Dave Pelz: “Studying the game”

It’s been two weeks since the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage, and I’m ready to move on to the upcoming British version. Before I do however, I want to let you in on what I think might be one of the greatest pars ever. I’m talking about a par Phil Mickelson made at Bethpage Black - hole #13 during the third round of the 2002 U.S. Open. This par was made before I started coaching Phil, and I only learned about these details in our practice round before the recent 2009 U.S. Open.

Phil was playing well but not in immediate contention in the 2002 Championship as he teed off the slight dog-leg-right 13th hole on Saturday. He hit a good drive which put him within “reachable” distance of the green with his second shot on the 545-yard par 5 (#13 played at 605-yards this year). From there he launched a solid 4-wood shot which landed about green high, but 25-yards left of the green. The ball was fading softly to the left as it landed, so it kicked about 5 more yards to the left, and then bounced and rolled to (almost) a stop in the light rough in the gallery, positioned just outside the ropes. This resting point happens (unknown at the time) to be near a maintenance road which runs perpendicularly away from the green, to other parts of the golf course.

Both Phil and Bones (caddy) were satisfied with the shot as they walked toward the green. They were looking forward to a simple 40-yard pitch to the flagstick and a good chance for birdie.

The operable word here however, is almost. Mickelson’s ball didn’t quite stop where they thought it did under the ropes. It dribbled  (described later as on its’ last roll) just onto the black-top surfaced maintenance road (see Photo #1).

As they approached their ball they noticed a buzz and bustle in the crowd. Spectators were moving and pointing, watching and following, as the ball kept on moving on the hard road surface. By the time they got there it had dribbled onto the road, rolled to the side of the road into its shallow gutter, picked up speed,  and taken a 142-yard additional journey: it rolled all the way down the road to the bottom of the hill.

Gutter on side of maintenance road which carried ball to bottom of hill

Phil’s second shot had landed 25-yards left of the green, bounced and rolled another 10+ yards left onto the road, and then come to a stop 187-yards from the flagstick in 4-inch rough in a part of the Bethpage State Park Nursery ground.

I am standing in a left-handed address position where the ball came to rest at the bottom of the hill by the trash bags and directional sign (see Photo below).

DP in left-handed address position over ball at bottom of hill

Now for the fun part: As I looked up from this address position, the photo below shows what Phil was facing in his 187-yard third shot back up the hill toward the green. The ball was still in bounds and still in play. After much discussion with Bones, Phil attempted a knock-down-cut-6-iron shot from here.

Phil's third shot was a 187 -yard cut 6-iron from the edge of the nursary

I know this is hard to believe, but it actually happened in the U.S. Open. It wasn’t shown on TV because NBC had neglected to station any cameras in the nursery, at the bottom of the hill some 150 yards from the entrance to the maintenance facility road!

As I looked at this virtually impossible predicament Mickelson had found himself in, I pointed up the road to where the green was hiding, to make sure you can get an understanding of the situation he was in. 

I'm pointing in the direction (up the road) where Mickelson's shot had to go

Then, to make sure you get the WHOLE picture in your mind of what this shot looked like, I walked 71-yards up the maintenance road from where he had to hit the shot, turned back and snapped this next picture.

From half way up the hill, looking back at the ball position next to the trash bags and sign

 Then I turned and shot the next photograph which shows the second half (another 71-yards) of the shots’ required travel up to the top of the hill, where the road connects to the entrance to the maintenance facility.

I turned to see second half of shot trajectory up hill from nursery, to top of hill and road to left of #13 green

And finally I walked up to the hilltop, into the gallery behind the ropes, and took a picture of the distance from the road edge to the 13th green.

Bethpage #13 as seen from the gallery ropes (and road) 40-yards left of the green)

Phil had hit his cut 6-iron from the rough in the nursary at the bottom of the hill, low under some trees and slicing 40-yards around others, as it travelled 187-yards onto the front fringe of the 13th green! Of course from there he got it up and down for par.

Can you imagine? In the U.S. Open? With all the NY crowd comments and jokes? Hey, why not hit it from inside the trash bags? What course you playing? Hey Phil, which way is the Bethpage Black course from here?

It happened. Another par on his way to a second place finish on Sunday. I submit to you … one of the best pars ever!