Young Guns, Gary Woodland

With the only recorded ball speed above 200mph, Gary Woodland is definitely someone we want to watch. He doesn't seem to be really going after it but as of this writing he is tied for the lead at the Hope (with Jhonny Vegas)and is leading in driving distance despite a shoulder injury that supposedly has him swinging at 70%. His swing looks about as effortless as it gets.

Woodland, a 3 time All State basketball player enrolled at Div.II Washburn after High School. After one season at Washburn, he transferred to Kansas where he honed his Golf game. He currently works with Dallas based Coach Randy Smith.
Here's an excerpt from an article written by Ryan Herrington:

"I just haven't seen anybody physically hit the ball as far as he hits it with a regular golf swing," said noted instructor Randy Smith, who has worked with Woodland for almost two years. "[I've seen] a lot of jump-out-of-your-shoes, falling-down-break-your-back type of swings. But this is a real-life golf swing, beautifully paced."

Credit for Woodland's length goes to his athleticism -- the 195-pound workout fiend also played baseball in high school, has a solid core and strong legs providing balance for a backswing that just gets to parallel -- but his overall improvement comes from a well-defined work ethic.

Here's some footage I found on Youtube:






His prodigious length used to be unverified internet lore, but I'm now starting to hear it from my sources out on the tour. With the PGA tour putting a premium on length, he's probably going to be a force to be reckoned with this season.

Hit em Straight