On Thursday I sat and watched Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold
Palmer play together in the first round of the 2000 Masters. The tv
coverage on these greats of the game was almost shot by shot and all 3
of them finished within a couple of shots of the currents golfing great
Tiger Woods, Nicklaus even beat him. As someone who started watching
golf when these men were in there prime it was a fantastic 'memory lane'
experience. It also showed one of best aspects of the game of golf where
a 60 year old can compete on level terms with a 20 year old, this
happens in no other sport. Can you imaging Billy Jean King v Serena
Williams or Mark Spitz v a Modern Swimmer, no contest. So how can these
revered gentlemen still compete when they are not as fit, they don't hit
the ball as far and their old bones mean they can't swing as hard or
smoothly as the youngsters. Easy they 'Play the Percentages'.

Have a look at any of the young golfers, on any given day, in any
tournament. They drive the ball as far as possible to leave a short
second and go for the pin. Sure its exciting to watch, balls peppering
the flag and a bucket full of birdies, but for every 2 foot birdied
putt, there is a hack 'n' slash bogie, a sand save or splash in the
water. Take Tigers round on the opening day 4 birdies, 2 bogies a double
and a triple, Duval had 4 bogies and 3 birdies, Parnevik 2 birdies, 5
bogies and a double and Garcia had 7 birdies, 3 bogies and a double. For
the 4 young guns that is only 38 holes played in par.

Now look at the elder statesmen's rounds, Gary Player 0 birdies, 4
bogies, Nicklaus 0 birdies, 2 bogies, Palmer 1 birdie, 7 bogies. For the
3 'Oldies' that's 40 pars. These gentlemen hit their 'relatively' short
drives down the middle and then the second shots are played for the safe
part of the green. It's then a long lag putt and a tap in for par, get a
lucky first putt and you've got yourself a birdie. This however was
Augusta, it doesn't give many long putts. The big difference is the 2nd
shot, on the par 4's the young players go for it as they do on the par
5's. The older players hit for the safe part of the green on the par 4's
and lay up on the par 5's. For the majority of us handicap golfers there
is a valuable lesson to be learned here, 'Play the Percentages'.

Watching Nicklaus and Co. was a lesson in course management. On the 10th
all 3 played for long and right, all hit there and putted for long
birdies, Duval went for it , blocked the 2nd shot, hacked around and
sank a long one for a bogey. On tThe 13th and 15th they all layed up and
hit the green in 3. The young 'uns' all had wet balls during the round
and they all tried to hit the 13th and 15th in two. Yes it works some
times and they pick up eagles. If you want to win a tournament, yes, you
have to go for it and get the bucket of birdies, but if you want to
always shoot a good round then 'Play the Percentages'.

Next time you are out on your local course and want to play to your
handicap, remember the golf you saw by Messers Nicklaus, Player and
Palmer, forget every shot you have seen Tiger or Duval play, if you were
good enough to play like them you would be in the Masters. If you have
an 18 handicap don't go for the pin on your 2nd shot, lay up so you have
an easy 3rd, play that for a safe part of the green, sink the putt and
get a net birdie, take 2 putts and live to play another hole. You are an
18 handicapper, if you go for it in 2 you will more likely end up in the
heavy mess just off the green, duff your hack out, chip on and 2 putt
for a 6 net 5 shot gone to handicap.

Just like picking your team for the 2nd round when playing golf next
week always 'Play the Percentages

The Vulture

If you have any questions, or comments, feel free to email Julian at carju1@yahoo.com

BESTballers DYNASTY
400 N. Madriver St. Apt. 1
Bellefontaine	OH	43311-2113
USA
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Page Updated Thu Apr 20, 2000 1:10pm EDT