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August Michelin Challenge @ Merion

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Fri, Aug 9 2013 11:56 PM (4 replies)
  • BigInigoMontoya
    208 Posts
    Wed, Aug 7 2013 2:06 PM

    This morning I decided that I'd go ahead and give this tourney a try. Probably a huge mistake on my part, as the last tourney I entered at Merion was the Open qualifier, and I finished a good 50 or so strokes over par.  Granted, that was my very first full 18 hole stroke play round here on tour, and I knew absolutely nothing about putting, short game, course management, club selection and the like, but it is clear that I struggled with this course.  This time around I got off to a decent enough start with 3 pars and a bogey on the first 4 holes, but ended up rage quitting once and for all after all the nonsense I experienced on the 5th hole.

    But what really struck me as odd was the tourney starter had me hitting from the Orange tees!!!!!!!  I was under the impression that the Hard tees are reserved for the Master and Tour Master tier.  I've only been a Tour Pro for a couple of weeks now, and my current average is no where near the requirement for moving up a tier.  In my opinion this game is hard enough as it is just playing from the Medium tees, and I don't know why WGT would throw someone onto the hard tees when they don't have the equipment necessary to handle the challenge.

    I guess my question is, is this 'feature' (playing from the orange tee's) exclusive to this particular tournament, or will all my future ranked rounds at Merion be played from the Orange tee boxes???  I have a feeling if I can't get back to the white tees, then the remaining Merion Masher award are going to be unobtainable for me.  

  • alosso
    21,066 Posts
    Wed, Aug 7 2013 2:46 PM

    BigInigoMontoya:
    I guess my question is, is this 'feature' (playing from the orange tee's) exclusive to this particular tournament,
    This!

    and other "Major" tourneys, like the Open + Qualifier.

    Get into a single straight&ranked strokeplay at Merion and see which tees you get - should be appropriate to your tier.

  • WGTicon
    12,511 Posts
    Thu, Aug 8 2013 1:36 PM

    hi

    special tourneys often have special settings/conditions. this being one of them:)

    -wgticon

  • BigInigoMontoya
    208 Posts
    Fri, Aug 9 2013 8:42 PM

    Well I decided that just for $*#&s and giggles I'd go ahead and give mr. Michelin Man another try.  It still took me  a few more rage quits to get past the 5th hole, but I was finally able to earn a score I could live with, on in 3 and 2 putt for a Bogey.  A 3 putt on 6 led to another bogey, giving me a score of +2 for the front nine.  I could live with that.  I had a nice start on the back 9 - 5 straight pars to stay at +2 - but it all went to hell in a handbasket on 15.  In the bunker off the tee, tried to lay up but still missed the fairway, and it took me 4 more shots just to make it on to the bloody green.  I was so far away from the hole that I had no choice but to 2 putt for a snow man, an 8.  Great.  Quadruple #$%*ing bogey.  Back to back 3 putts on 16 and 17 led to 2 more bogeys, and I had to sink a miracle 45 footer on 18 just to save par.  Came so close to the silver Merion Masher award, but I guess I'll have to settle for Bronze. Doubt if I'll be entering this tourney again thogh, I just don't have the irons to stick em close to the pin.  

  • alosso
    21,066 Posts
    Fri, Aug 9 2013 11:56 PM

    BigInigoMontoya:
    Doubt if I'll be entering this tourney again thogh, I just don't have the irons to stick em close to the pin.  
    This! And perhaps an unexpected elevated green speed. A +8 is a very good score though with your equipment.

    As I said, get into a weekly or monthly or a simple strokeplay to grab the awards!

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