2008 SHELL'S WONDERFUL WORLD OF GOLF
JEFE VERSUS JIMBO
ARCADIA BLUFFS GOLF CLUB
14th Hole: Par 5, 464 yards
YouTube version:
Strangely, the 15th hole is playing shorter than the par 4 7th that sits right next to it and goes the same direction. I guess you can consider this a birdie hole. If the 2008 Shell's Wonderful World of Golf were a USGA-sanctioned event, this sucker would definitely be playing as a par 4.
If Jefe's going to make a move in this match, he's probably going to have to do it right here. A good drive and he should have no problem going after this one two. When you've hit 1 out of 10 fairways, a good drive is easier said than done, but Jefe manages to muscle one down the right side. Jimbo hits another one 235 and down the middle, good enough to average 143rd on the LPGA driving distance list. Advantage Jefe.
Jimbo was forced to lay-up on his second shot, and he pulled his shot further left than he probably wanted to. The flag location is far left and he'll have to go right over the giant bunker fronting the green. Jefe failed to reach the green in two, but was right of the green with nothing but short grass between him and the hole. Advantage Jefenator.
Well, i've been wrong before (at least once)...maybe the spot where Jimbo was is actually the better place to be. What do I know? I've never laid up successfully in my life, therefore I just don't do it. There's a backstop right behind the hole, any shot past the pin will roll right back. That's exactly what Jimbo did, sucking it back to about 10 feet. Jefe would have to come across the slope, therefore would have to judge his speed just right. He came in a little hot and it ran through to the collar of the green and the non-fringe. Maybe Jimbo knew what he was doing. Or maybe he just hit a good shot and Jefe didn't. You decide.
Jefe would have to putt back across the slope, a tough putt to begin with but even tougher from the collar. His putt was right from the start and never had a chance. All jimbo had to do was breathe on his putt in the right direction and it was going in. And that's just what he did. Center cut for his third birdie of the day (fourth if you count the crow), and more importantly a two-stroke lead with just three holes to play.
Jefe: I knew that if I was going to win this match that this could be a pivotal hole. I felt I could get at 15 in two and I hit my best drive of the day. Knowing that I could get at the pin if I hit the right center of the green I had 225 or so in but I pushed my 5 wood right and it didn't funnel. Jimbo hit a great shot, from my angle it looked tour quality as it went past the hole, spun, and ended up in makeable range. He made it, I made a routine par, and things were looking bleak as I was 2 down with 3 to go. I knew 16 was a long par four though and if I got a good drive down there I would have an advantage on that hole.
Jimbo: Jefe nuked his drive on the final par 5, and I followed suit by hitting my best one of the day, although I was still 30 yards behind him. I chose to play left of the fairway bunker on my second and pulled it just a little. I only had 85 yards or so for my third to a severly elevated green with a menacing bunker in front. I walked up to the green to get a peak at the pin, which was tucked maybe 10 feet behind the bunker. Behind the stick the green sloped upward, providing a natural backboard. I decided the one place I couldn't be was in the bunker. If I am trying to impress the ladies, I'll tell them I spun my 56* wedge off the backboard to set up birdie. If Bernie and I are rehashing the round over a cold one in the grill, I'll tell him the truth, which is I caught my third thin and somehow it spun off the backboard leaving me 10 feet for birdie. The putt was dead straight and I rolled it in for my third birdie on the day.
-->
After 15 Holes: Jimbo +6; Jefe +8
