Farmers Insurance Open | Nick Sahrmann
Introduction
In order to score well on the course, a golfer must understand their odds of hitting a successful shot. The same can be said at the card table. A player must be able to recognize the situation they are in, and how they can maximize each of their turns based on their odds.
You can play the odds in Card Golf Tour just like you can play the odds on the golf course. From week to week, we will share examples of pros playing the odds during the week’s professional golf tournament. Then we will review how you can play similar odds during your next round of Card Golf Tour.
Pro Example
This week’s edition of Playing The Odds highlights the final hole of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, CA. Matthieu Pavon skillfully executed a high-risk/high-reward approach shot that led to his tournament win.
Here are Pavon’s shots on the 18th hole courtesy of PGA TOURCAST.
After a tee shot that landed in the left fairway bunker complex, his 2nd shot cleared the lip of the bunker but remained left of the fairway – in the heavy rough and 150+ yards from the green. With Nicolai Hojgaard one stroke back in 2nd place and in position to birdie the hole, Pavon needed a birdie to win - as a par would have likely meant a playoff.
The 18th hole at Torrey Pines is protected by a pond in front of the green and the pin placement was in its usual front left location. Pavon powered the approach shot out of the rough to within 8 feet of the hole, and then calmly sank the birdie putt for the win.
Card Golf Tour Example
Here’s how Pavon’s winning hole could look like in Card Golf Tour. As a Par 5, Pavon was dealt eight cards and he turned over three cards for his tee shot.
1. Pavon’s tee shot found the bunker left of the fairway – which means the cards he turned over had higher point values.
2. Pavon’s 2nd shot successfully cleared the lip of the bunker but doesn’t land in the fairway – as though he wisely took a 2 iron from the discard pile and replaces the 11 point sand wedge that gets him out of the bunker. But landing in the deep left rough was a tough break – as though he pulls a 1 iron from the discard pile and replaces a face down card that ends up being a -2 point driver that he has place on the discard pile.
3. As he evaluated his options for his 3rd shot from the left rough, his Card Golf Tour point total was 14. He knew he needed a birdie to win the tournament because his competition was likely going to birdie the hole and tie him if he scored a par on the hole. Pavon decided to go for the green to give himself a birdie putt. His shot made good contact out of the thick rough – as though he drew a black 8 iron from the draw pile to match the other black 8 iron in his hand to zero out the column. His shot carried the pond and landed towards the middle of the green – as though he drew a green driver card from the draw pile.
4. Pavon’s ball filtered down toward the hole – as though he drew a black 2 iron that he placed above the existing black 2 iron to cancel. His putt was less than 8 feet. His Card Golf Tour point total was +2 points. So his putt was makeable and his Card Golf Tour hand had a chance for a birdie if he drew a -5 point Putter.
5. Pavon calmly made his 8 foot putt for birdie – as though he drew the -5 point Putter card that he needed. He finished with -3 points in his hand – which is a birdie in Card Golf Tour. And the birdie won him the tournament.
