Quote:
Originally Posted by Allen C
After skimming this thread my question is, why can't an 8 handicap break 100 at the Masters? I assume an 8 can typically get the ball in the air in the generally right direction and that he will rarely miss the green from inside 100 yards. So what goes wrong if he lays up every hole, playing nothing bigger than a hybrid? Does he three putt half the greens? Does he miss the green with a sand wedge half the time? Does he not keep it in the fairway with two iron shots?
Also that means he has to give a pro shooting par 28 strokes. The pro isn't a +20 (ok, ESC but still). What gives? Maybe this hypothetical amature doesn't get any practice rounds?
An 8 will average 83 or so at his home course for starters. But there's at least two things you don't quite understand.
1, the simple one. He might have 50 putts. An 8 has zero clue just how fast those greens are. If they were flat he'd have tons of three-putts. And they're not flat, they are simply the most undulating greens you'll ever see. And he'd have no clue how they break.
2, a little more complicated. The grass on the fairways is mowed so close and tight that any mis-hit at all results in disaster. Amateurs don't know how to hit from tight fairways, they're used to a nice cushion under the ball for more forgiveness. So they might be lucky to hit half the greens with a wedge. And some holes they'd have almost zero chance such as 15. That shot is ultra scary even for the tour pros, one of the reasons so many guys go for it in two.
Factor in things like 7400 yards is scary long for mortals, not being able to play from the bunkers because of much less sand than they're used to, chipping issues from tight lies, and pissing their pants on the first tee because it's Augusta National.
BO