'Monster' might be kindest word players have about Oakland Hills
Is this a demented, minted trend? If the winner finishes above par this week -- which is where the scores seem headed -- it will represent the fifth time in 11 majors that the victor hasn't finished in red numbers.
But such homely scores are a rarity at the PGA, which long has established a reputation as an organization that set up courses fairly and let the players play, regardless of what scores they shot. Woods has won the past two PGA titles at 18 and 8 under, for instance, and there wasn't much grousing.
This week, you need earplugs to block out the high-pitched squeals from players complaining about the lengthy par-3 holes -- each is 190 yards or longer -- and the impassibly deep rough.
"You are just trying not to bleed to death out there," said Ian Poulter, who finished second at the British Open three weeks ago. "It's like the PGA has sliced your throat on the first tee and you have to try and make it 'round to the 18th without dying.
"It is pretty frustrating when you stand on a par-3 with a 5-iron and are aiming for a bunker because you know that's the only way you can make par. That's pretty sad. I am very disappointed we are having to do that on such a great golf course."
Joe Steranka, the chief executive officer of the PGA of America, was forced to defend an assertion made Friday on a national radio show that the organization had undergone a philosophical overhaul, moving more toward the old U.S. Open-style setup with deep rough and few playing options for those who miss fairways.
"It is a U.S. Open," said Aaron Baddeley, who is tied for seventh. "It's as simple as that."
Not the case, Steranka said.
"We set it up the same way," Steranka said. "The difference is, Oakland Hills is hard. It's one of the most recent classic courses that's been set up for today's modern player, and not just today's equipment."
The boss has a point. The course in 1972, where Heard was the lone man under par after 36 holes, was none other than Oakland Hills, so it has always been murderous. In the 1951 U.S. Open, when winner Ben Hogan first coined the Monster nickname, only two players managed rounds under par all week.
He might have sold the joint short in the moniker department. Godzilla is more like it. Thursday's first-round scoring average of 74.855 was the second-highest of the year relative to par behind only the British Open (75.87), where a gale was blowing.
Veteran Charlie Wi, who has held cards on a half-dozen global tours, is locked in a tie for second place at even par, yet can understand why some guys are kicking and screaming.
"When I got here on Tuesday, I called home and said it was the hardest golf course I have ever played," Wi said, laughing. "If I had to play here every day, I don't know if I would enjoy it." Not sure he's supposed to, frankly, but as the day wore on, the so-called greens turned a nice shade of tan. The 17th hole, a par-3 of 235 yards, became as deceased as old Hogan himself. The 18th wasn't much better.
The two holes, played by 155 players Friday, yielded a combined three birdies, which wasn't exactly proper ballast for the 26 scores of double-bogey or higher on the same two holes.
Indeed, the worst was saved for last -- Nos. 18 and 17 ranked first and second in stroke average and topped the charts in misery. A meager total of 22.6 percent of the field found the 17th green in regulation, second-worse behind No. 18, where 20.6 percent got home.
Said Rocco Mediate of the crispy afternoon greens: "They are on the edge of bye-bye."
Will it be sayonara on the weekend? Phil Mickelson, four shots off the lead after making bogeys on three of his last five holes Friday, predicted the struggles will continue.
The highest winning score in PGA Championship history is 1 over, a record shared by Player, Stockton and two others.
"Right now, I'd guess over par could be the number, but I don't know how many," Mickelson said.
