Watson lost the tournament on his second shot on 18. Watson said himself in the post-tourney interview that "normally" he would have used 9-iron on that second shot, but he chose 8 iron instead. And i agree with CO and Izzy, don't use the putter off the front edge of the rough. And then he absolutely choked on the par putt, prolly the worst 8 foot put of his life. Then he played like i do in the playoff. He had it won and gave it away. I do like Cink tho. At least he won instead of Sergio, think how horrible that would have been. Cink even said it sucked he had to play Watson in the playoff. Very classy on his part.
I didn't see the interview, not surprised he indicated he was bit aggressive going with the 8 iron. That's too bad you make that kinda choice at the worst possible time. For anybody that knows anything about golf, you don't try to make the "perfect" shot on the approach to 18. You just get it on the surface with 30-40 feet, like you did all tournament long when you weren't trying to be aggressive and took what the course was giving you. He regrets it. I still don't get it.
Cink does have a good game. His swing is smoothe and effortless, which i like. Plus is very classy guy.
Oh I am not saying he isn't a nice guy. I have followed his career and he is one of the biggest chokers on tour when it comes down to the last few holes. That's why he has won so few tournaments. His putt on 18 NEVER happens. Not in that high pressure of a situation. Obviously it's frustration speaking when I talk about Cink that way. Watson should not have blown it. What about Westwood? If he knew ahead of time that Watson bogeys, then he 2 putts to stay at -2. He had to be aggressive on that birdie putt and assume Watson was going to par the hole. Has to suck for him, though.
He also said on choosing the putter on the third shot...." i thought that was my best chance to get it close. I saw some grain in the slope, but of course i gun it on by. Then i hit a terrible put."
they showed on the telecast his "choke" job back in 2001 i think. He misses a 2 foot putt to force a playoff at the PGA Championship. He sank, no pun, it today tho.
They know that this isnt a modern course. He hit the front and it ran through. You dont try to put it on the front right with the wind. He hit it about as well as you can, but he hits longer irons than most, that dirt is 300 years old, and there is wind. Its a links course - stuff runs. Westwood has a crappy short game. Even some cant lag it close when they want to.
A guy once told me on putting, think of the distance the putter head will travel as 3 units. One unit is behind the putter, and 2 units are in front of the putter. Always think of the putter head going twice as far in front of the ball as it went behind the ball. I think it worked well.
