19th Hole

Brad Faxon vs Scott Fawcett: Feel vs Data driven approach? – GolfWRXers discuss

Published

6 months ago

Jan 12, 2024

In our forums, our members have been having an interesting discussion concerning a feel vs data driven approach to the game.

WRXer ‘NikeGolfer93’ cited a GolfWRX article detailing the feud and contrasting approaches of Brad Faxon and Decade Golf owner Scott Fawcett. You can read the article in full here.

To kick off the post, ‘NikeGolfer93’ quoted from the above article, posting:

“The feud dates back to a video from “a couple of years ago” where Faxon says that a tap-in putt didn’t necessarily mean the first putt had “good speed” and he took exception with broadcasters consistently implying that notion.

Faxon said when he hit a good putt that didn’t go in, it would end up “past the hole enough where I had to mark it”. Fawcett was shown the video and said that he disagreed with Faxon’s opinion on what “good speed” meant.

Faxon has often said that golfers shouldn’t focus on their statistics, and he has continuously dismissed the notion that players should record stats if they want to improve.”

And our members have been sharing which approach they feel works best in our forum.

Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.

BlueDragonKorea: “I feel like it’s hard to argue against Fawcett since if you guarantee that every putt is long of the hole, you’re skewing your dispersion of putts way past the hole. You aren’t magically going to become better at speed just because you guarantee the putt is past the hole, so you may make something that would have been a 3 footer into a 6 footer. If you get “lucky” while putting like this, you may make way more putts in a given round, but on the whole, you would fall behind in your putting statistics because you have 6 footers instead of 3 footers.”
Ironman_32: “I’d say feel is individual, data is the average. It’s like comparing Bubba Watson’s swing vs Adam Scott. Adam’s would be considered more “classical” and maybe a better model for someone to copy if they are just starting out, but Bubba has double the green jackets.”
Ppperturbo: “I agree with Faxon… a good putt is past the hole by a foot, maybe. Short of the hole means short, NOT enough to reach, so not necessarily a good putt. Call it what you will, if it makes you feel better, still there is NO WAY a short putt can find the cup.”

Entire Thread: “Brad Faxon vs Scott Fawcett: Feel vs Data driven approach? – GolfWRXers discuss”

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19th Hole

‘Just get back there. F**k sake!’ – Shane Lowry loses cool with cameraman at Open Championship

Published

3 days ago

Jul 19, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

Shane Lowry raced out to a hot start on Thursday’s opening round of the Open Championship. On Friday, the Irishman was in cruise control and earned himself a two-stroke lead through ten holes when disaster struck.

The former Open winner hit his tee shot in some high grass, and made an error on his second shot, with the ball shooting left into a gorse bush.

Shane Lowry HOT Mic ?? ?

? “As I was over the ball I could just see you putting your f—kin’ camera up. Just get outta the way. Just get back there. F—k sake!” @LowryTracker

pic.twitter.com/1tBmDF8vTh

— NUCLR GOLF (@NUCLRGOLF) July 19, 2024

After he hit the shot, Lowry blamed a cameraman for the miscue.

“As I was over the ball I could just see you putting your f—kin’ camera up. Just get outta the way. Just get back there. F—k sake!”

He’d gone on to make double bogey on the hole and is still tied for the lead as things stand.

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19th Hole

Tyrrell Hatton hits out at course setup after opening round at Open Championship

Published

3 days ago

Jul 19, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

LIV golfer Tyrrell Hatton has never been shy about voicing his opinion on golf course setups. Back in 2022, the Englishman voiced his displeasure with the hallowed grounds of Augusta National.

“You can hit good shots here and not get any reward for it. It’s unfair at times,” Hatton said. “I don’t agree with that. If you hit a good shot, you should end up near the hole — not short-sided into a bunker because of the slopes that they’ve created and stuff. Yeah, I don’t think it’s a fair test at times, and when you hit good shots and you’re not rewarded for it, it shows.”

This week, Royal Troon is under fire from Hatton.

After his opening round of 73 (+2), he sounded off on the course.

“They didn’t put any tees forward. You can’t reach any of the par-5s on the front nine. Was it 15 or 16, the par-5, you’re hitting a 4-iron off it. Tell me a good par-5 where you’re hitting 4-iron off the tee. There isn’t one.

“Even though they’ve moved the tee back on 17, which I think is a shame, it’s still with the wind today, you’re hitting 5-iron and hoping it can stay on the green. Rory obviously hits it a lot higher and further, and he was hitting 7-iron there. It doesn’t change the fact that it’s a tough hole, and it’s still hard to hit that green. I think it’s a good thing that the wind was playing down because they probably would have left the tee at the back if it was into off the left. Then do you want to watch guys hit 3-wood into a green that’s hard enough to hit with 7-iron?”

Hatton is still firmly in the mix prior to his second-round tee time and will look to make a move to get into position for the weekend.

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19th Hole

Bryson DeChambeau points to equipment issues after disappointing Open Championship start

Published

3 days ago

Jul 19, 2024

Matt Vincenzi

Since his incredible victory at the U.S. Open at Pinehurst No.2, Bryson DeChambeau certainly has a case to be considered one of the biggest stars in golf. The 30-year-old has grown in popularity due to his success on social media and his popular YouTube channel that appeals to the everyday golfer.

Despite the success and current form on the golf course, DeChambeau got off to a tough start at this week’s Open Championship. The LIV golfer opened with a +5 first round at Royal Troon and struggled to get the wind right all day.

After the round, Bryson spoke to the media about his struggles, initially blaming his equipment.

“I’m not at 190 ball speed, so particularly when I’m hitting driver or 3-wood, those clubs are built for around that speed, that 190 ball speed, and my 3-wood around 180, so colder, firmer conditions the golf ball is not compressing as much.

“I’ve got a chance tomorrow. I’m excited for the challenge. If I have some putts go in and hit some shots the way I know how to and figure out this equipment stuff, I’ll be good.”

DeChambeau added that in addition to his equipment, he’s also not used to playing on wet and windy links courses.

“Yeah, it’s a difficult test out here. Something I’m not familiar with. I never grew up playing it, and not to say that that’s the reason; I finished eighth at St Andrews. I can do it when it’s warm and not windy.”

Friday’s second round will tell if he’s made the necessary adjustments to adapt to the Open Championship conditions.