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There are probably three par fours he has a chance of reaching, each with a high risk/reward factor. I suggest you learn something about the course (over 7000 yards ) before comparing it to a pitch and putt.

Scorecard
Five new tees will be in use during The Open 2005, increasing the length of the Old Course by 164 yards to 7,279 yards.

hole
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 OUT
par
4 4 4 4 5 4 4 3 4 36
yardage
376 453 397 480 568 412 390 175 352 3603

hole
10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 IN
par
4 3 4 4 5 4 4 4 4 36
yardage
380 174 348 465 618 456 423 455 357 3676

total par
72

total yardage
7279

I watched in 2000 and I've played the Tiger video game on that course PLENTY of times over the last few years and it looks like there's more than 3 that are so-called "pitch and putt." Every one of them that is less than 400,except for the 1st because of the creek in front of the green, should be "driver" holes that will have him within 40 or 50 yards of the green. And, if the wind is at his back, he can get even closer than that on the 3rd, 7th, and 10th. As you mentioned, there are probably 3 realistic drivable par 4s, but what I'm saying is that he doesn't need to drive them...just hit it somewhere near the green. With how far he's killing that new driver, I think with no wind and the firmness of links fairways, he could get near those 390 yard holes very easily. He'll hit iron off the first hole though because of the creek that is near the green. Also, add in 2 par 5's and there are plenty of birdie holes out there, as Tiger and the FIELD in general proved in 2000.

And that makes you an expert? I suggest you look again, and as always ,the wind on a links course is key.

[quote=TTUfirebird2008]No, we've seen him struggle in ONE British Open in the wind --- 2002 which was a fluke round. 1999 at Carnoustie was the toughest B.O. conditions in a long time, and he finished, what tied for 3rd or something like that? He can play in the wind.

I'm not saying he can't play in the wind. But he has to play St. Andrew's a lot differently than he did in 2000 if it's windy, and it won't be as easy for him. I hear too many people handing him the trophy just b/c he won by 8 there in 2000. Lot has changed in 5 years, including the course if the wind blows.

FWIW, Tiger finished tied for 7th at Carnastie...he tied for 3rd in '98 at Birkdale.

Lefty, did I say I was an expert? NO, but I do know that on that game, the ball flies about 320 with the most juiced player, but it doesn't run anywhere near like a real links course does (50 yards if you hit the fairway). Tiger has said that he can hit his driver 320 most of the time in the air without the wind blowing in his face or with him. Now, if you're hitting it 320 in the air and you get a links roll in the fairway (50 yards or more) then you're pretty close to most 400 yard holes' greens in regulation. The game is pretty realistic (although you can hit it further into the wind than I think people really could in real life...like 300 yards into a 20 MPH wind, which I don't think actually happens that often with Tiger or any of the really long hitters like Ernie and Daly), but I would say that if the wind isn't too much in the face, pretty much all the long hitters (not just Tiger) will have an easy time with most of the <400 yard par-4s.

TTUfirebird2008.......you crack me up with your "video game" expertise' about St. Andrews. I'll just bet the Old Course plays exactly from the Championship tees with a real club in your hand as it does sitting on your bed with a game controller in your hand! Hey, here's an idea.....open the window and turn a fan on high speed if you want to really get the whole St. Andrews experience! Better yet I bet if you tee off as Tiger is teeing off, you can influence his shots and make him play better!

Here's another clue..........it's called TIGER WOODS 2005 for a reason. It ain't like Tiger's shots aren't going to be the best of all the players in the game.

league, guess what. The game doesn't allow you to play with Tiger, at least not in PGA Tour mode. The player that I play with is a guy I created. He looks like me, hits it 100 yards further than me, and is in no way whatsoever Tiger Woods. You beat the top players head to head, even Tiger, and then play the Tour on your own. And don't tell me about wind my friend. I go to Texas Tech thank you very much! In case you don't know where Texas Tech is, that would Lubbock, Texas --- one of the windiest places in the United States. They have a links course there called the Rawls Course and the wind routinely blows 35 MPH or faster. I made the mistake of playing there on a day when it was blowing 50+. It was unbelievably difficult. You crack me up with your little sarcasm directed at me when in fact you know NOTHING about my knowledge of wind.

Just for your information, check out this Golf Digest article regarding the Rawls Course. I'm 100% sure it's nowhere near as difficult as St. Andrew's, but it's a pretty long golf course from the tips and can play very long on some of the holes into the wind (especially some of the par 3s). The bunkering is very difficult b/c they're very deep, much like St. Andrew's, but not quite as bad as say the Road Hole and some of the other extremely deep bunkers at St. Andrew's. Also, the sand in the bunkers at the Rawls Course is basically impossible because it's not really sand. It's west Texas RED DIRT, which isn't soft at all and is very difficult to hit good shots out of. Anyway, enjoy the article:


Golf Digest Review of the Rawls Course



Rawls Course Official Website

Hot air is your speciality.

Bring it in a little fella's.

I may not be able to see it......but do know "wind" when I read it! I have written enough wind here on GR to make me somewhat of an expert at recognizing it when I see it!

If you read my previous post correctly you'll see that I was referring to your absurd comparison of how the Old Course at St. Andrews plays during the British Open and how "I've played the Tiger video game on that course PLENTY of times over the last few years" makes you think they are in any way closely related.

We all know that, at times, Texas has windy conditions but that and the fact that you attend Texas Tech, and you can create your own player and playing conditions on a video game, have nothing to do with St. Andrews and the way real golf is played there.

I can't speak for golf simulators but I've yet to see a golf video game that accurately produces the random and sometimes quirky fairway bounces that you see on Rota course. Every ball that hits the fairway in a video game bounces straight and true. Sure, the scenery is realistic and the games have improved tremendously the past few years but to claim a video game "realistically" plays like St. Andrews is literally "pure fantasy."