to manipulate the clubface. Lastly, the follow-through has changed to accommodate the increased speed.
Traditionally, the belt buckle would finish pointing at the target—and many still do—but now we often see players rotating another 10 degrees or more beyond that point. The shoulders on many of the newer players complete their swing well past 135 degrees or over 45 degrees more rotation than the hips if the hips finish at 90 degrees, especially on full wood swings.
For the average golfer, the message is clear: exercise matters if you want to improve your golf game. But more specifically, incorporating speed and flexibility drills can help increase clubhead speed and, ultimately, distance.
