Wow!! There are a lot of double bogies out there.

[Tommy Williamsen]

I'm not sure I have seen many majors with as many doubles as this year's PGA. I remember the Black being difficult but wow, it must keep the players off balance on every hole.

[Nick Ribeiro]

Not for Brooks it appears.

[Pete_Pittock]

with the paucity of penalty areas and OB, a double bogey results from two mistakes on the same hole.

[Tom_Doak]

with the paucity of penalty areas and OB, a double bogey results from two mistakes on the same hole.

If you can call it a “mistake” to miss a 25-yard-wide fairway.

[Pete_Pittock]

with the paucity of penalty areas and OB, a double bogey results from two mistakes on the same hole.

If you can call it a “mistake” to miss a 25-yard-wide fairway.

My mistake. Which I have made plenty of times.

[Kalen Braley]

Don't back down Pete.  Nothing is forcing these guys to hit Driver off the tee.

They want the ball in the fairway, how about a mid-iron? I'm guessing they can hit 14/14 that way.... 

[Peter Pallotta]

A 30-something alien from a brilliant & highly evolved race dropped off on planet Earth in early April and discovering (and falling in love with) golf almost immediately, would conclude (I think) that:
Mackenzie was a much better golf architect than Tillinghast 
Augusta is many times more interesting a design than Bethpage, and much more in keeping with the game's essential spirit & ethos, and
Brooks is now for the modern-current game what Tiger was for golf some 20 years ago

[Tommy Williamsen]

A 30-something alien from a brilliant & highly evolved race dropped off on planet Earth in early April and discovering (and falling in love with) golf almost immediately, would conclude (I think) that:
Mackenzie was a much better golf architect than Tillinghast 
Augusta is many times more interesting a design than Bethpage, and much more in keeping with the game's essential spirit & ethos, and
Brooks is now for the modern-current game what Tiger was for golf some 20 years ago

I used to enjoy this kind of golf: narrow fairways, thick rough, and wedge out. I don't anymore. I'd much rather see interesting greens with slope and undulation that put a premium on iron shots to the  greens.

[Nick Ribeiro]

Don't back down Pete.  Nothing is forcing these guys to hit Driver off the tee.

They want the ball in the fairway, how about a mid-iron? I'm guessing they can hit 14/14 that way.... 

That nice little pup rolled over on command in impressive time 

[Tim Martin]

A 30-something alien from a brilliant & highly evolved race dropped off on planet Earth in early April and discovering (and falling in love with) golf almost immediately, would conclude (I think) that:
Mackenzie was a much better golf architect than Tillinghast 
Augusta is many times more interesting a design than Bethpage, and much more in keeping with the game's essential spirit & ethos, and
Brooks is now for the modern-current game what Tiger was for golf some 20 years ago

The alien is reputed to be brilliant and highly evolved so it seems a stretch that he wouldn't know about the body of work of each architect outside of ANGC and BPB. I believe that the alien would do his due diligence and sample a variety of MacKenzie and Tillinghast courses and when finished could very well come away with the feeling that he likes MacKenzie better. I don’t mind better based on personal preference but “much” better makes him sound like a hack. Tilly deserves better!

[Peter Pallotta]

Tommy - me too. And from I can tell, Augusta always did that and Bethpage never has, which makes the doubles there particularly one dimensional.
Nick - I'd bet that Pete knows more about golf and great golf course architecture than you & I do combined, and so has the insight, grace and self confidence to admit when he's wrong, especially in so minor a matter as a poor choice of words.
Tim - but remember, he's only been here since April -- and, speaking personally, I happen to appreciate his kind of flawed brilliance (for obvious reasons)

[Tom_Doak]

Don't back down Pete.  Nothing is forcing these guys to hit Driver off the tee.

They want the ball in the fairway, how about a mid-iron? I'm guessing they can hit 14/14 that way.... 

Kalen:


Did you watch the 18th hole today?  There is no percentage in laying back with an iron to an also 20-yard wide target.  Koepka hit driver, missed the fairway but only had 100 yards, wedged to 10 feet and made birdie.  He's not going to score any better hitting an iron off the tee.

[Don Mahaffey]

Brooks is lapping the field. If he was at even par everyone would be talking about the perfect set up with leaders at -5 and a tightly grouped mix of players close behind. Enjoy one of the best playing his best at the perfect time vs all the hand wringing over the set up, course, equipment...etc....

[Tim Martin]

Don't back down Pete.  Nothing is forcing these guys to hit Driver off the tee.

They want the ball in the fairway, how about a mid-iron? I'm guessing they can hit 14/14 that way.... 

Kalen:


Did you watch the 18th hole today?  There is no percentage in laying back with an iron to an also 20-yard wide target.  Koepka hit driver, missed the fairway but only had 100 yards, wedged to 10 feet and made birdie.  He's not going to score any better hitting an iron off the tee.

He did the same thing on 6 although he made par.

[Tom_Doak]

Kalen:

Did you watch the 18th hole today?  There is no percentage in laying back with an iron to an also 20-yard wide target.  Koepka hit driver, missed the fairway but only had 100 yards, wedged to 10 feet and made birdie.  He's not going to score any better hitting an iron off the tee.

He did the same thing on 6 although he made par.

Yes, I thought that was interesting because he had laid up on 6 on Thursday.  Today the hole location was more to the back of the green, and I guess he thought he could afford to miss in the rough and still get it back there somewhere.

[Mike_Young]

The way I see it the rough at such a course determines that only a specific group of players have a chance.  If the PGA tour average is 285 off the tee and you have guys out there hitting it 330 then there has to be some only hitting it 270 to bring the average down to 285 etc.  The guy that hits it 330 isn't worried about what he hits for his next shot when he knows he can hit a wedge from rough around 150 yards.  He also considers green side bunkers his friend as well as tall grass around the greens.   Mow the grass short and make it where the good players cannot afford to hit the ball outside of the pins.  Another extreme thought is that if we wish to equalize the players and not eliminate 3/4's of the field before we begin then why not graduate the height of roughs based on distance from the tee.  If you don't like tall rough then don't hit as far.The existing problem is  you can only hit 9 iron or wedge from such rough and that doesn't bother the long ball dude.  If you have to keep the fairways that narrow then give the 275 yd miss a shorter rough so that some type of iron can played to the green.  Let the guys hit 6 iron or 7 iron from a rough that will still produce fliers and misses.  The way it is now the Kisners and Snedekers etc can't play these places.  Extreme rough is a friend to longball hitters. 

[Neil Regan]

... why not graduate the height of roughs based on distance from the tee.  If you don't like tall rough then don't hit as far.  ...

I think this is almost right.
How about height of rough based on distance from the GREEN.
With the rough within a wedge or 9-iron of the green being so tough that even a professional wedge is a difficult shot.
And it does not have to be continuous, just in enough proper locations to be a threat and a challenge, like other hazards (are supposed to be.)

[Tommy Williamsen]

There is another way to think length and accuracy. The guy who hits it 290 should hit more fairways than the guy who hits it 330. If they are on the same line the 290 yard shot can be in the fairway while the 330 yard shot isn't. I am old an short and hit my tee ball about 230 on a good day. If I play with someone who hits it 260 often I am still in the fairway and he is in the rough, even though we hit it on the same line.

[Kalen Braley]

Tom,

I guess I didn't put enough emoticons on my last post.  It was certainly tongue-in-check.

But....if the goal was to hit 14/14 fairways on a course like this, I suspect they would have a far higher chance of doing it if they hit 5 iron off every tee as opposed to Driver. (Assuming they can make all the carries to the beginning of the fairway) Even as a high capper I hit my mid irons significantly straighter than my woods, and I suspect its the same for these guys, but maybe not.

[Mike_Young]

There is another way to think length and accuracy. The guy who hits it 290 should hit more fairways than the guy who hits it 330. If they are on the same line the 290 yard shot can be in the fairway while the 330 yard shot isn't. I am old an short and hit my tee ball about 230 on a good day. If I play with someone who hits it 260 often I am still in the fairway and he is in the rough, even though we hit it on the same line.

Tommy,
I understand what you say here but the same thing that . allows the dude to hit it 330 is what allows him to hit a wedge out of the rough where the guy who hits it 280 can't. 
Drives ending in the rough are to be expected.  If you have the power to hit the ball 330 off the tee then make sure the is a penalty there for missing the fairway.  Right now the rough height doesn't concern them but if you want to see shorter players compete then give them a rough that will allow club contact...

[Terry Lavin]

Clearly, this guy is best suited for the long, narrow setup for this “major.” He’s an executioner. Which doesn’t make for great theater, unless you want more than a couple days in a row. Great course, great crowd and only a little drama so far. Not that I’m hoping for some gagging...


Nice May Tour stop so far.

[Tim Martin]

Clearly, this guy is best suited for the long, narrow setup for this “major.” He’s an executioner. Which doesn’t make for great theater, unless you want more than a couple days in a row. Great course, great crowd and only a little drama so far. Not that I’m hoping for some gagging...


Nice May Tour stop so far.

Judge-The lack of drama is disappointing.

[Kalen Braley]

Today was an absolute snooze-fest.  I literally fell asleep twice....

[Terry Lavin]

Today was an absolute snooze-fest.  I literally fell asleep twice....

The Tour, the city and the course deserves more, but it’s all Koepka and the fight for third place. So far.

[Peter Pallotta]

Is it possible we're seeing a tipping point re length & set-up, where instead of a course favouring a few it identifies only the one?