My uncle has a pretty funny story about once seeing Phil Mickelson at a bar in Tempe during his college days passed out in the corner with his friends. This isn't to defame his image, everyone drank and passed out and probably peed in a bed or two during college (blushes).
The reason I'm bringing this up is because Mickelson actually won a PGA Tour event as a college student, the 1991 Northern Telecom Open. I just wonder how crazy he was about numbers those days or if he just went out and tried to hit it as close as possible on every hole.
All of this is raised because of what I just read about everyone's favorite Lefty (Except Canadians).
Phil Mickelson and his short-game guru, Dave Pelz, work with a software program that analyzes tour statistics and applies them to various top venues.
The Left-handed professor offered an example of the wonders revealed by the program — and closed with a pop quiz.
"If you increase any statistical category across the board, it lowers scores," Mickelson explained. "OK, 10 percent fewer putts, 10 percent more greens, 10 percent closer to the hole, 10 percent more fairways — every one lowers scores except longer driving distance."
Warming to the subject, he added, "There's one golf course in America where 10 percent longer driving equates to lower scores. What would you think it would be?"
After a pregnant pause, he smiled and said, "Augusta National."
How hard are the guys that created this software laughing to the bank? This hard?
What person with even a scosh of common sense couldn't figure out that 10 percent fewer putts would lower your score?
"Well Phil, here is your word problem. Chez Reavie plays 36 holes at Troon North. The first 18 he has 30 putts, the second 18 he has 28 putts. Based solely on the information given, which round would produce a lower score?"
Am I missing something?
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