Climate Change Watch: The PGA Tour Season Opener Is Here, All Over Again!

Climate change of many varieties sets the tone for the annual return to Kapalua, where Dave Shedloski reports that not much feels different except the addition of winners from the fall events coming armed with ResetCup points. Doug Ferguson says not much has changed, including the optimism of players.

Writing for the rejuvenated Local Knowledge blog at GolfDigest.com, I noted Mark Rolfing's comments from earlier this week about a changing Kapalua in the face of bizarro weather over the last few years.

"The weather patterns have definitely changed here in Hawaii," Rolfing, the longtime resident and one-time TOC tournament director said. "I think climate change is really kicking into effect here, and when this course was designed 25 years ago, it was designed for a trade wind condition that we expected pretty much 300 out of 365 days every year, and that just hasn't been happening."

If you think Rolfing has spent too many days in the hot Hawaii sun, think again. He also revealed that Ben Crenshaw is in Maui to watch play and figure out what can be done to address a Kapalua design that simply does not play as splendidly as it did ten years ago when the winds were pretty predictable.

Also of note was Rolfing's prediction for another successful week by defending champion Dustin Johnson, who has been in Hawaii longer than any other player and who will benefit from a Kapalua playing ultra-long if the forecast holds.

Though Johnson did have to WD from Thursday's Pro-Am. Jason Sobel reports it was a neck tweak that my research shows commonly occurs when a player senses a six-hour round with hacks is looming, but Sobel says Johnson is set to go in Friday's opening round, paired with Adam Scott with the final 5:50 ET tee time.

Sobel, anticipating that Johnson and bride Paulina Gretzky may not make the NY Times wedding notices (lucky them!), but are looking at a fall date to tie the knot.

The tournament airtimes. Note the third round hour on NBC Sunday and Monday's finish, which will take it just short of the BCS National Championship game start at 8:30 ET:

Golf Channel (Eastern):
Thursday         8-10 p.m. (Pro-Am)
Friday              4:30-10 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-4 a.m. (Replay)
Saturday          2:30-7 p.m. (Live) / 7:30 p.m.-Midnight (Replay)
Sunday            4-10 p.m. (Live) / 10:30 p.m.-5:30 a.m. (Replay)
Monday           4-8 p.m. (Live) / 9 p.m.-1 a.m. (Replay)
 
NBC (Eastern):
Sunday             3-4 p.m. (Live)