The tree does seem to be having a significant effect, just as Dye wished to test the very best and make them uncomfortable/thoughtful...
Jamie Kennedy (@jamierkennedy on X) has done good analysis of the scoring on Day 1 (edited to keep order of things consistent):
"Players this year drove 18 yards further off the tee (273 yards vs 255 yards). Was that the influence of tree, choosing a longer club to decrease the height? Or was it just due to the extra length?
This year, players hit the fairway just 56.8%, making it the 7th hardest fairway to hit.
Players last year hit the fairway 74.8% of the time. The 6th easiest fairway to hit.
Was that the tree creating doubt and impacting accuracy?
2025, players found the green less than 42% of the time.
In 2024, players hit the green over 70% of the time on the 6th hole, making it the 7th easiest green to hit.
2025 Day 1 - it was the second HARDEST green to hit at TPC Sawgrass (behind only the 18th).
As for scoring...
This year, the field was 23 over par, a 4.23 average (the 3rd hardest hole).
Last year, the field played the hole in 12 under par, averaging 3.92 (5th easiest hole).
Note: The highest average ever on the 6th hole at the Players was 4.20 (1985)."