414 Yards.
 
A couple weeks ago, I was playing in a pilot league at 5Iron Golf Detroit Downtown when I hit a 414-yard drive on the TrackMan simulator.
 

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As best I can remember, this might’ve been my first drive over 400 yards on a simulator, and I definitely wasn’t expecting it. One of my playing partners even said it was the best drive he’d ever seen.
 
I’ve had a few 400+ yard drives before, but it’s been a long time. My longest officially measured drive ever was 421 yards back in 2007 when I set a grid record to win a World Long Drive Championship qualifier in Warner Springs, CA. That one was with firm ground, some elevation, and a left-to-right cross wind. I played a low-running fade with low spin, and it ran through the grid into the weeds, still bouncing hard.
 
This new one? Simulated course in Montana. Downhill. High elevation. Definitely helped. But still, 49 years old, with no recent swing speed training. I tried to snap a photo with my phone, but the projector screen changed too quickly. Fortunately, I had 5 witnesses.
 
Want to hit it farther?
 
Check out my swing speed training programs at SwingManGolf.com!

Thrilled to drink from a champions cup for winning the inaugural Five Iron Golf club championship last night in Detroit!

A big shoutout to Ryan Miller, Mike Snyder, Brendan Downs, Alex Moses, & everyone at Five Iron Golf for organizing such a fantastic event.

This year has been quite different for me. While I’ve done various outings & even set a venue record on the Toptracer at Belle Isle Golf with a 373-yard drive, it’s the first time in my 21-year professional career that I haven’t played in an outdoor tour type of event or a major qualifier like the U.S. Open Championship, The Open, or the PGA Championship.

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At 48, I’m feeling healthy & fully intend to play tournaments again, though it may have to wait until I finish my memoir. I’m currently 180 pages in, with over 100,000 words written. I’m not sure where the book length will land, but I’m close to the end & excited to share it once it’s done. Reflecting on everything that’s happened over the years has been both nostalgic & cathartic, & it’s helping me envision what might be next.