2013 WGC Bridgestone Invitational Discussion Thread

[k-troop]

Did Tiger play any draws today? Doesn't count until he learns how to work it right to left.

[Motley01]

Originally Posted by k-troop

Did Tiger play any draws today? Doesn't count until he learns how to work it right to left.

He sure did play some draws today. He seemed to have command where the flag was on the green, weather he played a draw or fade.

I was impressed, haven't really seen him just light up the course like that.

Well done Tiger.

[Shindig]

If Tiger can play his next six competitive rounds this well, I will be very happy.

[Mulligan Jeff]

It's been painful watching Tiger the last few years, the drop in world ranking let alone his fall from grace. But his grit and tenacity are second to none. He regained the number 1 spot this year but has been non-existent in majors on the weekend. He has balance back in his life and a new girlfriend. Maybe that brings the PGA Championship closer within his grasp. I still say he breaks Jack's record.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by Mulligan Jeff

He regained the number 1 spot this year but has been non-existent in majors on the weekend.

Not true. Big difference between finishing in the top 10 and being "non-existent."

[Mulligan Jeff]

Right you are Iacas.

[bubble]

I did'nt understand his drop on 18 on friday.

from a repair ground he uses 1 club to get out, then one club margin. WTF ????

ball was in play, but still, weird...

[turtleback]

People talk about Tiger on the weekends in the majors, but except for the '09 PGA when he lost a 2nd round lead in a major for the first time has he had an outright lead in a major going into the weekend during this major drought?

What he needs to do is play as he has in these first two rounds next week and take a lead (doesn't have to be a 7 stroke lead - although that would be nice) into the weekend.  If he can do that I am confident he can and will pull it off.

I don't think the issue in the majors is Tiger on the weekends so much as Tiger's position going into the weekend.  He has not been a come from behind kind of guy in the majors.  So if he is going to win more majors, as I think he will, it will be as he has always done it - from in front.  But he hasn't been in front.  Maybe next week.  I hope so.

[hammerhead]

The most impressive part of the round was he had only 11 putts through 13 holes. Thats putt putt type of stats.

[Slice of Life]

Originally Posted by hammerhead

The most impressive part of the round was he had only 11 putts through 13 holes. Thats putt putt type of stats.

[boogielicious]

Originally Posted by Slice of Life

My favorite line in Happy Gilmore!

He has played this course so many times, the green are very familiar to him.  Plus they are in great shape which takes the odd bounce out of a putt.

[zipazoid]

Next closest round was Merrick's 66.

Wonder how often that happens, where the gap between the best & next-best round is five shots. Has to be rare.

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by bubble

I did'nt understand his drop on 18 on friday.

from a repair ground he uses 1 club to get out, then one club margin. WTF ????

ball was in play, but still, weird...

What is throwing you off?  The extra club margin?  That's how a lot of drops work: you get 2 club lengths for full relief, but the ball must be dropped within the 2nd club length.  Tiger used the putter for his drop because he wanted full relief to still be right of the tree line.

Originally Posted by turtleback

People talk about Tiger on the weekends in the majors, but except for the '09 PGA when he lost a 2nd round lead in a major for the first time has he had an outright lead in a major going into the weekend during this major drought?

What he needs to do is play as he has in these first two rounds next week and take a lead (doesn't have to be a 7 stroke lead - although that would be nice) into the weekend.  If he can do that I am confident he can and will pull it off.

I don't think the issue in the majors is Tiger on the weekends so much as Tiger's position going into the weekend.  He has not been a come from behind kind of guy in the majors.  So if he is going to win more majors, as I think he will, it will be as he has always done it - from in front.  But he hasn't been in front.  Maybe next week.  I hope so.

Tiger's problem recently in the majors has been Saturday, not Sunday.  The Open Championship that just passed was the first time in recent majors that he hasn't nearly blown all chance at winning during the Saturday round.

[Infamous 273]

Anyone else think that the club a player takes relief with should be the same club they're going to make their stroke with? It's completely within the rules, but I think it's a little bit of gamesmanship when a player takes relief with drivers (and putters) to gain a legal advantage. Just a thought. I'm sure it's been brought up before.

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by Deryck Griffith

That putt on 18 was stupid stupid stupid good.  Where is Mr. Chamblee?

He's in the UK with the women at their Open.

Originally Posted by bubble

I did'nt understand his drop on 18 on friday.

from a repair ground he uses 1 club to get out, then one club margin. WTF ????

ball was in play, but still, weird...

If you watch carefully, right at the start he put a tee in the ground about 6 inches from the ball.  That's what the rules official determined as his nearest point of relief.  He then measured from the tee one clublength to define his drop zone.

Originally Posted by bplewis24

Quote:

Originally Posted by bubble

I did'nt understand his drop on 18 on friday.

from a repair ground he uses 1 club to get out, then one club margin. WTF ????

ball was in play, but still, weird...

What is throwing you off?  The extra club margin?  That's how a lot of drops work: you get 2 club lengths for full relief, but the ball must be dropped within the 2nd club length.  Tiger used the putter for his drop because he wanted full relief to still be right of the tree line.

No, not even close.  Two clublengths only happens when taking penalty relief.

See my comment above.  He was taking relief from an abnormal ground condition under Rule 25.  For that you find the nearest point of relief from where the ball lies which is not closer to the hole and still gives complete relief from the condition.  From that point you are allowed one clublength, not nearer to the hole.  I think he used the shorter club to be certain that he didn't drop too far, strictly as a reference.  He could have still dropped in the same place even if he had measured with the driver, but it might have been harder to be certain that he had the angle he was after.  It was interesting watching him lay the putter down, then stand behind the spot to get a sight line before dropping.  Actually a very bright move on his part, something I've never seen done before.  I wonder if that was his idea or if Joe suggested it.  Either way it was something I'll keep in mind.  Anyone I know just automatically grabs the driver to get the largest relief area possible.

[Zeph]

Originally Posted by Infamous 273

Anyone else think that the club a player takes relief with should be the same club they're going to make their stroke with? It's completely within the rules, but I think it's a little bit of gamesmanship when a player takes relief with drivers (and putters) to gain a legal advantage. Just a thought. I'm sure it's been brought up before.

I don't see the reasoning behind this. It's the same rules for everyone, you can't get an advantage. Letting you use whichever club you want is easy and quick. What if you drop with a 6 iron, then decide after you've dropped that you want to use an 8 iron instead? Additionally, the club lengths are different, so one with a longer club could get an advantage. With today's rule, anyone can use a driver or long putter.

[Infamous 273]

You don't see the reasoning, or how it can be perceived as gamesmanship when you take relief with a driver, only to use a much shorter club to take a stroke with? I thinks it's pretty obvious using a driver for relief provides a legal advantage - otherwise, no one would do it. It's not relevant that the rule applies to everyone. The relevant point I was trying to make was the rule itself, and the bend but don't break elasticity it encompasses. I understand your point with club changes after taking relief. Maybe language could be written like, "using a club within readonable length to the club you're going to make your stroke with." That provides enough ambiguity, even by USGA standards.

[Fourputt]

When establishing the nearest point of relief, the rule only says the player should take his stance with the club he would have used if he had played the shot.  Even that isn't a requirement, and that I really don't understand.  I asked a rules instructor about it and he didn't have any better answer than that's just what it says.