Unplayable Lies: Nor'easter Notes

Since we're all gonna die in this Nor'easter, you'll want to spend your last hours reading some silly golf musings....

On Distance - Political junkies will know the FiveThirtyEight blog as the former home of Nate Silver. They've been dabbling in sports for some time, and they now introduce their readers to the longest bopper in our little game:

But nearly five months into the PGA Tour season, the biggest hitter on the links isn’t Johnson. It’s Tony Finau, the first golfer of Tongan and American Samoan descent to

hold a tour card. While he gets far less attention than DJ, he’s currently on pace for the longest driving season in PGA Tour history.

Finau’s entire game has turned the corner this season. He’s already finished in the top two twice and inside the top 20 in six of nine starts.1 Finau ranks seventh in the FedEx Cup standings and has raised his world ranking to No. 32 — up from No. 88 at the end of 2016 and No. 40 at the end of 2017.

But while he’s playing better everywhere on the course, Finau is putting on a show in the tee box. With 327 yards per drive, the 28-year-old is smashing the tour average by 32 yards.

You guys don't need an introduction to Mr. Finau, but what of the underlying assumption? The governing authorities has reliably informed me, as recently as last year, that driving distances had plateaued....

This blog is know for its statistical analysis, so here are the data-laden bits:

But what has changed this season? Like any dexterous big-hitter, Finau starts with a wide

base and balance as he approaches his ball. Despite possessing cable-like arms — “arms like an orangutan,” as he put it — Finau has an extremely compact swing, unleashing his lower body through the ball. Drives don’t exist in a vacuum; there’s a whole host of factors that play into distance off the tee, including launch angle, club head speed and spin rate. Last season, Finau’s average club head speed was 123.1 miles per hour, but that figure has dropped to 122.2 mph this season. His spin rate also dropped: He ranked ninth a season ago, but this season he ranks outside the top 80, meaning his ball is generating more carry — 1.1 yards more, in fact. Finau is also showcasing a higher launch angle this season.

An obscene 90.9 percent of Finau’s officially measured drives this season2have eclipsed 300 yards, a mark that would obliterate Hank Kuehne’s record of 85.8 percent since PGATour.com began tracking the statistic in 2001. Consistency has been key for Finau: His longest drive this season, 391 yards at the Farmers Insurance Open, ranks outside the top 100 among all players. So he isn’t raising his average with a few bombs here and there — he’s doing this every time he tees it up.

It's all that time he's been spending in the gym, for sure. Though, I feel compelled to note, obsecnity is very much in the eyes of the beholder...

But how about a moment of perspective? John Strege utilizes the Wabac Machine to good effect:

But the golf ball debate predates Nicklaus, predates his birth in 1940, in fact. We stumbled across this, from a 1936 edition of Golfing, a magazine founded by World Golf

Paul Runyon.

Hall of Famer Herb Graffis:

“During the National Open the United States Golf Association and the leading golf ball makers had a meeting at which time the USGA voiced the opinion it would be inadvisable to attempt to build any greater distance in the golf ball.

“The first day of the Open, Paul Runyan, one of the shortest hitters in big-time golf, got an eagle three on the 602-yard eleventh at Baltusrol. That gives you an idea of what confusing details attend this matter of ball legislation. Runyan also was the 1935 winner of the Radix cup for the year’s lowest medal average. Johnny Revolta, who won more prize money than any other player during 1935, is not much longer than Runyan.

First, I'll allow you a moment to appreciate the mellifluously-named Johnny Revolta.... He was the front man for the Sex Pistols, right?

The debate is challenging, because Bobby Jones could hit it 300 yards..... with hickory shafts. I think the 538 guys are right to cite that 90% statistic, because it's become routine. And, as most recently voiced by William McGirt, the lesser spin of the modern ball has made foul balls less....well, foul.

On Rory - Rory and Brandel Chamblee have tangled previously, a quick H/T to Shack for the link to this manspat over Rory's weightlifting.

Questioned as to who is closer to playing great golf, Rory or that Tiger guy, Brandel had this succinct soundbite:

“I think he’s probably as far as he’s ever been to being back to where he was,” Chamblee said.

Holywood? Caroline? Whatever he meant, I don't think it was a compliment....David Duval got more analytical:

“I think Rory’s putting continues to put pressure on his iron game, and until he figures that out, he comes out a little bit better and more consistent on the greens, it could potentially be doing what he’s doing right now, (which is), what I believe, is ruining other parts of his game,” Duval said. “And I feel like he’s struggling, and you have to keep forcing it closer and closer to the hole. You are going to miss golf shots. You’re going to be in bad spots. And I think that’s part of what’s happening right now.”

As Brandel notes later in that same piece, his iron play has been pretty bad as well... We've seen guys turn it on overnight before, especially Rory, but he's not a guy I like heading into Augusta.... And about that caddie? Never mind....

On WGC's - From Alan Shipnuck's Twitter feed:

Is there a hierarchy to the various WGC events amongst Tour players? Or media? #AskAlan -@1beardedgolfer

The Bridgestone is widely considered to be the most prestigious, mostly because it is an extension of the World Series of Golf, which back in the day was one of the biggest events on the schedule. (Jack Nicklaus won the first one, in 1976, and plenty of Hall of Famers followed suit.) Now that it's left that dreadful course in Tucson, the Match Play is everyone's favorite WGC, despite the vagaries of the format. The HSBC Champions is the anchor of the fall season, and some folks think Sheshan is the best course in Asia, but it's the Old Mac of this quartet — destined to always be ranked fourth. As for Mexico City, the players (and reporters) have come to appreciate the great dining, the white-glove service provided by the tournament and the energy of the crowds. It's certainly a more fun week than being in Akron, Ohio and having to navigate the narrow corridors of Firestone. This WGC is still finding its identity but it has certainly brought some much needed life to the franchise.

What to say about four mostly miserable weeks.... The only one of interest to this observer is the Match Play, which has mercifully been rescued from the depths of Dive Mountain. Alas, it now occupies an awkward slot on the schedule, too close to The Masters It used to be that the guys were worried about one-and-done, now no one really wants to grind through seven matches two weeks before Augusta.

WGCs feel like events that should be transient (perhaps every five years). What other locations, given the time of year, should host? #AskAlan -@Carrforthecourse

Given the overall constraints of the schedule, the only WGC that can realistically be taken on the road is HSBC. Australia and South Africa have such strong golf traditions and stellar courses it seems like a no-brainer to go to each regularly. You could time the HSBC to be played the week before or after the Australian Open/South African Open, helping to boost these fields of those great old tournaments.

I'm on board with anything that takes the Bridgestone away from Firestone... But I'd be reluctant to schedule anything in South Africa these days.....

Before leaving this subject, Alan lead his item with this story from Mexico:

On Wednesday morning, Louis Oosthuizen was wielding a driver on the tee of short par-4 first hole. He was in mid-backswing when Bubba Watson, standing on the nearby clubhouse steps, bellowed, "That's too much club." King Louis backed off and smiled indulgently at the man with whom he will forever be linked after their epic playoff at the 2012 Masters. Oosthuizen reset and as he was over the ball Watson shouted, "Be careful, there's O.B. left!" Louis ignored him and smashed a drive. "See, I told you, too much club!" Watson shouted. Oosthuizen, betraying only a tiny bit of exasperation, said, "It's on the green, mate. I guess when you get close to 40" — Watson is 39 — "it's hard to follow the ball in the air."

See, Bubba gets along with the guys....

On Late-Night Practice - Again from Alan:

Do pros stay up at night in their hotel rooms with Trackman? Dialing in their wedges? Swinging and putting in the room has to look different now, no? -John (@jtwills)

Obsessive pro golfers have always worked on their game in the privacy of their hotel rooms. Brad Faxon once told me he loved staying at the Inn at Spanish Bay because the curtains were so thick he could hit full 7-irons into them. Padraig Harrington, in a podcast we did a couple years ago, told some hilarious stories about accidentally damaging his rooms with golf clubs. One of the best rounds Tiger Woods ever played was a Sunday 63 to win the 2004 Deutsche Bank Championship. He talked afterward about how the night before, in the wee hours whilst taking a whiz, he had a swing thought and then spent the next hour and a half rehearsing positions in the hotel mirror. But for sure TrackMan offers more feedback on such hijinks. It's funny to see practically every pro leave the driving range with their Trackman around their wrist in a leather case, like a little purse, only more expensive.

But perhaps amateurs shouldn't?

That would be Steph Curry's hotel room....

On Sandhills - North Carolina, specifically. Shack grabs this data from the Pinehurst social media gang,documenting play at their new short course:

More than 6,100 rounds were played on the new 9-hole, 789-yard short course.

The busiest day had 174 golfers play, and the largest group was a 12-some.

With a $50 greens fee that includes replay rounds that same day, the average time to play one round was just over an hour.

In those first few weeks, more than 220 juniors under 17 played for free with a paid adult while Pinehurst Country Club members played 2,100 rounds and hosted 706 guests.

Since opening, more than 30 holes-in-one have been recorded, with aces coming from players ages 8 to 84.

In a unique event, Pinehurst teaching professional Kelly Mitchum played the short course from sunrise to sunset on the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year – and finished 26 complete rounds for a total of 234 holes. He shot 12 under par for the day.

He also includes this old video, so why not?

It's such a great idea for a resort like Pinehurst, where those that play only 18 holes can relax with an adult beverage on their short course.

When I last visited Pinehurst, the restoration of No. 2 was spectacular, and the recently-restored Mid-Pines was a wow as well. But Pine Needles was dated and sad-looking, so this is good news.

The Forecaddie always loves a national championship in the greater Pinehurst area, and while another U.S. Women’s Open at beloved Pine Needles is hardly a shocker, there will be more intrigue now that a 2022 date has been confirmed by the U.S. Golf Association.

As he did at the must-play Mid Pines Golf Club, 36-year-old architect Kyle Franz is bringing some artisanal pine and sand infusion fun back to Donald Ross’ 1928 Pine Needles design. Not that there was anything wrong with the course restored about 15 years ago by John Fought, but with everything going on in the neighborhood, Pine Needles was starting to lack a certain visual sizzle that you can only find in the sandhills of North Carolina.

So here's a little pop quiz for y'all.... Is there anyone besides Donald Trump and my dear friend Glenn that doesn't find this:

A whole lot more interesting than this:

Just sayin?

On Existential Matters - With all the pixels devoted to the golf world, how is it that this matter hadn't been addressed previously?

Can you describe the top five players in the world as the taco they'd mostly like be? -@Carlos_E_Lara

Dustin Johnson: Ground beef and cheese. Totally basic, but satisfying.

Jon Rahm: Serrano ham, blistered Padron peppers, pimenton. Extremely spicy.

Justin Thomas: Same as the DJ, but on white bread.

Jordan Spieth: Slow-cooked brisket, ranchero sauce.

Justin Rose: Bangers and mash. Served golden.

Is there a taco with anger issues? Cause that would be our Mr. Rahm..... Gotta admit, he wrote the book on this subject.

On Two-Hole Playoffs - Well, the above item got the important issues resolved, now we're onto the trifles:

Please tell us that you got the scoop on how many USGA members sat in a room and decided two holes was the correct amount for a playoff. -@JeremyBenson

Yeah, I was there. Picture a bunch of blue blazers, with spray-on dandruff. The conversation went like this:

"Monday playoffs suck. Let's just get the damn thing over with already."

"Sudden death is an abomination — we don't want our championship decided by a mudball. Ask Kenny Perry about that."

"But we want to maximize our prime-time ratings, and because of our abject failure to do anything about slow play, the final round takes an obscene amount of time. I think we have time for only two holes."

"Done."

I don't know, Alan, do you really think that much thought went into it?

On Bifurcation - I know, I'm really getting money's worth from Alan this week:

Why are people worried about bifurcation? One ball for pros/elite ams & what we are already using for us mere mortals makes complete sense...doesn't it? -@Luke_Elvy

Yes. Sort of. It would certainly make the pros' outdated playing fields more relevant and more interesting tests. It would also avoid the doomsday scenario of making the game harder for the weekend hacker. But I can't pretend to be excited about bifurcation, mainly because it would rob the pro game of so much wonderment. As much as I object to how distance gains have overwhelmed classic courses, I don't really want to watch Dustin Johnson drive it 270 — I can do that myself! The USGA and R&A were asleep at the wheel for decades, and now they're trying to make up for it by going back in time. But we can't unsee the last 20 years. There's simply no easy or good solution to the pickle the game finds itself in.

That's well stated.... As with anchored putting and a variety of other issues, the failure to be proactive has left us with only bad options. At this point, bifurcation seems about the only logical path forward....

Regarding bifurcation, what general weightings would you give the following factors for increased distance off the tee: agronomy, athleticism, technique, ball, club (head and shaft as one), other. -Ryan (@RW_Mountain)

This is an interesting thought exercise. My highly unscientific answer:

Agronomy: 5%

Technique/Trackman: 20%

Athleticism/Training: 20%

Club: 25%

Ball: 30%

It is interesting, though agronomy? It seems that this has been used more to control distance, such as the nice folks at Augusta National mowing back in the direction of the tees.

But like James Hahn's tweet, this makes the point that so much of what's happening is beyond the USGA's ability to control. My instinctive reaction is that he's over-stating the effect of the gym work, and understating the other factors, especially Trackman. But it's just one man's guess....

On Snowfalls As A Thing of the Past - More photos from Scotland, this time of The Honourable Company: