Question:

Maybe there just isn’t enough golf played in match rather than medal play… I saw some of the BB replayed on TGC last night, and wondered about two of the conceded putts. On 15 (or 14?), Justin appeared to put the head of his putter in the cup, as though he was eyeballing whether or not Anthony’s ball was "within the leather".  Seemed like an odd way to determine whether or not to concede. On 16, Anthony conceded a short putt (18 inches or so) to go dormie.  Why would you *ever* concede a putt like that to go dormie?  Is that just "good sportsmanship", or bad judgment?  I would not have given it, not at that point, and not with my game struggling over the past couple of holes as Anthony’s was.  It seemed like a last chance to put some pressure on Justin, and try to get a change in the momentum, which was all going to Justin at that point. And the good old Golf Channel’s main page for the BB describes the match as Justin defeating Anthony 3 & 1.  That seems a bit harsh – did they penalize Anthony for conceding that putt? And finally, Rick Smith has a few tips on "Match Play Strategy". He begins by saying you have to "play the course", then immediately says to watch your opponent’s shots and change your club selection based on his shot.  Then he says you have to "play to your own strengths, not what your competitor is doing",  and in the next sentence suggests that  "You can even watch the mannerisms of your competitor to sense how well they’re feeling. If your competitor starts getting nervous it’s almost a sure thing that their routine is going to change. That may mean they’re on the verge of falling apart".  Seems like odd advice if you’re playing the course, not worrying about what your competitor is doing.

Response:

Maybe there just isn’t enough golf played in match rather than medal play… I saw some of the BB replayed on TGC last night, and wondered about two of the conceded putts. On 15 (or 14?), Justin appeared to put the head of his putter in the cup, as though he was eyeballing whether or not Anthony’s ball was "within the leather".  Seemed like an odd way to determine whether or not to concede.

He was just playing around. On 16, Anthony conceded a short putt (18 inches or so) to go dormie.  Why would you *ever* concede a putt like that to go dormie?  Is that just "good sportsmanship", or bad judgment?  I would not have given it, not at that point, and not with my game struggling over the past couple of holes as Anthony’s was.  It seemed like a last chance to put some pressure on Justin, and try to get a change in the momentum, which was all going to Justin at that point.

It was really a kick-in putt.  I don’t think even I could have missed that one.  Sometimes it gives your opponent more confidence and momentum to force him to make a short putt like that.  Anyway, the match was really over by that point, and Anthony knew it. And the good old Golf Channel’s main page for the BB describes the match as Justin defeating Anthony 3 & 1.  That seems a bit harsh – did they penalize Anthony for conceding that putt?

No, Justin won the next hole too.  So he went from 2 & 2 to 3 & 1. (By the time you read this, I bet at least 5 other similar responses will have been posted.)

Response:

And the good old Golf Channel’s main page for the BB describes the match as Justin defeating Anthony 3 & 1.  That seems a bit harsh – did they penalize Anthony for conceding that putt? And finally, Rick Smith has a few tips on "Match Play Strategy". He begins by saying you have to "play the course",

 then – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – immediately says to watch your opponent’s shots and change your club selection based on his shot.  Then he says you have to "play to your own strengths, not what your competitor is doing",  and in the next sentence suggests that  "You can even watch the mannerisms of your competitor to sense how well they’re feeling. If your competitor starts getting nervous it’s almost a sure thing that their routine is going to change. That may mean they’re on the verge of falling apart".  Seems like odd advice if you’re playing the course, not worrying about what your competitor is doing.

Response: