10th At Riviera: For All Its Brilliance...

[Mike Hendren]

Are the short trees / bushes left of the green its primary defense against the long hitter?

Bogey

[Ben Sims]

Green tilt is what makes this hole.  Brilliant use of slope to confound the great players.

[Sven Nilsen]

Would have loved to have seen Haas lay up after the first two hit.

[Jay Cox]

Agree with Ben.  Watching this second playoff hole is the most fun I've ever had watching golf!

[Sven Nilsen]

Guess he didn't need to.

[Will Spivey]

I have to agree this playoff is fun.  I, too, thought Haas should have laid up.  Then again, he made the putt and won the tourney.

I was going to start a separate thread, but related to it's brilliance, I'm wondering how the hole is for the average club player, with an index of 5 - 15?  Early in the broadcast Faldo was using the telestrator to show all the places you CAN'T hit the ball to score on this hole.  Basically, with the pin in today's position he said the only "good miss" is essential short and left, along the axis of the green.

So, for the amateur, if they try to drive the green and miss (most likely outcome) they're left with a nearly impossible up and down and a very difficult par.  However, even if the handicap player lays up, his odds of hitting and holding that small green in regulation can't be too great.  So, is this hole too hard for the mid-handicapper?  I know it was among the easiest (by score avg.) for the pros, but what about for us mortals?

PS.  I love short par 4's, and my favorite hole at my club is the short 14th hole.

[RJ_Daley]

I was stuck with familly commitments, but saw last 10 minutes.  Was that Tommy N., sitting greenside on 18th in a grey tee shirt?  Wow, what a classic end on a classic hole!!!  

[Terry Lavin]

A terrific hole, impervious to technology and if they need a bush or two to bedevil the pros on a 300 yard hole, I'll plant the damn bush. What a fun, gca-geek end to a tournament!

[Matthew Runde]

I started tearing up while I was watching the end.  Really.  The 10th is one of my favorite designs, and this finish completely validated Thomas' ideas and the principles of the Golden Age architects.

[William_G]

Would have loved to have seen Haas lay up after the first two hit.

+1

but with that hole location

[Terry Lavin]

I started tearing up while I was watching the end.  Really.  The 10th is one of my favorite designs, and this finish completely validated Thomas' ideas and the principles of the Golden Age architects.

Should we worry about you, Matthew?   

[Sven Nilsen]

Would have loved to have seen Haas lay up after the first two hit.

+1

but with that hole location

Short and left, probably a five iron shot for him.  Would have left a pitch right down the axis of the green.  

The genius move was not attacking the pin on his second.  He left a makeable (albeit long) putt.  Both Phil and Keegan went after the back section on their second shots and paid the price.

[Bill McKinley]

A terrific hole, impervious to technology and if they need a bush or two to bedevil the pros on a 300 yard hole, I'll plant the damn bush. What a fun, gca-geek end to a tournament!

This.  Very well said, I completely agree.  Great hole!

[William_G]

so you miss the five-iron, then what?

not really a small bush guy, LOL

definitely a great match play hole! (like most short par 4s)

end of story

[Matthew Runde]

I started tearing up while I was watching the end.  Really.  The 10th is one of my favorite designs, and this finish completely validated Thomas' ideas and the principles of the Golden Age architects.

Should we worry about you, Matthew?   

Yes, but there are plenty of other reasons to do so!

[Terry Lavin]

I started tearing up while I was watching the end.  Really.  The 10th is one of my favorite designs, and this finish completely validated Thomas' ideas and the principles of the Golden Age architects.

Should we worry about you, Matthew?   

Yes, but there are plenty of other reasons to do so!

That's always the case with good guys...

[John Kavanaugh]

You have to give Fazio credit for having the genius to not muck up the tenth. The green reminds me of the original 14th at Bandon Trails, RIP.

[ChipOat]

We've done several threads in the past on both "Great Short Par 4's" and "#10 at Riviera".

If I knew how to pull up the links, I would do it.

They're in the archives, though.

Any volunteers?

The hole is like #14 @ PB or #15 @ PV.  The purest of golf architecture right there on the ground.  No ocean, no Stupid Trees, no "windmills and clown's noses" green that is too fast for its contours - just great angles and bunkering.

The essence of a great short par 4 - total precision required.

[Terry Lavin]

Compare ten at Riv to 14 at Pebble?  Sistine Chapel vs The Love Shack.

[Sven Nilsen]

Here's one of them:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,16619.0.html

This thread touches on Terry's point above:

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,18505.0.html

[Howard Riefs]

We've done several threads in the past on both "Great Short Par 4's" and "#10 at Riviera".

If I knew how to pull up the links, I would do it.

They're in the archives, though.

Any volunteers?

The hole is like #14 @ PB or #15 @ PV.  The purest of golf architecture right there on the ground.  No ocean, no Stupid Trees, no "windmills and clown's noses" green that is too fast for its contours - just great angles and bunkering.

The essence of a great short par 4 - total precision required.

At your service. A few to start with...

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,18505.0.html

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,1057.0.html

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,1940.0.html

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,38674.0.html

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,27642.0.html

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,8877.0.html

http://www.golfclubatlas.com/forum/index.php/topic,24133.0.html

[Mac Plumart]

A terrific hole, impervious to technology and if they need a bush or two to bedevil the pros on a 300 yard hole, I'll plant the damn bush. What a fun, gca-geek end to a tournament!

Perfect comment.  You've got my vote, your Honor!! 

[Lynn_Shackelford]

You have to give Fazio credit for having the genius to not muck up the tenth. The green reminds me of the original 14th at Bandon Trails, RIP.

Don't be so sure.  Geoff had a player come up to him yesterday and ask if was true that "Fazio" was going to rework the 10th.  Genius?

[John Kavanaugh]

You have to give Fazio credit for having the genius to not muck up the tenth. The green reminds me of the original 14th at Bandon Trails, RIP.

Don't be so sure.  Geoff had a player come up to him yesterday and ask if was true that "Fazio" was going to rework the 10th.  Genius?

Temptation is an evil mistress. I know that if I have any failure as a man it is my lack of restraint when faced by opportunity. If Fazio eventually gives in and leaves his mark on the tenth I will not judge him for such, nor should any of us.  Instead I will continue to celebrate what remains great rather than pine for what is lost or the potential of what could have been. After all, a course, is a course, is a course and it was a great course we witnessed today.

[Bill_McBride]

With that pin and their ability to stick an 85-yard wedge, I'm really surprised nobody ALL DAY hit a 220-yard shot left of the fairway bunkers.   Phil and Keegan both proved a green side tee shot to the right doesn't work.  Haas played a very smart shot.  

The birdies on 18 were the best moment I've seen on tour in a long time!