Opinion & Analysis

Knudson’s Takes: “Tiger didn’t play to win on 18”

Published

8 years ago

Mar 12, 2018

GolfWRX equipment expert Brian Knudson addresses his reasoning on why he thought Tiger Woods played too conservatively on 18 at the Valspar Championship on Sunday. PGA Tour statistician Rich Hunt broke down the actual percentages, which actually help Knudson’s case.

Watch Knudson’s rant below:

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12 Comments

tina

Mar 13, 2018 at 4:49 pm

Did he say Tiger “had to have a burger”? Hahahaha

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w. michael

Mar 13, 2018 at 3:38 pm

God forbid someone question the greatest human to ever walk the earth.

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Devilsadvocate

Mar 12, 2018 at 9:18 pm

Made it about half way through this click bait garbage… TIGER WOODS didn’t play to win? Lmao yea ok buddy… this guy doesn’t even believe what he’s saying as you can see by his body language… he knows his controversial opinion will be shared across the internet and bring viewers

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- buddy6713
  
  Mar 13, 2018 at 12:27 am
  
  Agree. It’s ok to go after anyone, even TW, if it appears their tactics were questionable. But check out that 18th hole and see how the fairway necks way down there. On the telecast when Reed was at 18 the commentators were a bit aghast that he was hitting driver and talked about how narrow it was. He striped it and his 2nd shot much shorter than TW’s second spun back all the way to the front where he 3 putted (despite having hit a brilliant drive).
  
  How can you not trust the best tactician the game has ever seen–although I heard Mickelson’s interview with Feherty and my gosh he is an amazing tactician too.
  
  Reply Report comment
Nahgonnaworkhereanymore

Mar 12, 2018 at 8:58 pm

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the idea of Tiger not playing to win is absolutely ludicrous. He simply wasn’t that sharp with his irons all day, including the last iron he hit.

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Mikele

Mar 12, 2018 at 8:21 pm

Second guessing by a “golf journalist” who looks like the PGA Superstore is as close to a golf club as he will ever get.

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James Klingel

Mar 12, 2018 at 5:24 pm

I think Tiger did the right thing hitting his Iron off the Tee! Also think he wanted to win , that was his decision and he just didn’t get it close enough . Just let him alone and he can make his own decisions.

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HeineyLite

Mar 12, 2018 at 5:05 pm

Really funny when you have a so called club expert second guessing arguably the best golfer ever. I loved it when he said he was “impressed” how Tiger played, hahahaha… Great people whether in sports or other fields have reasons why they do what they do, and no matter the situation they follow the plan to the T. Tiger from an early age always played to win no matter what…

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RonaldRump

Mar 12, 2018 at 4:52 pm

HA HA HA!!! Expert…

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Peter Sarro

Mar 12, 2018 at 3:48 pm

7 iron in his hand he should of still got it close, I think 6 iron was the club, he just took the wrong club out. He was not playing for second, I will never believe that, just the wrong club.

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Scott Francis

Mar 12, 2018 at 3:15 pm

Disagree did you see what Patrick Reed did with his GW . That pin was on a multi tiered shelf. I think 3 wood wouldve been better play but again a short iron could spin back. Should have hit a chaser 6 up there. But easy for you to critique whats your handi a 14?

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Dave

Mar 12, 2018 at 3:07 pm

Maybe you should stick to reviewing golf equipment. The fairway on 18 is super narrow; so playing to win would be hitting driver left or right and going for It? No, it’s hitting it down the middle giving yourself a shot at the green. When was the last time you were on the 72nd hole of a tournament to win on the PGA TOUR? THAT WOULD BE NEVER!!! You are entitled to your misinformed opinion; but you are dead wrong. Stop writing stupid pointless articles.

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Opinion & Analysis

AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience

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Andrew Von Lossow

This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.

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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.

With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.

Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!

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