Not trying hard enough to win?

[birdieman]

Watched the closing stages of the PGA event from Torrey Pines last night, dull stuff it was too. Very surprised and disapponted as were commentary team that Michael Sim didn't try to hit 18 in 2. One behind Crane on the tee, hits a long drive and with 230 odd left reached for 7 iron to lay up and of course takes 5, one too many.
Last week in the Bob Hope Tim Clark did exactly the same, bailed out of a 220 odd shot on 18 for a lay up but took par then Bill Haas had the balls to take it on and won the tournament with birdie. Bubba Watson laid up on an earlier par 5 when trailing by a shot and he took 5 too!

Whats wrong with these people? Even if they're cacking it inside they should have the belief that their swings are repeatable enough to hit a wood well enough to get up around the green in 2 from a fairway lie on many par 5's. If you're winning then by all means play like Crane and get your par but if you're behind on the back 9 Sunday why not have a go.

Tim Clark has been second like 7 times, surely he should've had a go?

Maybe they're just happy for second place, thinking about $$ rather than winning.

 

[Mike_j_golf]

Hi,
I think the new grooves are stopping them going for it as they are finding it harder to get up and down from the green side rough where they are confident they can get it close from 100 yards.
Mike

 

[pokerjoke]

Totally agree some should have the balls and go for it,nobody remembers who come second,however some of these shots can be the difference of hundreds of thousands of dollars and some of the lesser players who are not up there week in week out need that big pay day.

 

[Faldo_Fan]

But Tim Clarke's a multi-millionaire isn't he?? Surely he should be in it for the wins now that he's an established member of the US tour??

 

[Tiger]

Perhaps it's a case of them believing in their ability to hit a great wedge, for a simple birdie, rather than a great long iron/fairway for an eagle opportunity.

 

[DMC]

In all probability they will be playing to the percentages,easy lay up and a wedge in tight. Not exciting to watch but gets them a decent cheque.

 

[birdieman]

Even if you hit the water on the par 5 18th at Torrey Pines in 2 you get a penalty drop and can still chip and putt for par so it's not that risky. A 4 would've got him in a playoff. I know they're good wedge players but in a last hole situation trying to get up and down in 2 from 90 yards after laying up is a long shot imo.

 

[Faldo_Fan]

Maybe he had visions of 'Tin Cup'????

 

[bobmac]

A birdie means a play-off
A par means tied 2nd with 2 others
A bogey means tied 5th with 4 others.
A double, well not worth getting out of bed for

A five and tied second is easy and big money.

Thats why he laid up.

 

[pokerjoke]

A birdie means a play-off
A par means tied 2nd with 2 others
A bogey means tied 5th with 4 others.
A double, well not worth getting out of bed for

A five and tied second is easy and big money.

Thats why he laid up.

Exactly,dont know what the prize money was but imagine 300k 2nd alone,tied 5th with 4 others 50k bit of a no brainer.Agree Tim clarks a millionaire and should take the risk.But lesser players not so sure.

 

[clubchamp07]

Money is to easy made on both tours, I agree they should off went for the exciting shots.
300K for comming 2nd, not bad if you can get it.

 

[freddielong]

I agree it is to easy to make a living without winning look at Tim Clark he has won millions of pounds and not won anything, they should make prize money for the winner only and no sponsership then it would get exciteing

 

[brendy]

The only excuse I can see is that if he throws caution to the wind there, where would it stop, they have to show themselves restraint. Perhaps the rough round the green just wasnt worth the gamble. Remember, pros are magicians with a wedge in their hands from the fairway, as mentioned earler, its all about playing the percentages.
Myself? Id have went for the green in 2, probably why Im playing of 9 and not lower, im only learning restraint now, a few good years into my membership. (19 points on 9 hole comp on saturday with irons only and if it wasnt for bumpy greens, could have been a couple better)

 

[birdieman]

Nothing wrong with restraint, I would advise playing a lay up too for the first 3 days and again in the 4th round but not in Sim's case. Crane's 5 was almost guaranteed when he found fairway off 18th tee. Sim had hit a long drive, if he wanted to lay up he could've taken 3 wood off the tee for extra safety or restraint?
He looked a bit perplexed at the end, probably wishing he'd had a go. Never know when you're chance will come again.

Why hit driver if you're playing lay-ups?

He who dares!

 

[StrangelyBrown]

It amazed me too, the greens were pretty soft after last weeks rain so stopping a fairway wood wouldn't have been too much of a problem. Maybe the pressure or nerves associated with being in contention on the 72nd hole got to them.

 

[madandra]

I think it is a lack of character. I noticed in Sam Hutsby's interview he blamed a 'course management error' for not hitting a green at Q school ..... FFS ... Whats wrong with saying you just hit a bad/wrong shot.


These guys are playing the % game.

I also think the time has come where the professional game is now detached from the game we all play.

 

[JustOne]

I also think the time has come where the professional game is now detached from the game we all play.

Their courses are perfectly manicured and they follow the sun...what more do you want, to be able to dip your wick into top models in local hotel rooms???

Our green keeper cuts the greens and moves the flags when he feels like it, I go home and argue with the missus cos the greens were sh*t.. it's not exactly a level playing field

 

[Faldo_Fan]

I also think the time has come where the professional game is now detached from the game we all play.

Their courses are perfectly manicured and they follow the sun...what more do you want, to be able to dip your wick into top models in local hotel rooms???

Our green keeper cuts the greens and moves the flags when he feels like it, I go home and argue with the missus cos the greens were sh*t.. it's not exactly a level playing field

Yeah i have to say my experiences on and off the course are pretty detached from tour pro's.....and there are no top models in sight....not even any old boilers!!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I think on the 72nd hole of a relatively big event if you don't have the heart to take a risky shot on and would rather count the $ signs then maybe your not cut out to be a winner on tour. OK if it doesn't come off then a five and the huge cheque he got anyway which goes a long way to sealing the card. A 6 means maybe $50k and still a good chunk towards tour status next year. The 4 gets you in a play off and a chance of the win and an exemption. More tournaments to enter, higher ranking etc etc. Surely a no brainer

 

[matt01]

the funny thing is he missed the put for a 4 and got 5 so no point in lay up if you miss the put
quiros did not hold back on 18 he went for it and it came off and came away with a 4
some one did say that not about the money just the win i am not so sure