Waste Management Sunday

I can only think of two things the Thunderbirds got wrong in running the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

The first would be those where's-Marty-Hackel-when-you-need-him Thunderbird uniforms, highlighted by Native American bling that looks like they were picked up at the Iron Eyes Cody estate sale. Grown white men should not be dressing up like Native Americans as reimagined for the 21st Century by Ralph Lauren.

Some Thunderbirds chat it up with Phil Mickelson (click to enlarge)And the second mistake? Overselling the Bird's Nest for Saturday's O.A.R. concert. A lot of unhappy campers! But otherwise, just an incredibly impressive operation and event.

I spent most of my day writing or out on the 17th hole. The results of that effort will be in this week's Golf World. But I see on Twitter that there was quite an uproar over Ian Poulter's scratch/itch/F.U. to the fans at 16. While I didn't see it, I can imagine that within the atmosphere of a hole where streakers made an appearance today and one in which Poulter enthusiastically embraced the vibe, it was all in good fun. But again, I didn't see it so I don't know.

(By the way, check out Dan Bickley's column about the 16th and how the Thunderbirds have turned around a scene that was threatening to undermine the event, and how it's been a key component in getting Waste Management involved as sponsor. There's also a nice anecdote about the WM CEO mixing it up with fans.)

And as for Rickie Fowler's decision to lay up on 15, again, I wasn't there but when I listened to his post round remarks, he certainly didn't shy away from an explanation nor did he sound remorseful. Helen Ross reports the remarks and also this stat:

People may question Rickie Fowler's decision to lay up at the par-5 15th hole but here are the numbers. A total of 246 players went for the green in two there this week and only 76 made it.

And finally a few images from Sunday:

They think of everything! At the 16th hole merchandise tent a worker offers a mirror for customers to see how a hat looks (click to enlarge image)Trash cans are well marked to make recycling incredibly simple. (Click to enlarge image)

Alvaro Quiros is the only player to tee off 17 with a hybrid while still trying to drive the green (click to enlarge image)

Rickie Fowler tees off No. 17 Sunday (click to enlarge image)

Rickie Fowler still almost made birdie from this nearly impossible approach angle on No. 17 Sunday (click to enlarge)

Comments

[California Pepper Rogers]

So, then Rickie "Golf 2.0" means that you wimp out when your in the hunt?

Shades of Chip Beck!

[Barrie]

Great photos! They look like paintings with the mountains and clouds in the bacground.

[Old Hornet]

After reading Bickley's column, it's closer to Maximus entering the Colosseum.

I can hear the Tour players whispering to each other: "This is not who we are"

Man-up guys.....you only have to do it for one hole, once a year.

[KS]

I'm glad the on-site experience was fantastic. The coverage by GOLF CHANNEL was just horrid.

Poulter looked like he was goosed by a "Noonan" or something similar while he was putting for birdie. It wasn't audible on television, but his reaction was as though something like that happened.

[Chema]

Golf Channel was brutal. I like how Lerner led off the telecast by telling viewers that Fowler was wearing his "traditional Sunday orange." Wasn't this Fowler's 9th start?

[BigSky]

Michael Sim in San Diego
Tim Clark at the Hope
Bubba Watson at the Hope
Rickie Fowler in Phoenix

Every single one of them was in position to win if they go for it in two. Every single one of them laid up, and every single one of them failed to win.

They're playing for the money...

[JohnR]

It's hard to root for a guy who looks so stupid in that hat. Guess I'm shallow.

Always hard to tell on TV, but is the 15th green a small target? If it was a par 4 would he have laid up? Seems like a pretty routine 4 iron or less for those guys. We know TW and other top players would not consider the lay up there.

John

[BigSky]

I've played the course many times. It's a tough target with a 3-wood from 250 yards but it's a piece of cake with a 3-iron, which is probably what Fowler would have hit from 230 to the hole (210 to carry the water). Even if he hit it crooked it would have landed in one of the two bunkers worst case. A mis-hit short would have left him an easy, uphill chip to that front pin position. As you saw, several players came up short, and one (Howell) chipped in from there for birdie.

[Wisconsin Reader]

I am not arguing with those who think Fowler should have gone for the #15th green yesterday - different players look at their options differently. . . But, I don't think we should assume Fowler somehow lacks courage or the desire to win. . . Watching Fowler play you can quickly see his aggressive attitude. . . Just offering the view that - as Fowler himself said later - it is a narrow target and difficult to get up and down from pin high on either side. . . He laid up to 100 yards - from where he is excellent - and just mishit the shot. . . Had Fowler been 2 shots back (he was 1 back with 3 more "birdie-able" holes to play) he would not have used the option to layup.

[BigSky]

I think Fowler is the real deal; a GREAT player already. And one who seems fearless. Which makes his decision all the more puzzling.

I'm a big fan. He makes quick decisions, steps up, and hits it. Refreshing. He also has never seen his swing on video. Just plays by feel and doesn't practice all that much. What's not to like about this guy. A breath of fresh air. I just wish he had stuck a 3-iron a foot on 15 and gone on to win.

He also reminds me a little bit of Elvis...

[tlavin]

What a great golf event. It is the complete opposite of the Masters, but it looks like it is just as much fun. I'm glad to read that they have figured out how to dial back some of the unruliness at 16, because it would be terrible if they couldn't keep that madness going. If you tried doing this in New York, you'd have six felonies in the first tournament, so it's nice to see that the Valley crowd can keep it wacky but moderately restrained. That's a tough line to find sometimes, especially after six cervesas!

[MRP]

I've heard many people describe Fowler's game as fearless (like BigSky did), but how do you reconcile that with laying up at 15?

It simply doesn't compute to me.

[Vwgolfer]

My wife laughed for 5 minutes over the "waste management" open. How about the turd open? Terrible sounding name for a sporting event. And for a company of such size. She liked Rickies hat.

[golfboy]

not sure how playing percentages translates to playing fearfully, in fact, knowing he would probably be lambasted by all the golfing geniuses who watch golf on tv then write about it in commentary sections on golf blogs, he might have been even braver laying up

by the way - he played the 12 par 5's in -10 for the week.

what a wuss...

how much money did you all earn playing golf for four days last week?

[OWGR Fan]

While roughly 30% of the 246 people that went for the green in two hit the green how many of the 246 ended up with birdie or better? Wouldn't that be a better comparison?

[MRP]

golfboy...I don't think you need to be so defensive for Rickie. In response to your question, I lost $2 playing golf this weekend. Matchplay that went extra holes. Yeah, Rickie won more money than me playing golf this weekend...he should be very proud of himself.

I looked at the stats...Mahan went for the green on 15 3 out of 4 days. The time he laid up, he was out of position. He made one birdie out of the 3 he went for the green.

Fowler...went for it 1 out of 4 times. He birdied the hole the one and only time he went for it. And, of course, he lost the tournament by 1 shot.

The question isn't whether he won more money than the average Joe golfer, the question is does he want to be "great" or simply make a living golfing. He is obviously full of talent and his star will only get brighter...but will be be great...or even better...does he have the courage to try to be great.

[Gates]

Big Sky, You wiill undoubtedly be astonished but I agree with you about Rickie Fowler, at least up to the point of your comment on his decision. As I commented in the preceding thread:

"the AP reported that Fowler did not want to go for the green because it is surrounded by water. He thought he was a bit too far away from the pin to go for it, he was only one shot back and had what he felt were good birdie chances on 16 and 17.

I would regard that as maturity of judgment.

Rickie has been the real deal for a long time. I saw him play two years ago when he was a skinny kid. There was no doubt about his talent. He has the most charisma of anyone currently playing, is going to win many tournaments and hopefully will be on the Ryder Cup team this year. As for his clothes, I think they are great. He is 21 and dresses his age, rather than dressing in the staid fashion of most players."

At the age of 21, having just joined the Tour, he has played 6 events, made the cut in 3 and has qne 2nd, one T5 and one T27. He knows how to play and is on the cusp of winning. I'm not going to second guess him at this time.

I also agree that he looks like Elvis.

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

Rickie Fowler is great for the game and I look forward to his shaking things up quite a bit. BUT, he was able to lift his ball, clean it, and tee it up in the fairway for a 3-iron at most. If he had come up a little short and stayed in the short grass he would have been able to lift it, clean it, and tee it up once again for his chip or little pitch. Of course a shot with an excessive BMI or a snapper to the left would have been awful, but young Mr. Fowler is the 77th-best golfer in the whole wide world. BTW, did I mention that he was able to tee up his 3-iron shot? Anyway, I fail to see what is mature in his judgment under these conditions, which would have allowed most of ShackLand to go for it. Had there been a big clump of irremovable Arizona mud on his ball, then his decision would been evidence of mature judgment. As it happened, maybe Charlie Rymer was right about a "business decision."

[Gates]

Here is Rickie's explanation:

“I was a little farther out than I would have liked to have been to go for it. You know, I told them, obviously if I was a couple back in that position and feeling that I needed to make a few birdies coming in, I would have gone for it. But being that I was at the time, I think, just one back, putting a wedge in my hand from 80 yards, a lot of times I do make birdie there. I played 16 well all week. I had a look at birdie there. With 17 being a short hole, there’s a birdie chance. So I felt that instead of bringing trouble into play, in a way which a lot of times I don’t play, I took the safe route, easy lay-up, and like I said, I had an easy wedge shot with soft greens. I just hit it a little soft.”

If he had not hit his wedge a little soft, would anyone be critical'? He was the one who had to hit the shot, not most of Shackland. As for Charlie Rymers speculation, I prefer the source.

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

@Gates: "If he had not hit his wedge a little soft, would anyone be critical?" Not if he had knocked it stiff and made the putt. I know, those guys are good. But which is the higher percentage approach for a TOUR player? Two-putting or a chip and a putt for a birdie? Or a full wedge shot and a putt? Those of us in ShackLand play for pars when we are smart. Most of the time. But when the opportunity to simply hit a good shot and win presents itself, I hope we all take it.

"So I felt that instead of bringing trouble into play...I took the safe route, easy lay-up, and like I said..." I lost. Q.E.D. OK, he didn't say "I lost." But how is it that Rickie hasn't made exactly the case his bewildered, and for the most part very polite, critics are making? Did I mention that he teed up his lay-up shot to the 100-yard marker?

[Gates]

Bob Young of The Arizona Republic opined:

"Statistically, it probably was the correct call. Players who went for that green in two shots during the tournament got there less than 31 percent of the time during the week. "

[JohnR]

Gates, In line with what OWGR asks, does this mean that 70% of the players who missed the green when going in two hit into the water? If that were the case there would be no discussion on the matter. A better question for the writer is what sort of scores did those player make.

John

[Ky Laffoon's Ghost]

Indeed, where did they go if they missed the green and what were their scores compared to those who took the "safe route"? Besides, statistics doesn't apply to individuals, only groups. But, just for sh*ts and giggles, in the group of Mahan and Fowler, MRP's statistics show that Rickie had a 100% of making a birdie if he went for it, while Mahan had only a 33% chance. Did I mention that he was able to tee the ball up? Yeah, I know, I'm being a pain in the ass, but that is what mystifies me about this. It's almost like playing in a scramble, being the A or B player, and not taking a shot with your 5-wood over the water when there are already two balls safely in the lay-up zone.

On to another week. Is it just me, or do the GC "Bear Trap" promos irritate anyone else? Something about "stopping" the best players in the world rather than testing them?

[Gates]

Forget stats. Fowler was playing the hole for the 4th time in 4 days. Who knows Fowler's abilities better than Fowler? I'll go with his judgment about what he could achieve. He engaged in riosk analysis as he has numerous times in the past in competition.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to Honda- Rickie and Rory M.

[MRP]

Gates...great point and one I had overlooked. Rickie and Rory at the Honda. That should be fun to watch.

[golfboy]

"golfboy...I don't think you need to be so defensive for Rickie."


defensive? for Rickie?

i do apologize for numberizing wrong, but here is the par 5 performance of the top two

Fowler - par 5 performance 12 holes, -9 my bad (1 eagle 7 birdies, 3 pars) under par 75% of times par fives played.
Mahan - par 5 performance 12 holes, -7 (2 eagles, 3 birdies, 7 pars) under par 42% of times par fives played.

still looks to me as if Fowler played it correctly (and of course, Mahan made par on 15 as well)

so sorry you lost 2 dollars

also sorry that you think the "courage to try to be great" can possibly be measured by just one golf shot at the waste management open.

doesn't look like he fears any shot, just steps up and hits the ball. how about the pitch on 17?

sure looked worried over that....

[golfboy]

sorry, please insert 66 where 75 lives in post above

still, considerably better than the winner on par 5s