PGA Golf 2024

I'd never bet golf. Ever.

 

Lost. Totally lost.

 

I played D1 college golf, was a top 100 junior, played in a US Am and made it to second stage US Open qualifying. I carry a 1 index up from a 0 because Dad (no complaints, just don’t have the time any longer).

Your observation is spot on. People think that because they’re watching the few guys on Sunday who are on fire that everyone is ripping driver on every tee, going for all par 5s and gunning for every flag.

Not true. If you have a 5 iron (maybe 6) or more in your hands you’re almost certainly going for the middle of the green. If your wedge game is tight, you don’t care about laying up. If your short game is tight then you don’t need to worry about being a little off - you’re not likely losing shots to the field if everyone is hitting 5 irons on a given hole, too.

The difference between a high-level amateur and pros is consistency (broadly), course management, better driving accuracy, a much better shortly and way way better putting.

It’s not power.

Side note: If you can hit 12+ greens a round and +50% of fairways, consistently, then you’re better than your average.

 

Can’t edit the above so I meant to say “better than tour* average”.

Sent from the pool at my golf club with a seltzer in hand.

 

Bunker shot on 18 was absolutely bonkers.

Goes down as one of the best clutch shots of all time - at least that I can recall.

 

I thought it meant you had to bet $800 to win $100?

 

Seems like every time I looked up Bryson's drives were in the weeds.
But he made up for it everywhere else.

 

Wanna bet? LOL

Some will laugh at this, but the FLOOD of online sports gambling that has really taken
hold over the last year - is going to destroy a LOT of families.
I think showing odds on teams/players DURING an event is really bad - I think it
really takes away from the sport itself. BWDIK?

I know it's easy to say 'that's on the gambler, not the industry', and maybe that's true,
but there are sooo many weak people that are going to be bankrupt - you just wait
two or three years - THEN it will be a HUGE topic.

 

Hey but one other GOOD thing about the US Open:

I don't recall the broadcast crew make it a deal at all about 'LIV vs. PGA' - and quite honestly I
had all-but forgotten Bryson was on the LIV Tour.

 

Maybe but he hit about 60% of the fairways while also being number 1 in driving distance. 60% fairway percentage is about tour average.

https://www.pgatour.com/stats/detail/213

https://www.usopen.com/2024/player-stats.html?tab=drivingdistance

You also have to consider that the better you are the longer the courses get so a pro is putting up those numbers hitting driver a lot - particularly at a US Open - where the fairways and course in general is less forgiving.

To be above average in accuracy (for that week in particular) and also leading in driving distance is a heck of an accomplishment. But, most amateurs can’t/haven’t hit a golf ball 330+ yards let alone in tournament conditions so to explain how good that (consistently, at that) is tough to articulate.

 

I used to golf - a lot - back in the 1980's, sometimes 3 times a week,
and I very seldom drove much more than about 250-275, but it was always straight.
Yeah, I sometimes teed off and ended up TWO fairways over - I sometimes
had one helluva slice.

I had a set of Ping copies back then, I hit them really well, in about 1990 I
bought a Taylor-Made Carbon Driver and never did hit it well, but my ancient
Taylor-Made all-aluminum 'Burner' I hit OK.

Back in about 2010 I decided to break out my ANCIENT Sam Snead Blue Ridge
clubs - blades - and OMG how I sucked! It was almost hilarious! I had NO 'feel'
for them at all. And the Persimmon woods? No frickin way, that was a joke also.

A good friend is a custom club fitter and builder/repair guy/vintage collector here in town,
he's one of the best Hickory club repair guys in the nation, he acquired for me a set
of hickories that match, gave them to me as a gift maybe 12 years ago - and I have
never hit them. In fact, I have golfed I think twice since I broke my foot in 2013, I just
don't seem to have the desire anymore...

 

Very cool that your friend has that collection and expertise!

I shot my best round ever (64) on a full-size par 71 with a set of nearly new 1970s Hogan Apex blades.

I still play Mizuno blades down to the 5 iron. May change that though in terms of the 5/6 to something with a little more forgiveness.

The old persimmon drivers are built for a different swing than the modern game (IMO). I’m 6’4”, 250 and built like an out of shape linebacker at almost 40. Ball speed is still in the 180s and swing speed north of 120. I don’t have a fast transition and all of the weight in the persimmon drivers I’ve hit for fun just don’t feel great - can’t transition or time it right.

The golf swing (and game) have certainly changed over the years.

I have followed BDCs idea about changing shaft lengths. My 5 wood is the length of a two iron (ish) and my driver is down to 44 inches. My long irons are all half an inch under. I’ve actually gained distance with all of them despite not screwing with the lofts. Long arms means I don’t need the club to help me out - but my game needs help!

It’s a fun/fascinating game that I’ve come to enjoy differently as I put my 10k hours in 20 years ago and I’ve strayed from convention with club tech - which I think BDC is on the right path with.

 

I have not kept up in 12 years. At all.

My best friend took a club in to get regripped to Austad's this Spring and had me pick it up for him,
while there I looked at prices and almost started laughing.
Putters that average $250, Drivers that average $700, that's insane.

And I'm a LOT bigger than you are, I have no real plans to ever golf again, I used to have a
passion for it, but today, none, none at all, and I'd say 90% of my friends don't golf anymore.

All my clubs except the Hickories will probably end up at a Goodwill-type place, or get donated
to a Jr golf league here somewhere.

 

Up in the attic a a very nice set of 1986 Titleist FG-17s. 3-PW and not one iron ever hit on the sweet spot.

 

*I* would stop running (outside) and do a recumbent bike, why beat on your knees until it's too late?
BUT, most HS tracks here - and Jr High tracks - are that tartan stuff, they have a teeny bit of 'give'.
But I carry a LOT more weight than you do.

 

Bones is one thing, what is in-between the bones (joints) is quite different, but you know that.

 

Not PGA, but I was not expecting to see the leader at The Open walking up the fairway toking on a cigarette... (Daniel Brown)
I have NO problem with it - was just a bit surprised to see it.

Too bad he was not in a threesome with John Daly and Tiger Woods - those two have some stories to tell...