USGA Tweaks Pebble's 14th

Mike Davis kindly reported back about the troublesome 14th at Pebble Beach and the extreme chipping area that led to AT&T final round dramatics.

After studying the 14th green situation for about 45 minutes today, we decided to bring the rough up on the left side about half-way.  I think that will, on balance, provide the fairest outcome.  It will allow balls just left of the green to roll down about 5 paces and then be caught by rough.  The player would have an uphill shot that could be played with a bump and run or a high-lofted pitch.  It will give the player under the tree down on the flat area a play (which he never had before with thick rough) – hit a low pitch out of the rough onto the closely mown area and run it up the hill.  I think this scenario will challenge the players from all four sides of the green … try to get their ball up onto what might be the smallest (effective) green for any major competition (that I know of). 

Once again, great to see Davis and the committee unafraid of making adjustments this close to the tournament in the name of common sense. Not that the 14th still won't keep Davis and championship committee chair Tom O'Toole up at night, but this modification should cut down on some extreme goofiness. Though the front hole location will still be a beast.

The PGA Tour Gets It? Volume...

...uh, I'll have to go back in the archives, but we do have a growing list of examples that the PGA Tour continues to move in the direction of downplaying rough, emphasizing the recovery shot, setting a proper example for the game and preparing us for a return to more flyer lie-golf in 2010 when groove rules are changed.

Thanks to reader Al for this Ed Sherman item about Cog Hill, site of next week's BMW Championship:

Received a call from Frank Jemsek the other day. He said he heard us speculating on our radio show ("Chicagoland Golf," WSCR-AM 670, 6-8 a.m. Saturday) about the rough the pros will encounter next week for the BMW Championship.

It turns out the rough might be as rough. Mr. Jemsek, the owner and operator of Cog Hill, said the PGA Tour has asked him to leave the rough at No. 4 at the same level of the facility's other three courses.

"That would be about 2 1/2 inches," Mr. Jemsek said.

"Thoughtful setup equals more fun"

Lance Rigler documents a small but nice example of shifting tees around and how some college golfers are finding it both fun and challenging.

The best examples might have been Nos. 16 and 17. Playing from the tips, the par-5 16th hole featured a back right hole location and gave players all they wanted today. It stretched over 680 yards and played to a 5.13 scoring average.

However, players were immediately rewarded with the par-4 17th, where a good drive could find the putting surface. What a swing of emotions that were produced in that two-hole stretch.

“The kids are saying this is a lot of fun,” said Vanderbilt coach Tom Shaw. “The setup today with some of the tees up and some of the tees back, it really makes them think.”