In Focus: Brandel Chamblee

Feb. 2, 2017

Transcript:

TED SIMONS: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO A SPECIAL IN FOCUS EDITION OF ARIZONA HORIZON. I AM TED SIMONS. TONIGHT, OUR GUEST IS OUTSPOKEN GOLF COMMENTATOR BRANDEL CHAMBLEE DESCRIBED AS A RESIDENT SCHOLAR AND CRITIC. HE'S ALSO THE BEST-SELLING AUTHOR OF THE ANATOMY OF GREATNESS. A BOOK THAT CELEBRATES THAT THERE IS NOTHING NEW IN THE GOLF SWING. WELCOME.

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: IT'S NICE TO BE HERE TED.

TED SIMONS: WE ARE AT THE TPC IN SCOTTSDALE. WHEN YOU LOOK AROUND HERE AS A LONG TIME SCOTTSDALE RESIDENT, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: I AM IN PARADISE. THE FIRST YEAR I CAME HERE WAS IN 1987, I HAD JUST RECENTLY GOTTEN OUT OF SCHOOL AND I CAME OUT TO MONDAY QUALIFY FOR THE 1987 PHOENIX OPEN. I MADE IT DOWN TO PAPAGO. ONE OF THE FIRST PROFESSIONAL TOURING EVENTS HAVE PLAYED IN WAS HERE. I FINISHED ON THE NINTH HOLE ON FRIDAY AND THE BIRDS NEST BACK THEN WAS THERE AND THE SUN WAS SETTING. AND AS I WAS STANDING OVER THIS FIVE FOOT PUTT, DUCK SOUP WAS PLAING RIGHT BEHIND ME AND BROWN EYED GIRL WAS BEING SUNG AND PEOPLE WERE WANDERING OUT IN THE FAIRWAY. I THOUGHT WELCOME TO THE TOUR. IT IS CHAOTIC OUT HERE. THIS REALLY DOESN'T SURPRISE ME. IT WAS INEVITABLY GOING TO BE THIS ENORMOUS EVENT

TED SIMONS: THIS EVENT IS SO BIG THAT SOME GOLFERS ARE NOT THAT ENAMORED WITH IT. WHAT DO THEY THINK OF THE COURSE AND THE 16TH HOLE?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: IT IS MIXED, I THINK. PEOPLE LOOK AT THE VOLUME OF THE EVENT AND THEY ARE FREE NOT TO PLAY. SOME OF THEM DON'T. BUT THE ONES THAT EMBRACE IT I THINK IT IS A NOVELTY. IF EVERY SINGLE WEEK WAS LIKE THIS ON THE PGA TOUR IT MIGHT BE TOUGH. BUT COMING HERE ONCE A WEEK, BATHE IN SUNSHINE AND PERFECT WEATHER AND THEY ARE CELEBRATING THE GOLFERS. EVEN IF THEY BOO THEM THEY ARE CELEBRATING THEM. THE NET RESULT HERE IS THEY GIVE UPWARDS OF $10 MILLION A YEAR TO CHARITY. THAT ONE HOLE, 16, IS PROBABLY THE MOST PROFITABLE BUT BY ITSELF COULD BE THE MOST PROFITABLE EVENT ANNUALLY ON THE PGA TOUR. I THINK MOST OF THEM GET IT.

TED SIMONS: YOU HAVE LIVED IN SCOTTSDALE FOR A VERY LONG TIME/ YOU WORK AT THE GOLF CHANNEL. THEY ARE BASED IN ORLANDO. SOUNDS LIKE A COMMUTE TO ME. I HAVE HEARD YOU CELEBRATE SCOTTSDALE ON THE AIR. WHAT IS IT ABOUT SCOTTSDALE?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: WELL, IT GOT IN MY BONES. I CAME OUT HERE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME 1982 BECAUSE I WAS PLAYING IN THE ASU COLLEGE GOLF TOURNAMENT AT MCCORMICK RANCH. I FLEW IN THAT DAY, LANDED AND WENT TRAIT STRAIGHT TO THE AM-MAN. AT THE TIME, YOU COULD HARDLY FIND A BIGGER STAR THAN GLEN CAMPBELL. I GOT PAIRED WITH HIM AND HE SANG SONGS ALL DAY. HE RECENTLY GOT A CONVERTIBLE ROLLS-ROYCE. I SHOT A 66. HE TOOK ME UP AND DOWN SCOTTSDALE BOULEVARD SINGING THE SONGS IN THE ROLLS-ROYCE. I THOUGHT YOU CAN'T GET A BETTER INTRODUCTION TO THIS.

TED SIMONS: I ASKED WHAT GOLFERS THOUGHT OF SCOTTSDALE AND THIS PARTICULAR TOURNAMENT. WHAT DO GOLFERS THINK OF YOU? YOU ARE AN OUTSPOKEN CRITIC AND SAY WHAT IS ON YOUR MIND. SOMETIMES YOU MAKE FRIENDS AND SOMETIMES I IMAGINE YOU DON'T.

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: IF YOU ASK PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS YOU WILL GET MIXED REVIEWS AND A LOT OF THEM THAT DON'T LIKE WHAT I DO. I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST GOT INTO TELEVISION, 2003. I REMEMBER GETTING PAIRED WITH A TOUR PLAYER AT COLONIAL. AND WE WERE GOING DOWN TO THE NINTH HOLE AND I SAID YOU ARE GOING TOO TELEVISION. THAT IS GREAT. DON'T BE LIKE JOHNNY MILLER. AND I REMEMBER THINKING DON'T BE RESEARCH AND ACCURATE AND CRITICAL OF THINGS THAT DESERVE CRITICISM? THAT IS THE WAY HE CHOSE TO LOOK AT IT. I REMEMBER LOOKING AT THE OTHER WAY. I THOUGHT JOHNNY MILLER WAS ONE OF THE GREAT VOICES IN THE GAME OF GULF BECAUSE HE RESEARCHED SO WELL. HE WASN'T COMMENTATING TO PROFESSIONAL GOLFERS, HE WAS COMMENTATING TO THE PEOPLE THAT WATCH THE GAME AND DON'T UNDERSTAND IT ON THE A PROFESSIONAL LEVEL. THERE IS ONLY ONE JOHNNY MILLER BUT I TRY.

TED SIMONS: WOULD BRANDEL CHAMBLEE, THE PROFESSIONAL GOLFER SHOOTING 66 AT MCCORMICK RANCHâ€¦ WOULD THAT BRANDEL LIKE THIS BRANDEL CHAMBLEE?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I THINK HE WOULD. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD AN ANALYTICAL MIND AND EVEN WHEN I WAS A PLAYER I CAN REMEMBER BEING IN A HUNT AND JOHNNY MILLER SAID I CHOKED. HE SAID I GOT UP ON THE SIXTH HOLE AT BAY HILL, PAR FIVE, AROUND THE WATER. I WAS IN THE FINAL GROUP AND HIT IT IN THE WATER AND HE HAD COMMENTARY AND HE SAID I CHOKED. MY DAD WAS ABSOLUTELY LIVED BUT HE WAS RIGHT. ALL OF THE THINGS JOHNNY SAID IN THIS COMMENTARY WAS SPOT-ON. I APPRECIATED WHAT JOHNNY DID AND I KNEW IT WASN'T HAPHAZARD AND THAT HE CAME THROUGH HIS OPINIONS BY RESEARCH. I DON'T DO RESEARCH TO VALIDATE BY OPINIONS BUT RATHER TO DISCOVER MY OPINION. WHEN I FINALLY ARRIVE AT AN OPINION, IT IS GENERALLY PRETTY WELL RESEARCHED AND I AM VEHEMENT WHEN I GET THERE.

TED SIMONS: YOUR BOOK, "THE ANATOMY OF GREATNESS," I READ IT, MAYBE MORE THAN ONCE. I FOUND IT FASCINATING AND LIKE ANY GOLFER. I AM ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THE SECRET. THERE IS ALWAYS ONE THING. I KNOW THERE IS ONE THING. BUT YOUR BOOK, AND YOU GET ALL THESE BOOKS AND HEAR ALL THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND YOU WIND UP AS A PRETZEL ON THE TEE BOX. YOU SAY GO BACK TO THE MASTERS AND DO WHAT THEY DID?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: LIKE YOU, I HAVE PROBABLY READ EVERY MAGAZINE OUT ON THE GOLF SWING SINCE 1975. I LOVE TO READ AND ONE OF MY FAVORITE AUTHORS IS A LITERARY CRITIC, HERALD BLOOM, AND HE PUT TOGETHER A BOOK ABOUT THE HUNDRED GREATEST WRITERS AND IT IS CALLED GENIUS. I THOUGHT WHAT IF I COULD DO THE SAME THING IN GOLF AND FIND THE COMMONALITIES OF THE GREATEST PLAYERS WHO PLAYED THE GAME AND PRESENT THEM TO PEOPLE? IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT A SECRET, THAT WOULD BE THE SECRET, BUT IT IS NOT AT ALL A SECRET. EVEN THOUGH TOM WATSON SWINGS DIFFERENT THAN SAM SNEED THEY HAVE A LOT IN COMMON. THEY HAVE A LOT IN COMMON WITH JUST ABOUT EVERY GREAT PLAYER. THERE IS NO SECRET. THERE IS NOTHING NEW. THERE ARE SIMPLE THINGS THAT EVERY GOLFER NEEDS TO DO. THEY ARE NOT THAT HARD. THEY ARE NOT THAT COMPLICATED AND I WANTED TO SWING THE PENDULUM OF INSTRUCTION TO A RATIONAL, UNDERSTANDABLE LEVEL OF DISCOURSE.

TED SIMONS: WHEN WE RETURN, WE WILL FIND OUT WHAT THE SECRETS ARE FROM THE MASTERS FROM BRANDEL.

TED SIMONS: AND WE ARE BACK WITH BRANDEL CHAMBLEE FROM THE GOLF CHANNEL. I LOVE TALKING GOLF ESPECIALLY WITH SOMEONE LIKE YOU WHO RESEARCHES THE GAME AND LOOKS AT THE GOLF SWING. THE GOLF SWING IS SO UNNATURAL IN SO MANY WAYS BUT IN YOUR BOOK YOU SEEM TO FOCUS ON MOVEMENT. WATCH BEN HOGAN, JACK NICKELS, SAM SNEED. BUT WHEN I WATCH THEM WHAT DO I LOOK FOR?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: YOU WATCH FOR THE FACT THEY MOVE. THE BIGGER THE MOVEMENT THE LONGER THE MOVEMENT THE MORE SPEED YOU GET. IT TAKES A HUGE COMMITMENT TO BE AS GOOD AS THESE PLAYERS. A HUGE AMOUNT OF COMMITMENT AND PHYSICAL SKILL AND STRENGTH. THE AVERAGE AMATEUR CAN STRENGTHEN HIS GRIP. FOR YEARS, AMATEURS HAVE BEEN TOLD TO HAVE A WEAK GRIP. WHAT WE MEAN FOR THE VIEWER THAT IS WATCHING THAT MAY NOT COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MEANS IS IF YOU ARE A RIGHT HANDER IT IS JUST TURNING YOUR HAND ON THE GRIP WHERE YOU CAN SEE 3-4 KNUCKLES THEN MATCHING IT WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND. A MUCH STRONGER GRIP BECAUSE IF YOU GRIP THE CLUB THAT WAY IT ALLOWS MORE SET IN THE WRIST. YOU HAVE TO HAVE A LOT OF PLAY YOUR WRIST TO ACCUMULATE CLUB HEAD SPEED. IF YOU GRIP IT WEEK, YOU WILL NOT HAVE AS MUCH SPEED. BEYOND THAT, TURN. TURN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN. SAM SNEED USE TO SAY THAT THE PLAYERS THAT TURN EAT STEAK AND THOSE THAN DON'T EAT HAMBURGER. TODAY TO BRING THIS METHOD UP TO SPEED THE PLAYERS THAT TURN THE BEST PROBABLY HAVE THE BEST PRIVATE JETS AND THOSE WHO DON'T PROBABLY HAVE A LESS LARGE PRIVATE JET. TURN, GET THE CLUB STRONG AND TURN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: WHAT DO YOU SEE RIGHT THERE? DO YOU SEE A FULL HIP TURN? HIS KNEE IS BEHIND THE BALL WHICH ALLOWS HIM TO TURN AND SWING PAST PARALLEL. THIS IS WHAT WATSON AND MICKELSON DOES. SO, IF YOU WANT TO PLAY GOLF A LONG TIME, THAT IS WHAT YOU NEED TO TRY TO DO.

TED SIMONS: LIFT THAT FRONT FOOT UP?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: YES!

TED SIMONS: BEND THAT KNEE BEHIND THE BALL.

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: JUST TURN IT. THINK OF TURNING. WHATEVER IT IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WHAT I TELL YOU TO HELP YOU TURN MAY NOT HELP SOMEBODY ELSE. IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT VERBAL CUES. YOU MAY NEED TO FEEL LIKE THE RIGHT HIP GOES BACK, LIKE THE LEFT KNEE BREAKS BEYOND THE BALL OR LIKE YOUR LEFT HEEL COMES OFF THE GROUND. ANY OF THESE THINGS HELP YOU BUT IT IS ALL TO DO SAME THING. THIS IS A SPORT. YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HIT IT FAR UNLESS YOU MOVE AND ARE YOUNG AND STRONG. YOU WILL HIT IT FAR FOR A PERIOD BUT YOU WILL SUFFER.

TED SIMONS: YET, CURRENT INSTRUCTION TALKS ABOUT MOVING YOUR -- KEEPING THE LOWER BODY STRONG AND MOVING THE UPPER BODY LIKE A COIL. BE A COIL, SPRING AND BOOM YOU GO. WE ARE SITTING ON THE DRIVING RANGE AND I FEEL THEY ARE HITTING THE BALL SO FAR THEY MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: THERE IS GREAT ATHLETES NO QUESTION ABOUT IT. THE EQUIPMENT IS MARVELOUS. THE EQUIPMENT USED TO WEIGH A POUND AND NOW IT IS 11 OUNCES. THE HEADS USED TO BE THIS BIG. THE SHAFT WERE 43 INCHES LONG AND NOW 45. ALL THOSE THINGS HAVE ATTRIBUTED TO THE LENGTH THE PLAYERS HIT THE BALL. THE GOLF BALL USED TO BE BY COMPARISON DEAD. IT USED TO BE LIKE A BAR OF SOAP. NOW THEN IT IS VERY LIVELY. GOLFERS HAVE GOTTEN TALLER, THEY HAVE GOTTEN MORE MUSCULAR AND SPORTS-SPECIFIC BODIES OUT HERE. GIVEN ALL THAT, I WOULD ARGUE THESE PLAYERS DON'T SWING AS FAST AS THEY SHOULD. THERE ARE MANY PLAYERS OUT HERE THAT ARE 5-10 TO 6-0 THAT SWING 114-116 MILES AN HOUR AND THEY SHOULD BE SWINGING 125 MILES PER HOUR. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS TURN MORE AND IF THEY DID THAT THEY WOULD NOT HAVE NEAR AS MANY INJURIES AND 10-15 YEARS MORE ON THEIR CAREER. WHAT YOU SEE GOING ON ON THE TOUR IS RESISTANCE IN THE LOWER BODY WHICH MAKES NO SENSE TO ME. IT IS A BIG MYTH AND LIE AND GETS STARTED OVER A MISUNDERSTANDING OF WHAT BEN HOGAN WROTE ALMOST 50-60 YEARS AGO AND PROLIFERATED FROM THERE BECAUSE PRIMARILY TEACHERS WERE TRYING TO VALIDATE THAT MYTH. BUT IT WASN'T REPRESENTED IN ANY OF THE MOVES OF THE GREAT PLAYERS. NOT AT ALL. AND THOSE THAT STILL MOVE LIKE THAT AND THERE ARE NOT MANY OF THEM BUT THOSE THAT DO, PLAYERS LIKE BUBBA WATSON AND PHIL MICKELSON AND TO A LARGE DEGREE DUSTIN JOHNSON. THEY HIT THE BALLS THE FARTHEST AND HIGHEST AND ARE THE MOST CREATIVE PLAYERS OUT HERE.

TED SIMONS: I WOULD IMAGINE IF WHERE WAS A TOURING PRO AND BRANDEL CHAMBLEE SAID I SHOULD LIFT MY BACK HEEL I WOULD GIVE IT A TRY. ARE THEY NOT EVEN GIVING IT A TRY?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: IT USED TO BE THE PLAYERS LEFT THE TOUR AND THEN THEY WENT AND TAUGHT. SO MIXED IN WITH MORE SCIENTIFIC TEACHERS THAT MAYBE DIDN'T PLAY THE TOUR YOU HAD A MORE PRACTICAL APPROACH TO THE GAME OF GOLF. NOW, NO TOUR PLAYERS LEAVES THE TOUR TO GO TEACH. THEY PLAY UNTIL THEY ARE 47-49 YEARS OF AGE AND THEY GO PLAY THE CHAMPIONS TOUR. SO, YOU KNOW, THE PLAYERS VOICE OF THE TEACHER ISN'T REPRESENTED IN THE GAME. WHAT YOU HAVE MOSTLY TEACHING THE GAME ARE ACADEMICS AND WHILE THERE ARE PLENTY OF THINGS I ADMIRE IN WHAT THEY SAY AND DO THERE IS A PERMANENT BLIND SPOT IN THE TEACHING WORLD TODAY AND THAT IS IN THE PRACTICAL NECESSITY OF PLAYING THE GAME. GOING BACK TO WHAT BEN HOGAN WROTE IN FIVE LESSONS HE SAID HE FELT LIKE HE RESTRICTED THE LOWER BODY. BUT HE DIDN'T. IT IS JUST A FEELING HE HAD. THOSE WORDS GOT TURNED AND CARVED INTO THE STONE AND THEN A GREAT MANY BOOKS AND IDEAS AND TEACHING ELEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO PROFIT OFF THAT AND THEY ARE TRYING TO VALIDATE AN IDEA THAT IS NOT TRUE.

TED SIMONS: IS THAT A FACTOR IN WHAT WE ARE SEEING AND MAYBE I AM WRONG AND MAYBE THEY ARE WRONG A LOSS OF POPULARITY IN GOLF? I LOVE GOLF, I PLAY GOLF. BUT THE TIME AND EXPENSE ARE PROBLEMS FOR ME AND I AM SURE THEY ARE PROBLEMS FOR OTHERS. BUT THE FACT IT IS DIFFICULT AND IF I AM GETTING LESSON TO BE A SPRING AND I CAN'T BE A SPRING THAT HAS TO FACTOR INTO IT.

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: LOOK AT THE MOST CREATIVE PLAYERS ON THE PGA TOUR. BUBBA WATSON AND PHIL MICKELSON. THEY HAVE LONGER SWINGS THAN THE AVERAGE TOUR PLAYER. THEY BOTH LIFT WITH THEIR LEAD HEEL, BOTH CAN WORK THE BALL IN ANY DIRECTION AND BOTH ARE EXCITING TO WATCH PLAY. THEY ARE EXCITING BECAUSE THEY HAVE THE TIME TO CREATE SHOTS. IF YOU HAVE A SHORT, QUICK GOLF SWING YOU ARE RESTRICTED IN YOUR BALL FLIGHT TO SOME EXTENT. THERE ARE PLAYERS LIMITED IN THE SHOT THEY CAN ACCESS. YEARS AGO, THERE WERE A GREAT MANY PLAYERS THAT WERE ABLE TO WORK THE BALL MUCH LIKE BUBBA WATSON AND PHIL MICKELSON. FOR THE AVERAGE PLAYER, THE GAME IS NOT ACCESSIBLE. TEACHING IS VERY EXPENSIVE. ONLY 12% OF THE PEOPLE THAT PLAY THIS GAME TAKE LESSONS. IF YOU HAD A BUSINESS AND ONLY 12% OF THE PEOPLE THAT COULD PARTICIPATE WERE PARTICIPATING YOU COULD BE OUT OF BUSINESS QUICKLY. I THINK TEACHING SHOULD GET BACK TO A MORE RATIONAL UNDERSTANDING AND IT WOULD BE A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE IF THEY WEREN'T SPENDING A FORTUNE ON ALL OF THESE FORENSIC DEVICES THAT A TEACHER FEELS LIKE HE NEEDS TO TEACH THE GAME.

TED SIMONS: HOW DID YOU COME TO ALL THIS? TO LOOK AT THE PAST TO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: BECAUSE WHEN I HEAR SOMETHING ON TV I SAY I WONDER IF THAT IS TRUE AND LOOK TO SEE IF IT IS SUPPORTED WITH DATA, RESULTS OR HISTORY. AND THE GREATEST REPRESENTATIVE OF THE FOUNDATION OF AN IDEA IS TIME. IS IT VALIDATED IN TIME? DOES IT ENDURE? THAT IS TRUE OF A RELATIONSHIP OR ANYTHING YOU WANT TO LOOK AT. DOES IT LAST? AND THE GREATEST GOLF SWINGS HAVE LASTED AND THOSE THAT HAVE LASTED DO EVERYTHING I WRITE ABOUT IN MY BOOK AND THOSE THAT DIDN'T ARE ALL THE THINGS I ARGUE AGAINST IN MY BOOK.

TED SIMONS: I MENTIONED THE PERCEIVED LACK OF POPULARITY IN GOLF AND TIGER WOODS IS A FACTOR. WHAT IS GOING ON?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: THE GAME IS GETTING YOUNGER. A LOT YOUNGER. THE GAME HAS GOTTEN TO THE DEGREE THAT YOU HAVE TO RESTRICT THE MOVEMENT IN THE GAME AND THEN IT BECOMES MORE ESSENTIAL YOU GO TO THE GYM AND GET STRONG BECAUSE YOU LIMITED THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU HAVE TO BUILD SPEED SO IT BECOMES A MUCH MORE EXPLOSIVE GAME. YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE GYM AND THE BENEFIT OF THAT IS THE PLAYERS LOOK BETTER. THEY LOOK YOUNGER, FITTER, ARE STRONGER AND IT GETS MUCH, MUCH YOUNGER GAME BECAUSE IT BECOMES MORE ABOUT STRENGTH AND SPEED AND REFLEX.

TED SIMONS: IS THAT TRUE OUT AT MCCORMICK RANCH? IS THAT SAME THING FOR US?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: I DON'T KNOW THAT IS TRUE. I THINK THAT SOCIAL CHANGES HAVE HAPPENED TO THE EXTENT THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF WE ARE REACHING KIDS THE WAY WE SHOULD IN THIS GAME. BUT I THINK ALL GAMES ARE LIKE THAT. I THINK ALL GAMES ARE SUFFERING IN PARTICIPATION. FOOTBALL IS, SOCCER IS, BASEBALL IS, AND GOLF IS ONE OF THEM. BUT THE POWERS THAT BE IN THIS GAME ARE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO GARNER THE INTEREST OF KIDS. SOONER OR LATER, MY KIDS DIDN'T TAKE TO THIS GAME AT 5 TO 8 AND NOW THEY ARE 20 AND 14 AND OUR BEST DAYS ARE WHEN WE GET OUT ON THE GOLF COURSE TOGETHER. THEY ARE COMING TO THE GAME NOW AND LOVE THE GAME NOW.

TED SIMONS: AS FAR AS THOSE THAT LOVE THE GAME AND HAVE FOR A WHILE IT IS SO ADDICTING. WHY IS THAT?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: WELL, BECAUSE YOU ARE OUTDOORS AND THINGS SLOW DOWN AND YOU GET AWAY FROM THE DEVICES THAT MAKE YOU FRANTIC AND FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE TO REACT. IT IS CALM. YOU ARE OUT HERE WITH YOUR BEST FRIENDS TAKING A WALK IN THE OUTDOORS. IT IS THERAPEUTIC, BEAUTIFUL, AND THE BEST THING ABOUT THE GAME IS THE CAMARADERIE. IT IS INVIGORATING AND MAKES YOU FEEL AND ALIVE. WHEN I GREW UP IN TEXAS, I PLAYED FOOTBALL AND I GREW UP RIDING RODEO. I CAN TELL YOU THIS IS MORE FUN THAN HAVING SOMEONE TACKLE YOU OR RIDING A HORSE. I QUIT RIDING HORSES AND PLAYING FOOTBALL AND I CAN'T THINK OF A BETTER WAY TO SPEND YOUR LIFE THAN ON A GOLF COURSE.

TED SIMONS: IT DOESN'T BEAT YOU UP BUT IT CAN GET IN YOUR HEAD. IT CAN BE SO FRUSTRATING. IS THAT ONE OF THE REASONS IT IS SO ADDICTING?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: NOBODY PLAYS TICKTACKTOE BECAUSE THERE IS NO CHALLENGE AND NO STRATEGY. THE ADDICTIVE PART OF THIS GAME IS THERE IS STRATEGY TO IT. THERE IS A LOT ABOUT THIS GAME THAT INTRIGUES PEOPLE FROM PEOPLE THAT RUN COMPANIES TO PEOPLE THAT ARE JUST GETTING STARTED IN THE BUSINESS WORLD. THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT THIS GAME THAT IS ADDICTIVE AND I THINK THAT IS PART OF IT. IT IS ATHLETIC BUT THERE IS ALSO A LOT OF STRATEGY AND EVERYTIME YOU FINISH IT YOU ARE LIKE WHY DIDN'T I GO OVER THERE? THE NEXT TIME I PLAY THIS BALL THAT IS HOW I WILL PLAY IT.

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: SO LET ME SEE YOUR GRIP. TAKE THIS RIGHT HAND OFF. I AM SORRY, YOUR LEFT HAND OFF.

TED SIMONS: THAT IS ALL RIGHT.

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: YOUR THUMB SHOULD NOT BE ON TOP OF THE SHAFT. IT SHOULD BE JUST A QUARTER ON THE SIDE. JUST A QUARTER ON THE SIDE BECAUSE IF YOU PUT IT ON THE TOP YOU CAN'T REALLY SUPPORT IMPACT.

TED SIMONS: AH! OKAY.

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: THIS IS FOR A RIGHT-HANDED CLUB I WOULD HAVE MY LEFT HAND LIKE THAT. YOU WANT THE THUMB JUST ON THE SIDE OF THE SHAFT. A QUARTER OF THE WAY AROUND. THERE IS A LOT OF REASONS FOR THAT. WHEN YOU GO INTO IMPACT, THAT PART OF THE THUMB SUPPORTS. IF YOU ARE THERE, YOU CAN'T SUPPORT THE HIP. AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR THUMB --

TED SIMONS: I HAVE ALWAYS HEARD DON'T PUT ANY ROOM BETWEEN THERE.

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: WELL, YOU CAN DO THAT. BUT YOU CAN DO IT JUST LIKE THAT.

TED SIMONS: WHEN YOU ON THE DRIVING RANGE AND NOT HERE BECAUSE THESE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING. WHEN YOU GO TO THE DRIVING RANGE IN A PUBLIC COURSE AND YOU SEE GUYS LIKE ME OUT THERE BEATING BALLS WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISTAKE YOU SEE THEM DOING?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: WEAK GRIPS AND JUST NOT TURNING. HONEST TO GOODNESS IT IS JUST NOT TURNING. IT HAS BEEN BEAT INTO EVERYBODY'S HEAD FEWER MOVING PARTS WHICH IS JUST A COLOSSAL LIE. SO, YOU KNOW, SET YOUR WRIST, SWING AS FAR BACK AS YOU CAN. YOU WANT TO SWING AND RELAX YOUR ARMS AND HANDS. YOU WANT THE CLUB TO SWING AND RELEASE. YOU WANT MOVEMENT. IF YOU HAVE TENSION, AND TENSION IS GOING TO INHIBIT YOUR ABILITY TO SWING AND MOVE. YOU WANT MOVEMENT, FREEDOM AND RELEASE. WHAT CLUB DO YOU HAVE THERE?

TED SIMONS: I HAVE A SEVEN IRON. STANCE OKAY?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: I LOVE THE STANCE. IT IS A LITTLE NARROW, YOU KNOW? I MEAN YOUR STANCE COULD BE WIDER.

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: LITTLE BETTER? YEAH. THAT LOOKS BETTER. A LOT GOOD. JUST HAVING A STRONG GROUP, WHICH YOU DO, YOU JUST PICKED IT OFF THE TURF, DIDN'T SWING DEEP.

TED SIMONS: SO, WHAT YOU ARE TELLING ME IS I AM READY FOR THE TOUR?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: YOU ARE READY FOR A TOUR. A TOUR OF THE COURSE. A TOUR OF THE HOSPITALITY TENTS ON 16TH.

TED SIMONS: FAIR ENOUGH.

TED SIMONS: LAST QUESTION, YOU ARE SITTING OUT HERE, YOU ARE A GOLF CHANNEL PERSONALITY, YOU MADE IT ON THE PGA TOUR, YOU ARE LIVING IN ONE OF THE NICEST SPOTS IN THE WORLD. WHEN YOU WERE A KID DID YOU EVER DREAM OF SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: YES, I DID. IT DIDN'T MATTER WHAT I TOOK UP, I ALWAYS THOUGHT I WOULD PLAY IT AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL. WHEN I PLAYED FOOTBALL I WAS FOOLISH ENOUGH TO THINK I WOULD BE THE BEST FOOTBALL PLAYER AND SAME WITH HORSES BUT THE MINUTE I TOOK UP GOLF I TOLD MY DAD I WAS GOING TO PLAY GOLF FOR A LIVING AND MY DAD SAID GOOD FOR YOU. I NEVER DOUBTED THE FACT I WOULD PLAY GOLF FOR A LIVING. I GOT GOOD VERY QUICKLY. YEAH, IT IS A DREAM TO BE OUT HERE. BUT I HAVE BEEN DREAMING IT FOR A LONG TIME.

TED SIMONS: AND YOU HAVE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS.

BRANDEL CHAMBLEE: AND ENJOYED EVERY STEP OF IT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

TED SIMONS: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW. I AM TED SIMONS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON THIS AZ "HORIZON" SPECIAL IN-FOCUS WITH BRANDEL CHAMBLEE. YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.

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