Interesting Q School Situation

[johnclayton1982]

Hey All,

Something that struck me as interesting while watching the final round of Q-School (TiVo, so about a week late).

R.H. Lee was at -8, right on the number, and was the last player on the course.  He made the putt to finish -9, and it didn't matter.  However, earlier, a player had a birdie putt to move the number to -9.

You are at Q-School.  Seven players are tied with you at -8.  You have a birdie putt of 7 feet (like RH Lee did).  24 players are at -9 or better (as it was earlier in the day, and almost for RH Lee's putt).  If you two-putt, you finish -8 and you and six other guys go to the tour.  If you birdie, you go about those six are left home (just outside the number).  Remember, you have a, say, six foot putt like Lee, slight break but not hard.

Lee's caddie told him the situation before he putted, which was a 2 putt to qualify.  However, if your caddy told you that situation (two putt and six other guys and you go, one putt and only you)... Do you try as hard as you can to make it?

This comes up in competitive chess quite a bit, when a draw will send a player through along with a few others, and a win will see just that player through.  Some players draw on purpose, some play to win every time.  Just thought it was an interesting situation.

[x129]

Isn't seeding based on order of finish so that by eliminating 6 people you would get better tournaments in the new year? I am guessing for the bottom players this is a big deal.

I would also think you would do everything you can to make this putt since you wouldn't want to face a 2 footer for your tour card.  Yeah the putt shouldn't be hard be we have all seen pro golfers miss short give me putts.

[Shorty]

There are no scoreboards on the course, so unless you are in the final group you really don't know what "the number" is.

It is a scenario that has come up, and it is interesting, but it's more a question of a good hole inadvertently ruling people out or a poor one opening doors for others. It does happen.  You can be pretty sure the players are in a zone when they are thinking of themselves and themselves only.