2014 Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship

[PGArox]

[quote name='Sawgrass' timestamp='1390320858' post='8501217']
I wonder if I'm alone in thinking he made a reasonable choice in trying to punch out.[/quote]

I, too, think it was a reasonable choice, but the execution was questionable.

Firstly, I think Phil would've been better served attempting that shot from his knees. I was surprised he didn't do that.

I think he also should've used a longer club; his 3W. The ball probably would've been more "lively" coming off the face of his 3W as opposed to an iron.

And lastly, Phil broke the plane from the ball to his chest with his swing, which brought into play the possibility of a double hit. He should've slapped or punched the ball instead of swinging at it.

But stuff happens, right? It was a risk which didn't pay off. I was impressed with the way Phil put it behind him and made a mini charge.

If you'll remember, the 17th is a relatively long par 4 and the 18th is a reachable par 5. Phil didn't hesitate to take driver from both tees, and ripped his drives smack down the middle of both fairways. I was encouraged by that.

[Vindog]

My question is this, and I couldn't glean an answer from the footage, but was there not a suitable dropping spot farther back, keeping the points in line with the flag? It seemed like he measured the 2 club lengths for unplayable, decided that wasn't worth it and went to play the shot. I couldn't tell if they even looked for the other option or not.

Anyone know?

[deasy55]

[quote name='Vindog' timestamp='1390345339' post='8504247']
My question is this, and I couldn't glean an answer from the footage, but was there not a suitable dropping spot farther back, keeping the points in line with the flag? It seemed like he measured the 2 club lengths for unplayable, decided that wasn't worth it and went to play the shot. I couldn't tell if they even looked for the other option or not.

Anyone know?
[/quote]


[url="http://www.adgolfclub.com/Uploads/golf-course/AbuDhabi-golfcourse.pdf"]http://www.adgolfclub.com/Uploads/golf-course/AbuDhabi-golfcourse.pdf[/url]

Looking at hole #13 it appears to be just more desert and trees/bushes. Perhaps there was nowhere suitable he could drop that wouldn't be blocked out.

[Sawgrass]

Going back to the tee would have effectively been a two stroke penalty, or worse if you again miss the fairway. The backhand shot only had to get to the edge of the bush the ball was under to equal the two club length option, and hoping to slap it further was a pretty high probability. I also wonder about the line straight back option, but I'm giving Phil credit for evaluating and dismissing it. It was that double hit that was the real culprit.

[Sawgrass]

[quote name='PGArox' timestamp='1390344663' post='8504171']


And lastly, Phil broke the plane from the ball to his chest with his swing, which brought into play the possibility of a double hit. He should've slapped or punched the ball instead of swinging at it.

[/quote]

I wish I understood your above comment better, I have the strong sense that you know something of value that I don't.

[PuttLeftHitRight]

[quote name='bscinstnct' timestamp='1390320227' post='8501155']
Phil! Expression is priceless...
[media=]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fm9R2_GmZlA[/media]
[/quote]

Classic Phil

[PGArox]

[quote name='Sawgrass' timestamp='1390349408' post='8504677']
[quote name='PGArox' timestamp='1390344663' post='8504171']


And lastly, Phil broke the plane from the ball to his chest with his swing, which brought into play the possibility of a double hit. He should've slapped or punched the ball instead of swinging at it.

[/quote]

I wish I understood your above comment better, I have the strong sense that you know something of value that I don't.
[/quote]

Well, if you look at the video you'll see that the ball kind of pops up and hits the club face only because the club face went beyond the point where the ball was sitting.

Because Phil was so far away from the ball, and in a somewhat squatting position, he should've realized the chance of a weak strike and a possible double hit. By ensuring that the club face did not go past the position of the ball he would've taken a double hit out of the equation.

[jmvargas]

hard to second guess Phil...he's just being---well---Phil.

[Sawgrass]

[quote name='PGArox' timestamp='1390351487' post='8504961']
[quote name='Sawgrass' timestamp='1390349408' post='8504677']
[quote name='PGArox' timestamp='1390344663' post='8504171']


And lastly, Phil broke the plane from the ball to his chest with his swing, which brought into play the possibility of a double hit. He should've slapped or punched the ball instead of swinging at it.

[/quote]

I wish I understood your above comment better, I have the strong sense that you know something of value that I don't.
[/quote]

Well, if you look at the video you'll see that the ball kind of pops up and hits the club face only because the club face went beyond the point where the ball was sitting.

Because Phil was so far away from the ball, and in a somewhat squatting position, he should've realized the chance of a weak strike and a possible double hit. By ensuring that the club face did not go past the position of the ball he would've taken a double hit out of the equation.
[/quote]

Gotcha, thanks.

[iBanesto]

Where is Larrazabal's pretty girlfriend?!

She is usually with him at tournaments.

[kemau]

Where is Larrazabal's pretty girlfriend?!

 

She is usually with him at tournaments.

 

2011 BMW International Open

 

[imakaveli]

Where is Larrazabal's pretty girlfriend?!

 

She is usually with him at tournaments.

 

2011 BMW International Open

 

 

For those interested in her... technical comments: https://twitter.com/galaortin1

[Francois]

Doing a Phil this afternoon.

[attachment=2032497:20140122_152712.jpg]

[Francois]

This is the area where he could've dropped if he went straight back.

[attachment=2032499:20140122_152742.jpg]

[Vindog]

[quote name='Francois' timestamp='1390409378' post='8509095']
This is the area where he could've dropped if he went straight back.

[attachment=2032499:20140122_152742.jpg]
[/quote]

Thank you!!!

It seemed odd to me that this option was option wasn't viable, because the place where the double hit was supposed to end up, was in the same spot(ish) that he could have dropped. Given the choice, a drop seems more reliable in that situation. And, where he eventually took his unplayable was right around the same spot!!!

Then again, I am not The Champion Golfer of the Year...

[Sawgrass]

[quote name='Francois' timestamp='1390409378' post='8509095']
This is the area where he could've dropped if he went straight back.

[attachment=2032499:20140122_152742.jpg]
[/quote]

Oh, no!

[PGArox]

[quote name='Francois' timestamp='1390409378' post='8509095']
This is the area where he could've dropped if he went straight back.

[attachment=2032499:20140122_152742.jpg]
[/quote]

In this pic, are we not looking straight on a line to the fairway? Is the green, and Sunday's pin, not to the left?

Also, from this area, how many yards is it to Sunday's pin?

[Vindog]

He was looking at a play back into the fairway whether he hit out of the bush or dropped with a penalty. To me a drop seemed more reliable, but it's hard to tell where the points would have lined up with the flag...

[PGArox]

[quote name='Vindog' timestamp='1390416682' post='8510123']
He was looking at a play back into the fairway whether he hit out of the bush or dropped with a penalty. To me a drop seemed more reliable, but it's hard to tell where the points would have lined up with the flag.
[/quote]

If Phil punches successfully back toward or into the fairway, he is playing three into the heart of the green.

If he takes a drop, and goes back on a line between the ball and the pin, he is still playing three, but from greater distance and with a tree line just short of the green. It would've been all carry and his ball likely would not have held the green.

With that drop the best-case scenario would've been chipping four from beyond the green, from who knows where, or, after having laid up into the fairway, playing four from a point short of the green.

[Vindog]

Oh my God, I'm an idiot.

The green was to the camera's right. What a stupid I am. Carry on

[Francois]

[quote name='PGArox' timestamp='1390414544' post='8509807']
[quote name='Francois' timestamp='1390409378' post='8509095']
This is the area where he could've dropped if he went straight back.

[attachment=2032499:20140122_152742.jpg]
[/quote]

In this pic, are we not looking straight on a line to the fairway? Is the green, and Sunday's pin, not to the left?

Also, from this area, how many yards is it to Sunday's pin?
[/quote]

PGArox, in my picture we are looking away from the green. The green is about 130 yards directly behind me and the fairway to my left. This area would have given him relief under Rule 28 and about a 150 yard shot: "Drop a ball any distance behind the point where the ball lay keeping a straight line between the drop, where the ball lay and the flag[size=1][color=#444444]."[/color][/size]

[size=4][attachment=2033411:13th Hole.jpg][/size]

[xxio]

If he just played the shot properly (on his knees with a slapshot) we would not even be having the where he would be dropping questions. It was the double hit that cost him more than the choice between unplayable/drop or hit it out.

The decision was good, it was the execution that was terrible.

Same as going as far back dropping into a probably slightly buried lie in the sandy waste area then hitting the shot slightly fat because of the drop/iffy lie = looking at a 7 as well.

[PGArox]

[quote name='Francois' timestamp='1390444672' post='8513459']
[quote name='PGArox' timestamp='1390414544' post='8509807']
[quote name='Francois' timestamp='1390409378' post='8509095']
This is the area where he could've dropped if he went straight back.

[attachment=2032499:20140122_152742.jpg]
[/quote]

In this pic, are we not looking straight on a line to the fairway? Is the green, and Sunday's pin, not to the left?

Also, from this area, how many yards is it to Sunday's pin?
[/quote]

PGArox, in my picture we are looking away from the green. The green is about 130 yards directly behind me and the fairway to my left. This area would have given him relief under Rule 28 and about a 150 yard shot: "Drop a ball any distance behind the point where the ball lay keeping a straight line between the drop, where the ball lay and the flag[size=1][color=#444444]."[/color][/size]

[size=4][attachment=2033411:13th Hole.jpg][/size]
[/quote]

Thanks, Francois...good work. And I agree with xxio; the drop would've resulted in a dodgy shot.

[dxb]

Francois, are you based in AD?

Assume your avatar is Yas if that is the Aldar building in the background?

[Francois]

[quote name='dxbrobbo' timestamp='1390456013' post='8514585']
Francois, are you based in AD?

Assume your avatar is Yas if that is the Aldar building in the background?
[/quote]

Aldar building indeed. We should get together at some stage. Member at Yas and Jumeiarh.

[Vindog]

[quote name='xxio' timestamp='1390446297' post='8513613']Same as going as far back dropping into a probably slightly buried lie in the sandy waste area then hitting the shot slightly fat because of the drop/iffy lie = looking at a 7 as well.
[/quote]

The sand looked pretty hard, fwiw.

[xxio]

I've dropped in waste areas and it is hit or miss. It can plop out into a good lie or it can settle down.

We can do the woulda shoulda coulda on that or on the woulda coulda shoulda if he did not double hit. We can even do woulda coulda shoulda Phil have hit hybrid off the tee.

The double hit was unfortunate but the percentages were with that play imho.

[Vindog]

[quote name='xxio' timestamp='1390484025' post='8515471']
I've dropped in waste areas and it is hit or miss. It can plop out into a good lie or it can settle down.

We can do the woulda shoulda coulda on that or on the woulda coulda shoulda if he did not double hit. We can even do woulda coulda shoulda Phil have hit hybrid off the tee.

The double hit was unfortunate but the percentages were with that play imho.
[/quote]

I can't disagree really, and even after the 2x hit, he still opted not to drop, so you may well be right...

[dxb]

[quote name='Francois' timestamp='1390471487' post='8514995']
[quote name='dxbrobbo' timestamp='1390456013' post='8514585']
Francois, are you based in AD?

Assume your avatar is Yas if that is the Aldar building in the background?
[/quote]

Aldar building indeed. We should get together at some stage. Member at Yas and Jumeiarh.
[/quote]

I thought I was the sole UAE guy here!

You playing the JGE Open 14th/15th?

[imakaveli]

Too good not to be posted:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD5OTvVyXOE