Sept12 Greens far from tasty

 

Ernie Els told the Golf Channel he was “shocked” after seeing the greens at East Lake for the first time. The usually mild-mannered South African looked physically outraged immediately after he came off the course in practise.

Three of the greens on the course (the 2nd, 13th and 15th) are so bad that players won’t be allowed to practise on them at all. Greenstaff have put blue and green sand on the bare patches of the putting surfaces, presumably trying to cover up the worst parts once the television networks start coverage.

Worse still the greens are likely to be very slow, measuring no more than 9 on the stimpmeter. Given the Tour Championship is traditionally the climax of the PGA Tour season, and marks the end of the regular season with $10 million at stake for the winner, it’s not a great advert for the Tour.

Tim Finchem, the Commissioner of the PGA Tour, was under pressure last year, when television audiences were dropping; but few were asking for his head. Now, with the ‘playoffs’ unravelling every week, top players like Els, Mickelson and Woods missing events, and the bad conditioning of the courses, there are calls for his resignation.  

The Tour Championship this week in Atlanta is the final event of the FedEx Cup. The pro-am today (Wednesday)has been cancelled, although players are still required to be at East Lake to conduct a clinic and have a couple of Q-and-A sessions with their amateur partners.

Tiger Woods, who leads the FedEx Cup standings going into the final event, and second-ranked Steve Stricker are the only players who can capture the FedEx Cup and its $10 million prize by winning the Tour Championship.

Phil Mickelson, at No. 3, could claim the cup by winning at East Lake as long as Tiger Woods finishes lower than second place by himself. K.J. Choi and Rory Sabbatini also have chances of winning the cup.

The tour said Monday that Aaron Baddeley, at No. 6, is alive only if Woods withdraws or is disqualified.

 

- Just so you know, we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this website - read why you should trust us.