Wentworth 18th Whats all the fuss about

[PhilTheFragger]

I like the 18th,It is a thing of beauty.

From a spectators viewpoint its a great risk/reward hole, maybe better suited to matchplay (which in effect is what we had in the playoff)

It all depends on your score coming into the hole, where you are in relation to others on the scoreboard and how good your drive is.

Take Shane Lowry, he was level par coming in to the 18th and could have played it safe and scored a par which would have got him T13 and 69k euros, But no he went for it shashing shot and got an eagle 3, which put him 2 under for T4 for 191k euros, so that gamble paid off big time for him.

probably about 1/3 of the players went for it in 2, saw a few plops, saw a few go through to the bunkers at the back

I think maybe there should be a bit more ground between the green and the stream, maybe only 5 yards, but it would encourage more to have a go.

It was fine watching the players who laid up pitching in from 120-150 there were some great ones, but a few still messed up.

What do other peeps think?

Fragger

 

[freddielong]

I think it makes the last a bit boring anyone with any pressure on them played it as a 3 shoter I preffered the hole the way it used to be

 

[CrapHacker]

I think maybe there should be a bit more ground between the green and the stream, maybe only 5 yards, but it would encourage more to have a go.

Fragger

Pretty much what I think, too

 

[EZprophet]

I think it makes the last a bit boring anyone with any pressure on them played it as a 3 shoter I preffered the hole the way it used to be

This is my view aswell.

Though it was definitely better this year than last year.

 

[CrapHacker]

I think maybe there should be a bit more ground between the green and the stream, maybe only 5 yards, but it would encourage more to have a go.

Fragger

Pretty much what I think, too

I'd also like to see the right hand fairway bunker go / made smaller to encourage more drivers off the tee.

 

[HRC99]

I thought the real chance to go 3, 3 on 17 and 18 made it an exciting finish. Now it just isn't really on and the tournament is the poorer for it.

 

[Deleted member 1418]

I like it - think it's a stronger finishing hole now. Interesting to hear Els talking about it on the Beeb yesterday and saying that they'll tinker with it again next year to encourage more to go for it in two. Think it will be a really great finishing hole when they finally get it right.

The holes that they should have a major rethink on are 12 and 17. I would definitely bring the tees up on 17 to make it more reachable in two. And to have 12 playing so long in the wind was laughable. If they want to geniunely have that as a par 4 now then they need to create a new teeing ground to make that about 460 - 470 if there's a strong wind against.

All in all though, think all the changes Ernie has made are excellent.

 

[SharkAttack]

Guy's

Get over it, there a lot harder finishing holes out there. If 1/3 of the players went for it then it ain't that hard. Even if the water wasn't there and they grew the rough you would still get players laying up if they had a score going.

As Peter Allis said if it was a new course and no one had played it before, we would all be raving about how good it was.

Shark

 

[Ethan]

I think the 18th is a mistake. It does not fit the architecture of the course and it fails in its objective to make the 18th exciting. It is as fake as Richard Caring (Wentworth's owner)'s smile and tan!

 

[PhilTheFragger]

It is as fake as Richard Caring (Wentworth's owner)'s smile and tan!

Cant speak for the tan, But no reason for a fake smile. Great tournament, huge crowds spending lots of dosh, good weather, masses of publicity both for Wentworth and BMW , Shootout for world number 1

I should think he is grinning from ear to ear

Fragger

 

[Snelly]

I thought the real chance to go 3, 3 on 17 and 18 made it an exciting finish. Now it just isn't really on and the tournament is the poorer for it.

I completely agree with you. 18th is the worse for the changes, 17th more so...

 

[TXL]

The holes that they should have a major rethink on are 12 and 17. I would definitely bring the tees up on 17 to make it more reachable in two.

On Saturday morning the tour moved the tee some 50 yards forward in an attempt to make players go for the green in 2. What happened was that instead of taking driver/3 wood off the tee, they went to 5 wood/long iron and played to exactly the same place.

Most players tried to go for the green in 2 but most failed to reach.

The only way to get them to go for the green in 2 would be to level out the fairway so that balls do not have to be fired down the left tree line (risking OOB in the gardens) in order for them to stay on the fairway.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I agree with the majority. It has ruined a good finishing couple of holes where eagle, birdie was always a possibility. Now where is the excitement in seeing the majority deliberately lay up. I think Fraggers example of a guy going for it and making eagle doesn't really serve a purpose. It isn't about the money so much for those guys unless they are desperately down the listings to retain their card. he was top end of the field and so really had nothing to lose taking the shot on.

What we all would like is a true risk reward finish. Why not make it a long par 4 like the 12th which created carnage over the week. That way it would force guys to hit good drives and attack with 3 or 4 irons but the green would take these approaches better than coming in with a wood to something not really capable of holding such a shot. That way, you're forced to hit a straight and longish drive and then forced into either attacking a tough Sunday pin or playing for the heart of a big but sloping green and trying to make a long putt and hopefully making the return. That to me would be much more how I'd like to see a tournament decided.

 

[Golfmmad]

I think it's a great finishing hole!

I don't care if they go for it in 2 or lay up in 3. Variety is the spice of life. It certainly defines risk and reward!

Why should Ernie Els start tweaking it again just to pander to those that don't like it? That's the way it is, just get on with it.

I've always thought in the professional game, the more difficult a hole is, the more exciting it is to watch a player master it, and that includes laying up. In other words, Donald mastered it, but Westwood didn't.

Golfmmad.

 

[SyR]

I wasn't a fan of the old 18th. I think the new 18th much better and think they should leave the water by the green how it is.

Maybe they should do something about the tee shot. There should be a reward for going with the big stick off the tee. Moving the stream nearer to the tee might encourage some attempts to hit a driver to secure a shorter approach shot to the green.

 

[RGDave]

Maybe they should do something about the tee shot. There should be a reward for going with the big stick off the tee. Moving the stream nearer to the tee might encourage some attempts to hit a driver to secure a shorter approach shot to the green.

Good call. I don't know about moving the stream, but some options for a driver off the tee would make sense.

What did Lee play. 5w, short iron, SW? what sort of rubbish is that.
Unleash the big dogs or make it a monster.

 

[Mungoscorner]

Its an awful hole now,if it wasn't there wouldn't be so many complaints about it.The playoff between Westwood and Donald was a total anti climax,and for anybody on here to be questioning Westwoods talent is absolutely laughable.

 

[RGDave]

for anybody on here to be questioning Westwoods talent is absolutely laughable.

Was I questioning? or were you referring to another reply?

 

[Gillespie16]

I like the new layout for the 18th, Its a Risk and Reward Hole.

 

[Mungoscorner]

for anybody on here to be questioning Westwoods talent is absolutely laughable.

Was I questioning? or were you referring to another reply?

No Dave i wasn't replying to your comments mate.Lots of others were suggesting Westwood choked,and were questioning his capabilities when it came down to short game skills,which is as i said "laughable".