People don’t understand professional men’s golf. Technology and distance has basically turned it into an entirely different sport.
US Open Week
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People don’t understand professional men’s golf. Technology and distance has basically turned it into an entirely different sport.
Im not a professional golfer and I know I’d rather be 115 out in the rough than 175 out in the fairway. The difference between the two spots statistically to hitting within 15 feet has to be huge.
We'll see. He hasn't exactly been overpowering other courses lately. Don't get me wrong, as I like him, and enjoy watching a guy try to overpower the course. I just don't think it is a consistent winning strategy (and he won't be able to continue it when he gets some miles on him).
I shot an 86 at Torrey SC the Wednesday following the Farmers earlier this year. Didn't hit a fairway until 14. And we played 13 of the holes with Farmers rough (they were starting to cut as we went off).
If an amateur like me can get around through that rough, these dudes will have far more decent/good shots than chunks and duffs. Agreed that even though this is one of the longest courses on Tour, and the rough is way up, the longer hitters still have the advantage here. Bryson will be in the hunt unless he lets the "heckling" (if you can call it that) get to his head too much.
My 3 this weekend are Rahm, Morikawa and McIlroy. Finau as a mild sleeper.
If an amateur like me can get around through that rough, these dudes will have far more decent/good shots than chunks and duffs. Agreed that even though this is one of the longest courses on Tour, and the rough is way up, the longer hitters still have the advantage here. Bryson will be in the hunt unless he lets the "heckling" (if you can call it that) get to his head too much.
My 3 this weekend are Rahm, Morikawa and McIlroy. Finau as a mild sleeper.
What he's done is raised his floor substantially on these types of courses. He can only hit a wedge so bad. Also, what people don't realize is when the rough is thick, it stops the ball from finding trouble in the form of obstacles. The angles don't get as bad, you don't get it into the trees, etc. Now, when he goes places where the tree lines are tight (Memorial) or the ball can roll into really bad angles (Augusta), he is getting into trouble in a different way. They are essentially stopping his ball from finding bigger trouble and they even out his miss.
We played Amana for the first time last weekend. My buddy mentioned how brutal it'd be for a 20-30 handicapper to play. Personally, I don't think it would be as demoralizing for them as it could be for us because all the trouble there is found by hitting it hard and off line. They don't hit it good enough to get to the junk so, while it's still hard for them, it's way worse for as as 5-10 handicaps who are just good enough to take Irish drops all day. It's the same type of deal. If Amana grew up the rough, we all would have been far better off as it would have stopped our balls ahead of trouble.
To be clear: No matter how you set up a course length is and will always be an advantage. The issue for me is the vast difference in the increase you get via being long and the increase you get via being accurate.
He’s playing a different course than pretty much anyone else. It won’t be his driving that makes or breaks his chances this week. I saw a few talking heads that were talking about Bryson maybe going to standard wedges instead of single length. Thought that would be really interesting.
How is what I said wrong? I’m saying what it sounds like they are going to do. I guess w shall see what happens this week. I’m guessing the ones who it more consistently in the fairway will be towards the top.
Yeah, Even guys who are historically accurate off the tee will still miss some out there this week. You'd rather be long and off than shorter and just off as well.
Your point about the rough holding up balls from getting into even trickier situations with obstacles, etc. is a great point. None of these dudes are going to be soo far off line that they are snap hooking it off of the cliffs, so there certainly be some benefits in that. But it's more about who takes advantage of those little wins, and who doesn't. Just like every US Open... haha
Just because someone is a high handicap doesnt mean they dont hit it hard and offline. Maybe they sucks with irons/around the greens but hit it a mile.
I don’t think that applies to 20-30 handicappers. That tells me they are at best very inconsistent in all facets of the game.
I don’t think that applies to 20-30 handicappers. That tells me they are at best very inconsistent in all facets of the game.
I don’t know any golfers in that range that do more than get lucky and hit a huge slice out there 250+ yards 1/5 times.
I don’t know any golfers in that range that do more than get lucky and hit a huge slice out there 250+ yards 1/5 times.
I'm trying to think of a guy I've ever seen that is a 20+ handicap and hits it 250 more than twice a year. I can't think of anyone even close. There are a lot of 5 handicappers who can't hit it 250.
I would guess my handicap would fall in that range currently. Driving is the best part of my game. The rest is still inconsistent. And I consistently hit it 270-300 depending on wind.
I've played with several guys who can murder the ball but have high handicaps. Might be 250 out and 30 over, but the total carry gets up there. They're usually in trouble all the time, and don't have good short games either.
Baseball players. Pretty much all my friends I play with that were previously baseball players fit into this category, they can always connect, but rarely have a full grasp of where it may be going haha
So you are hitting consistent 270-300 off the tee and ending up shooting over 100 half the time? I would quit lol. Not sure where you play but that seems almost impossible with most courses in Iowa being under 7000 yards even from the tips.
Fun Fact: This is the 4327th consecutive major where Tony Finau was a 'sleeper'. It's almost a running gag at this point.
85-95 is a pretty common range for me currently. Which given that I’m playing courses like Jester Park, would put my handicap probably around the low 20’s.
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