Bubba Watson

I just read about him the GOLF magazine..I guess he's the LONGEST hitter out right now. Anybody keeping an eye on him?

Picked him for my fantasy league this week. Hit one one yesterday 365 I believe. Why pick bubba watson for fantasy league? how about leader of eagles on the nationwide tour last year. http://www.pgatour.com/stats/leaders/h/2005/106

Distance may not be everthing but it equates to eagles for Bubba.

I was reading in the article that on the Nationwide Tour he would let others tee off, even if he had honors. It mentioned even if he hit an errant drive he could would tee it up again to go up and down to save..gees..did anyone catch him in the playoff against Robert Allenby..was it me or did Watson putt too fast..meaning..didn't take some time..

I read the article, too, and planned to keep my eye on him. Apparently distance does mean something, since Mr. Watson took 4th place to himself in his first PGA Tour event. Considering the field, I think he more than impressed.

Andif I'm not mistaken he is lefthanded.Hell we are taking over the world!!!

The reason Bubba did so well? Because he

hit the 2nd most greens and putted lights out . Sure he led in driving distance, but if you hit that many greens and putt that well, I don't care where you're hitting it off the tee. Toms was 11th in driving distance, averaging almost 30 yards less than Bubba off the tee, but hit just as many greens and led in putting. Don't tell me that distance helps GIR either, because it doesn't ...not that much anyway. People will rave about Bubba's (gotta love his name) length, but look at his other stats. At least for now, he's more than a one-dimensional player and not the next Scott Hend.

Didn't we already have this conversation. The only people who try to say distance means nothing are people who can't hit it very far. Did you see the article in November's Golf magazine? They asked four tour guys besides the money list what stat would you most like to lead. 3 of the four said driving distance. There has to be something there. Seems to me a lot people round here spend a lot of time trying to downplay driving the ball. Why is that?

I think its a matter of where some put their emphasis. The general emphasis of some here is on hitting greens and putting well. Accuracy with irons and putter is more important than hitting the ball 320 yards. Yes, hitting the ball a long way is an advantage, but a good iron game (i.e. closer proximity to the hole and GIR's) and a solid putting stroke is a bigger advantage than a monster long game. Why did Chris DiMarco (281.0 yard average off the tee) keep up with Tiger Woods (316.0 yard average off the tee) at the Masters? Because DiMarco is very good with his long irons. He's more accurate with his 5 iron than I am with my pitching wedge. Tiger won but a solid iron game and hot putter kept DiMarco very close.

Remember, those who hit the ball "short" on the PGA Tour are hitting it 280 yards. Thats not exactly short. I don't think anyone here is saying that hitting it long off the tee is a bad thing, or that it doesn't matter. It does matter, just not as much as a solid wedge and putting game. Tiger is scary because he hits the ball long, is accurate with his irons and wedges, AND can putt the lights out. Not good for the competition. Anyway, you've got a valid point. Driving the ball well sets you up for more good things from the fairway, gets you closer to the hole, and boosts your confidence.

Chicks dig the long ball...and so do the sponsors.

I don't want to downplay driving the ball. I just want to put it in it's place relative to other areas of the game. Do I like seeing guys hit it 320+? Sure. I'm amazed at how those guys can hit it. But the next time you see a guy do that, remember Scott Hend, who led the tour last year in driving distance and does not have his card this year.

I'm not trying to attack you...I'm just telling you what I've learned and what I think. That's all. Jeff did a great job in illustrating that.

Thank you that is all I have been trying to say all along. I am not saying that those who hit it 320 have a huge advantage over those who hit it 290. All I have said all along is that all the great players hit it long. Not neccessarily long on the PGA tour just long to the rest of the golf playing world.

Would Tiger be as dominant if he hit it like Fred Funk? Of course not. He would still be a top player because the rest of his game being fantastic, but he would not have had as much success without his length.

I think it is short sighted to say something like distance doesn't make any difference in the ability to score because of course it does. The 40 30 20 10 proves that! What is the 20 and the 10 again? Driving. It is abundantly clear that GIR is the main factor in scoring I do not dispute that at all. It is also evident to anyone who plays that putting is extremely important, the putts gotta drop to score well. But I am sick and tired of seeing the tee ball not given its due. It is an extremely important factor in being an all around player, If total driving is consistantly missing is anyone's game just like any other factor, iron play, short game, and putting. You will not be able to consistantly compete at a high level.

It seems valid that a long ball hitter who is in the fairway and hitting greens effectively reduces the par fives to long par fours. Thus he can play par golf on a par 72 course and shoot 68. Steady golf would equate to 12 under in a four day tournament.

So, a good long hitter who can two putt from anywhere would seem to have a good chance especially when you factor in dropping a few first putts.

Vijay Tiger Phill and Ernie all play driver more often because they know that driver 9 or wedge even from the rough is easier to get close than an 8 iron from 160.They have all been quoted as using this formula over the last few years,especially Vijay and his Launcher!!!

I don't see how I misconstrued these comments they seem clear enough to me. Maybe it that you said "very little" and "doesn't mean much at all, no" instead of "nothing". For that I apologize for misquoting you. I did not disagree with anything anyone else said so.... It is obvious you and I don't see eye to eye on the importance of the tee ball but that is fine its no big deal. We have very similar handicaps but I am sure the resemblances of our games and attitudes end there.

Exactly!

Add Hank Kheune to that list of long, but not much else.

Not one-dimensional. Perfectly stated.

Hey Ben:

Thanks!