Professionals teeing it up

[richy]

Watching the Scottish open today I noticed a lot of the players when taking an iron off the tee had it quite high off the ground. They also didn't seem to take much of a divot and sort of swept it off the tee.

Any reason to this as I thought you always hit down with an iron even on a tee?

 

[Imurg]

I reckon it's because the ground was so wet if they tried to hit a normal shot they ran the risk of fatting it. Wouldn't normally happen.

 

[richy]

I understand what your saying but surely if it's ball THEN turf, then it shouldn't make a difference right?

 

[G_Mulligan]

What happens after contact still matters or all of our swings would stop just after the ball leaves the face. A good clean follow through is important and I guess the very wet turf makes this more difficult.

 

[jasondransfieldgolf]

Without doubt when the ground has been as wet as it has been there, you are just trying to sweep it off the turf, as the ground conditions are so unpredictable.

 

[Region3]

I thought it might have something to do with playing balls to pitch short and run up rather than land on the green and stop, so a sweeping blow would give less backspin?

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I hadn't noticed the tee height but did notice there was a different sound upon contact. I had wondered if it was because it was wet but I guess if they had it teed higher and weren't pinching the ball against the turf that would account for it.

As Imurg says, probably because it was so wet.