The best golfers in the world will face a tricky decision this week when it comes to whether to lay-up on Los Angeles Country Club’s driveable par-4 sixth hole. But one of those players, Rickie Fowler, has already made up his mind to go the safe route on one of the course’s par 3s. Say what?
Yes, it’s true. And it actually gets even crazier when we point out that the five-time PGA Tour winner plans to do it on what would be the shortest par 3 in major championship history. Again, say what?!
John Wood on Golf Channel just now said Rickie told him he plans to lay up short if they use a front pin on 15. Laying up on an 80 yard hole!!! Please, pretty, pretty please USGA, put a pin there. 🙏🏻
— Meg Adkins (@megadkins_TFE) June 13, 2023
In an interview with NBC Sports’ John Wood, Rickie revealed he plans to purposely miss the 15th green short if/when the USGA puts the pin up front to make it about a 73-metre (80-yard) shot. Laying up on a 73-metre shot?! That is the opposite of a bold strategy. Cue Austin Powers staying on 5 at the blackjack table.
But have a look at this photo of the boomerang-shaped green and it begins to make more sense:
As Fowler explained to Wood, he believes golf balls will plug in the bunker if you miss long. And coming up short leaves a straightforward chip to set up an easy putt below the hole.
Actually, Fowler wouldn’t be the first player to lay up on a par 3 at the US Open. Billy Casper famously employed that strategy all four days of the 1959 championship on Winged Foot’s third hole – and got up-and-down for par all four days on his way to victory.
The difference, of course, is that was a long par 3. But the thinking is similar in that Casper preferred facing an easy chip instead of dealing with bunkers and rough. It should also be pointed out that the USGA will likely only play the 15th at an extremely short yardage for one of the rounds.
“It’s an awesome hole,” Wyndham Clark said of LACC’s 15th. “If you hit the right yardage, you’re going to have a short birdie putt or maybe even make a hole-in-one. But if you’re off, it’s an easy, easy bogey.”
So while laying up with a sand wedge in your hand might seem ridiculous – especially for guys this good – Fowler could be onto something. And if Rickie’s week turns out like Billy’s in 1959, no one will be questioning his conservative strategy.
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