Not All Layups Are Created Equally
by TwoNuse on Mar 2, 2010 11:36 PM EST
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PrintIt was a defining moment, and I can only hope that the next time Fowler's in that spot, he follows Phil Mickelson's example by grabbing the opportunity by the throat and bringing us to our feet.
After all, I don't want to watch these guys make money, I want to watch them win.
Those were the final lines of Brandel Chamblee’s initial article on golf.com, referring to Rickie Fowler’s decision to lay up at the 15 hole in Phoenix Sunday. What Chamblee, amongst others, is forgetting is Mickelson and Fowler aren’t playing under the same rules.
Mickelson is a fully exempt player on the tour many times over (money list, major championship winner, 2009 tournament winner, etc.). When he goes for the green in two over water to win a tournament and puts it in the water, it just means he won’t win that week. The next time he decided to tee it up, he is at the front on the line irrelevant of how his season has gone.
Fowler, on the other hand, is on tour on the basis of Q-School qualifying. He is at the back of the line when it comes to eligibility. For Fowler to lose his ball in the water and take a bogey means more for his immediate future than Mickelson (or Y.E. Yang, another fully exempt player, who did put a ball in the water down the stretch).
Michael Sim made a similar decision to lay up down the stretch at Torrey Pines, a decision he was ridiculed for. Sim is tour eligible due to his success on the Nationwide Tour in 2009, but he is also closer to the back of the line for event spots than most.
As much as fans (and commentators) would like to believe competition is the only thing driving golfers on tour, this is a business. And sometimes in business, you have to make sure your don’t overextend yourself in the beginning to have a chance to have a long run.
FanPosts are written by Waggle Room members. Viewpoints expressed do not necessarily reflect those of WaggleRoom.com, editor, Charles Boyer or any other writer or member.
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well said
Brandel Chamblee – Phhhttttt. A journeyman player who hung on for a number of years by…laying up and hitting good wedges close enough to make enough birdies to make cuts and finish high enough to do what ? Keep his card.
NOW, as a TV talking head, he wants to be the bully – Johnny Miller Lite, as it were. He thinks it’s his job to tell players to do things he never did in his career.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
I'm trying to figure this out. Please help me, CG.
Why hasn’t the PGA Tour demanded that you be the lead analyst, lead on-course reporter and sole post round commentator for ALL PGA Tour events on whatever network or cable channel happens to have the broadcast rights that day? Everyone currently employed in those positions is seriously deficient in knowledge of the game when compared to you. In order to rectify this grave injustice, I will personally boycott all PGA Tour events until you’ve been enshrined in your rightful place.
Placebos, of course, are things you have to swallow even though they contain nothing that actually helps you. It's like American health insurance in a pill. -BiPM
Hmm – I’m detecting a slight bit of sarcasm.
Well OBVIOUSLY, D, it’s because I didn’t vote for Obama. :-)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Sarcasm? only the boycott threat.
The rest, not so much. You constantly remind us that everyone who works in golf journalism knows nothing of value about golf. I actually believe you.
Placebos, of course, are things you have to swallow even though they contain nothing that actually helps you. It's like American health insurance in a pill. -BiPM
MYGAWD JUMPIN,
your not starting that too…tell me it isn’t so,,,please, oh please…STUB
Stub......
I flew over your house at 4am this morning……I’m already missing those 82 degree days. Spring is almost here….Aloha!!
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
Where the heck
ya been EM?…4am? I don’t get up that early to go to the bath room…now maybe if I was like ol Anthony Kim…jist saying….STUB
Stub......went to Hawaii for 10 days.......
flew into Dallas from Honolulu this morning around 4 am…..I’m whupped.
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
U Dawg
I have a place on Maui, and haven’t been able to go since Christmas time, what with all the birthdays, anniversaries and what not…Ah well, I get to play Royal Kaanapali and some other good tracts once in a while….can sit on the balcony and watch the whales and great sunsets whilst enjoying unbelievable sunsets, cheese, crackers and good wine while anticipating an outstanding dinner at one of the superb restaurastant on the Isle…I’m gonna lite a cigar in honor of your return….Don’t go to Honolulu any more, just to damm over run with tourists…ya dawg you…STUB
Stub......
We started out at the Four Seasons in Maui, at Wailea and played the Emerald course. It was beautiful, with great views of the Ocean. The greens killed me with all the grain, but I had a blast. We also went to Four Seasons at Hualalai on the big island and played the Nicklaus course. We also were there for the Tsunami warning. If you’ve not played those courses, I would recommend them, they were both great. We went to Honolulu to see Pearl Harbor. We had a great time.
The Saints ARE the SUPER BOWL CHAMPS....WHO DAT!
Sounds like a good trip..
first time for you? the Pearl Harbor trip is a give away of first timers…I usually play either Blue or Gold at Wailea….Prior to buying my place, I stayed at Wailea on one trip….It was so new, they were still putting furniture in place while we checked in…At a Real Estate convention…Yea, the grain is something else if your not used to it….For the best greens in the world, you shoulda gone to Mckenna….Like putting on a billiard table….that’s where all the Asst. Pro’s go on their days off….Glad to have you back, so you can help with the harassment of Jumpin…He’s been getting kind of uppity lately, even going so far as to post BAD PUNS (see above)….hang looose brouda….STUB
Way, way, way off base
While I can try and appreciate the fact that Fowler laid up, your argument and Fowler’s decision really make no sense. You are totally off base with your comment that he’s just trying to make money to secure his card. These guys are professionals, and every player at least on the PGA and Nationwide are trying to win every tournament they play in. Fowler has won every amateur tournament he has played in, and he could give a sh&# about making x $ of money in a tournament to secure his card, he’s trying to win. If he truly did have the mindset that he just wanted to secure a 2nd or 3rd place in his 3rd tournament of the season, then he would never, ever make it on tour. These PGA tour players are so much better than any golfers us amateurs have ever played with (I’m scratch and have teed it with some awfully good players), and their sole mindset is to win tournaments. A Monday qualifier named John Doe might be thinking about laying up to make some money, but a top 100 golfer in the world is never going to think like that. So, sorry, this is just way off.
I agree with the top 100
Commentators always talk about the money after a missed putt etc. It only applys when on keeping the card at crunch time.
Mickelson.....
goes for it, because of his nature. There is no thought process involved at all. Fowler was playing the percentages, and decided to lay-up. If he birdies the hole non story. Why make more of it than that. I disagree with the argument as to Michael Sim. He’s exempt, and is trying to move up the rankings. In the heat of the moment i don’t think these guys are having all these thoughts running through their minds. If they are, then they will never be able to execute in the clutch. IMHO Much ado about nothing.
"The game is swell when it's played well."
by Fairways and Grins on Mar 5, 2010 9:06 AM EST reply actions
Ricky
knows why he laid up. If he had felt good (please excuse the golf grammar) about the shot, he would have done it. Clearly he didn’t, so he chose what he considered to be the best way to make birdie. Weir did it to win a Masters, Toms did it to win a PGA and were applauded for it. If Ricky had made birdie on 16, he would be hailed as the next Messiah. It didn’t happen this time, but there’s plenty more in store for this young man. Same for Michael Sim and by the way, Sim’s shot was way tougher, with much more risk than reward.
Play it as it lies
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