John Fischer's Philadelphia
Vol. 1 - Number 23 - 07/19/99
Several years ago I went to see the Kevin Costner film "Tin Cup" in which Costner plays the role of driving range pro Roy "Tin Cup" McAvoy. In order to regain his dignity and the respect of the woman he loves, he feels that the only thing he can do is to enter and try to win the U.S. Open, one of golf's major tournaments.
When I saw the film I found most of it quite believable until the final scenes where on the final day of the U.S. Open, when leading the tournament, McAvoy decides that he will go for the green on the final hole, a par five, on his second shot rather than lay up in front of a lake and ensure likely victory. Rather than take the smart shot, he has to prove to himself and the world that he had passed the test.
Needless to say, he misses the shot and goes into the water, not once but several times and loses the U.S. Open but he does win back his dignity and the love and respect of the girl.
I always found that last hole scenario to be totally unbelievable. I believed that no professional golfer would really be that stupid. A pro would protect the lead and go for the win - which would almost be ensured by taking the safe shot.
Well, Sunday, the British Open proved me wrong. The last hole at Carnoustie is a long 487 yard par four which is crossed at three places by a stone walled stream called the Barry Burn.
With a three shot lead going into the last hole of the British Open, French golfer Jean Van de Velde who had all day continued to take driver off the tee, once again hit his driver, and again far right. In fact he landed in the fairway of the 17th hole. Rather than lay up into the 18th fairway on the near side of the stream, he elected to go for the green. His shot once again went far right, bounced off the bleachers, back off the rock wall at the edge of the stream and further back into the heavy rough.
Van De Velde's third shot from the rough went into the stream and for a brief time he even considered attempting to play the ball from the water. By that point insanity had clearly set in.
Taking the drop and the penalty stroke, his fifth shot went into the green-side bunker from which he was able to make it up and down for a triple bogie seven.
At the end of regulation play, three golfers were tied for the lead, Van De Velde, America's Justin Leonard and Scotsman Paul Lawrie.
The playoff at the British Open consists of four holes, the 15th, 16th, 17th and 18th. The best cumulative score wins. All of the players had problems with the first two playoff holes but by the time they that they reached the 18th, Lawrie had a one stroke lead over Leonard and Van De Velde.
Van De Velde's troubles continued as he hacked his way up the left rough, destined not to reach the green until his third shot. Leonard had already gone for the green in two, as he did in regulation, and for the second time he also had gone into the stream. It was now up to the local favorite, Lawrie.
Almost ensured of a victory by laying up and playing it safe onto the green in three, he took a long iron and decided to go for the green in two. He hit the ball solidly. It soared over the Barry Burn and landed within a few feet of the pin. He had won the British open, the first Scotsman to do so on native soil since the 1930's.
When asked later why he would take such a risky shot when victory was virtually assured by laying up, he responded, "I just went ahead and did my job. The golf course was very, very tough. But it's a major tournament and you should have to pass the exam."
So I guess I was wrong about "Tin Cup". There is something that drives people to have to "pass the exam" rather than take the easy way out. Maybe that's a lesson for all of us.
Well, that's my spin on things. I'll catch you on Wednesday. If you've missed it be sure to catch the first part of our new series, A Walk Down South Street. You can join me in our chat room almost every evening - Philly Chat - or drop me a note at philadelphia.guide@about.com. Also, be sure to check out our new Philadelphia Forum where you can share your comments and feelings, ask questions, post classifieds and much more.
If you missed any of our recent columns you can still catch them:
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