Looking for advice on a match play scenario

dre72 · October 31, 2015

I recently played in a state sponsored "Ryder cup" style event. on sunday it's singles and I am in the last match out against a much more experinced player.

So standing on 14 I am 2 up. I hit my drive down the middle, he pulls his, hits a tree 150 yards up and it spits it back out, short of the fairway. He hits his second to 190 out, we are playing a per 5. I have 225 to the pin with a lake protecing the green left and short. Behind the green is thick rough and a fairly substantial hill. I can cover 225 with my hybrid no problem but with him just infront of me and laying two and being 2 up with 5 to play I decided to lay up. Was that the right play? Going 3 up with 4 to go is huge but doubt crept in and I decided to lay up to 80 yards. Not that it matters but we ended up halving the hole with pars.

So for you experienced match play guys, what was the right decision???

Jamboy72 · October 31, 2015

if you hit the shot with which you were most confident, it was the right play. Did you end up winning the match?

dre72 · October 31, 2015

[quote name='Jamboy72' timestamp='1446343653' post='12534756']
if you hit the shot with which you were most confident, it was the right play. Did you end up winning the match?
[/quote]
Thanks, and yes I did win 2 up.

Jamboy72 · October 31, 2015

[quote name='dre72' timestamp='1446347116' post='12534964']
[quote name='Jamboy72' timestamp='1446343653' post='12534756']
if you hit the shot with which you were most confident, it was the right play. Did you end up winning the match?
[/quote]
Thanks, and yes I did win 2 up.
[/quote]

Well, there ya go! Good job!

puttnforthe8 · November 4, 2015

Agreed on hitting the most comfortable shot.

But, also you should win the hole with the lay up shot on most occasions with where he was. He had to hit the green from 190 and then 2 putt for a par or get up and down if missing the green.

You are hitting from 80-100 with the layup. You "should" have a goo look at birdie.

In match play, you need to forget about what Par the hole is...you need to be able to break down the hole into segments. In this case:

You: 80 out
Him: 190 out

Who are you going to take to win the hole? Plus, you sure as heck are not going to lose the hole!