Editors' Blog Blogger Bio

Always on call

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif.--Lynn Marriott has mastered the art of text messenging on the fly. She has to, because she and fellow Golf for Women Top 50 Teacher Pia Nilsson have 20 players on their watch at this week's Kraft-Nabisco Championship at Mission Hills Country Club. Co-founders of the highly acclaimed VISION54 Golf School in Phoenix, Marriott and Nilsson are advisors/coaches to such notable players as Annika Sorenstam, Suzann Pettersen, Grace Park, Ai Miyazato and Liselotte Neumann. Just how do they keep track of so many players?

"We text, and we e-mail a lot," said Marriott, who was taking a breather early Friday afternoon while Nilsson was watching Miyazato complete her second round. "Obviously, we can't see everyone. The biggest thing for us is observing them play. We like to have at least nine holes of observation so we can give them our honest feedback. That's what they want."

As a result, Marriott and Nilsson are often forced to split up the players. On Friday morning, while Nilsson was with Miyazato, Marriott was checking in on Pettersen and Neumann, the latter of which led briefly at 6 under before dropping four strokes over the final four holes to finish at 2-under overall. Pettersen, who nearly won the Nabisco last year before faltering over the final few holes, finished her day at 5 over and was in jeopardy of missing the cut.

"After the round, we'll debrief with the player, tell her what we observed on the course," said Marriott. "We'll give them feedback on their body language, their preshot routine--make sure they're keeping their times consistent--how they interact with their caddie."

Yes, even the caddies are under the watchful eye of Marriott and Nilsson.

"It's very important, how the caddie and player communicate, especially on making a decision (i.e., choosing a club)," said Marriott. "Is the caddie giving out too much information. Is he rushing ahead or appearing nervous. Is the caddie's body language decisive enough. You don't want the caddie walking around with slumped shoulders because that can rub off on the player."