Was watching Playing Lessons with the Pros last night, and it got me to wondering why more of us don't try playing more like him.
I mean look at the guy - he's short, not too flexible (seemingly anyway, as his left arm was certainly bending to complete his backswing), not a ton of distance, etc. etc. etc... and the Player's Champion and winner of the Skins Game over a pair of absolute bombers in Tiger Woods and Fred Couples.
It was almost hysterical after a while, because he would get up to the tee, do a little chit chat, explain something about swing path or this or that, then... stripe one down the middle. Then he'd get up to the next tee, do a little chit chat, explain something about this or that, then... stripe one down the middle.
Sure, he didn't hit it real far, but he... striped them all right down the middle. Furthermore, his distances are more in tune with ours. He hit a 7 from 157, took a bit off a 7 from 152, etc. He's got a decent if unspectacular short game, decent putter, and... stripes them down the middle.
The best part was, at one point he was playing a 468 yard par 4 and announced on the tee he was "going to put a little extra on this one" then... striped it right down the middle.
It was pretty eye opening to me to see what a sound all around game and the ability to... stripe one down the middle every time can result in.
No doubt he has to make ground somehwere on these guys. I have guys in my group that always hit it past me, but they don't beat me, why? I keep the ball in play more so then they do and while not having as good of iron game as they do, I can chip/putt better than them.
Not saying Fred chips/putts better than Tiger here, but I think you know what I mean.
I saw that last night too. I even told my wife that my distances were about the same as his. It made me feel good about my game. I also liked the way he came off as an all around decent guy.
I saw that last night too. I even told my wife that my distances were about the same as his. It made me feel good about my game. I also liked the way he came off as an all around decent guy.
Definately a big thumbs up for Fred Funk.
Todd
Amen to that. I really enjoyed it, and it made me feel not only good about my game, but also good about my ability to grow into being a better player without having to obsess over distance so much.
I guess more than a few of us were impressed with 'The Other Freddie'. It was almost comical watching this foursome hit their second shots. Anika and FF almost always hit first ... and then a big gap between the other guys. In the end...
Well there is more than a little luck involved in the skins game, but that's ok. I think that Fred Funk's recent career is instructive in that it shows there is still more than one way to get it done. As the courses have grown longer and his competitors hit it farther, he's had his greatest success. Top 30 all but once in the past 5 or 6 years, a 2nd in the PGA, A Players Championship, Ryder & President's Cup member. He's 49 years old and driving accuracy is the only part of his game where he really excels. Remember he's only average in both GIR & Sandies, well below average in putting... and driving distance ?.. well forget about it. It says something for keeping it in the short grass, IMO.
Last edited by wazmankg : November 29th, 2005 at 03:37 PM.
it's about playing smart to your strength ain't it..
i'm not a long driver. but i'm pretty straight.. was facing a par 4 300 yards across water to the green but 400 yards by going around a dogleg right...
my gungho buddies tried to go for the green in 1 .. 1 of them got a big splash and the other drove his ball across the water but into a tall bush... Me and the other of our foursome (a female) choose to hit it around.. guess what.. i got on in 2.. and birdied the hole. ...let's not talk about their scores for this particular hole...
BTW..FF seems like a real joker too....skirt and all..
He hits it far enough. I mean in all reality, if you can hit you driver 270ish on most courses these days you'll be fine. It's just that we all see Tiger smashing them 300 and think that we need to (or can).
Well there is more than a little luck involved in the skins game, but that's ok. I think that Fred Funk's recent career is instructive in that it shows there is still more than one way to get it done. As the courses have grown longer and his competitors hit it farther, he's had his greatest success. Top 30 all but once in the past 5 or 6 years, a 2nd in the PGA, A Players Championship, Ryder & President's Cup member. He's 49 years old and driving accuracy is the only part of his game where he really excels. Remember he's only average in both GIR & Sandies, well below average in putting... and driving distance ?.. well forget about it. It says something for keeping it in the short grass, IMO.
November 29th, 2005, 09:46 AM
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