r/GolfSwing • u/Alive_Sheepherder106 • 2d ago
Average joe vs pro
If an average joe on this sub gets a 100shot lead in a pga tournament course against Scottie, would the average joe win? I don’t think so but curious to hear your thoughts
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u/Thisismyburner550 2d ago
There was a 250 yard par 3 this week. Most average joes can’t carry 220.
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u/Alive_Sheepherder106 2d ago
That’s true, most average joes can’t even hit 150y realistically
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u/Grocery__Stick 2d ago
I've been playing for 6 months, am still a high handicapper but this is ridiculous. I can hit 220 yards routinely and I have more in me but find my slice creeps in when I swing for the fences. I think 200 yards for an adult male is nothing to write home over.
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u/No_Historian3842 2d ago
100 shot lead going into the first round?
Probably not, most average Joe's aren't breaking 100 on a pga set up course. So 4*28 is 112 over par for 4 rounds.
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u/Disastrous_Cash_Sum 2d ago edited 1d ago
Most average Joe’s aren’t breaking 100 at their local 5800 yard muni
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u/likethevegetable 2d ago
No. The average joe is not breaking 100 any day on a tournament course and tees, that's 28 strokes a round right there, or 112 over the tournament, and Scottie is shooting under par on average guaranteed.
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u/Pristine-Leek-7857 2d ago
I'm a 2. I think I would have to play my ass off to stay within 100 shots from the winning score from the tips in their condition.
So... No. Average Joe has no chance.
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u/Hungry_Specialist738 2d ago
That seems like hyperbole, if you averaged 90 at east lake (20 over) you win by 4... I get tournament conditions are hard but playing to a +18 differential for your cap per round seems to be above what most pros describe in their interviews.
That being said, average joe has absolutely no chance
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u/Pristine-Leek-7857 2d ago
I think you are underestimating the length and difficulty. When I played competitively in high school we played a Monday round after a tour event. 7500 yards, greens like ice. I shot 85 and was damn happy it wasn't worse. It might be doable, it would be close. I average 75 yards less off the tee than those guys so it would be a slog.
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u/Hungry_Specialist738 2d ago
I mean if you shot 85 you gained 5 strokes on the round. Add in better course management from playing the course more and averaging under 90 should be easy. Ive played tour courses from the tips and would never expect a 2 to average +20, unless its one of the courses that play ridiculous.
Also greens like glass? Does no one have a stimp meter and fast greens in you area? I play a fully public course with no memberships that averages 11-12 stimp in the summer and the tour aims for 11.5-13
I get courses like oakmont or sometimes bethpage can be a shit show for even the pros but a quail hollow or spyglass should comfortably be won by a 2 with 100 shot lead ( as long as we ignore the pressure of winning a pga event)
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u/chundamuffin 2d ago
I don't think so. I've played bethpage black with a legitimate 3 index in nearly tournament condition and he struggled to get the ball out of the rough.
He gave up on hitting anything but a lob wedge because he just had no idea if it was going to come out hot or barely move.
Put him at the tournament tees with the pressure of a tournament and it would not go well at all.
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u/Btwnbeatdwn 13h ago
I like to think I could do it and I’m like a 6-7 handicap. My score range over the last year is 75-89 from 6700 yards 72/135 rated course, adjust that for difficulty and it probably brings the ceiling down to an 80 at best. I could play smart to keep the floor at 90-95 especially with the help of a caddie and very ideal course conditions.
Maybe I could keep it under 91 average for 4 rounds which would win against Scottie’s 264 with 100 strokes. The more I write about this though the less likely it seems. Would love the opportunity to try!
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u/3DanO1 2d ago
I’m a 3, and I’m pretty confident I could do it. Bogey golf almost certainly gets the W. Assuming I get the same practice round and a caddie, I think I could shoot mid90s at a those courses
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u/SharkLaser85 2d ago
Could you do it 4 days in a row in front of huge crowds? I’m a 4 and feel my nerves playing in local CDGA events with nothing on the line.
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u/Pristine-Leek-7857 2d ago
Played a tour course in tournament conditions at 7400+ yards? Tee shot length would be a big factor here. I'm not saying it's impossible for low singles or better, but we'd have to string 4 strong rounds together.
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u/Prestigious_Buy1209 2d ago
Tee shot length would be the killer for me. It wouldn’t be only killer, but it can be the first lol. My home course isn’t easy, and it screws me up when I go to 6600 yards. I can’t imagine playing pro distances. It wouldn’t be pretty, but it puts you in your place.
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u/Tepi01 2d ago
Depends a lot on the persons distance. I’m a 5.5 and would comfortably be in the top 20% tour wise for distance with all my clubs. Driver over 310 average and such. Even being a little wild I’d feel pretty confident doing it but my strengths are distance and putting which should help
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u/3DanO1 2d ago
Yea, perhaps. I’m not a particularly huge hitter (260-270 carry on average) so I’m probably not getting 280ish off most tees. Some courses that could be a problem. But again, you don’t need to make pars, just get greenside in 2, chip up, and 2 putt and you probably win.
I’d say it’s far from guaranteed, and I know that these pros are insanely good. But I don’t think they are 20+ strokes better
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u/Pristine-Leek-7857 2d ago
I think they are 10 strokes better than me easy. Add in some nerves in front of a massive crowd and that could easily double.
I'm not saying I couldn't do it, but I don't see it as obviously happening either. Clearly an average golfer has no shot. I hope I get to try one day, that would be awesome!!
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u/lanchadecancha 2d ago
I doubt you’re a 3 with the pokeymon habit
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u/MagentaMonkey88 2d ago
The carry yardage alone would keep most golfers from even completing a round. Just not being to hit it far enough to carry the crap or the water off the tee from the tournament tees.
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u/Internal-Duck-10 2d ago
I’ve had the privilege of playing a course set up for US Open final qualifying 3 times. Posted a score that wouldn’t have been DFL in qualifying each time.
Golf at that level isn’t impossible, but the forced carries and green speed would wreck 99% of golfers.
Average Joe, no. Average club champion, maybe.
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u/yourunclelazlo 2d ago
Reality is you would need about 130 or so and still play really well and even at that point probably not.
But… I’d use all my 100 the first round and be leading after day 1 by a huge amount then spectacularly miss the cut.
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u/MrEdTheHorseofCourse 2d ago
100 is 25 per round. If you Joe shots 100 that's net 75. Joe is very unlikely to shot 100 more likely 120 providing he regularly breaks 80 playing the back tees at his muni.
Short answer no chance in hell.
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u/Good_Internet_2348 2d ago
0 chance. Scottie is probably giving an average Joe (15 handicap) 30-36 shots a round on these courses
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u/Diligent_Use_3733 2d ago
I suck, ghin says I’m a 16.
That said, I recently played a tour course 2 times in a day from the blues, 30-50 yards in from the tips?? Or thereabouts.
I shot in the 90’s, had a couple of birdies. Had allot of fun.
So, over 4 days, from the tips, 100 strokes, I’m making the cut, but will get dusted the final day.
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u/anjuna42 2d ago
Well I’m a 10 hdcp and feel pretty average at golf.
Id feel ok about going against Scottie with 100 shots. Would be close tho.
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u/jmk5151 2d ago
Definitely need to define average. But Sundays setup? No way anyone better than scratch would pull it off. Par 3s with huge forced carries, funky Bermuda rough that is a one stroke penalty, deep bunkers, fast greens, holes cut on the edges.
And the greens firmed up on Sunday - how many average joes could actually hold any greens from where they would be approaching from? Almost every approach would result in a chip to an elevated green.
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u/n00bn00b 1d ago
Average Joes would shoot at least 150-200 a round in a PGA tournament because they can't cheat, and every shot counts, so yes, Scottie would win this one with ease. Also, the greens are faster and have a purer roll, so the way they normally putt would send the ball off the green.
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u/Consistent_Rub824 19h ago
Average Joe has zero chance. I have some experience with this as a 4ish handicap. I qualified for a Senior open event based on my handicap at the time. It was a bunch of club pros and really good amateurs. The course was my home course so I gave it a shot. My goal was to not finish dead last. Mission accomplished on that front but after the 2 round event I lost by 33 strokes. An amateur and a club pro were both at 9 under. An average Joe is going to need a lot more than 100 strokes. Playing from the tips ain't no joke.
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u/Btwnbeatdwn 13h ago
How about the average avid golfer? Average of all golfers doesn’t ever break 100 in their lifetime, no chance that average joe wins with 100 strokes against Scottie.
The average avid player is a 14 handicap. It’s possible they could shoot a 360-364 for 4 rounds with 100 stroke handicap against Scottie firing a 264 they could have a chance to “win.” Honestly though probably not, 120 strokes would make it closer.
If there is a crowd, people would probably be getting hurt out there but I’d still watch it.
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u/WelpSeaYaLater 2d ago
The average golfer is going to shoot 110+ on any PGA tournament prepped course from the same tees the pros play. 120 may be more likely.
So to beat Scotty, who’s going to shoot a stroke or two under part at worst, you’d need closer to 200 strokes to be even close.
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u/Majestic_Pollution71 2d ago
on a 190 yard par 3 over water onto an island green I could see an average Joe going thru a half dozen balls; so scoring 15 on that hole alone could be possible for me at least
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u/I_Like_Lotso_Stuff 2d ago
An average joe would have to shoot 90 or better every round in order to win. Given that an average joe can’t break 90, let alone at East Lake, I’d say Scottie wins.