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

[revkev]

no way maybe maybe make cut - 4 scratch golfers in scramble all depending if u have a guy or two who can hit it 300 then yes make the cut and maybe top 20 it best

 

 

Bags

I would agree that it would be possible for them to do okay in some normal tournaments - assuming the pressure of the crowds, course set up and machine like ball striking of their fellow competitors didn't get to them.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[STUDque]

I'm firmly in the camp that a group of 9's can compete in a major and no one is changing my mind on this. For 1) 9's come in all shapes and sizes and if you pair 2 bombers with 2 short game masters, you'll be in good shape. For 2) "Compete" is a relative term. Top 10? Top 25? Making the cut? There's arguments to be had that any of these achievements can be considered competing and I believe they're all possible with the right group.

 

_______________________________________________

 

 

Now let me do my best to expand the discussion:

 

If you take this 4 man team and play them in a full PGA season, are they making the Tour Championship?

 

I'd say they make they playoffs in year one and the Tour Championship year two. Even the best touring pros need some time to get acclimated to the environments they'll face. They may not win but those are still accomplished seasons you can feel great about.

 

 

 

 

 

Sent from carrier pigeon using MyGolfSpy

[bullldog]

I'm a nye sayer, I just don't think they'd have the "nerve". think its whole different meatball

[GolfJunkie302]

I'm a nye sayer, I just don't think they'd have the "nerve". think its whole different meatball

I actually think it would be the other way around. Just knowing you've got three other guys backing you up is a huge confidence booster. Takes off a lot of pressure.

 

Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk

[Golfspy_CG2]

That's a great boo boo on my part. See the What are you drinking tonight thread.

 

It may have been alcohol induced....

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

No worries I just found it funny/ironic that it was another famous Hamilton. Wouldn't have been as funny if you said Bill Hamilton. But Alexander Hamilton would have been hilarious.

 

As for the WAYD thread. I try to avoid it. Too many good temptations.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[STUDque]

I actually think it would be the other way around. Just knowing you've got three other guys backing you up is a huge confidence booster. Takes off a lot of pressure.

 

Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk

Agreed. The only one who should be feeling pressure is the last guy to hit IF the other three jacked it up. Even still, that last guy should be the best at whatever type of shot they're on.

 

 

Sent from carrier pigeon using MyGolfSpy

[ole gray]

I wouldn't bet on the 9 cappers unless they are in a beer chugging contest against John Daly.  

[GolfJunkie302]

I wouldn't bet on the 9 cappers unless they are in a beer chugging contest against John Daly.

John Daly? He would destroy 4 guys in a beer chugging contest!

 

Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk

[ole gray]

John Daly? He would destroy 4 guys in a beer chugging contest!

 

Sent from my SM-T580 using Tapatalk

 

Yup,,, That's what I'm saying, you don't mess with the pros 

[Big money]

With the crowds and cameras ? I say they fold like a 3 piece suit.

[Jmikecpa]

Nope. Hell I can't win a four man scramble against a bunch of 15 handicaps when our combined group index does not add to 5.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[STUDque]

Missed it by 2 days but I figured I'd dust this thread off in light of all the discussions about regular schmos shooting respectable scores at Shinny.

 

How well do we think this group would've done so far? My money is on a made cut.

 

For the sake of argument, let's just assume that this group of 4 has 2 guys that can carry 260. This way, we're guaranteeing they don't have issues with the forced carries and find most of the fairways...like Phil

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[BigtazzGolf]

Missed it by 2 days but I figured I'd dust this thread off in light of all the discussions about regular schmos shooting respectable scores at Shinny.

 

How well do we think this group would've done so far? My money is on a made cut.

 

For the sake of argument, let's just assume that this group of 4 has 2 guys that can carry 260. This way, we're guaranteeing they don't have issues with the forced carries and find most of the fairways...like Phil

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

Agreed they'd make cut but probably be in the rabbit position this morning

 

 

Tazz

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[silver & black]

I'm going with no way. I'm a 9.... maybe not right now...lol. I know how I struggle. I can't imagine 4 of me playing from the tips on a PGA set up course.... just no way.

[Jmikecpa]

No shot at all. I have been lucky to play Shinnecock about a dozen times and shot 74 from the members tees there last year. This setup is off the charts harder than it is set up for member play. I think I would struggle to break 100 in these conditions. This is a second shot golf course and being able to control distance down to a yard or two is critical. I have not played with many 9 handicaps that have that ability.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[silver & black]

 I have not played with many 9 handicaps that have that ability. 

 

Me either! 

[revkev]

Missed it by 2 days but I figured I'd dust this thread off in light of all the discussions about regular schmos shooting respectable scores at Shinny.

 

How well do we think this group would've done so far? My money is on a made cut.

 

For the sake of argument, let's just assume that this group of 4 has 2 guys that can carry 260. This way, we're guaranteeing they don't have issues with the forced carries and find most of the fairways...like Phil

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

m

 

They get escorted off the course. That's how they do. You have to carry it 270, straight oh and on a few holes curve it one way or another so that it stays in the fairway. They've never encountered conditions like they are facing and four putt their first green when they choose the slick down hill 10 footer they thought would be easy. It was the only ball on the green.

 

There's simply no chance a group of 9's breaks 80 in a scramble on this course. And they hold up play so much that they get DQd - early

 

Did anyone see what happened to Russell Henry in the rough yesterday?

 

Picture that on multiple holes.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[djahubes]

m

 

They get escorted off the course. That's how they do. You have to carry it 270, straight oh and on a few holes curve it one way or another so that it stays in the fairway. They've never encountered conditions like they are facing and four putt their first green when they choose the slick down hill 10 footer they thought would be easy. It was the only ball on the green.

 

There's simply no chance a group of 9's breaks 80 in a scramble on this course. And they hold up play so much that they get DQd - early

 

Did anyone see what happened to Russell Henry in the rough yesterday?

 

Picture that on multiple holes.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

This would be a great idea for a charity tournament on the Monday after the Open. Have a scramble from the Sunday tees with amateurs and see what happens. Televised on golf channel. Someone make this happen.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[robertson153]

I don't think you could take 2 scratch and 2 9ers and contend this weekend. Just my opinion.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[SmoothG]

I think there is no chance. I don't think regular folks can handle PGA tour conditions. Also if you add in massive galleries those 9 caps can double really quick.

 

Sent from my Pixel using MyGolfSpy mobile app

[cksurfdude]

No shot at all. I have been lucky to play Shinnecock about a dozen times and shot 74 from the members tees there last year. This setup is off the charts harder than it is set up for member play. I think I would struggle to break 100 in these conditions. This is a second shot golf course and being able to control distance down to a yard or two is critical. I have not played with many 9 handicaps that have that ability.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

m

 

They get escorted off the course. That's how they do. You have to carry it 270, straight oh and on a few holes curve it one way or another so that it stays in the fairway. They've never encountered conditions like they are facing and four putt their first green when they choose the slick down hill 10 footer they thought would be easy. It was the only ball on the green.

 

There's simply no chance a group of 9's breaks 80 in a scramble on this course. And they hold up play so much that they get DQd - early

 

Did anyone see what happened to Russell Henry in the rough yesterday?

 

Picture that on multiple holes.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

FWIW I'm on the "nope" side.

 

Had the opportunity to attend a Barclays - not a major, but a regular Tour stop - at Bethpage Black - one of the tougher but as I understand it not _the_ toughest course on Tour.

 

As Rev has pointed out driving DISTANCE by itself is meaningless ... You need the carry distance PLUS the awesome accuracy PLUS a hard draw or fade on command PLUS the cool head and nerves to hit the ball into lots of times what are blind landing areas over nearly unplayable rough/fescue and/or hazards and/or trees....

 

2 chances to hit most of the fairways is not enough.

 

And then as JMike said your second shot has to be very nearly spot on ... or you are in a whole heap o' trouble.....

 

Could this scramble make the cut in one of "lesser" Tour stops, eg. a tourney without all the top-ranked pros? Quite possibly. But while I'd be cheering them on / rooting for the underdog I wouldn't be betting money on them........

[THEZIPR23]

There is no way. They flat out don't have the control of the ball to compete. Doesn't matter what combo you put together, bomber, short game master etc. 

[palvord]

As Rev has pointed out driving DISTANCE by itself is meaningless ... You need the carry distance PLUS the awesome accuracy PLUS a hard draw or fade on command PLUS the cool head and nerves to hit the ball into lots of times what are blind landing areas over nearly unplayable rough/fescue and/or hazards and/or trees....

This. All of this. There is a reason that the top pro golfers are what they are. Even the guys scraping a living on mini-tours would have had trouble with Shinnecock set up that way. And for good reason. The entire course was set up to test every single part of the game, especially in between the ears.

 

No way would a scramble of 4 amateur 9 handicappers make the cut.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

[Mr. 82]

I play in a weekly 9-hole scramble at a local course, where we play the forward tees, and the typical winning score is -6 or -7.  One week, just for fun, we took the four best players in our entire group and teamed up, and went -10.  But again, that was from the forward tees.  The handicaps of our 4 best players are 4, 7, 8 and 9.  I'll also say that that -10 score will probably never be touched, because it took the four of us, all being on our game on the same day to make this happen.  And I'll even throw in the fact that we used several mulligans to make a birdie putt on one of the par 3's.  

 

Considering that the tees we play are in the neighborhood of 6,100 yards, I'm going with there isn't even a snowballs chance in hell of four 9-cappers even making the cut at a PGA event, let alone a major.  Just factor in that all four of the guys I am referring to above hit it anywhere between 260 and 300 yards with their BEST drives, and half the time they miss the fairway, and we are lucky to have one good drive to choose from.  But you push us back to 7,400 yards or whatever, and force us to play those 500 yard par 4's and chances are we don't even reach those in 2, and are struggling to make par, even with 4 shots.

 

Giving you the results of 3 of the 4 golfers I referenced above, we each played in a 36-hole tournament this weekend in extreme heat, under competition, and the total scores turned in by these 3 single digit hanidcappers were 82-90-82-84-88-81.  Three guys that in a scramble can usually have a good round, can't even break 80 under tournament conditions.  Ultimately, I will tell you that regardless of ball striking and driving, the PGA Tour is nothing but a glorified putting contest.  And like has been mentioned here many times already, you'd need two guys that can roll the rock to even sniff a cut.  But frankly, even if I gave you four 9-handicappers that were lights out on the greens, you still don't even sniff a cut.

 

Honestly, I play in a scramble once a week, and it never fails that I'll go out there some nights and I'm hitting every green and every fairway, and our group will post -7 or -8.  But there are many weeks when we pair up 2 or 3 really good golfers and that group walks in happy with -3, because no one was hitting the ball worth a crap that night.

 

Those of you who think four 9-cappers can do anything worth noting at a PGA event are sniffing something too much.  And don't even get me started on majors.

[RookieBlue7]

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?

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using MyGolfSpy

You'd see lower than a 50.

 

My group I played with shot a 49 in a scramble that had 24 feet of string total and 2 mulligans each. We used 4 feet of string on a par 4 to give us a 1 after I drove the green to 4 feet (short tricked up hole that's normally iron off the tee to a layup and then a wedge. I hit a big high rope hook with a 3 wood that hit the front of the green and rolled right by the hole. Luckiest shot I've ever hit that looked like I knew exactly what I was doing).

 

A group of pros on an average course we play would easily shoot 22 under without any eagles on par 4's. I'd imagine they'd have a few of those though. I could see 46-48

[RoverRick]

9 handicappers do not have the course management skills nor the short game skills required to play in a major. This does not even take into account the length issue.

 

Add in the Scramble Mentality that says they have to hit an 8 iron because that's what the pros are hitting, and then the fact that if they could putt and could get up and down 90% of the time from ANYWHERE inside 100 yards. they would not be 9 handicappers.

 

Sadly, I have to fall on the side of not making the cut.