Tournament Strategy-Final Hole

[denver_nuggs_15]

Here's the situation: You're in a tournament and are on the last hole (you are in the final group). Do you want to know what you need to do in order to win?

I say yes. Maybe all you need is a double and you can take out a 5 iron off the tee. Or if you need a bird, then there is no "I'll play it safe" option with 3-wood, mid-iron to the middle, two-putt. A teaching pro (who plays in some tournies) tells me it's not a good idea to know what you have to do to win. I think that's nuts.

What do you think?

[JimmyDoesGolf]

I suppose the argument is that you should be trying to get the best possible score either way. If you know that you need birdie to win, and you try something risky, you could end up much worse off than if you'd followed your regular strategy for that hole. Its also very easy to say, I can get away with a bad shot, or, I can get away with a double, and then do even worse.

[HookEmHorns]

I think I would like to know that. But, having said that, I don't think I would want to know either.
I would say that knowing would be good because, like you said, you would know whether to take it easy or take a more risky approach.
But I also see where the teacher comes from. I would see myself getting too worked up and put too much pressure on myself and not focusing on my game. Playing up to expectations has never been a strong part for me, I don't usually handle the pressure good... But for others, I'm sure it helps a lot.
To each his own I guess.

[zeg]

There's also a difference between playing to win the tourney and playing to finish with as good a score as you can. They're not necessarily the same, for the reasons that have been mentioned by others above.

[schigara]

I would want to know because I tend to play better when there is pressure. I tend to make more mistakes when I am playing a round by myself and I am just playing against the course. When playing against someone else, I make fewer mistakes when I know what the score is and know what I need to win.

The problem with that is, when I am in the lead, I relax too much. My point is, for me, I play better and harder when I know I am behind.

Edit: Wow, I just read what I wrote and I am pretty screwed up!

[BigTazz53]

Well I figure if I'm good enough or lucky enough to be in the final group, yes I'd like to be aware of what is going on and what needs to happen for me to win it.
Some don't because one theory is to much thinking will mess up your game.
So I'm just the opposite, I want to know everything that is going on if it has a bearing on me.

[Zeph]

I definately would. The difference of needing a birdie and winning with a bogie can mean two very different ways to play the hole.