Tiger Woods criticizes No. 17 island TPC hole as "too gimmicky"
Tiger Woods calls the No. 17 island hole a "wonderful" hole, but he thinks it should be switched to hole No. 8. "I've always thought that hole is too gimmicky for the 17th hole of a championship. I think that would be a fantastic eighth hole, but not as the 71st hole of a tournament, or 17th hole of your round."
Phil Mickelson said he loves 17 just where it's at. So does Jack Nicklaus, who said, "I think that's what makes an exciting and great hole -- and I think it is a great hole -- is that it's in a position where it creates controversy. That's the whole idea. You just wonder whether a tournament should be determined by that much of a think at that point in time." (More here)
So who's right, dear readers, Tiger or Phil?
7 Comments:
Phil is right this time. Anytime a player criticizes a hole it means it bothers him mentally. Even though Tiger is irritated by it and not intimidated by it, that irritation is still in the back of his mind while he's playing the shot.
Golf is a mental game. There is no reason any of these guys should miss that green unless the wind is howling, unless it creeps into their mind. That hole is in the perfect spot; I think it's a great way to test the nerves of the leaders coming down the stretch.
Tiger is always right. Phil is always wrong.
Phil and Jack are right. "Too gimmicky"? If I didn't know better (and I do, can you say 12 for 12?), I'd say Tiger was afraid. Still, "too gimmicky" sounds like "too hard", even from the best player in the world.
I agree with Phil on this one. I love to hear the roar and moan of the crowd at the 17th hole. Every year they seem to get louder...how exciting! If it were the 8th hole, it wouldn't be the same.
How can you say Tiger is afraid of this hole when he is having the best year of his career. I believe he is just saying what he believes is true.
Well, since the hole is only playing 128 yards, I think Tiger is right. I could hit this green with my wedge, and unless you see a TOUR player shank a wedge on this hole under pressure, it shouldn't be listed as one of the finishing holes. There is not much anyone can do about it now, but the 18th at Sawgrass is pretty much one of the best finishing holes in Golf. So I would that they should just leave the 17th where it is.
The way Tiger played, he's probably complaining now that the WHOLE COURSE is too gimmicky. He needs to suck it up.
Oh, wait. He IS sucking it up.
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