Bubba Watson

Seems to be a decent player. Finished 4th in Sony at -12.

These new guys on tour seem to be bombing them longer and longer. Not so long ago a 446 yard par 4 was a brute. This guy has a little chip and run left.

He does have a few shots though. Fun to watch.

Beginning to wonder where the game is headed though....

But then on the other hand- Nicklaus was ridiculously long early in his career, then Seve came along and he was long. Tom Watson was adequate. Then, since Daly showed up ripping it way by everyone, that seems to have changed golf for good. Daly was like Nicklaus early on, then everyone caught up to him. Now there are several longer than Daly and only because he is approaching 40. Things change around 40- I know- been there.

Then along came Tiger, long but not substantially longer. But then in the last few years, average drives have climbed well over 300 yards on Nationwide and PGA Tours.

Note: Things are a lot harder on European Tour- tough golf courses with wind and weather to deal with very often. I watch these events too because that tour is where your next Major winner and Big Time Ryder Cup player is going to show up. Many Americans were surprised that Michael Campbell won the US Open- not me. He has been a PLAYER on the European Tour for years... no surprise. European Tour players are as good as any, anywhere, any time.

Back on topic: Bubba Watson led Nationwide Tour last year at 337.5 I think the figure was...

Thoughts?

Oh- one other thing- its nice to be able to hit the ball 350 yards, but 125 yards and in is where the scoring is. But wait a minute- lets look at the 13th hole again from the Sony. 446 yards a par 4. David Toms hit his second from 130 yards- "busted his tee shot 316" Bubba Watson had a chip and run from 48 yards. Who has the advantage?

I still think on tough golf courses, the guy who can place his ball and make a few putts had the advantage. No one can argue that.

Being able to bomb drives 300+ consistantly is definitely an advantage. However, I think that as long as you are reasonably long, say average 280, you wont struggle on any courses. Even with a 450yard par4, you would only be left with 170yards where a person who averages 280 yard drives should still be able to hit a reasonable short iron into the green.

The trend (and logic) in the PGA tour is that long and wrong is better than short and safe.

There's no reason to try for the fairway, because there's no punishment for finding the rough.

I think Vijay said it where he said he'd rather be 290 in the rough, than 250 and safe. Obviously that points to the rough not being an effective deterrent.

I played a course last year (TimberWolf in Sudbury) where if you went off the fairway, you were in 3-4" rough (not fescue). I figured out after 9 holes that the best strategy was to hit out, rather than trying to take a hero shot to the green. A great course, and I can see where longer rough would punish the PGA, as well.

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another factor is that 300+ yd length eliminates par 5's. I saw a lot of eagle putts over the weekend.

Sounds reasonable, bomb it cause there is no rough. Rough is limited on most of the courses I play but I tell you... every time I miss a fairway, I am behind a tree or something... I mean I have no shot at all.

Personally the long ball is fun but I sure score better when I am playing smart and in the fairway. But then, I am not playing with the pros either

One thing that is a problem though is when I do play a very long golf course, it is a struggle because I am hitting a long iron or hybrid into the par 4s and a wood to some of these 240-250 yard par 3's. I played Torrey Pines South in December and was greatly humbled. I drove the ball in the fairway on 11 of 14 holes. But I hit 2 iron 3 times and several 3 and 4 irons. No fun. I am pretty good with long irons and hybrids though. I just don't feel like I have a chance at a good score when I am wearing out long irons.

well tomallinder about the 48 yard chip and run or a 125 yard shot, which is more of an advantage? i would have to definetely say the 125, unless you got a razor sharp shortgame a 48 yard chip and run is hard to dial in one but a 125, well a full gap wedge(for me) will be a whole lot easier, my local course has a few short par 4s and they leave me with a few 20-30 yard chips and i hate them, im seriously thinking about hitting irons in to let me have full shots into the green, i do much better on mid iron second shot holes than 300-320 yard par 4s

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going through the rough