Question about "concessions" in golf match play
DerekJohnson
Administrator, Swaye's Wigwam Posts: 63,539 
No @CFetters_Nacho_Lover , not that kind of concessions. I'm talking golf, bud.
There was controversy last week at the Doosan Match Play in South Korea. Yoon Ina, who had been suspended for three years for cheating but had it reduced to 18 months was back on the tour and ranked as the #62 seed. (She got all the way to the final 4).
Many tour members reportedly resent the fact she's back on the tour. But during match play, Yoon Ina was not conceding all the gimme putts and was forcing her opponents to make the putts. This pissed off some of the players. One of them, I think her name is Lee So-young, walked off the green while Yoon Ina was still putting to show her disgust. (As shown at the 4:00 mark)
I like the gentlemen aspect of golf, but if you're competing, doesn't it make sense to force your opponent to make a two-footer or three-footer?
When I was a young buck playing golf with my dad, he'd say "That's good , son", and not make me hit a two or three footer. Sometimes I would insist on hitting it anyway. And when I invariably missed, he'd say "Should have taken the offer, Derek."
Anyway, does anyone have thoughts on this matter? @Bob_C @Tequilla @RaceBannon @chuck @YellowSnow @pawz etc…. Is it considered rude in America to force a competitor to make the putt?
Comments
It's considered part of the gamesmanship of match play
If they got pissed it worked
I didn't know that. That's interesting.
Yeah for some reason people get pissed about having to make those in match play. It's not poor sportsmanship though in my opinion to make them putt everything out besides a tap in though.
Correct.
We have a season long match play league. Groups of 6, 5 matches, one per month through August (18 holes, 1 point awarded for front/back/entire match), then September all Group winners play a single elimination bracket in a weekend (9 hole matches until the semis, then 18 holes).
I've been asked to putt out 1 footers when they are to win the match. It's competition. If I can't handle it then that's on me.
And lots of dudes melt down at 3 footers. The mental side of it is fascinating.
I never take a concession on a putt. I like to see the ball go in the cup.
I've played a lot of matchplay, have tried every sort of strategy, they all return about the same results. Half of it is just entertaining yourself. One match sticks out in my head though, opponent missed a ~3 footer one early. Next time he lagged it up to about the same distance he looked over at me trying to get a concession and I did nothing. He proceeded to mark and start reading the putt, preshot routine, etc. When he was just about to hit the putt I gave it to him. Did the same thing a couple holes later. Near the end of the round he had another one, I let him mark, read, setup, etc. And then I said nothing, and he missed it.
I haven't played much match play format so I have limited experience and only one strategy. If I'm feeling wobbly with my putter I'll give three footers with the hope that they do the same.
That’s a viable strategy at times.
Inside the tape (the grip on the putter) is what my dad taught me, and what I’ve played, when appropriate…there are some head games to be played for sure, but I’m not that cat anymore…
I use an 18" grip on my putter. That just about gets me out to the distance where I can miss.
As a player you should never expect to be given a putt
That said it’s generally viewed as good sportsmanship to give short putts … even in match play … if the putt is straightforward
Now if we’re talking a 3 foot downhill put with a cup of break … don’t ever give that
if it’s a putt to win the match … probably depends on the circumstances