Everyone here should note that the rampant and explosive intraday growth of the poa annua on WFW's greens is a well-know, but well-kept secret that few pros face (other than Westchester CC and perhaps occasionally at Pebble). WF's greens are near 100% poa annua.

Recent weather, mild precipitation with residual dampness retained just below the turf's surface coupled with decent sun, moderately warm temps and a little wind, all conspire to cause massive intraday growth of the Poa Annua weed.

It is quite difficult to maintain perfect surfaces, shy of multiple intraday cuts & rolls, to make the green surfaces remain constant through the course of the day.

Let the pro's bitch, it is a slight advantage for the early starters but also constant and consistent for everyone.

I posted this John Hawkins piece on another thread:

http://blogs.golfdigest.com/hawkins/2006/06/putting_the_bes.html

Many of the best of the old championship courses maintain primarlly poa greens. I'm sure the Open competitors can deal with it.

It does seem like some of these great old championship courses that have maintained primarily poa greens for so long are beginning to consider regrassing to some of these new bent strains like the As and the Gs.

Frankly, I don't know which side to come down on at this point other than to say I'd give most all of the last word on those decisions to the particular superintendents.  

TW had some things to say about the "slow" "bumpy" greens at Winged Foot:

From Jim Salisbury's column in today's Philadelphia Inquirer:

www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/14829338.htm

Speaking matter-of-factly, Woods delivered a jab and a left cross when he called the greens "slow" and "bumpy."

"They've been slow all week," he said. "Our mind-set is, 'This is the U.S. Open,' and U.S. Open greens are always quick. They're not. They're slow and bumpy. You have to make adjustments, and I did not."

"Two words - Plant Growth Regulator."

PeteG:

Who am I to be picky---but that looks suspiciously like three words to me.  

Wayne -

I agree with you that the flipping of the starting times will even out the field from a bumpy yesterday, smooth today perspective.

Remember, we have not had a lot of warm sunny weather here in the NYC Met Area, so the Poa has not firmly bloomed and blossomed yet.  I am not an agronomist, but what I have noticed from playing in this area for the last 40 years is that once the heat comes and stays, the Poa blooms and then wilts.  Once shaved, the greens will be fine if the heat and humidity cooporate.

Could this be a ploy from Tiger to get the USGA to really bring the greens speeds up (And the scores as well)?  Personally, I don't think so, but making the course even more difficult would be a benefit for the world's #1 player...

JWK

Pete and Tom;  Samuel Goldwyn (MGM),  " In two words;     im possible."

TEP and JK:

Sorry, your both incorrect. The story TEP told involved the famously taciturn chief executive from New Hampshire, Calvin Cooledge.