Brad,
I was under the impression that there was an alternate fairway there originally, and that it was washed out by one of the floods many years ago. I also thought that Geoff's primary objections were the plainess of the fairway (lack of ground movement) and the position and shape of the bunker.
I am surprised that Azinger always found the left side fairway so frightning. My typical miss is pulling it left with a little hook, and I chose the left fairway when I played it last year. My subsequent shot with a good angle from just short of the faiway bunker was not all that hard. My playing companion hit it down the right and while his second shot was shorter, I believe that his angle was more difficult. Of course, that could have been due to the pin position that day.
I've heard contradicting opinions about how to play the hole. Does anyone know what percentage of the pros hit it to the right fairway? How about the membership? I had been told that there is more room to the left, and that it was a better angle. My partner had heard that most people go right as it is an easier shot of the tee, a bit shorter, and a good angle back over the barranca to the green.
BTW, I found the tee shot on #7 much more difficult and frightening. I too would prefer a more barren barranca, but that damned long kikuyu is no picnic either.