First congrats to Jay Williamson in The Traveler's Championship. [See the thread in this Forum.] You played like a champion (and beat the rest of the field by four) but Hunter just one-upped you. That was a very high level of golf by both players coming down the stretch.
I'd like to offer a little insight into the conversation between Hunter and John Wood over the iron shot on eighteen in regulation. It's a perfect situation to look at to understand what goes on out there. We were lucky that the mikes caught it and no one talked over the conversation.
Yardage is 147. They pick a nine iron. Perfect club for the situation. Hunter can go ahead and hit it. Something you like to do under pressure. As he is walking into the shot, he feels a little puff into him. He's thinking he has to make birdie, but if there is hurt, nine might balloon a bit and be short. John likes the nine. He does not think the last hole trying to win your first tourney is the time to chip the eight.
John says it's just 138 to carry the trap. For some golfers, the mention of the trap would be a negative. A tour player deals with these numbers all day long. Just guessing but the yardage would have been something like, "125 to the front, 147 hole. It's 138 and 9 (new adjusted front number to cover trap) and 8 behind it-- 155 back edge." All those numbers frame the yardage and narrow the club selection. Can't carry the trap with a wedge--eight brings over into play--must be a nine.
When John says it's just 138 to cover the trap, he's saying, "I like the nine, and even if it gets knocked down a bit, it will carry the trap." John knew nine was enough. He thought the wind was just left to right and not hurting. Hunter is still feeling that puff and thinks MAYBE he should hit eight. That's when John says lets rerun the numbers. It's a basic reset. Let it all go and start over. Numbers say nine iron. Discount the puff. Trust where the wind has been all day. Hit your shot. It's all about observation of all the conditions to get the right club. Get committed. Trust your swing. Do your routine. Let it go. Birdie.
Jay and his caddie did similar work and got the answers right as well. For any of this to work, you have to be able to hit the shot. Great work Yoda.
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