I would have to say it would be very awesome to have a heart monitor hooked up to these guys as they approach this hole and watch it speed up as they take their backswing. We amatuers know what goes thru our minds. " ok keep it smooth no sweat" then the backswing starts " keep it on plane buddy.....oh don't take it outside the line" top of the backswing " oh maybe this is too far back just try to start slow then speed it up" down swing just before impact " ok screw it I am going to speed this up I dont want to be short in the water" then we chunk it. It never had a chance of even hitting the green. I would like to now what the pro has going thru his head. I know they are supposed to keep adrennaline in check but, come-on it is the 17th hole at TPC Sawgrass. The island green. You know they have to be nervous and may have a thought or two.
Williamsu what a thrill that had to have been just to play the course. And to hit the 17th green with wind blowing as you decribed it. I have been blessed to play great course such as THe Plantation at Kapalua, Blue Monster at Doral, Hogans alley at Riveria, and Valencia C.C. home of the senior tour SBC Classic. TPC at Sawgrass is on my list of favorites to play.
Froghairs, which driving range in Vegas has the simulation. I go there about 3x a year and would love to take my friends there and make a few bucks I never have seen these folks take so much time on a short hole before so I know it is creeping into their heads of bad thoughts. It is 135 yards surrounded by water.Pin on front left just hit it middle of green C/L and spin back from the slope to the left, pin on back anywhere you hit it center controlling spin, and everyones favorite front right you hit it C/R and let it feed back to the right down to the hole with that slope.Sounds easy......yeah right execution is everything
Ron, back in 1992 I played TPC Sawgrass in January. It was a bit cool high around 55. I played out of my mind and shot 70. On 17 I hit the green using a 7 iron and 2 putted for par. However, the wind was blowing so hard from left to right that I actually was aimed in the water and thats where the ball started. Had the wind not blown the ball to the right I would have been wet. My putt almost went in. Actually, the hole locations on Thursday were exactly where they were when I played there back in 92. -Will
Well I am of the opinion that they are professionals, and should make this shot a very high percentage of the time. I have just been catching pieces, and parts on TV, and I have not seen anyone get wet yet, although I know a few have. It is a tough shot, especially with conditions such as they are. I really like it when a golf course offers up three, tough finishing holes as this week.
What is baffling me is the fact that Singh, and Furyk live on this course, and should know it by heart. Yet they seem to be sruggling.
We have a driving range in Vegas that I frequent, that has a some what close replica of the Sawgrass 17th as a target hole. You hit off mats, and land on a rug, and the simulated water is a blue rug. The design is pretty close at 135 yards. I can stick an 8i on the green about 95% of the time once I get dialed in. Of course the pro golfers at the real deal do not have practice shots to get dialed in during their round. It is a fun practice hole, and many a dollar has changed hands during a range session there. I once won a free 1/2 hour lesson from the resident pro. He walked by and made the offer of a free lesson if anyone could stick one on the green. FHs
