On Left Handed Golf
Although 10-15% of the world's population are left-handed, there are far lower percentage of left-handed golfers than that. There are a number of reasons for this:
- Many left-handers seem to play golf right-handed, which for many of them seems more natural as they are leading with their left side, left eye and turning anti-clockwise (why do right-handers play that way as well?)
- Until recently it was difficult to get hold of left-handed golf clubs so lefties just made do with what was available
- Most instructors and instruction materials are right-handed and that seems to be the "correct" way to play.
Which way you play golf can have more to do with your eyes than your hands and a lot of famous left-handed golf players are actually right-handed in everything else they do. Two good examples are Mike Weir who won the US Masters in 2003 and Phil Mickelson who won in 2004. The trick is to look down at a ball and see which way you visualise it leaving your body - that will tell you which side of the ball to stand.
Famous left handed golfers
It is very rare for left-handed golfers to reach the top levels of the game. Only three left-handed players have ever won Major Championships - New Zealand's Bob Charles in the 1963 British Open, 32 year old Canadian Mike Weir at the 2003 US Masters and Phil Mickelson at the Masters in 2004.
Mike Weir is one of six left-handed players currently on The Tour, but a record four of them took part in the 2005 US Masters (the others are Phil Mickelson, Steve Flesch, Russ Cochran, Kevin Wentworth and Australian Greg Chalmers).
Top left-handed lady golfers are still very rare though and there are none currently on the LPGA Tour.
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Name |
Country |
Background |
|
O'Hern, Nick |
Australia |
Nick O'Hern started playing golf at the age of nine after following his father's example. His first big victory was in 1997 where he came 5th in the Australian Open. He went on to miss out on the second stage of US Qualifying School in 1998 but came through European Tour Qualifying School at first attempt. |
|
Weir , Mike |
Canada |
Mike Weir excelled himself becoming the first left-handed golfer to win the US Masters. He was born on May 12, 1970 and grew up loving Hockey. He quickly changed his interest moving on to Golf. At the age of 11 he could be found hitting balls in to the lake near his home. After turning Pro there was no stopping him coming very high in everything he enters. |
|
Charles, Bob |
New Zealand |
Bob Charles was born in the small town of Carterton on March 14, 1936. Both of his parents were keen and talented golfers, but at school he only played rugby and cricket. Bob played in his first golf competition at the age of 16, he did very well but was beaten in the final. However at the age of just 18 he won the New Zealand open without ever having any professional lessons. After this he went on to win the prestigious British Open in 1963. |
|
Gane, Chris |
UK |
|
|
Mickelson, Phil |
USA |
Phil Mickelson was born to be a golfer. At the age of 1 1/2 he had his own home-made cut down golf club. At the age of three he tried to run away because he was not allowed to go and play golf with his dad. His will to play golf led him to a phenomenal junior career and Phil has now won countless trophies. Other than 1999, the year his daughter was born, Mickelson has captured at least one victory on the PGA Tour in every full season as a professional. The height of his career so far has been his win of the US Masters at Augusta in 2004. |
|
Hogan, Ben |
USA |
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Wentworth, Kevin |
USA |
Kevin Wentworth didn’t spend all of his time playing golf when he was at high school. In fact it was just one of the three sports that he liked to play (Basketball, Football and Golf). When playing during one summer he won the California State Junior Championships. He went on to play in some national tournaments and did quite well. A few years later he went to Oklahoma State and he has kept on winning ever since. |
|
Cochran, Russ |
USA |
Russ is a member of the very exclusive club of left-handed PGA Tour winners with his 1991 Centel Western Open title. The Kentuckian has been up and down on the PGA Tour, riding his ability to make birdies when his putter is cooperative. Cochran was the Kentucky High School champion in 1975. |
