Opinion & Analysis
Pick three golfers to build the ultimate scramble team. Who you got?
It’s officially scramble season. Whether it’s a corporate outing or charity event, surely you’ve either been invited to play in or have already played in a scramble this year.
If you don’t know the rules of the scramble format, here’s how it works: All four golfers hit their drives, then the group elects the best shot. From there, all four golfers hit the shot, and the best of the bunch is chosen once again. The hole continues in this fashion until the golf ball is holed.
The best scramble players are those who hit the ball really far and/or stick it close with the irons and/or hole a lot of putts. The point is to make as many birdies and eagles as possible.
With this in mind, inside GolfWRX Headquarters, we got to discussing who would be on the ultimate scramble team. Obviously, Tiger-Jack-Daly was brought up immediately, so there needed to be a caveat to make it more challenging.
Thus, the following hypothetical was born. We assigned each golfer below a dollar value, and said that we had to build a three player scramble team (plus yourself) for $8 or less.
Here are the answers from the content team here at GolfWRX:
Ben Alberstadt
Tiger Woods ($5): This is obvious. From a scramble standpoint, Tiger gives you everything you want: Long, accurate, and strategic off the tee (in his prime). Woods, sets the team up for optimal approach shots (he was pretty good at those too)…and of course, arguably the greatest pressure putter of all time.
David Duval ($2): I’m thinking of Double D’s machine-like approach play in his prime. Tour-leader in GIR in 1999, and 26th in driving accuracy that year, Duval ought to stick second shots when TW doesn’t and is an asset off the tee.
Corey Pavin ($1): A superb putter and dogged competitor, Pavin’s a great value at $1. Ryder Cup moxy. Plus, he’ll always give you a ball in the fairway off the tee (albeit a short one), much needed in scramble play.
Brian Knudson
Rory McIlroy ($4): I am willing to bet their are only a handful of par 5’s in the world that he can’t hit in in two shots. You need a guy who can flat out overpower a course and put you in short iron situations on every hole. His iron play is a thing of beauty, with a high trajectory that makes going after any sucker pin a possibility.
Jordan Spieth ($3): Was there a guy who putted from mid-range better than him just a couple years ago? If there was, he isn’t on this list. Scrambles need a guy who can drain everything on the green and after watching 3 putts to get the read, he won’t miss. His solid wedge game will also help us get up and down from those short yardages on the Par 4’s.
Corey Pavin ($1): Fear the STACHE!! The former Ryder Cup captain will keep the whole team playing their best and motivated to make birdies and eagles. If we have 228 yards to the flag we know he is pulling that 4 wood out and giving us a short putt for birdie. He will of course be our safety net, hitting the “safe shot,” allowing the rest of us to get aggressive!
Ronald Montesano
Dustin Johnson ($4) – Bombmeister!!!
Lee Trevino ($2) — Funny as hell (and I speak Mexican).
Sergio Garcia ($1) – The greatest iron player (I speak Spanish, too).
Tom Stickney
Dustin Johnson ($4)
Seve Ballesteros ($2)
Lee Trevino ($2)
DJ is longer than I-10, Seve can dig it out of the woods, and Trevino can shape it into any pin.
Andrew Tursky
Dustin Johnson ($4)
Jordan Spieth ($3)
Anthony Kim ($1)
Are all the old timers gonna be mad at me for taking young guys? Doesn’t matter. DJ has to be the best driver ever, as long as he’s hitting that butter cut. With Jordan, it’s hard to tell whether he’s better with his irons or with his putter — remember, we’re talking Jordan in his prime, not the guy who misses putts from 8 inches. Then, Anthony Kim has to be on the team in case the alcohol gets going since, you know, it’s a scramble; remember when he was out all night (allegedly) before the Presidents Cup and still won his match? I need that kind of ability on my squad. Plus AK will get us in the fairway when me, DJ and Spieth each inevitably hit it sideways.
Michael Williams
Tiger Woods ($5)
Seve Ballesteros ($2)
Corey Pavin ($1)
Tiger is a no-brainer. Seve is maybe the most creative player ever and would enjoy playing HORSE with Tiger. Pavin is the only $1 player who wouldn’t be scared stiff to be paired with the first two.
Johnny Wunder
Tiger Woods ($5): His Mind/Overall Game
Seve Ballesteros ($2): His creativity/fire in a team format/inside 100
Anthony Kim ($1): Team swagger/he’s streaky/will hit fairways under the gun.
A scramble requires 3 things: Power, Putting and Momentum. These 3 guys as a team complete the whole package. Tiger is a one man scramble team but will get himself in trouble, which is where Seve comes in. In the case where the momentum is going forward like a freight train, nobody rattles a cage into the zone better than AK. It’s the perfect team and the team I’d want out there if my life was on the line. I’d trust my kids with this team.
Who would you pick on your team, and why? See what GolfWRX Members are saying in the forums.
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.
I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.
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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!
Club Junkie
Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast
The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.
Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.
If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.
Follow Club Junkie:
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Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.
I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
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bebop a lula
Jun 9, 2018 at 4:14 am
Faldo, Seve and Trevino
I’d of put Monty in but he is strangely absent from the list!
Scott Ivlow
Jun 6, 2018 at 12:59 pm
Clearly when they came up with the idea for a scramble team the staff at Golf WRX has a vender bias.
So here is my scaramble foursome Phil Mickelson, Suzann Pettersen, & Annika Sorenstam.
Long before I was a fan of the PGA Tour I was following the LPGA Tour. I choose Ankika and Suzann because I would want a boys against girls, plus American team against an International team.
I also picked players that are all still all very active in golf.
I choose Phil Mickelson but because how when he plays but we are closer in age. Phil also has a great sense of humor so we can also trash talk each other.
Anyway, $4 for Phil, $3 for Annika, $1 Suzann.
Matt
Jun 5, 2018 at 8:49 pm
Phil, Watson, and Garcia
CW
Jun 5, 2018 at 4:20 pm
Tiger
Garcia
Pavin
Tiger in his prime is the only one i really needed anyway,the rest of us could just watch the ball fly..
DAVID Millsop
May 24, 2018 at 7:52 pm
Garcia, Ballesteros, Woods
Clutch. Tiger can putt for Sergio!
Scott Freeman
May 24, 2018 at 2:26 am
Woods. You can’t have a prime career scramble without the GOAT
Duval. A Tiger beater in his prime.
Kim. Fearless and an incredible talent.
Keith Finley
May 23, 2018 at 6:24 pm
Palmer, Ballesteros, Miller. Unbeatable.
K.A.
May 23, 2018 at 9:36 pm
Phil, Seve, and Lee, all great putters and golf genius!
K.A.
May 23, 2018 at 9:44 pm
Big Jack, Arnie and Player, they are not call the Big Three for nothing! What a group! Even though I need 12$, not 8$ to complete my team!
Shivasjr
May 23, 2018 at 12:26 pm
T.Watson, Faldo, Seve. Don’t care how we play it would just be cool!
Len
May 23, 2018 at 10:57 am
Woods
Seve
Garcia
Where’s Freddie Couples?!?!?
mrpriceisright
May 23, 2018 at 10:37 am
Spieth for accurate irons and unbelievable putting
Ballesteros for imagineering any shot, up and down from anywhere
Koepka length off the tee
and only $6 !!!
Alfredo Smith
May 22, 2018 at 4:06 pm
Johnson $4 crazy long
Duval $2 approach shots
Miller $2 drain it from downtown
Jerry
May 22, 2018 at 10:09 am
Sergio, Lee and Rory, First I would have a great time, and second with Rory’s drives, Sergio’s iron play and Lee’s finest around the greens, we would be in the hunt.
Jack Nash
May 22, 2018 at 8:59 am
Woods($5)
Miller($2)
Garcia($1)
Funny no Miller picks up til now. Remember the Desert Fox.
Brian Kelly
May 22, 2018 at 8:04 am
Tom Watson grit, consistency LEGEND
Jordan Spieth – putting
Lee Trevino- shot making ability and will keep the group light
R k
May 21, 2018 at 7:56 pm
Michael Williams for the win!
bill
May 21, 2018 at 5:43 pm
Tiger($5), Faldo($3), Me and another scrub ($0) to sit back and drink beer all day while tiger drives greens and Faldo sinks putts
dj
May 21, 2018 at 5:37 pm
This:
Michael Williams
Tiger Woods ($5)
Seve Ballesteros ($2)
Corey Pavin ($1)
Tiger is a no-brainer. Seve is maybe the most creative player ever and would enjoy playing HORSE with Tiger. Pavin is the only $1 player who wouldn’t be scared stiff to be paired with the first two.
Bob Jones
May 21, 2018 at 3:31 pm
Palmer $4
Trevino $2
Miller $2
Doug
May 21, 2018 at 2:59 pm
What makes a good individual golfer is discipline and avoiding mistakes. In a scramble, risk taking is beneficial. You need bombers and high approaches right at pins. Further, most pros have very repeatable putting strokes if shown the line by the first golfer so the great putter advantage is negated somewhat. Short game magic is fairly useless.
So give me DJ, Brooks, and Ernie.
Will
May 21, 2018 at 2:23 pm
Add in Kuchar for the putter
TE
May 21, 2018 at 1:49 pm
Koepka has the length. Ballesteros has the magic. Crenshaw can sink anything.
JW
May 21, 2018 at 1:10 pm
Although I’d pay whatever penalty and take Daly, DJ and AK… I doubt you’d have more fun with anyone else and capable of winning any scramble as well.
JW
May 21, 2018 at 1:08 pm
Tiger Johnny Miller and AK