I watched the U.S. Women's Open in golf this past weekend on and off. I wondered if Lexi Thompson, the front-runner with a 4 shot lead, could battle some demons and get the job done. On Sunday, after she hit her second to six feet on the par five first (and birdied for a five shot lead), her 2-5 odds seemed about right. A birdie at the first; she's got this.
But, according to the Golf Channel's Brandel Chamblee, there was more to this excellent first hole result:
“She’s got 6 feet away,” Chamblee said on Live From. “Now professional golfers don’t miss the center of the face by a pinhead. Look where she hits this putt on the very 1st hole. Look where this putt comes off the face. She would have missed the center of the putter there by a half an inch. I have never — I have never — seen a professional golfer miss the center of the putter by a wider margin than that. That was at the 1st hole. … I thought unless she gets an eight-shot lead, nine-shot lead, and her closest competitors fall away [her lead was not safe]"
This was prescient, as Thompson shot a 41 on the back, needed an eight footer on the last to force a playoff, and the putt wasn't even close.
This is subtle. And subtle is not going to work every time. But the risk (fading a short, short shot) can certainly pay dividends with subtle.
In horse racing, some of the best players who win regularly do this and act on it, too.
"That horse coming back to the winners' circle last time looked a bit off, and here he is right back in this week. I will pitch at 1-5"
"That horse's late figure was weak last time for the first time in three races. He may be off form and he's 1-5"
"That horse is on a bit of a line scoring down"
These are all pretty damn minor in the scope of things, and no, they don't always work - horses are 1-5 for a reason - but sometimes they're the staple of a monster score.
Now, I just have to start monitoring golfer's nerves on where they hit their early putts on the putter face.
Have a nice day everyone.
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