Wedge-Out Rough? Say Goodbye To Tiger At Torrey!

Because if they keep this nonsense up with silly-thick rough around the greens, Mr. Woods and other top players will no longer begin their year at this otherwise wonderful event in one of the best sports towns around.

Photo By J.D. CubanThat's the gist of my Local Knowledge rant about issues with the rough, plugging lies in bunkers and overall nonsense that has taken the fun out of having firm, fast greens (for a change). The Killjoy Classic is not what this event needs.

Check out these stats through round three from the gurus at ShotLink. Though the comparison is far from perfect, remember that the South Course has been widened by the tour rules staff in some spots where the fairways had inched-in since the 2008 U.S. Open.

• Just 5 players managed to shoot rounds in the 60’s on the South Course at Torrey Pines today where the field averaged 73.73 (+1.73 over par). For the week, the South Course is playing to a stroke average of 74.235.

• In the first 3 rounds of the 2008 U.S. Open the South Course played to a stroke average of 75.08. This week the South Course is playing at a stroke average of 74.25 through 54 holes.

• The rough is up this week on the South Course where the field is averaging over 51 feet to the pin. In 2008 & 2009 the South course was the toughest course on TOUR when hitting approach shots from the rough. When in the rough, the field is going on to make birdie just 8.15% of the time this week through 54-holes.

Gary Woodland leads Jordan Spieth and Marc Leishman by one stroke heading into the final round.

Comments

[John C]

Don't worry.. everyone will be back to playing 'jolly golf' next wk in Arizona

[GolfinDayBay]

Said this before this is not great Golf to watch on TV.. the Ca State has Zero Rain.. why grow the rough up to this stupid length.

Hello.. we don have Heather and Fescue at my Home Course what are they thinking?

[John C]

Funny that Tiger had a whole different take before the tournament... he'll be back.

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/345221/sports/othersports/golf-tiger-likes-look-of-firm-and-fast-torrey-pines

[ebrumby]

Watching who screws up the least does not make for compelling golf. This is why the U.S. Open is the worst of the majors.

[Reverse Eagle]

The winner will still likely finish at -10. Does that really mean that it's too difficult? Tiger shot -14 last year to win last year I believe.

[Boujebks]

18 of those 54 whole this week were played on the north course so stat is misleading. It seems to be playing comprabable to us open set up when comparing oranges to oranges. That does not mean Geoff is without a valid,point that watching golf on Rees jones Torrey sucks. Actually watching golf play at Torrey before Rees wasn't much fun either. That course may look pretty in spots, but is a boring, slog of a golf course. Monterey and riv can't come soon enough - even Phoenix is at least fun to watch.

[elf]

I don't generally have a problem with high rough, but the rough being more penal closer to the fairways is pretty ridiculous. And I only need one us open a year

[DTF]

I got the sense Tiger was distracted, maybe something off course bothering him...

[highside]

It might be time for a new swing guru. Strip the swing down and rebuild it from the ground up. It could take years to get used to the new feels, but (taking the long view) he'll be unbeatable on the senior tour.

[Rgw]

Poor babies don't have a chance to shoot 63 this week, I'm tearing up just thinking how emotionally difficult it's going to be for these guys.

[Of course]

Obviously, the rough is up from all the rain!

[johnnnycz]

Double digits (-10 or -11 I'm predicting) under par will probably win, so it's not bothering the guys who are in contention. They're keeping it in front of themselves this week. The difficulty of the hole locations and green speeds (and severe weather of course but SD is a sunny seaside bubble) are what bring scores way up.

If they cut the rough down more than a little bit, it wouldn't affect the winning score that much, a few shots perhaps...but it would help the bottom half of the field's scoring average alot.

[hh morant]

B: Re comparing oranges with oranges, I'm pretty sure that the stats are for the 54 holes played on the South Course. After 3 rounds those making the cut had played 36 holes there (SC) and the others had played 18

[mulligan]

Who wants a bunker to be difficult? Who wants the game to be as difficult for pros as it is for us? Pathetic, make it easy for us kid talk.

[The Pro from Dover]

@ DTF He did look distracted. Girlfriend problem? Or is that a loose rumor? Some leaks from the within the tour carnival - but can't substantiate. His shot-making, or attempts, looked very labored at times, not fluid. Least we all forget, he is not the same TW pre-hydrant, physically or mentally. And the young players simply play to their level, not his. He is an "old" 38 years old - his body simply does not react the same as it does. See Phil Mickleson if you disagree.

[PA PLAYA]

I thought it was a bit overdone myself. I had no issue with the rough, but thought the width of the fairways were US Openish.

If they go with Sunday traditional pin placements, even par could be a solid round.

[Cheeks]

I watched for a bit and it wasn't just the rough that was bad. There were just a lot of bad shots. Snap hooks, coming up a club short from the fairway and bunker shots skidding by the hole. I wonder if these guys are a little tired from the "offseason."

[MattS]

It's good to hear that Tiger signed some autographes after the round.

[benseattle]

<< It's good to hear that Tiger signed some autographes after the round. >>

Yeah,but on both Friday and Saturday announcers made it clear that Tiger was asked for an interview but "politely declined." What a contrast in that the greats of the game, Nicklaus, Palmer and the rest NEVER declined the media just because they had a rough day on the links. So here's the alleged 1.3 Billion Dollar Man, a guy who makes the VAST majority of that swag not on the golf course but through endorsements. Endorsements that are paid for by YOU, the fans who he can't be bothered to speak to through the media. Actually, forget "the media," it would have been the step-lightly sycophant Peter Kostis who who have grilled him with something like "Tough day out there Tiger." In other words, the famed non-question.

As for the rough, these guys wouldn't have quite the problems they're experienced if they only HIT IT IN THE FAIRWAY. The fairway machines such as Trevino and Hogan just don't exist anymore but put them on Torrey and they would tear the place up because this week Torrey would reward the straight hitter.... not the bomber who can't find the short stuff. Yep, Gary Woodland is as long as they come but those long irons off the tee are coming in mighty handy this week.

[elf]

@ben to be fair Tiger did talk to the media on Thurs and Friday, he just declined to do an exclusive interview with Golf Channel. Frankly media was completely diff in Palmer and Jack's day. I'm not a fan of players skipping media, but Phil does it fairly routinely, it's actually fairly rare for Tiger, even after a bad day.

[Claude]

Rgw +1. Big time.

If the course's toughness got them out of their comfort zone, well, good. Watching those guys play driver-wedge comfy golf is just no fun. There sure were an awful lot of bad drives and screwed-up approach shots. It's like they hadn't recovered the holidays yet.

The one course condition that might have been too much for the players was the poa greens. Did the announcers discuss it? (I only half-listen anymore.) Watching some of the shockingly bad putts by Tiger and the others made me wonder if the greens were as unaccountable as they appeared.

[elf]

The course seems to be a little bit easier today - or at least their have been some early birdies. But to all those going the guys playing well are doing fine is a misnomer. The lead backed up yesterday, that really never happens, except the US Open.

Their should be a penalty for missing fairways, but you shouldn't be penalized more for slightly missing the fairway than for missing by a lot.

[The O]

If only there was a way to avoid being in the rough. Hmmm, can't seem to think of one right of the top of my head.

[John C]

Tournament morphing from the US Open to The Masters... all in 24 hour period.

Best of both worlds.

[digsouth]

the greens were amazingly smooth...no late afternoon flowering....I'd say due to dry conditions....anyway yhe ball was rolling, not bouncing most of the time.

I have played at a club many times where the rough is full tilt right next to the fairway....no 3-12 foot cut alongside the FW, and ir is ridiculous to spend 5 minutes looking for your ball, when it is 6 inches from the fairway. STUPID TIME WASTING SETUP..

[Press Agent]

@ Claude, what exactly are unaccountable greens?
Would the bumpy, inconsistent, difficult greens that Jack played on be unaccountable? If Tiger had to play on the unaccountable greens that Jack played on, would he have even half the majors he has now?