History being made on PGA Tour?

[John Chilver-Stainer]

With Scheffler in on 59 and Dustin  on -11 after 11, will this be a watershed moment for golf and golf courses?

[JLahrman]

Johnson has parred 12-16, hate to see a guy's game fall apart like that.

[Thomas Dai]

Amazing gross scores (DJ 18th apart).
As I watched the 'birdies' and 'eagles' flow I started to ponder however about pro golf as entertainment as essentially I am watching to see shots hit and that the less shots hit the less entertainment.
Arnold or Seve or Tiger of Phil playing great shots from really awkward positions or down the lush middle, on the green and putt even if the latter results in an amazing gross score?
atb

[Edward Glidewell]

Amazing gross scores (DJ 18th apart).
As I watched the 'birdies' and 'eagles' flow I started to ponder however about pro golf as entertainment as essentially I am watching to see shots hit and that the less shots hit the less entertainment.
Arnold or Seve or Tiger of Phil playing great shots from really awkward positions or down the lush middle, on the green and putt even if the latter results in an amazing gross score?
atb

This is why I don't watch much golf.


The majors are always entertaining for multiple reasons, and certain other tournaments are somewhat enjoyable, but the rank and file events are mind-numbing. The courses are often set up (easier pin positions, etc.) to encourage birdies/eagles in the belief that lower scores makes it more exciting, but it has the opposite effect for me.


Watching someone hit in the fairway, hit it on the green, and putt for birdie on almost every hole is just boring.

[Jeff Schley]

Wow DJ another eagle on 2. He is -24 with 16 holes to go. Chance to tie or break the PGA Tour record for under par for a tournament which I found was -31 by Ernie Els at the 2003 Mercedes at Kapalua. Keep in mind TPC Boston is par 71 also!

[Kalen Braley]

The shocking part is, based on TV coverage and pics I've seen of the place, this does not seem like a particularity easy course, even by PGA Tour standards.  Lots of long 4s, some longer par 3s, with water in play near the greens and somewhat difficult recoveries around the greens if out of position.

For those who have played it did you find yourselves besting your handicap or going over?

P.S.  Looks like some long transitions on the front 9, are these guys getting shuttled?

[Peter Flory]

I had that thought as well.  It doesn't look like a pushover.  Also, lots of strong players missed the cut without going low and Sheffler shoots 59 and is 2 over today.  It must just fit Dustin's eye. 

[Tim Martin]

It’s fun to watch Kisner and W. Simpson get around playing a game that certainly is considerably different than most of the field. I loved seeing Kisner get it up and in with putter on 18. Congrats to Johnson for a great performance.

[JLahrman]

Unless my math is off, Johnson could have shot 71 instead of 60 on Friday yet still have been in a playoff for the title.

[MCirba]

zzzzzzz....
Don't look now but the Golden Goose has been killed.

[Peter Pallotta]

JL:
I have the same thought watching DJ as I used to have watching Norman -- how can someone that exceptionally talented not have won a dozen majors already?

Mike C:
When Norman dominated at Doral, part of the interest for me was that he'd tamed the Blue Monster. The interest does seem to have waned now that every second course looks like the Blue Monster, and can be 'tamed' by the 100th ranked player as easily/often as by one of the very best.

[Pat Burke]

While not being the favorite style of golf for architecture aficionados
Winged Foot (if not too soft )
Is going to be a tough test


Tight
No galleries to trample US Open rough
If they can keep the greens firm/hard it will be a bear

[MCirba]

Mike C:
When Norman dominated at Doral, part of the interest for me was that he'd tamed the Blue Monster. The interest does seem to have waned now that every second course looks like the Blue Monster, and can be 'tamed' by the 100th ranked player as easily/often as by one of the very best.

Peter Palotta,

Virtuoso by Herbert Goldstone applies.   It's not supposed to be easy.

[MCirba]

Virtually every birdie-fest tournament now has the scintillating excitement of a re-run of the 1980s "Bob Hope Desert Classic".   


Valium is less effective inducing calm and drowsiness.

[Tim Gavrich]

It seems like DJ had such a good week all-around that it's probably something of an outlier, even for someone of his obvious ability. No one was going to beat him on any course as well as he played. Keep in mind that he would have won at -20, which is much closer to the scoring we're used to seeing.


While I think the hair-tearing would be more justified if, say, -24 had been a tie for 15th, it's still remarkable how receptive the greens were, given the strength of the drought in the Northeast leading up to the tournament. I assume that's because high speed (which makes courses easier for pros) took precedence over firmness (which makes them more challenging) in the setup.