AP Invitational: 18th hole, do you go for it?

[Aotearoa_Brad]

 

 

Lets set the scene... 72nd hole of the AP Championship at Bay Hill - you have 176 yards over the water to a right placed pin... with a gusting right-to-left breeze. 

You're at -11 and the clubhouse leader is at -11...

 

...do you go for it? If so, what do you hit and where do you aim?

[hckymeyer]

Most likely I'm either nutting a 7i or choking down on a 6i.  Depends if the breeze is at all helping or hurting.  Aiming dead at the flag and letting the breeze drift it back to the left.

 

But yeah, I'm going for it from 176.

[TIBA_Putt - Kyle]

Oh yeah. For sure. Aim about 15 ft left of the pin. Cut 6iron to take water mostly out of play. If the wind holds it, just left of the pin. If the wind lays down a bit, it works right to the flag.

[Kor.A.Door]

On that hole there, you are better off taking it easy, 15-20 feet left, no need to over fade, or hook (lefties), and bring the water into play, I would go for it very conservatively, if I make a long putt, I win, if I don't then I go to a playoff, the club would be 6 iron, need to make sure to clear all hazards, if I go left of the pin, there is room , so a 175-180 shot will be fine.

[fozcycle]

I will be going for it, using my Cobra Bio Cell 5W @ 17*....it's the perfect club for 170-180 yards.  With a little right to left breeze, it should be perfect!

[mr_divots]

First, I'd hit it 20 yards closer with my drive.

[revkev]

I'm glad to hear about the 6 irons. Did anyone happen to notice that no one at Valspar averaged 300 off the tee for the week or that the guys on the Big Break are constantly talking about how the ball doesn't go as far at PGA National?

 

If I were good enough to be -11 I'd be hitting 8 iron15 feet left or perhaps hold a 7 right at the pin, it seems to me that's what Gamez did when he holed out from that spot.

 

Alas I'm not that good but I've played the hole, there's a back stop with room left on the green and nothing but water right. I would aim 25 feet left, hit 4 hybrid and let my putter bail me out because more than likely I'd pull it another 10 feet or so.

 

The Sunday pin looks like it's in the middle of a lake.

[jbil8802]

Am I hitting a 26* TMag 6 iron or my 30* Mizuno 6 iron?

[PlaidJacket]

I'm hitting a low choked knock-down 6i just left of the pin with a little cheese. That leaves me with about a 12 footer which I'll start on a perfect line as I begin my walk-off before the ball hits the bottom of the cup. The crowd goes wild. Pay me !!!!! 

[Kor.A.Door]

I'm hitting a low choked knock-down 6i just left of the pin with a little cheese. That leaves me with about a 12 footer which I'll start on a perfect line as I begin my walk-off before the ball hits the bottom of the cup. The crowd goes wild. Pay me !!!!!

Just like Kuchar says to do.

[RoverRick]

The key here is the wind is gusting right to left. So in that case, yes, I go for it. But it would be more than a 7i.

 

If the wind is left to right, I am aiming left side of the green, and playing more conservative.

[RookieBlue7]

Where's the trouble located?  Where's the bailout area?  That would determine the club selection and aim point.  I'd hit a 7 most likely as it's my 175 club if it's just right to left (at least with my current ones).  Adrenaline is pumping I'm sure and I don't want to fly the world.

[Kenny B]

From a perfect fairway lie and the right-to-left breeze I am hitting my 5H straight at the pin.  I don't care if it is tucked.  It's a 10 foot putt for the win.  I got that!

 

BTW, it's been said that a well-struck ball is not affected by the wind.  

[mbrodeur86]

176 is a good 7 iron for me. I'd go for it. I don't pay attention to the water. I never see it when I'm playing, especially if it's in front of the green. We have a hole at my home course here, hole 16, where it's 150-155 yards to the pin hitting over a small lake. I look at the green and hit my ball. Go for it for sure