This photo purports to show the absolutely insane ball flight of Bubba Watson’s screaming hook that finally put Louis Oosthuizen away at the 2012 Masters. (Photo from Chris Chappell, blue-line drawing supposedly via MSPaint.exe from Watson’s caddie based on where he thought they were.)
Apparently what’s really going on is that this was a bad guess by the caddie…a good try, but a bad guess. While the shot was incredible – most people are pretty sure the ball didn’t curve hard right for 40 yards, then fly straight for 55 more. That would defy physics. Moreover, Bubba started the shot from the other end of the Mackenzie fairway bunker, (back towards the tee), not the forward end as depicted here.
Nevertheless, a screaming hook with a gap wedge. He HAD to have turned the club in his hands for openers, then closed his stance and swung flat, but still…to visualize, then execute that shot out of the woods with a gap wedge with the Green Jacket in the balance? Crazier things have been reported, but not by reliable sources.
Also nevertheless, Chappell raises an interesting point that merits inquiry: he is disappointed with the TV coverage of that shot because the camera angles couldn’t show the curve of the ball flight. Some people, in response wonder 1) well how can CBS have a camera everywhere – Bubba played that ball from downtown Athens! and 2) wouldn’t the curve of that ball (90 degrees) not be able to be seen well on TV and especially not by one camera angle.
I don’t know the answers to those questions. I haven’t met too many people that complained about the camera angle and all I know is I had a pretty good view of that golf ball when it curved, bounced once, veered further left than a Nancy Pelosi immigration bill, then grabbed a chair faster than a golf writer at a Dan Jenkins book release party!
Discuss – Were you disappointed by the TV coverage of that shot?
