On-course reporters...

[rmgators]

How do they know what iron these guys are hitting? Do the caddies give them a signal (if so, what kind of signals do they use?)? Do they use binoculars?

[iacas]

How do they know what iron these guys are hitting? Do the caddies give them a signal (if so, what kind of signals do they use?)? Do they use binoculars?

They give them signals. Two fingers = 7, three fingers = three-iron or 8-iron (if the guy is 230 away, it's probably not the 8-iron). Sometimes the announcer is close enough to see, but the caddy gives the signals most of the time.

Caddies even do this to each other to help them club their own players. Technically illegal, but "full deniability" exists here too. The caddy could always say "two fingers doesn't mean I was telling the guy 7-iron... I was telling him my daughter is two years old. Or that it's 2:22. Or whatever."

[rmgators]

Makes sense -- I bet Steve Williams isn't helping anyone out though! Thanks Eric.

[cdriver]

Makes sense -- I bet Steve Williams isn't helping anyone out though! Thanks Eric.

Based on Stevie's feelings about reporters, particularly who disturb his man, he probably only holds up one finger. You guess which one....

[iacas]

Based on Stevie's feelings about reporters, particularly who disturb his man, he probably only holds up one finger. You guess which one....

That would explain the unusually high number of six irons Tiger hits...

No, Stevie helps just like the rest of 'em. Besides, Tiger's numbers are impressive. So why wouldn't he help? He probably loves flashing three fingers (for an 8-iron) from 192.

[rmgators]

That would explain the unusually high number of six irons Tiger hits...

I did almost throw up when he hit that 8 iron to 5 feet on the 196yd par 3, unbelievable. I'm assuming there was a bit of an elevation drop and that he was able to hit it high and ride the wind -- how far do you think he hits an 8 Iron with no elevation change and no wind from the center of the fairway?

[iacas]

I did almost throw up when he hit that 8 iron to 5 feet on the 196yd par 3, unbelievable. I'm assuming there was a bit of an elevation drop and that he was able to hit it high and ride the wind -- how far do you think he hits an 8 Iron with no elevation change and no wind from the center of the fairway?

I believe he says - himself - that a stock 8-iron goes 155. It's in his DVDs from last year or the year before.

[rmgators]

I believe he says - himself - that a stock 8-iron goes 155. It's in his DVDs from last year or the year before.

155 is stock?? How does he hit it 178 out of the rough with it then? And how the hell does he hit a cut 5-wood 267?? These guys play a different game.

[ragontona]

155 is stock?? How does he hit it 178 out of the rough with it then? And how the hell does he hit a cut 5-wood 267?? These guys play a different game.

Tiger's "stock" distances are what he hits swinging easy. He's got "reserves" that he can tap into depending on the situation (wind, lie, elevation, pin placement, etc).

[NCGolfer]

Tiger's "stock" distances are what he hits swinging easy. He's got "reserves" that he can tap into depending on the situation (wind, lie, elevation, pin placement, etc).

I wish I had reserves like that. My "stock" 8-iron goes 155 as well, but I don't feel comfortable trying to hit it much further than that.

[Ghost Runner]

They give them signals. Two fingers = 7, three fingers = three-iron or 8-iron (if the guy is 230 away, it's probably not the 8-iron). Sometimes the announcer is close enough to see, but the caddy gives the signals most of the time.

I can honestly say I did not know that. Frankly, on the surface it doesn't make sense but then again I doubt a caddie would be terribly swayed to suggest a particular club to his guy just because the other guy hit it.

[Thrash13]

I didn't really know any of this, so I'm glad I decided to enter the topic. I had wondered if the caddies gave the on-course reporters a heads-up, but I never knew for sure.

During the PGA Championship, David Feherty mentioned that someone's caddy wasn't very good about giving them club information. I can't remember who the player was, but I believe it was Sergio. I could be wrong on that. That's when it started to hit me that maybe the caddies were telling the reporters.

That's crazy that the caddied help each other out as well. I would have never guessed it. Maybe we can get a little code going at The Newport Cup. That's fierce competition right there.

[Konrad]

On the tee boxes on the par threes, they have a spotter who's only job is to wear a headset, and tell whoever what club they're hitting... the caddies might tell the spotters, but not the guys in the tower...

[iacas]

On the tee boxes on the par threes, they have a spotter who's only job is to wear a headset, and tell whoever what club they're hitting... the caddies might tell the spotters, but not the guys in the tower...

The caddies likely don't tell the guys in the towers, but this thread is called "on-course reporters." The lead groups typically have folks like Feherty literally following them in the fairways. The caddies tell them. Sometimes they even stand side by side and chit-chat briefly.