Replies to post #2517 on Golf's Major Championships (GMC)

[BullNBear52]

That's an interesting scenario. I used to caddy years ago. I never told a golfer how to play a hole. On any given shot, he'd ask what club I recommended, but telling him how to play the hole was something I never did.

In this case Pate hit's it over the water from 190 he has 3 to get down. Lay's up then he has 2 to get down. He should have gone for it.

[Watney99]

Ultimately, what happens out there is up to the golfer. Blaming the caddie for poor outcomes is, well, punk. If you're on the bag, and the golfer wants you to tell him what you think, you tell him what you think . . . but the golfer has to make the decision on what play or shot to attempt, if Jerry wanted to go for it, he should have gone for it! And if a touring pro can't par a par 5, not matter what approach he uses, does he deserve to win the tournament?

Of course, that's just my opinion, I could be wrong . . .

Although you pose an interesting query to stimulate some discussion, I really the thought this board would be abuzz about Justin's near history making melt down . . . I guess if he had made history, that may have started some chatter?

[Watney99]

I was reading a wrap up of the tourney and noted it was a 3 foot putt he missed for par . . . THAT really seems to make the layup sort of moot, doesn't it? And also that 11 seemed to have his number all week . . . really a shame though, wouldn't have minded seeing him win one, although i have always been a "Radar" fan!

"Pate, with a one-shot lead going into the final hole of regulation, tried to play it safe by laying up with his second shot on the 18th than cutting over the water as most of the field had done all week.

The strategy seemed to work as he safely landed his 92-yard pitch shot onto the left side of the green, but he lagged his first putt and left himself with more than a routine tap-in, and his 3-foot par putt skidded to the right of the hole.

No. 18 befuddled Pate all weekend, as he managed only three pars and two bogeys, with the other bogey coming after he sliced a fat iron shot only about 100 feet into the rough with what he called the worst shot of his career.

[fung_derf]

I would say that needing a par to win, than definitely the lay up was the right play. A caddy can't figure for the pro to three putt. Especially if by laying up it gives the golfer a wedge into the green.

[creekjumper]

Arnie Palmer said it was the wrong decision-I agree. Prevent defense does not work in golf. A caddie has his obligations and deciding on the correct shot or execution of the shot is not one of them. Pate won a major with a similar shot-all square.

[BullNBear52]

Pate hired a new caddy...