Bill...
Actaully NO..I am not kidding.
Look at the field for that event over the past five years..It's depth of feild has declined 20% in that period, it is no longer an essentail on the schedule of the worlds players..
this year for instance..
No Kaymer, Westwood, Casey, Donald,Mcllroy..Phil was going to miss even as a past Champ, but decided he needed more holes played.
When they can play for so much money every week, they are spoiled and WILL NOT tolerate what they consider to be infair conditions.
That been siad, I am sure Mr Palmer will make sure that next year the sand has "settled" and the greens are a little less severe in firmness to ensure he does not get any more loss of foeld strength.