The Bear Trap Keeps The Slow Play Spotlight Shining!
/Even with turtles Crane, Holmes and Cink having WD'd from the Honda Classic, Thursday's winds and the atrocity that is PGA National conspired to give birth to 5 1/2 hour rounds in the morning and I believe, even a longer rounds in the afternoon. Play was halted at 6:25 with several groups still on the course.
In a steady 30 mph breeze, the scoring average through the partially completed opening round was 73.826 for the field, or a staggering 3.83 strokes over par, which is rarefied air indeed in PGA Tour circles.
The highest scoring at any tour-sanctioned event in 2010 came at the difficult U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, where players averaged 3.98 strokes over par for the week.
"It's U.S. Open-like conditions out there," said Nick Price, a three-time major winner, after shooting 70 on Thursday.
In tough conditions like today I find the pace less offensive. It's the 5 to 5 1/2 hour rounds when the weather is good that really speak to what a blight this has become.
