An odd questions - pros and play-offs...

[feary]

I had my first ever playoff yesterday. A 4 hole strokeplay playoff with around 100 people watching for the junior county champs. I was just sat in the bar when I found out as the other was in the last group about 25 mins behind me. I had a few putts and straight out to the 15th tee.

 

[barrybridges]

I had my first ever playoff yesterday. A 4 hole strokeplay playoff with around 100 people watching for the junior county champs. I was just sat in the bar when I found out as the other was in the last group about 25 mins behind me. I had a few putts and straight out to the 15th tee.

But did you win?

In your situation it's even worse - you can't even relax in the bar enjoying your pint in case you're brought out onto the course again.

Although as a junior - maybe shouldn't be getting the pints in that early.

 

[feary]

No I lost. Against this kid who plays for england off plus 1 I shot even for 4 holes he was 1 under. Fair play.

 

[bobmac]

How about the manner in which each player gets into the play-off. Who birdies the last hole to squeeze in or the other who bogeys the last to lose the tournament outright.
Whichever way, one person will be happier to be in the play-off than the other.

 

[barrybridges]

No I lost. Against this kid who plays for england off plus 1 I shot even for 4 holes he was 1 under. Fair play.

You're not far off him though, so you shouldn't feel too bad!

Being able to play under that pressure will help you in the future I'm sure.

Having the group behind watch me at the 1st tee is enough pressure for me, let along that many spectators!

 

[viscount17]

Why don't pro comps just use count back? (not starting a debate on the merits of count back).

It is used at every golf club in the country for deciding stroke play events. Why not pro comps?

money.

it makes for a memorably unmemorable ending

sponsors wouldn't like it

tv might like it as they hate programmes to overrun - especially when it eats into airhead time

go back to the days of a play-off being a full 18

 

[G1BB0]

when did it change from a full 18? I do remember it in the British Open at least, late 80's/early 90's or so?

 

[G1BB0]

google informs me that it was 1989 for the British Open... my memory wasnt too far out, the US open is the only event to still use it on the PGA Tour apparently

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Why don't pro comps just use count back? (not starting a debate on the merits of count back).

It is used at every golf club in the country for deciding stroke play events. Why not pro comps?

Quite simple. Cash be it £, $ or Euro (can't be arsed to find the symbol). TV and therefore advertisers want to see a fight to the finish and so the thought of a guy in the scorers tent sitting there with the two cards before declaring the winner won't win may viewers or keep the sponsor happy.

I guess it depends what the guy coming off the course last has done on the final hole to get into a playoff. If he's made birdie to tie then he'll be pumped but if he's dropped a shot to let the other guy in then clearly the momentum is with the early finisher. I'm not sure unless it is extremely hot/cold or wet or they have played 36 in a day if there is too much advantage being in for an hour. Most players have food and water in the bag to keep them going anyway.

 

[G1BB0]

found this before, pro's have got it easy these days....

Purists might argue that an 18-hole playoff is the fairest method to break a tie.

But if that's the case, why not make it 36 holes? That's the way it used to be, and in the 1931 U.S. Open when Billy Burke and George Von Elm were tied again after a 36-hole playoff, they played 36 more holes the next day before Burke won by a single shot.