Interesting theory and all, but I am sticking with what a number already have said, and what I suggested to Shivas on the seventh fairway. While the strategy doesnt say much about gca, it does tell us volumes about Shivas' wedge game.
To Shivas' credit, he espoused his theory walking up the seventh
before he hit his approach. He then proceeded to hit a very good second, leaving himself a long putt from the best angle. Lynn, who has seen enough of the hole, aptly said something like"
you have no idea just how good that approach shot was. Nonetheless, however the theory works generally, Shivas' application to RC #7 is a bit too clean, in my opinion . . .
--First, the long-left line is not a narrow penninsula but is actually extremely wide—I haven’t measured but I’d guess at least 40 yds wide at 100 yards from the green. It is just an around the corner, awkward angle from the tee.
--Second, the short-right line is not without danger, as David Ober-Da-Fairway-Into-Da-Bush will probably attest (sorry David, I couldnt resist.) The wash is present left and long, which is not only a potential lost shot, but also causes some [me] to lay up too short and leave much more than 150 into the green.
--Third, while others may disagree, I don’t think Shivas had the “’worse’ angle.” Rather I think he had the best angle for that particular pin, at least the best angle for creating a reasonable expectation of a two putt. The catch is the distance—better angle but further away. I don’t think David Kelly plays left for the angle, but because he can get closer, and then get it somewhere up on the green so he can try to two-putt.
See that is what is interesting about the Shivas Theory to me-- the week before I had a mirror image of this discussion with David K. and Lynn S. With any right pin, I tend to try to drive to exactly where Shivas ended up. If I remember correctly David and Lynn argued that the green was just too difficult and/or the second shot too demanding to purposefully leave a mid-iron as opposed to wedge to the green. I don’t think they were necessarily thinking of birdies, just survival.
A few other random comments about the round . . .
. . . On the second hole Shivas did indeed drive it onto the apron. Unfortunately, it was the apron behind the 5th green. From there he had about 150 or 160 and hit a good iron shot and made a nice putt.
. . . Except for a few rusty-swing mishaps, Shivas drove the ball remarkably well. Even most of his misses were straight. This makes two rounds in a row I’ve played with him where he hit the ball straight. If he keeps it up I am going to have to recommend that his Seve Fan Club membership be revoked.
. . .Hmmmm . . . I don’t know if he paid or not-- he checked in before me. I guess we will have wait and see if his rating is biased against the course (paid) or biased for the course (freebie.) That is how it works, isn’t it?
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Tom Huckaby said . . .
Shivas - what do you think?
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So still no comments about any bets nor overall impressions or comparisons? You diplomat....
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Now be a man and evaluate the course.
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It's your turn on the hot seat, my friend.
Tom, you are so excited about this I can hear you panting all the way down here. Let me ask you, what is it that you are hoping Shivas will say? That he loved it? That he hated it? As I recall you’ve always publicly professed your profound fondness for the course, so I am curious what it is you expect from Shivas . . .
