[Bigvivec]

They both matter...nothing worse than seeing a guy reach the greenside bunker of a par 5 in two only to take a double bogey (been that guy), or the beautiful 65yd pitch over water to a tucked pin hit stiff on the seventh shot of the hole...you gotta have some of both...but I would think that a person who's long game was decent would have a better oppurtunity to develop a good short game...they've already completed part 1 of 2...I also think that the difference between a 95 shooter and a 80 shooter is in part due to the short game, but the 80 shooter will get the ball in play alot more often and avoid penalities...again, this is assuming a minimum competency on both parts, and it is possible for Mr. Wild and Crazy off the tee to be great around the greens, consistently turning 3 into 2, but the rungs of the golf ability ladder are marked by GIR more than any stat, and that means long game...