Paddy shoots 65 with 265 new swing changes

Padraig Harrington (Getty / Scott Halleran)

Some pros like to keep things simple with their golf swings. Others don't. Take Padraig Harrington, who is currently working on a new set of swing changes.

What changes?

"I don't waggle over the ball anymore. I only look up once now. I get it right, I only look up once, instead of twice, or three times."

"I try to take the club away with my arms more now, and trying to leave my hips behind in the takeaway, and trying to stop squatting in my takeaway."

"I had to change my plane in the backswing because I don't have such a big hip turn from address."

"Quite a significant one was I changed my shoulder turn. I have recurring neck problems so I'm trying to swing my shoulder into my chin now and tuck my chin in more at the top of my backswing."

"And the downswing, I'm trying to get my hands a little bit lower and keep the heel down a bit."

Allright then. 

So far, so good for Harrington as he just shot 65 in the first round of the HSBC Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi and currently is in 2nd place behind Charl Schwartzel.

This round goes to Mickelson

It wasn't the showdown that everyone was hoping for, but it was interesting to say the least. Both Mickelson and Tiger made some serious miscues in the final round of the HSBC World Golf Championship in Shanghai that they don't normally make.

Phil missed a few short putts, had a really bad 3-putt, was wayward with the driver for most of the the day, and even whiffed a flop shot. He did make a great par save on 16 and a nice birdie on 17 to seal the tournament. He finished with a final round 69 and ended up at 17 under.


Tiger missed several short putts, had a really bad 3-putt as well, yanked an iron into the water, hit a fairway bunker shot with a plugged lie about five feet, and chunked a flop shot into a bunker. He was four over through seven but was able to make five birdies from there to finish with an even par round of 72, good enough for 6th place at 12 under.

The nerves must have gotten to them all. In one five minute stretch, Els dumped his 5 wood into the middle of the lake on 18. On hole 16, Watney hit a very poor chip from the rough, Mickelson whiffed his flop, and Woods chunked his flop into a bunker. Amazing to see the top players in the world all hit poor shots like that in a row.

Regardless, it was still an exiting tournament to watch. Mickelson ends his 2009 season on a high note with his fourth win. Tiger will be taking his game to the Australian Masters starting on Thursday in Melbourne.

It's almost a certainty that these two will be going head to head a lot in 2010.

2009 HSBC World Golf Championship - Full photo galleries and recap

AP Photos / Andy Wong