Can a 4-Man Scramble (each guy with a 9 handicap) compete in a PGA major tournament?

[Joey Bogey]

So I saw this posted on barstool (see below) and it started a debate in the office.

 

I'm intrigued to hear what everyone in MyGolfSpy thinks.

 

I think an average 4-man scramble team would at least compete.

 

What do you guys think?

 

How Would An Average 4-Man Scramble Team Do In A PGA Tour Event? https://bars.tl/Vu6u/R4SkZDWG4E

 

 

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[STUDque]

It would be tough to win a tournament on their courses due to the length and speed but I totally believe they could make cuts and contend for top 10 at some tracks. On a regular course we shot 63 a few weeks back without mulligans or funny business.

 

Oh what a glorious side show that would be!

 

 

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[Canucklehead]

What do you mean by compete? Make a cut? Top 10, 20, 30?

 

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[TBT]

You could probably make the cut in a few events, it really depends on whether or not you have a bomber or 2 on the team. It doesn't matter if you have 4 whacks at an approach if your consistently hitting from over 200 yards for your 2nd shots.

 

 

With par 4's on tour being close and sometimes over 500 yards you will need somebody that can move the ball out there a pretty good distance and somebody else that's a great putter.

[hckymeyer]

Totally agree with TBT.  If your 9 handy group consists of guys that hit the ball 240 max then no, I still don't think you can compete.  Now if you've got 2 guys that can hit consistently 300yds and a couple guys with great short games then maybe you play the weekend.

[STUDque]

It'll really depend on the course too. There's that old Jack Nicklaus anecdote:

 

You could let an amateur drop at the 150 marker at Augusta for every hole and they still wouldn't break 100

 

 

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[TBT]

It'll really depend on the course too. There's that old Jack Nicklaus anecdote:

You could let an amateur drop at the 150 marker at Augusta for every hole and they still wouldn't break 100

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I might not break 100, but damn that would be fun!

[Eseay32]

It'll really depend on the course too. There's that old Jack Nicklaus anecdote:

 

You could let an amateur drop at the 150 marker at Augusta for every hole and they still wouldn't break 100

 

 

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This same debate happened a year or two ago. Could 16 guys with with 10-15 handicaps win the Masters. I say it's a resounding NO but people have argued it wouldn't be hard. Once you remind them that there would a real score keeping, no strings, throws, or red tees, they come back to reality.

 

 

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[scooducks]

You could probably make the cut in a few events, it really depends on whether or not you have a bomber or 2 on the team. It doesn't matter if you have 4 whacks at an approach if your consistently hitting from over 200 yards for your 2nd shots.

 

 

With par 4's on tour being close and sometimes over 500 yards you will need somebody that can move the ball out there a pretty good distance and somebody else that's a great putter.

I would go so far to say that at least two would need to be deep off the tee. Too much pressure on one guy.

 

 

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[geez2323]

Interesting topic. I would say possibly compete if you had a consistent long and straight driver, 2 guys that were good ball strikers and iron players and a short game and putting wizard. I think the best PGA players would still come out on top, they have all the aspects listed above that are more polished and refined than the average golfer. If you have ever been around a pro, it is amazing what they can do with a ball and how consistent they can do it. Would be fun to watch!

 

 

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[STUDque]

May I add to this question?

 

How many scoring records do you think a scramble full of pros could break?

 

Could we see a 50?

 

 

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[Eseay32]

May I add to this question?

 

How many scoring records do you think a scramble full of pros could break?

 

Could we see a 50?

 

 

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So take 4 pros and let them play a scramble?

 

They would birdie every hole and eagle 3 of 4 par fives (assuming there's 4 and not 6) so I would say a 50 is possible. The real question is could they go lower. When a pro wants to hole out, they usually scare it pretty good.

 

 

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[STUDque]

So take 4 pros and let them play a scramble?

 

They would birdie every hole and eagle 3 of 4 par fives (assuming there's 4 and not 6) so I would say a 50 is possible. The real question is could they go lower. When a pro wants to hole out, they usually scare it pretty good.

 

 

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Rory, Spieth, DJ, and Phil would shoot 48

 

 

 

 

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[drewneddy]

Wow great question.

 

After much thought, I believe a 4 man team of 9hcps would be top 5 at a major.

 

My thoughts are they wouldn't give hardly any shots back. Think you got 4 balls into every green, 4 pitches, 4 putts. And they would birdie 75% of the par 5s.

 

 

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[Eseay32]

Wow great question.

 

After much thought, I believe a 4 man team of 9hcps would be top 5 at a major.

 

My thoughts are they wouldn't give hardly any shots back. Think you got 4 balls into every green, 4 pitches, 4 putts. And they would birdie 75% of the par 5s.

 

 

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They would make a ton of pars but bogeys are absolutely possible with 4-9cappers on a major championship course playing over 7000 yds. I think they could shoot a few 68s though which would be enough

 

 

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[evershady]

I think too much credit is being given to the 9 handicappers. I dont think they would make the cut. If you have 2 guys that can bomb consistently hit 300 they have no short game otherwise they wouldnt be a 9. The courses are tough the pressure is intense even with 4 shots i dont see them getting it done. One round maybe but one bad hole will take them out of the tournament. Most shots needed to compete in a major are not in a 9 handicaps bag especially with the consistency needed. That means each guy would have to average the shots of over 4 holes of perfect major championship golf.

 

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[Reesedw]

I say no. I think there are too many shots that would be tough for a amateur to make period let alone a 9+ handicapper... Even with 4 shots I do not think they could make the cut. 

 

Now if they played a Shorter course closer to 7000- 7200 Maybe.. other wise the length is too much... they would be forcing long shots into a pool table like green.. 

[revkev]

How did this get here?

 

Sorry that I missed it.

 

Not a chance - there is not a chance that four 9's playing a scramble could compete in a major. In fact there will be holes where they can't reach the fairway on many courses used for a major.

 

 

 

 

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[gaussman1]

How did this get here?

 

Sorry that I missed it.

 

Not a chance - there is not a chance that four 9's playing a scramble could compete in a major. In fact there will be holes where they can't reach the fairway on many courses used for a major.

 

 

 

 

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I agree with RevKev. I think they would be unlikely to break 80. 7500 yards with deep rough and major championship greens I think they would struggle to make par on virtually any par 3 or 4.

[GolfSpy MPR]

Not a chance - there is not a chance that four 9's playing a scramble could compete in a major. In fact there will be holes where they can't reach the fairway on many courses used for a major.

 

This was one of my main takeaways from being at the US Open at Erin Hills. From the championship tees, I would not be able to play 18 holes even if I started with two dozen balls, simply because I wouldn't be able to get to several of the fairways, and missing short puts the ball in the two-foot-tall native fescue, where (without the advantages of tournament play) it's unlikely to be found.