Whats on your mind? Proof you aren't a touring pro.

Wow!  What a great Masters to watch this past weekend.  The Masters is always exciting with the turn of events that unfold on the back nine on Sunday but this year was ridiculous!  I feel for Rory but he'll bounce back.  He's young and bold but without a doubt full of talent.  So many charges this year no one knew how it was going to end.  Charl Schwartzel earned it with four closing birdies in a row!  Much deserved!


It m me think while watching just how ridiculously talented these players are.  Television doesn't quite give you the scope of undulation in the grounds of Augusta National.  The players take advantage of them when they can and so the golf course in many places plays a lot shorter than the card reads.  We don't really pay attention to that as viewers.  Players are hitting 3 wood off the tenth tee and hitting it 300+ yards!  It's hard to see on television that the tenth fairway drops off some 100 feet to the landing area though.  A 495 par four plays like a routine par four for these guys.  They are hitting 8 and 7 irons into this green.  Not for us however!  Even for better amateurs we'd be trying desperately to skinny a long iron off a downhill lie with little to no chance of stopping it from running once it lands.   


Let's take #13.  A 510 yard par 5.  Alvaros Quiros hit 9 iron into the green on Thursday!  Of course he hits it long but most players were hitting mid irons into the green all week.  The average male bogey golfer, if lucky, would be hitting mid irons for their third shot with little to no chance of hitting it clean enough and with enough force to stop the ball in precisely the right spot as the professionals do.  So how far up does the average bogey golfer have to move up to duplicate what the pros are doing?  How far up does the average bogey golfer have to move up to hit a mid iron into the green on his second shot?  Probably close to 200 yards!


Here's a question to ask yourself.  How many times do you see a touring professional not be able to reach a green in regulation from his own fairway?  The answer is never.  Yes, these guys have talent - tons of talent, but why do we typically play a set of tees that don't even allow us to hit greens in regulation because of our limited abilities?  Is it only because we know we are at least capable, under the right circumstances, to reach that green in regulation?  Maybe, but why are we relying on that odd chance at perfection for enjoyment?  Why not permit ourselves to have that chance more often?


My point is this.  This week at the Masters has juiced up millions of golfers out there.  Over the next couple/few weeks we will all have these images of great shots being made and we'll be out there trying to duplicate them.  Truth be told most of us can't.  We keep trying and that is the beauty of the game.  


We know that when we connect with a shot exactly as planned there is an endorphine rush that keeps us playing until we sense it again.  And for good reason.  It's a great game and, on occasion, makes us feel on top of the world for accomplishing something that is really difficult to do - hit a perfect shot.  Even the tour pros spend hours a day working towards perfection but rarely taste it. 


The average golfer can fantasize about being like a pro - and they do - hoping to catch that perfect shot.  Wouldn't you like to get that sensation more often?  Of course.  Do you play from a set of tees that gives you a fighting chance at accomplishing that?  In most cases I suggest the answer is 'no.'  Why not give yourself a better chance at feeling on top of the world more often?  


Why do so many of us feel like we have to challenge ourselves almost completely beyond our capabilities?  Machismo and ego is the reason.  Not necessarily a bad thing to have either, but why stretch it?  Why attempt something that you know you are only rarely going to accomplish?  Give yourself a fighting chance.  MOVE UP!  Forget the potential jeering from your overly-proud playing partners and move up a set of tees.  Give yourself a better chance at hitting more greens in regulation with shorter irons resulting in more birdie putts, more pars, and more endorphine rushes.  Until you can reach at least 16 greens in regulation from your fairway, you are playing the wrong tees.  What are you waiting for?


Men, shorter IS better!  (Ladies, on behalf of the men, keep that to yourself.)