Why Didn't Robert Karlsson Take the Free Read in the Playoff?
by Ryan Ballengee on Jun 13, 2010 10:14 PM EDT
in Pro Golf
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PrintThe final stretch of the St. Jude Classic on Sunday was extremely baffling. From how Robert Garrigus chose to play 18 the first time to his lucky bounce the second time, he was an enigma unto himself. The other Robert in the playoff, though - Robert Karlsson - did something equally mind-blowing on the third playoff hole.
After Lee Westwood left his thirty foot birdie attempt a good five feet short of the hole, his ball came to rest right behind the line of Karlsson. Provided that Karlsson would likely have to make the same putt to extend the playoff, he could have waited for Westwood to putt, stepped behind him immediately, and gotten a good read on the putt. It would have given him a tremendous advantage.
What did Karlsson do? Twiddle his thumbs and look at the grass. He did not even look in Westwood's general direction. Then, of course, Westwood missed and Karlsson's nearly identical putt was now for the win. Karlsson then went on to miss the putt himself, not because of a poor read, but because of a straight pull. Perhaps the read would not have helped.
Still, with a free look at a putt worth a half of a million dollars, how can Karlsson look so disengaged?
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That was bizzare...
… it wasn’t just that he ignored the Westwood putt, it was actually like he was categorically avoiding looking at it. It seemed to me almost like he was reacting to some sort of superstition he had or something. There’s also the fact that he had some type of macular degeneration condition and I wondered if that could have anything to do with it but I couldn’t figure out what. Didn’t anyone ask him?
I'm floored!
You’re right, Patricia. Having worked with Simon Holmes (Robert’s longtime swing coach) when I was younger, I can tell you this — Robert Karlsson is a quirky fella. He is incredibly superstitious and has an array of strange practice rituals. I used to hit balls next to him for hours on the practice range and remember overhearing so many funny stories. I suspect his complete refusal to watch Westwood’s putt was completely superstitious. Regardless, it makes no sense. He didn’t even hit the hole. I mean, there’s really no excuse for that sort of blatant oversight.
It's not as Odd
As one would think. Though I agree with Ryan and the other commenters above, there are many people that want to do their own read on a putt thinking that if they watch the guy or gal before them it may change ones strategy. On a short putt like that, some may not use the break and just power though it. I played in a scramble last week and one of our guys never looked at the other 3 players while putting.
"pain is only weakness leaving the body"
Karlsson opted to read it later on
Kindle. He’s a K freak.
His breakfast cereal is a given.
TX like ol blue eyes sang
I did it my way…..STUB
Another Possibility
Maybe his guts were tied in a knot and he just wasn’t thinking clearly. He’s won before so I admit it’s not the most likely possibility, but sometimes it’s surprising how much stress people feel at certain times and what it can cause people to do (or not do).
Plausible, definitely. If Westwood makes the putt, maybe he goes completely loco and still misses it anyway.
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jun 14, 2010 11:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Just a thought...
I agree that not taking the free read is a little strange. But has anybody considered that maybe he just hit a bad putt? He hadn’t putted well all week — they mentioned that on the broadcast. He had just been hitting it close to the hole.
Until Sunday.
Mike Southern
www.ruthlessgolf.com
Karlsson is a terrible putter, which is precisely why he should take the read. Could’ve eased his fears some, ya know?
Find me! Email: ryan@thegolfnewsnet.com, Twitter: http://twitter.com/waggleroom, or Facebook: http://facebook.com/waggleroom.
by Ryan Ballengee on Jun 14, 2010 1:50 PM EDT up reply actions
“a terrible putter” ? Was he in that playoff by a random drawing ? Style points for his fashionable pants ?
He didn’t have a particularly good week with the putter, the longest putt he made was 16’ – which means he was hitting a lot of really good approach shots. He’s 3rd in putting on the Euro Tour this year and has 10 wins in his career. “Terrible putters” don’t have stats like that.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
Different strokes...errr....yeah.....
…I know several guys who absolutely will not look at someone else’s putt…even in a scramble. They believe so much in their own read that they don’t want something getting in the way of that thought.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
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