BDC defeated by IOB?

[Marty Bonnar]

So, they’ve made the 9th fairway at Sawgrass an internal OB to stop him playing down it on the 18th.
A fair, sensible decision?
Tour panic?
Modesty preservation?
Implications for lots of other Tour stops?
An alternative to limiting equipment performance?
I can’t decide!
F.

[Kalen Braley]

Marty,

I saw the article yesterday also and its at least plausible.

I measured it on Google Earth and it would require an approx. 300 yard drive from the back tee to a safe position in the 9th fairway.  Followed by a completely blind shot of about 210-215 yards back to the middle of 18 green.  And for Bryson that would be very doable, so I could see him actually considering it...

P.S.  They said the carry was 315 yards in the article, which is complete bollocks.  On the line to the middle of the fairway from the back tee, it would only be a 200 yard carry to dry land (with another 100 yards to a good spot in the 9th fairway).

[Pete_Pittock]

answer: a, but
a ball descending from 10 stories that hits you is going to hurt, and it doesn't matter which way you are standing or looking. With the distance the ball travels I am surprised more golfers don't use coloured balls designed to be more visible.


I have seen the same solution at the fabled Sand Pines (since renamed Florence Golf Links), where the area around 16G/17T is OB while playing the 18th.

[Kalen Braley]

The line they show in this article is a bit absurd where he would not only be taking on a lot more risk, but also trying to hit a 350 yard drive to a very narrow part of the 9th fairway, even if would result in shorter, but still blind approach.

https://golf.com/news/bryson-dechambeau-sawgrass-shortcut/

[Pete_Pittock]

The line they show in this article is a bit absurd where he would not only be taking on a lot more risk, but also trying to hit a 350 yard drive to a very narrow part of the 9th fairway, even if would result in shorter, but still blind approach.

https://golf.com/news/bryson-dechambeau-sawgrass-shortcut/

more likely aiming for the right rough short of the grandstands. The rough appeared to be no mor onerous than the second cut at ANGC.

[David_Tepper]

https://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2021/3/9/bhv05slpya8zp732iwp3mssp6701yk

[Kalen Braley]

The line they show in this article is a bit absurd where he would not only be taking on a lot more risk, but also trying to hit a 350 yard drive to a very narrow part of the 9th fairway, even if would result in shorter, but still blind approach.

https://golf.com/news/bryson-dechambeau-sawgrass-shortcut/

more likely aiming for the right rough short of the grandstands. The rough appeared to be no mor onerous than the second cut at ANGC.

Pete,

This screen shot shows it fairly well, but I had assumed he'd want to be in the fairway and avoid a downslope, in rough, trying to hit over the water to the green. Plus that water would really be in play for the 350 yards it would require to get it all the way down there.

[JohnVDB]

Another reason for not allowing it is he time it would take to walk around to the 9th.

[Tom_Doak]

According to golf.com some teenager who hits it as far as BDC took that route in three rounds at a junior tournament last year.  So it isn't that original of an idea, and the Tour had some warning that it was coming.


There's going to be a lot more like this if they don't do something about the equipment regulations soon.

[Ira Fishman]

Lon Hinkle.

[Jeff Schley]

[Thomas Dai]

According to golf.com some teenager who hits it as far as BDC took that route in three rounds at a junior tournament last year.  So it isn't that original of an idea, and the Tour had some warning that it was coming.
There's going to be a lot more like this if they don't do something about the equipment regulations soon.

I thought this suggestion was an attempt at tongue-in-cheek humour until I read the first sentence above. Now, yikes!
+1 on the last sentence.
Atb

[Ronald Montesano]

"To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice your gifts."- Steve Prefontaine

[Jason Thurman]

A rare case where internal OB is completely appropriate and sensible.

[Jeff Schley]

"To give anything less than your best, is to sacrifice your gifts."- Steve Prefontaine

Great quote!