Golf Tips: Aggressive vs. Conservative Golf

For a full wrap up of what unfolded at Riviera and the Northern Trust Open last week, as well as the other tours in action, check out yesterday's Weekend Wrap.  Today's tip comes is inspired by John Merrick and indirectly inspired by Charlie Beljan. The Scenario Merrick and Beljan both finished regulation at Riviera tied at -11.  A playoff ensued.  Both players tied the first playoff hole, #18, with pars. The next playoff hole was the famous #10.  This is a very unique golf hole, a very short and driveable par-4 of about 315 yards. The trick with this hole is the green.  With such a short hole, the only defense is the green setup.  The green is narrow and shaped like an upside down bowl.  Shots which are not perfectly hit or which don't land in precisely the right place will run off the green. Strategy Merrick and Beljan took different approaches on #10.  Merrick teed off first, hitting an iron layup shot.  He had made birdie the same way earlier in regulation.   Beljan hit driver, attempting to drive the green. Merrick's yardage for his 2nd shot was 90 yards, just about a perfect 60 degree wedge.  He could hit it full and launch it high in the air with a lot of spin so the ball could land softly and spin to a stop.  Beljan's drive ended up 50 feet left of the green in long rough, against the grain of the rough.  Beljan's shot was so difficult with such a small margin for error that he decided to hit away from the pin and the bunker entirely.  A smart shot perhaps, but if he was going to play his 2nd shot that way why not play the first that way as well?  Beljan failed to get onto the green with his 2nd shot.  A PGA Tour level player, one of the best in the world, took THREE shots to get his ball onto a 315 yard par-4. Beljan failed to get up and down for par while Merrick had a routine tap-in par putt for the win. The Lesson We've discussed strategy, knowing your game and such here many times.  This is a great case of aggressive play versus conservative play.  This time conservative play won.  Having a full lob wedge from the fairway to a very difficult landing area is most often easier than having to hit a fraction of a wedge out of the rough. Next time you're faced with a situation similar, think about today's post and John Merrick.  Perhaps laying up is the best chance you'll have at making a good score.  That's the joy of golf. It tempts you to play aggressive and makes you pay the price if you don't execute perfectly.