Thanks Ryan, you beat me to it
Patrick,
if mimicry is the highest form of praise then I am flattered but you should really have a grasp of what you are copying before you do. 'dense bird' really Pat
Yes I have played tournaments both as an amateur and professionally. My last handicap as a 16 year old was 0.2. These days as I do not play as much maybe one or two full rounds a month I have mixed results but recon my handicap would be between 1 and 3.
My objective on the tee depends on the situation and the hole. In matchplay depending on the score it is to win or draw the hole by equalling or beating my opponent. If I am ahead and can close out the match on a tough hole with a half I am going to look to shoot a par and let my opponent take the risks associated with going for a birdie.
In strokeplay again it depends on the hole but it is very rarely the thought of going for the lowest possible score as you suggest it should be. However, when I am facing a putt the tee shot, the approach shot and the recovery shot are totally irrelevant. Only the putt matters.
It is not that I do not get your position it is just that your position is wrong and repeating it over and over again does not make it right. Your idea of always playing for the best possible result maybe true for the blue eyed beginner but for most players it is incorrect.
If you are stood on the 16th tee at Cypress Point and are 3 up. Then your opponent slices their tee shot way off into the water so is facing 3 off the tee do you still go for the best possible score of birdie or play left and for a par/bogie? Yes, I know you would still go right at because you would knock it stiff and hole the putt but 99.9% of golfers would play for the par/bogie. Most players do not have the same 'trumpellian' delusions about their game as you display.
*Trumpellia is the delusion of believing the thing you do or own is the greatest ever of its kind on the planet when it is plainly not.