Shall we string him up by his thumbs?

[Dale Jackson]

Care of geoffshackleford.com and from the pen of Mike Purkey of Global Golf Post, writing of the Tour:

"Firm and fast might mean big stats and low scores, but soft and slow fairways mean challenging and fair golf."

[Rick Shefchik]

Didn't Purkey used to write a lot for Golf Magazine?

He obviously never spent a lot of time at Golf Club Atlas.

Pity.

[Jud_T]

YES

[Alex Miller]

Care of geoffshackleford.com and from the pen of Mike Purkey of Global Golf Post, writing of the Tour:

"Firm and fast might mean big stats and low scores, but soft and slow fairways mean challenging and fair golf."

He also got it backwards.

Firm and fast means challenging golf, slow soft fairways equal low scores.

[Garland Bayley]

YES

[Adam Clayman]

Using the "F" word should always raise a red flag. Especially when there is an "un" in front of it.

The quest to make golf fairer, is a mis-guided mindset worthy of criticism Stringing up someone by their thumbs is probably outside the rules of engagement. After all, making War fairer, has only increased the costs and time it takes to get the job done. Sound familiar? This correlation proves once again, you can't have a downhill Redan. 

[Carl Rogers]

At the risk of being permanately sentenced to purgatory the firm and faster course may be a bit easier (by playing a bit shorter) for a short & straight hitter that can manage their game.

[Brent Hutto]

At the risk of being permanately sentenced to purgatory the firm and faster course may be a bit easier (by playing a bit shorter) for a short & straight hitter that can manage their game.

I think the quote was about Tour players. Those guys want it soft for low scoring.

[Kalen Braley]

So these low scores, at the Open none-the-less.....were played on soft and squishy?

2006 Royal Liverpool Golf Club Tiger Woods (3)  United States 270 (–18)

2005 St Andrews Tiger Woods (2)  United States 274 (–14)

2004 Royal Troon Golf Club Todd Hamilton  United States 274 (–10)

2001 Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club David Duval  United States 274 (–10)

2000 St Andrews Tiger Woods  United States 269 (–19)

1997 Royal Troon Golf Club Justin Leonard  United States 272 (–12)

1996 Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club Tom Lehman  United States 271 (–13)

1994 Turnberry Nick Price  Zimbabwe 268 (–12)

1993 Royal St George's Golf Club Greg Norman (2)  Australia 267 (–13)

1992 Muirfield Nick Faldo (3)  England 272 (–12)

1990 St Andrews Nick Faldo (2)  England 270 (–18)

1989 Royal Troon Golf Club Mark Calcavecchia  United States 275 (–13)

1988 Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club Seve Ballesteros (3)  Spain 273 (–11)

[Alex Miller]

Looking at the winner's score never tells the whole story. Pebble Beach wasn't a pushover in 2000 for anyone except Tiger.

Also, those courses probably would've played easier if soft and damp.

[Adam Clayman]

At the risk of being permanately sentenced to purgatory the firm and faster course may be a bit easier (by playing a bit shorter) for a short & straight hitter that can manage their game.

Carl. Not to pick on you ... but... 2004 U.S. Open proved the ridiculousness of the authors premise. Firm and Fast is not easier. Especially for the current elite class players that have not been asked the question posed by a truly firm canvas. 

[George Pazin]

For anyone that thinks the additional length "gained" via keeping a course soft hurts any golfers, I'd simply point out what Big Ben shot at Bethpage Black during the nice and damp Open Challenge or whatever they call that thing. He and others repeatedly hit hybrids and other longer clubs into greens that hit softly and settled quickly. Any pro in those conditions would likely have shot in the mid 60s if he simply made a few putts.

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