67 replies to this topic

[exquisitechip]

Why is Phil insisting that he couldn't go anywhere right of the pin on #4? As if that were more of a risk than what he took on, the left side. He also indicated that he was partially aiming to miss in the bleachers and got unlucky in hitting the railing. Is this hubris or what? Van de Velde tried to use the bleachers as a bailout and look what happened. It does not seem all that safe to hit into these things. I don't know crap about playing this course but could the right side of the green or even the right bunker be that bad? You make 4 at worst I would think. I think Phil is still in a daze. I just don't see how he can still defend the decision to bailout left there.

[spitfisher]

It was an awful display of judgement. In hind site.  But that's Phil, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I wish I was a fly on the wall with Bones on the logic. Again in hind site

[PGArox]

Phil didn't bail out anywhere.  He was going for the pin, but playing for a left miss.  He certainly did not intend to hit his shot so poorly.

He later said he has attempted that same shot dozens of times over the years, and has never hit those bleachers.  He said he has never even thought of those bushes over there.

It was just a poor shot.  That's golf.  In retrospect, Phil should've re-teed, but even that option couldn't guarantee a five.  Phil gambled, and lost.

[Johnny]

bamboozled

[MT_Sens]

Those arn't bleachers, they are patron observation platforms

[Panteradon]

Just wondering if Phil could have declared his ball unplayable and gone back to the tee.  would he have been two on the tee or three on the tee?

[PGArox]

Panteradon, on 08 April 2012 - 08:25 PM, said:

Just wondering if Phil could have declared his ball unplayable and gone back to the tee.  would he have been two on the tee or three on the tee?

Yes and 3.

[larrybud]

The problem wasn't the tee shot, it was the next 3.  

I can't believe he couldn't get in there and hit the ball 10 feet out left handed.

[rafal]

Yet if the putter worked he'd be right there in the playoff....he played a really good round, other than cold putter.

[larrybud]

What putts did he miss?

[rafal]

All the non-par5 birdie ones.

[leftofseinfeld]

larrybud, on 08 April 2012 - 08:32 PM, said:

The problem wasn't the tee shot, it was the next 3.  

I can't believe he couldn't get in there and hit the ball 10 feet out left handed.

probably couldn't get in there without making the ball move before he hit it.

Thought he would take the back of his putter and plow it out though.

[proguy]

PGArox, on 08 April 2012 - 07:55 PM, said:

Phil didn't bail out anywhere.  He was going for the pin, but playing for a left miss.  He certainly did not intend to hit his shot so poorly.

He later said he has attempted that same shot dozens of times over the years, and has never hit those bleachers.  He said he has never even thought of those bushes over there.

It was just a poor shot.  That's golf.  In retrospect, Phil should've re-teed, but even that option couldn't guarantee a five.  Phil gambled, and lost.

great post.    a five would have not won him anything.  Bad break, and like he said he did not make the putts needed down the back nine.

[paulshack]

larrybud, on 08 April 2012 - 08:39 PM, said:

What putts did he miss?

did you watch golf today?

[scratchswinger]

He made some poor decisions to say the least. He should have just gone back to the tee and played for double. I was yelling at the TV "don't hit it, don't hit it". As Manny is Manny, Phil will be Phil.

[Frankie Lob Wedge]

I am not sure how the arthritis is affecting him because he never complains.  I think Phil was tired at the end.  It is amazing he was right there at the end like clockwork.  I hope his health is good next year because Phil adds so much to The Masters.

Tough for other guys like Kuchar and Hanson who were close.  Also kudos to Westwood to keep scrapping away to get to -8.  Lee is looking the fittest I have ever seen and he is built like a rugby player.

[highergr0und]

He played a risky shot knowing that he needed birdies to win after that double eagle.  Isn't wasn't a terrible miss as much as a terrible break off the railing.  In hindsight, going back to the tee would've probably been the best move, but I'm sure he figured he would punch that first ball out far enough to hit a flop next to the pin

[dpwigolfer]

Other than this hole I thought he played some great golf but that said he was trying to go for the win so I can't blame him for trying the shot out of the bush with his short game

[PuttLeftHitRight]

When he got the triple I said he needs 2 eagles. When Louis faltered he needed 1, but he never got it.

[PGArox]

Frankie Lob Wedge, on 08 April 2012 - 09:23 PM, said:

I am not sure how the arthritis is affecting him because he never complains.  I think Phil was tired at the end.  It is amazing he was right there at the end like clockwork.  I hope his health is good next year because Phil adds so much to The Masters.

Tough for other guys like Kuchar and Hanson who were close.  Also kudos to Westwood to keep scrapping away to get to -8.  Lee is looking the fittest I have ever seen and he is built like a rugby player.

Great post.

Phil indeed is a tremendous asset to professional golf.  He is entertaining to watch, and gracious and respectful to the fans.  I am so pleased that he is playing the quality of golf we have come to appreciate.

I was also glad to see Matt Kuchar actually contending in a major.  He has been so steady the last couple years, but not doing much in the biggest events.

What a challenging day it was for Peter Hanson.  You could tell he was never comfortable, and his performance revealed it.  You have to think he'll be more mentally prepared next time...if there is a next time.

I sometimes blow off Lee Westwood, but he just keeps playing consistently great golf from tee to green.  If he had Phil's short game, and Luke's putter, he'd win many big titles.  He handles disappointment extremely well.

[Techgolfer1]

It was a terrible shot. The left bunker is the bailout but that is probably one of the worst shots he has hit since the us open years back at winged foot. A block is usually the good players miss. It happens and he got a terrible break.

[PuttLeftHitRight]

I can't imagine why he decided to hit the 2nd shot. There was no room to swing and he easily could have wasted a stroke to not move it at all. 100% the wrong decision. Just ask Kevin Na. When in trouble, go back to the tee.

[BNich0622]

spitfisher, on 08 April 2012 - 07:54 PM, said:

It was an awful display of judgement. In hind site.  But that's Phil, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I wish I was a fly on the wall with Bones on the logic. Again in hind site

If I heard he after round interview correctly, he referred to it as an easy chip shot, yet during live coverage the announcers said he was hitting a 4 iron. Something isn't adding up there.  But I agree with you. Not sure why someone would bail out on a side with bleachers a hazard and brush. Or if he just mishit it, remember Pro's do have mishits as well. L.O. had a terrible tee ball on the same hole on sunday, which led to a bogey. He didn't compound his mistake. Phil is probably kicking himself at this point. But as Bubba made note of and you mentioned, Phil goes for broke, all or nothing and in this instance it didn't work out.

[gopherguts]

PuttLeftHitRight, on 08 April 2012 - 10:35 PM, said:

I can't imagine why he decided to hit the 2nd shot. There was no room to swing and he easily could have wasted a stroke to not move it at all. 100% the wrong decision. Just ask Kevin Na. When in trouble, go back to the tee.

This from someone who plays one way and putts the other. And yeah, I'm sure Mickelson will be going to Kevin Na for advice next time he's in a jam.

There's (almost) no way Phil makes better than 5 from going back to the tee and nobody, least of all Phil, would think he wouldn't at least get the ball "free" with his righty chip - had he gotten the ball clear he'd have been laying 2 and with his short game *might* have gotten it up and down for 4 and almost certainly wouldn't have made worse than 5.

[PuttLeftHitRight]

Um his righty chip was his 3rd shot....perhaps you missed his 2nd where the ball was stuck back in some bushes and he could not hardly swing his club. Plus the righty chip was awful because he turned the face over. I hit lefty with righty clubs all the time and I am by no means a good golfer. I expected more from Phil on that shot.

Edited by PuttLeftHitRight, 08 April 2012 - 10:49 PM.

[PGArox]

BNich0622, on 08 April 2012 - 10:35 PM, said:

If I heard the after-round interview correctly, he referred to it as an easy chip shot, yet during live coverage the announcers said he was hitting a 4 iron. Something isn't adding up there.  

But I agree with you. Not sure why someone would bail out on a side with bleachers a hazard and brush.

Firstly, Phil was explaining why a left miss was preferable to a right miss.  If you'll remember, Nick Faldo questioned why Phil would bring a left miss into play.

Secondly, Phil did not bail.  He merely hit a poor shot, and got a horrible break.

[gopherguts]

PuttLeftHitRight, on 08 April 2012 - 10:47 PM, said:

Um his righty chip was his 3rd shot....perhaps you missed his 2nd where the ball was stuck back in some bushes and he could not hardly swing his club. Plus the righty chip was awful because he turned the face over. I hit lefty with righty clubs all the time and I am by no means a good golfer. I expected more from Phil on that shot.

Perhaps you missed the fact that he made TWO righty chips ?

First one did NOT get clear, 2nd one did.

1 in the woods, 2 left it there (mostly), 3 got it onto dirt, 4th in the bunker, 5th to 2 feet, 6 in.

[MileHighClub]

I apologize if this has been discussed already, but did anyone ask Phil why he didn't take an unplayable and go back to the tee to hit three?  If so, what did he say?

[akon]

larrybud, on 08 April 2012 - 08:32 PM, said:

The problem wasn't the tee shot, it was the next 3.  

I can't believe he couldn't get in there and hit the ball 10 feet out left handed.

Yeah, he still looked like he was standing quite a bit ahead of the ball right handed. Seems like he should have been able to stand in front of the ball left handed in the same fashion and just drop head of a  3 wood with pretty much no backswing and just stick it in the ground to punch it in the bunker.

Johnny, on 08 April 2012 - 08:01 PM, said:

bamboozled

nice

MT_Sens, on 08 April 2012 - 08:06 PM, said:

Those arn't bleachers, they are patron observation platforms

ditto

[Awsi Dooger]

larrybud, on 08 April 2012 - 08:32 PM, said:

The problem wasn't the tee shot, it was the next 3.  

I can't believe he couldn't get in there and hit the ball 10 feet out left handed.

The announcing was horrendous, the caliber of Tirico/Strange when Van de Velde hit the rail and they failed to emphasize what ridiculous bad luck it was, virtually the worst possible place the ball could end up, returning to the other side of the burn. Today's break was not at that level but a comfortable second place. Even if it hits the rail, the odds of bouncing away from the hole and ending up without a swing, or place to drop with benefit, are extremely low. Baker-Finch was actually very good, by his standards. But Faldo needed some of the Johnny Miller theme from a couple of years ago, that if he caddied for Phil he'd use an electrified collar.

Phil acts as if he's showing off with the club turned upside down. Invariably he decides too quickly and the shot doesn't pay dividends. I saw that in person in the right bushes on #12 at Doral a few years ago, and Phil did it in a subsequent event when two balls were dislodged.

The last time we saw a quick opposite way choice in a major it turned into Dustin Johnson's second hole disaster at Pebble Beach.

Phil spent very little time looking at his lefty options. Not at all on the third shot. The way it worked out it was like losing with your backup quarterback.

I felt sick for him because I doubt we'll see his full game at that level again in a major. There were no missed shorties to speak of. He drove the ball beautifully, particularly on the scoring holes. Swing timing looked great. How often can you expect to birdie 18 three times?

I'm not big on overlooking how seldom players win majors in their 40s. This was a huge missed opportunity. From the tentative birdie putt on the first hole, and relatively short birdie misses on 2 and 3, you could sense it wouldn't be Phil's day on the greens.

Edited by Awsi Dooger, 09 April 2012 - 01:01 AM.