By: MikeZ

MikeZ — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 14:39:01 +0000

OK, I’ll admit it, young Fowler is starting to grow one me! And here’s my take on the lay-up …
One thing you have said, Phil, about Rickie’s game is that he thinks his way around the golf course like a veteran. Another positive is that he plays fast – and those two things don’t necessarily go hand-in-hand. I wonder if Rickie simply got caught in a moment of OVERthinking.
I’m of the mind that laying up isn’t always a bad or cowardly thing, even when there’s a lot on the line. Sometimes it’s the smart play, the best path to birdie. It’s how Zach Johnson won the Masters, for instance. So when I first heard about Fowler’s play I thought “good for him, he played the shot he thought was best under circumstances, and didn’t give into the sometimes knee-jerk ‘go-for-it’ attitude.” But then the more I read about the circumstances (I like how you termed it, Phil, that he was basically facing a long par-3), I became perplexed as well.
But maybe he had a moment of doubt. Maybe he saw something he didn’t like about the shot. Maybe it was just a negative thought he didn’t want in his head when he went for the green. Maybe this was a moment when he *should* have taken a few extra moments to make his shot selection.
Let’s remember he’s only 21, only four tournaments into his first full season as a pro! Despite what he said afterward about making the right decision, I’ll wager he is kicking himself about it now. He’ll certainly learn from it. His nature is to play confidently and quickly, and I’ll bet his gut said “go for it” while his brain told him to “play smart.” Sometimes, the brain needs to listen to the gut. Sometimes, vice-versa. With more seasoning, he’ll find the right balance, I’m sure.

Comments on: Fowler Should Have Gone for the Green

By: MikeZ