If Phil would have hit 4 wood, he would have left himself 170-190 in. That's a stock 6 or 7 for Phil. There's no reason why he couldn't have played the hole like this, it's just completely nonsensical.
Really? You mean he should have just given away his one stroke lead? He's ahead by one shot and you want him to try and get a bogie? He simply did what he was doing all tourney long that got him in FIRST place. He hit driver all week long and it gave him the lead. Why would he change on the last hole and actually try to give up the lead.
I could see hitting 3 or 4 wood, but to actually give away the lead by hitting 5 iron, 5 iron, 8 iron was not the answer.
how would that be going for bogey??, tee = iron, 2nd stroke = iron, 3rd stroke = wedge, 4th stroke = putt = 4 strokes = par, at worst 5 strokes = bogey. and he could of got very near to the green with a long iron and a mid iron so even a chance of birdie.
4-wood or 3 iron off the tee would have left him with about 210 left. Then a 5 iron or 4 at most would have put him on or around the green. Worst case scenerio- BOGEY. I would have loved his odds in a playoff- maybe a 70% chance to win. The mere thought of driver is inexplicable- even if it performed decent for him.
4-wood or 3 iron off the tee would have left him with about 210 left. Then a 5 iron or 4 at most would have put him on or around the green. Worst case scenerio- BOGEY. I would have loved his odds in a playoff- maybe a 70% chance to win. The mere thought of driver is inexplicable- even if it performed decent for him.
And what was worse was the fact after he hit driver he could have punched it out on the fairway and got a bogy and been in a playoff.
how would that be going for bogey??, tee = iron, 2nd stroke = iron, 3rd stroke = wedge, 4th stroke = putt = 4 strokes = par, at worst 5 strokes = bogey. and he could of got very near to the green with a long iron and a mid iron so even a chance of birdie.
Anytime you're playing a hole as a 3-shot hole, you're playing for 5 and praying for 4.
Anytime you're playing a hole as a 3-shot hole, you're playing for 5 and praying for 4.
But you take 6 out of play. Also worth considering, this isn't Michelle Wie we're talking about. If anyone, anyone on earth could have put his second short of the green and gotten up and down for par from a faiway lie to win a major, it's Phil.
I wouldn't have had any problem with him leaving one 30-40 yards short and trying to get up and down to win it, even if he didn't pull it off and made 5.
I wouldn't have had any problem with him leaving one 30-40 yards short and trying to get up and down to win it, even if he didn't pull it off and made 5.
He could've done that with a smart 2nd shot. I would've questioned playing it as a 3-shot hole from the start though, after parring it the 1st 3 days. He didn't have a great deal of success off the tee yesterday even when he dialed down.
Anytime you're playing a hole as a 3-shot hole, you're playing for 5 and praying for 4.
not really though, he would of played it with a chance of birdie, i did say that he could of got very near to the green with a long iron and then a mid iron, if not id put money on him getting up and down, or at most 3 strokes from the rough for a bogey. he was going for a driver, short iron, whats the difference from a long iron, mid iron? apart from the fact that he would probably of been more accurate from the tee going the iron route, which was the important thing. he could of even gone, 4 iron, 4 iron, short pitch and then putt.
not really though, he would of played it with a chance of birdie, i did say that he could of got very near to the green with a long iron and then a mid iron, if not id put money on him getting up and down, or at most 3 strokes from the rough for a bogey. he was going for a driver, short iron, whats the difference from a long iron, mid iron? apart from the fact that he would probably of been more accurate from the tee,the iron route. he could of even gone, 4 iron, 4 iron, short pitch and then putt.
Speculating is fun... we're all just guessing, but he did run his last 2 4-irons from the tee into the rough.... and quite a bit further back than his normal driver. I think that everyone can agree that going for the green with his 2nd shot was a bonehead play for the ages.
Speculating is fun... we're all just guessing, but he did run his last 2 4-irons from the tee into the rough.... and quite a bit further back than his normal driver. I think that everyone can agree that going for the green with his 2nd shot was a bonehead play for the ages.
ofcourse it was, at the end of the day he might of not won it whatever route he took, but people have gotta question his decision's on that 18th hole and the 2006 U.S. Open will always be remembered for that, and he's gonna take that memory to his grave, especially if he doesnt win another major throughout his career (unlikely, but might happen).
June 19th, 2006, 10:13 AM
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