Today, I’ll share my observations on the 2009 Open, disagree with a USGA ruling, and help you to actually enjoy practicing. Don’t believe me? Read on.

While the Bethpage Black will never play as undemanding as it did in the 2009 Open, the wet course conditions were more than counteracted by the major inconveniences to the tour players.

Few things are less fun than waiting around for hours while Mother Nature determines your next step. Playing seven holes one day, 25 the next and 22 the next has a way of eating into your psyche.

Even the world’s most focused person, Tiger Woods, could not escape the frustrations of the event. Being picked to play in what amounted to the worst possible draw, Tiger actually had the best four-round total of anyone conscripted to play the early Thursday tee times.

Phil Mickelson had a realistic opportunity to complete the last chapter of an amazing story. Once again, however, his putter failed him when he needed it most. Still, in all, New Yorkers showed their ability to be compassionate and welcoming to the left-hander.

David Duval drove home his recent resurrection from the depths of dufferdom with an impressive four rounds.

In the end, it was the steady hand of Lucas Glover and his second round 64 that propelled him to championship status. He had won only one other event in his five years on the tour, the 2005 FUNAI Classic at Disney World. The Bethpage Black became his second Disney World sometime last Monday afternoon.

How’s your mudder?

By definition, a mudder is a race horse that performs well on a wet, muddy track. After the ‘09 Open, we might well refer to Lucas Glover as a mudder, considering he won a major in the wettest of conditions. This leads me to my opinion of the week concerning the cleaning of a golf ball in play.

The USGA does not endorse “preferred lies.” Fine. I understand that. However, what true test is served by having players hit golf balls when large bits of mud are affixed to the tiny, white, dimpled orb?

Would we continue a hoops game if the basketball developed a bubble? What about a baseball game in which the cowhide’s stitching was unraveling?

While I do not like lift, clean, and place rules, the USGA should have allowed players to mark their ball, clean it, and replace it to its original location. Their ruling on the topic, or lack thereof, was a dirty shame.

Practice makes perfect

I used to dislike practice, so much so that I never did it. I am bored easily and practice is boring, or at least so I thought. As I’ve matured, I’ve discovered that practice can be a game unto itself and, as a result, I thoroughly enjoy it.

There are two rules to follow when determining to practice your game regularly: It must be goal-orientated, and it must be fun. Here are a few tips to assist you in your practice sessions.

At the range, always begin with a short iron and methodically work your way up to the woods. After warming up and stretching, begin with groups of five golf balls.

Using any short iron, set an objective to hit at a target area and attain a goal. If you’re a good player, you might want to hit all five balls in a group with a wedge onto a green on the range. A beginner? Maybe only one or two balls will be your aspiration.

Continue hitting a group of five shots until you succeed with each club category. Your goal should be attainable but it should also push you to perform. You do not need to hit every club in your bag. One short iron, one mid-iron, one long iron or hybrid, and one wood will suffice. This procedure forces you to both concentrate and still have fun by testing your abilities under pressure.

Around the green, practice is essential. Nothing improves your golf score quicker than improvements in putting and chipping. Putting success consists of two elements, distance control and accuracy, or reading the green. Of these, distance control is easily the most vital ingredient of the two.

Again, using five golf balls, set up an area four feet by four feet square and putt into this box using all five balls from 15 feet, then 20 feet, then 25 feet.

You can use four tees to set up the box. Set goals for yourself from each distance. Good players will want to place all five balls “inside the box” at all three distances. Newer players might want to have three or four balls in out of the group.

A similar procedure should be developed for chip shots around the green. I like to use a group of 10 balls and chip to a location until at least half of the 10 balls are within a wedge-length (three feet) of the hole.

The key is to have a method to your practice and make it challenging. You might even decide that you will not eat your dinner until your goals have been reached. That’s a win-win. You’ll become a much better player, or, at the very least, you’ll lose some of that excess poundage.

Until next week, keep it in the fairway.

(Ken Ruggiero is a local golf instructor and has been writing this column over the past 23 seasons. He can be reached at 298-0967)