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Friday Fun: Why It's Okay To Leave Putts Short

Plus, in Trivia - who is know as the "Tiger Slayer"?

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Wild Golf
May 16, 2025

Happy Friday - The PGA Championship is on tap this week, and after the first day, one thing has certainly stuck out - MUDBALLS. A “mudball” happens when a big chunk of mud attaches itself to the ball after heavy rainfall, and Charlotte, NC got about 5” of rain in the days leading up to the first round. And mudballs can make your ball do crazy things, so the players this week are less than thrilled that they aren’t being allowed to lift, clean and replace their balls. The leaderboard certainly shows it may not be the best players who are getting the most luck, as very few are in contention. Let’s hope that changes in a hurry.

Do you have a mudball story? What’s your worst break? Let us know!

Why It’s Okay To Leave (Some) Putts Short
Scott Fawcett uses stats to prove why it’s okay for some putts to never have a chance

On putts outside of 20 feet, most of us are thinking “I want this putt to finish just past the hole”, which is a great thought to have. However, most of us from this distance have about a 5 foot wide dispersion in distance that we can control it, so rather than thinking about hitting it PAST the hole the full 5 feet, which not only risks a 3-putt but also results in more lipouts by making the hole smaller (due to sub-optimal speed) and risk a 3-putt.

So the better strategy is to try and center your dispersion more like ~1 foot past the hole (leaving 1.5 feet short and 3.5 feet long, on average). Here’s more from Decade Golf’s Scott Fawcett:

All You Can Eat and Drink at the PGA?!
The PGA Championship hooked it up this year

We all know it’s expensive to go to a major championship, with the access passes, food and drink, as well as the merch that you just HAVE pick up. Well, the PGA of America decided to take care of a part of that and give everyone with general admission free all-you-can-eat food and drink! This takes getting a hot dog at the turn to a whole new level!

Ping Launches the New Bunkr Wedge, Designed to Escape the Sand EVERY Time
Could it really be true?

Ping has FINALLY made a solution to the shot that most people dread - the bunker shot! Ping’s new Bunkr wedge is designed specifically to help players escape the sand and land safely on the green without too many alterations to their set up! With 64 degrees of loft and lots of bounce, there is no need to lay the face wide open - just line up to the shot, hit sand first, and watch that baby glide out!

TODAY’S TRIVIA
Answer to Win a Framed 2025 PGA Championship Poster and a Holderness & Bourne Quarter Zip
(1 winner chosen on 5/31/25 across all May trivia entries, 1,000 correct respondents minimum)

Who was the only player to chase down and beat Tiger Woods in a major championship after Tiger held the lead going into the final round?

Hint: It was in the 2009 PGA Championship, and it got him the nickname "The Tiger Slayer"!

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