Boo Weekley, the 2007 Verizon Heritage Champion, chipped his way to victory over the "Big Easy" Ernie Els and the windblown field at The Harbour Town Golf Links. Of all the courses on the PGA TOUR, Harbour Town Golf Links might be the one where your short game, and in particular -- your chipping game, better be on. The course is known for having the most difficult greens on tour to hit in regulation. Add 35-50 mile wind gust to this equation and you must know how to chip.
Boo hit 9 of 18 greens in regulation in the last round. Ernie managed 11 of 18, the highest of the top 12 finishers. Three players hit 12 greens in regulation to lead the field. This statistic alone tells the tale of how difficult it was for players to select not only the proper club but the proper shot as well.
The 17th hole was scheduled to play 185 yards to a well-bunkered, liver-shaped green that had a precarious pin placement to boot. Behind the green was a severe ten-foot drop where you just did not want to go. When Steve Elkington, the first player to arrive at the hole, called a PGA Tour official over and pointed out a five-club wind, the markers were moved forward to the red tees at 136 yards to the pin. When Boo arrived at the hole, he used a six-iron. When Ernie played it, he used a five. In both instances, the wind affected their decision-making more than their swings as both went over the green, and Ernie even went in to the hazard. Less than 25% of the field hit this short hole in regulation.
As Boo played this hole, he held the lead by one stroke. His tee shot stopped behind the green and left him a difficult shot back towards the pin. The shot required a flop and he later admitted that flop shots are not his strength. It's understandable, the course he grew up on in Milton, Florida did not require too many flop shots, but rather taught him to chip the ball low and let it roll to the hole. Thus, Boo left the flop short and was left with a chip from the severe uphill slope. Talk about playing to your strengths! The shot was no picnic, it was down wind and into the grain from only 11 yards away, but he managed to drain it to keep a one-shot lead.
The 18th hole, known for the red and white striped lighthouse with the water of the Calibogue Sound one step off the left fringe, was played correctly by Boo. He played his second shot to the bail-out area to the right and then wanted to play a 27-yard pitch to the pin which was only five steps from the water. It was solid course management given the situation. However, the pitch got under the wind and began rolling down grain, only to be caught with the last hope cushion of light rough on the down slope. Still, Boo -- with ball well above his feet -- chipped in to save par and victory.
What I learned about chipping from this windy experience follows:
- Strong legs make for a steady foundation. Boo and Ernie both can weather the storm with great stabilizers found in there hips and thighs. This helps on side hill lies and windy conditions.
- Keep the weight on the forward foot to ensure a quiet body and a descending blow.
- Grip the club like a putter, you do not need hand action
- Light grip pressure to increase your feel and touch
- Putting posture and grip down on the club handle
- Hands move naturally forward of the ball as you lean on your forward foot
- Ball position and club selection determine trajectory. Learn to step on the clubface to see the trajectory of the shot with the chosen club. This also helps in determining where the ball will land.
- Now you can use the following ratios: Pitching wedge 1/2 air and 1/2 roll, 7 iron flies 1/3 air and 2/3 roll
- Listen for the ball to land before you look
- Practice stroke with your eyes on the hole
- Your eyes spend 80% of the time on the path of the shot and the target and 20% or less on the golf ball during your pre shot routine
- Learn to control the chip with your shoulders carrying the arms and hands. Shoulders are slow twitch muscles that are dependable under pressure
Course management thoughts concerning chipping:
- Confident chippers execute their approach shots from the fairways better because they are not afraid to miss the green
- Know where to miss the green- Long side means you have a low risk chip shot with a lot of green. Short -side means you have very little green to work with and very few options causing high stress
- Get the ball on the green ASAP because it minimizes the spin and improves the roll of the ball to more like a putt.
- Read the green from the lowest point to get the best read
- Desire to chip it in
- Sound chipping results in stress free putts and fewer putts.
Boo's success with his chips on the last two holes were no fluke. On those small greens, his clutch chips positioned him to finish 6th in total putting. The phrase "drive for show and putt for dough" certainly applies to the $972,000 winner's check and a 2008 Master's Invitation that he received.
When conditions or the course lay-out or even a less than solid full swing mean that you're not hitting too many greens, that doesn't mean you can't score well. Think about executing proper chipshots, and you'll find great success as well.
Doug Weaver is the PGA Director of Instruction at Palmetto Dunes Golf Academy in Hilton Head, South Carolina. He is often cited by various golf media as one of the top instructors in the state, has his own television program - "Doug Weaver's Hilton Head Island Weekly", and is a former PGA TOUR player who has played in the Verizon Heritage Classic five times. He can be reached at (800) 827 3006 or by email at pgaweaver@aol.com.
