Dempster On European Tour Course Setup Griping

While Torrey Pines was playing tough, things in Dubai were declared too easy by some who didn't care for the low cut line. But as you read Martin Dempster's Scotsman commentary, it's apparent the Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club has been passed by. It's the darned Pilates and Yoga work these guys are doing, again!

Make sure to read the entire piece for context, but a few things stood out like this...

More than 100 players broke par in the first round when Jamie Donaldson led the way with a 62; that cut was six shots lower than last year and China’s Haotong Li recorded the most birdies – 30, which was three more than Tiger Woods made in 2001 – in the event as he also set a new winning aggregate of 23-under-par. That beat efforts from Thomas Bjorn (2001), Stephen Gallacher (2013) and Rory McIlroy (2015) by a shot.

The reason? Nutrition, you'll be shocked to find out, was not cited as a reason.

Length is certainly a factor in the modern game. It was scary at times to see the distance McIlroy, for example, was leaving himself for approaches into tougher holes like the eighth and 12th last week. Even Richie Ramsay, who is not in the same league as either Rory or Dustin Johnson in the big-hitting stakes, has managed to find a bit of extra distance with a new 
driver and is benefitting enormously from that.

This was not enough to prevent Rory McIlroy to be upset with himself for some tactical errors on Sunday, reports Brian Keogh.

Comments

[Colin MacGillivray]

It was par 68 not 72- a driveable par 4 and 3 - par 5s reachable in 2.
So the winner's score was minus 7 not minus 23 and 18 players had final scores of par or better.
Is that okay?

[Hawkeye]

Second that, Colin - The Majlis course is a fun, quirky one that promotes shaping of tee shots both left and right, and encourages aggressive risk/reward lines off many tees. The greens were impeccable - receptive only to truly struck shots from the fairway, smooth and running at 13 on the stimpmeter. Its Par of 72 is misleading since, as you say, three Par 5’s (3, 10 and 13) are easily reachable while three other holes (2, 17 and 18) are “half-pars”. I can’t see anything wrong with it as a tournament course.

[chico]

Collin-I find the prospect of a 7400 yard par 68 is quite scary! I believe the modern player is generally fitter, stronger, faster and better technically than their predecessors. If they are as good as many would say then why do they need ridiculously refined, easy to play equipment to show this off?!

[munihack]

Both Dubai and Torrey Pines illustrated that the only challenge that tour pros face is wind. Added length and firm, fast greens are easily overcome to score. Both final rounds saw players misjudging shots due to wind. The scores in Dubai would have pushed -25 otherwise. After awhile it just isn't worth watching. Tiger and Phil at least keep it interesting since they apparently cannot hit more than 25 percent of the fairways.

[D. maculata]

Now wait a minute, Colin. We've been told by those in the business of golf that low scores make compelling golf. As in ratings. A true statement if the target audience has the attention span of an inebriated frog. Viewers had a choice; watch the Majlis course be ripped apart or watch Torrey Pines North and South win. A significant number or viewers wouldn't have agreed to be waterboarded if Rory and Tiger weren't in the field.

[digsouth]

muni ''Tiger and Phil at least keep it interesting since they apparently cannot hit more than 25 percent of the fairways.''

+2 ~dig~

[FC]

Their greens are like billiard tables.