The week with the LPGA, PGA and NCAA Men’s and Women’s Basketball tournaments was very exciting. Normally, I’m not glued to the television for any kind of sports, but that week was an exception. The athletes’ performance in both sports with fast pace, close scores, overtimes and playoffs kept me on the edge of my easy chair.

There were Morgan Pressel, Michelle Wie, Paula Creamer, and Natalie Gulbis versus Annika Sorenstam, Julie Inkster, and Karrie Webb at the prestigious Kraft Nabisco Championship with Karrie Webb winning the playoff with Lorena Ochoa.

Not only was I interested in how they played the game, but also in what they were wearing and what equipment they were playing with. The teens are putting color and style into the game with colorful apparel, dangly earrings, and matching shoes, while showing their golfing skills as well. Some may be a bit more daring or form fitting than I would wear, but many of the tops are designed to be worn without being tucked in at the waist so I really could get away with wearing them. And, I might look a bit more in fashion, too. Their not being afraid to try something new is also making the traditional styles become more fashionable.

We are used to hearing about what club the players are using at a certain distance, and if the announcers aren’t quick enough to provide that information, we are talking to the television saying, "Tell me what club they are using."

At the BellSouth Classic, Phil Mickelson carried two FT3 drivers, with one replacing his 56° wedge. The drivers hit different distances, while one hits a fade and the other a draw. He tried them out to see if he could switch between the two at this tournament because he felt he would need both at The Masters. You can say it was a great move even though at times his wedge would have been useful. He won by 13 strokes, something that only happens every 10 to 15 years. Then, he went on to win The Masters.

The pros sometimes have very difficult lies just like the average golfer. In these tournaments, one often described club was the hybrid. Ochoa and her caddy had a very long discussion about club choice when she was in the high rough. After a couple of swings using several clubs, she chose the hybrid. In this laymen’s term, a hybrid is a club which is used to fill the gap between two other clubs, combining the design of an iron and a wood, and helping to get the ball airborne and useful in high rough. The brand you select depends upon your shot tendency and whether you prefer irons or woods. Your golf professional can help you determine which hybrid is best for you.

After seeing the action in these two tournaments, I began thinking. "It’s spring and a new golf season; it’s time to look over last year’s wardrobe and golf equipment to see what needs to be updated."