Phil/free drops

[imtomtomim]

I'm just wondering if anyone else has noticed this. It seems like every time I watch Phil play, he seeks relief. I feel like I see him do this extremely often, more often than most.

Anybody else catch this?

[Shindig]

I'm just wondering if anyone else has noticed this. It seems like every time I watch Phil play, he seeks relief. I feel like I see him do this extremely often, more often than most.

Well, Phil is on TV a lot more than, say, Bo Van Pelt or Jason Dufner. So it's possible they're taking equal relief, but we see it with Phil more often.

Of course, Phil isn't exactly known for playing Hogan golf (fairway, green, lag putt, tap-in). He might be taking relief more because he's off the fairway that much more.

[bshack]

I would tend to think the opposite. I know what you mean about him asking for relief but he never takes it. I think he just wants to make sure of rulings that way he doesnt get dq'd... If you remember at pebble he did nothing wrong in the sand but had a discussion with several officials about adding a stroke. He is the consumate professional and his honestly is the reasoning behind his questions.


IMHO he takes less drops remember the shot at memorial off the cart path with a 3 wood when he couldve moved it off... or what about the shot of the camera wires at pebble.

[zeg]

I think there are a lot more drops and relief in PGA events than TV coverage would lead you to believe. At the US Open this year, the only pro event I've been to, I saw at least 3 and maybe 5 guys get relief of some sort near the 18th green on Saturday (2 or 3 from a power cable that was coiled at the foot of a tree in the right rough near the green, and a couple from a cable or a camera mounted in the seaside bunker). I also saw a couple instances at the 15th on Sunday, and saw Jason Gore spend a few minutes getting the attention of an official to get relief from a crowd fence on the 6th (in fact, I missed watching Jaidee knock a hole in one because I was watching that event unfold, as I was curious how the pros handle these situations).

Think about it this way, if the rules entitle you to relief, and it's in your interest, there is nothing unsportsmanlike about taking it. It would be foolish not to do so, and I've never seen any professional play the hard way in a case where relief was warranted. Even if they decide that they're better off playing from the original lie, it's their right to evaluate their options first. Part of playing the best golf you can play is using the rules to your advantage.