The 17th At Cherry Hills Finally Looks Like An Island Green

The quick turnaround from Monday's Deutsche Bank Championship means the hype for Cherry Hills will be minimal, but championship golf's return to this iconic American venue should not be downplayed. The BMW this week will, weather permitting, provide another great stage for drama as I discussed with Gary Williams on Morning Drive.

Ticket sales have been great and PGA Tour rules staffer and this week's advance man Stephen Cox says the course is in beautiful shape, with lush three inch rough fed by more summer rains than normal and a few greens they'll be monitoring for pace, all to ensure that the story is about exciting golf.

Cherry Hills always seems to produce something wild and weird, and no hole has more history there than the 555-yard par-5 17th, which will feature a new look since the course last hosted the 2012 U.S. Amateur.

As Tom Kensler of the Denver Post reports, rear trees have come out as have some mounds, leaving the island more exposed.

Since the Palmer Cup, trees that partially surrounded the 17th green have been removed and two sets of cross bunkers were built into the fairway. It will take a drive of about 345 yards to carry over the first set of bunkers and offer the best chance to reach the green in two shots to set up an eagle putt.

"That's too much for me, but I'm sure a lot of guys will go for it," said touring pro Kevin Stadler, who grew up in Denver and now resides in the Phoenix area. "That's going to be a big advantage to the really long hitters."

Cherry Hills head golf professional John Ogden believes No. 17 will yield the most eagles during the BMW Championship. Ogden said the PGA Tour would like to see that.

"In setting up Cherry Hills, one thing that the tour has done a nice job of is with No. 17," Ogden said. "That green was so firm for the (2012) U.S. Amateur, and also because it was closely mowed all around the green, players were hesitant to go for it (with their second shot).

"The PGA Tour is going to have 3-inch rough on the back side (of the island). So shots that do come in long will have a chance to stay dry. It's going to create a lot of excitement."

More fun took place Tuesday at Cherry Hills as organizers left a persimmon driver and balata ball on the 360-yard first tee, which is the site of Arnold Palmer's epic drive in the 1960 U.S. Open final round.

Randall Mell reports that none of today's Hogan's and Snead's were able to replicate the drive.

Speaking of that famous drive, Cliff Schrock of Golf Digest found a photo from another day at Cherry Hills of that first tee scene that has so rarely been seen since Palmer's famous moment.