17th as First Playoff Hole: Joke or Just Fine?

[Steaksauce]

I though it was very interesting and entertaining, unlike some playoffs that last 7+ holes and start to lose my attention fairly quickly.

This is one of the most exicting tournaments of the year, and it finished that way keeping all the fans watching one of the most famous holes in golf. This is more for the fans than the pros and they derserve some pizzaz, even if some of the players get a little upset.

Although it was kinda dull having to watch Goydos finish off after Sergio's shot when everone knew it was over. Very interesting to say the least.

[geezer]

I think its just fine. No problems here.

I think its a good test of skill and, of course, how the players react under intense pressure.

[pcitygolfer]

My preference would have been a 16-17-18 (lowest total), but the 17th is fine. These guys are pros. They have to deal with the wind.

I was actually rooting for Goydos. He had a chance to avoid a playoff but didn't. Overall, they both played well. Given a choice, I'd rather see it end fast than have it drag on.

[Alex B]

A joke.

I understand the sentiment that the playoff should be exciting and spectator-friendly. Nevertheless, those floating such sentiments are missing the true purpose of a playoff: to identify the best player, i.e. the winner. As much as we may like to think it, tournament golf is not played for the fans, but rather for honor, pride, and, in the case of professional tournaments, money.

Any sudden-death playoff, in my opinion, does not accurately identify the best player. If such a format is necessary in a tiebreaker, however, the chosen hole(s) should give each participant a chance to display why they are the best player that week. The seventeenth hole at Sawgrass certainly does not give playoff participants a chance to prove themselves worthy of the championship; instead, it selects the winner through blind luck. It eliminates any discrepancies in golf ability.

My feelings toward Sergio's victory are similar to those I have for Bob Goalby's win at the 1968 Masters: in each case, the winner did not distinguish himself as better than the runner-up. Goalby's win is somewhat vindicated by the fact that the runner-up, Roberto DeVicenzo, made a mistake, albeit a mistake unrelated to golf skill, that cost him the title. In the case of this year's PLAYERS, however, runner-up Paul Goydos made no mistake: his tee shot in the playoff was well-struck and heading on a perfect line (it seemed that his ball would catch the same ridge Sergio's did and nestle down by the hole). It was an unfortunate piece of luck that cost him the title.

I understand that luck plays a role in deciding the winner of any championship. But it should be the role of the tournament committee to set up the championship in a way that minimizes the effect of luck on the winner. Unlike the USGA (the 7th green at Shinnecock during the 2004 U.S. Open immediately springs to mind), the PGA Tour has generally set up Sawgrass to be fair and in a way that reduces the luck factor. The tour players have often praised the setup for just this reason. After all, the players' greatest wish is a course that accurately identifies the best among them. The championship named after them should reflect this wish.

[itzzzberny]

i think its just fine. 17 is the most recognized hole on this course. why not make it the first playoff hole? i'm sure the decision was up to the organizers and that seemed just fine to me.

[Undr Par]

I think playing the 17th was a joke. This thing wants to be a major and yet they push a gimmicky hole out there as the first playoff hole? Joke.

are they not Pros? did they not play this hole 4 times during the weekend? not their fault Paul Goydos hit his final shot when it mattered the most fat and in the H2O now is it?..........I voted fine

[Perry Farrell]

Joke.
Just my opinion, although I love the hole, I do not think it should be a 17. It should be on the front. A slight miss hit or wind gust has way too much impact too late in a round.
Making it the first playoff hole exaggerates the above.
I agree with an earlier poster's thought - start at 18, then 16...then 17.

[BritBoy]

I've never seen so much whining in my life. These guys are professionals, and the 17th hole is a 130-yard par 3. What the heck are you guys talking about when you say it's blind luck? It's a freakin wedge for crying out loud. If you can't hit that green under pressure, then you shouldn't win the tournament.

Couldnt agree more. It doesnt matter what hole they are playing... lowest score wins.

[iacas]

not their fault Paul Goydos hit his final shot when it mattered the most fat and in the H2O now is it?

Uhm, he didn't hit it fat. And that's exactly the problem.

[Avid Golfer]

Joke.

For every unlucky shot there are lucky shot too. For example the pitch shot Goydos happen to hole out from the deep rough. If Goydos hadn't got lucky and made that shot then Garcia might have gone on to win without the need for a playoff.

As far as the wind goes Goydos said he balloned his ball the whole gust of wind excuse is getting overblown.

[hawkeye]

goodbye Tiger_who.

I guess we are whining It's good to have different playoffs for different Tournaments. The British Open is my favourite - last years was the best ever (well - I am Irish). I won't warm to the Players playoff - it may not happen for another mmmmmm 21 years?

Oh - maybe only a European can win a playoff on the Stadium course?

[beisenhauer]

If the 17th had been a "normal" hole, and Garcia and Goydos had hit the same shots they did, I think it would have been a much more exciting finish than what we saw. Goydos would have been in thick rough needing to make a chip shot over that little bunker to get up-and-down. If he had done so, Garcia would actually have had to make his four-foot birdie putt, which he didn't, to win the tournament. Maybe Goydos doesn't make his up-and-down; maybe Garcia, needing the putt, focuses a little more and holes it. It may not have made any difference to the outcome. But if you want to talk about the excitement it provides, the playoff was essentially over with one swing. How is that exciting?

[steve8820]

I've never seen so much whining in my life. These guys are professionals, and the 17th hole is a 130-yard par 3. What the heck are you guys talking about when you say it's blind luck? It's a freakin wedge for crying out loud. If you can't hit that green under pressure, then you shouldn't win the tournament. Boo hoo is all I think about when reading this topic.

Exactly......well said. The guys played this hole all week and by the way the wind was gusting all damn week. Play the wind and hit more club!!! If it were raining out would a valid excuse be that this is not fair because their grips could be slick. Remember the game is played outside and the environment does come in to play. Come on guys, these are the best players in the world and no excuses for them are valid.

At the end of the day, Goydos played out of his mind this week and ended up hitting the wrong club at the wrong time. End of story.

[erova]

definitely don't agree with this:

But if you want to talk about the excitement it provides, the playoff was essentially over with one swing. How is that exciting?

what was exciting was the possibility that Sergio could do the exact same thing. let's all agree Garcia isn't exactly the most clutch golfer ever.

and to those people re-inventing the possibilities of what would happen if there was rough there, or sand, instead of water? well, there's not. it's water so deal with it. How many home runs would have been hit at fenway if there wasn't the Green Monster? I don't know, because I know it's there and not going anywhere. And these questions of starting at 16 or 18? what if goydos pulls his tee shot into the drink on 18? could he recover? sure he could. or serg could have stroked a five iron down the fairway, an easy approach to the middle of the green, and two putt for the championship, knowing goydos was wet. Basically same story if the approach went drip on the 16th approach.

[wachesawgolfer]

Joke. When they went to the playoff, I was just hoping that the entire tournament wouldn't be decided by one of them hitting a b.s. shot into the water - and of course it was.

I have to agree entirely, depriving Goydos or anyone of a legitimate up and down to par or chip for birdie, really makes no sense.

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

Absolutely a joke. I couldn't believe it when I heard they were going to play 17 first and I figured something like that would happen. I think they should have played 18, which was playing so difficult (I think almost a full shot over par) and requires a good tee shot, good approach shot, and in most cases a good pitch shot, and probably a good putt, not just a pitching wedge thrown up in the wind and hope you hit it at the right time and it lands on ground. My problem is Goydos hit the shot he wanted, the same shot he had hit a half hour before, and ended up in the water. That's fine in regulation, it's all part of the game, but not during a two person sudden death playoff. That's ridiculous. No doubt they started it on 17 for entertainment purposes but how entertaining was that? Goydos gets one wet and it's over. Boring. Play the 18th and it would have been exciting to see these guys try to save par.

[Thrash13]

No doubt they started it on 17 for entertainment purposes but how entertaining was that? Goydos gets one wet and it's over. Boring. Play the 18th and it would have been exciting to see these guys try to save par.

It was pretty damn entertaining to me and many others by the looks of the poll results so far. As for playing the 18th, that wouldn't have been anymore exciting than the 17th. Then again, we could have watched both guys bail out to the right once again and struggle for par. Or maybe we could have watched one of the guys pull it into the water and struggle for bogey or double bogey. Give me a break. Sergio hit a damn good shot at the 17th and deserved to win. He was the best from tee-to-green all week, and it's nice to see that pay off.

I'd be interested to see what everyone would say if it were Tiger winning in the playoff. Something tells me Sergio winning has something to do with some of the responses in this topic.

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

It was pretty damn entertaining to me and many others by the looks of the poll results so far. As for playing the 18th, that wouldn't have been anymore exciting than the 17th. Then again, we could have watched both guys bail out to the right once again and struggle for par. Or maybe we could have watched one of the guys pull it into the water and struggle for bogey or double bogey. Give me a break. Sergio hit a damn good shot at the 17th and deserved to win. He was the best from tee-to-green all week, and it's nice to see that pay off.

I can't speak for others but my response has nothing to do with Sergio. I'd feel the same if it were Tiger winning. Heck, Tiger will tell you 17 is a gimmick. My problem is that 17 leaves a player with no options. Hit and hope. With the wind blowing the way it was you have to be a little lucky. Sure, someone could have pulled a tee shot in the water on 18 but there are options off the tee. You are correct, Sergio did hit a damn good shot but I bet Goydos thought he hit one too. Bottom line is I do not think that is a good hole to start on in a sudden death playoff for a tournament that wants to be a major.