Xander Schauffele of the United States Team plays a second shot on the second hole during Sunday singles matches on day four of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Country Club on September 25, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Xander Schauffele secured the victory for the United States in the 14th Presidents Cup. He came to the 18th hole with a 1-Up lead over Corey Conners. Unfortunately, his tee shot found the left trees and landed deep in the rough. Conners was in the fairway with a clear shot to the green.
Schauffele hit a conservative shot to the middle of the fairway to a manageable distance to the green. It was definitely a tough decision, but sometimes playing for par is the prudent move. So many amateurs continually try to take the toughest route to a good score.
Don’t attempt to make the game any harder by attempting to hit shots you aren’t prepared to hit successfully. Xander’s ball came to rest just 78 yards from the hole. With a brilliant wedge, he knocked his third shot inside six feet from the hole. Conners approach landed in the greenside bunker, and he splashed out from the sand to nearly the same distance. And Xander seemed to have what he wanted when the hole began, a putting contest to decide the match.
Xander Schauffele of the United States Team putts for the win on the 18th green during Sunday singles matches on day four of the 2022 Presidents Cup at Quail Hollow Country Club on September 25, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
The next time you are faced with a difficult decision on the course ask yourself a couple of very important questions:
How can I play to my strengths from here? Sometimes the decision is a simple one from the fairway. Should I lay up or go for it. There’s nothing in your way, why not just swing away? If you don’t pitch the ball well, you should lay back to a full swing distance.
Where’s the most trouble? Sometimes the decision is whether to try and carry a penalty area. Don’t try to hit over water or a waste area unless the carry is at least 75% for certain. Instead, lay up just before and then hit the next shot over. This can be extremely frustrating, but it always leads to lower scores.
When punching out from trouble, pay attention to your landing zone. Many times, when amateurs lay up, they just hit the ball to a general area. Pay attention like Xander and hit the ball to a distance your comfortable with. Make sure you hit the fairway. Don’t compound the issue by hitting a shot back into play that comes to rest in another tough spot.
If it is a match play scenario, how will your decision affect your opponent? Taking the safest route can put pressure on your competitor. Xander’s quick decision to layup and play conservatively forced Corey to try and play for birdie. Had Xander gone for it and made a bigger mistake, Conners would have had an easier second shot to contend with.
And if all goes right, the celebration will look something like this...
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