Monday, April 17, 2006

Verizon Heritage

Congrats to Aaron Baddeley for winning the Verizon Heritage Open at Harbour Towne. From what I understand, from my Australian friends, he is regarded as a bastard in his homeland, for choosing to play abroad instead of building his game on the Australasian Tour, and is chided for not returning to play in native events (Adam Scott, by contrast, is adored). Sucks for him, but he grew up in a family dedicated to travel (father was a Formula One crew chief) and I can't fault him for doing what he considers to be in his best interest.

As happy I am with his win, I am just as contented that Furyk lost. Baddeley chose to sack up on 16 and his a 223 yard 6-iron that skirted trouble and set up a two-putt birdie for a one stroke lead. Furyk, chose to play to the relative inexperience of Baddeley, and lay up (9 iron) for an approach attempt at birdie. Essentially, Furyk decided to play a passive role and wait for Baddeley to screw up, rather than try to win the tournament on his own merit. Glad he failed. Of course, if he had made one putt in the final four holes (none longer than 15 feet), I'd be whistling a slightly less-harsh tune.

Is there anyone slower on the greens than Furyk? His method of standing over a putt, before backing away repeatedly, is insanely annoying. He may still be backing off his birdie putt on 18. He backed off at least five times. In 2000-2002 when Sergio was practicing the repeated waggle he was criticized harshly, but Furyk gets a free pass because he is a "former HS QB and an intense competitor". He's also a Srixon sellout with a terrible pre-putt routine, which I believe to be worse than Sergio's since-corrected malfeasance.

3 comments:

Eric Z said...

What got into your oatmeal this morning?

First of all, let's credit Aaron with an absolutely TREMENDOUS shot on the par 5 (15? instead of 16?) in that final round. He hit a huge drive to get to 223 out. Furyk was further back - he was about 260 or so, and it was not a straight shot. He had to hook a ball 260 with trees and water in play. From that distance, it's ludicrous to go for it.

Credit Aaron for the play, but Furyk had no choice.

And as for the putting routine, Aaron is S-L-O-W. I watched him on the 12th? 13th? hole on Saturday. He spent 2 1/2 minutes picking up every last loose molecule on the green in his line, spending even more time reading his putt. Once he got over the ball, yes he pulled the trigger quick - but the pre-putt shenanigans were painful. And since no one was within 2 or 3 shots, CBS had to sit there on the green and show the whole thing. Ridiculous.

RRD said...

I've got no problem with AB cleaning his line, there is a large amount of pine straw/ impediments that fall from the trees, especially on the back nine at HT, and anyone in a position to win would do the same. One he gets over a putt, it is rolling almost immediately.

Regarding 15, if a golfer is laying up with a 9I, there are other options. Hitting a 260 yard draw? He is a professional, the green is open on the front and the pin was up, so the shot required (at most) a 230-250 yard running draw, which is probably a long iron or a hybrid. There is room on the right for a miss, and a trap guarding the green left, water does not come into play as prominently as Furyk guarded against. Everyone else (Els, etc.) were going for it on Sunday. Had Furyk splashed his approach, he would have still had the opportunity for par (albeit short-sided), but, again, he is a professional. I consider laying up a poor decision.

Furyk = plodding = lost

Eric Z said...

Well this is a first - me defending a western Pennsylvania inbred.

Of course everyone else went for it - they were 3-4 shots out of the lead! Els had to make eagle to have a chance at winning. That's why he went for it.

"the green is open in the front" - yeah, if you consider a 6 foot opening "open".

This was THE hardest par 5 on the PGA tour last year. Period. I have no problems with him laying up.

Aaron had big balls for going for - and pulling off - that shot.