“Please don’t do that. I just souped up that back nine.”
As is the case when a tournament course ends on a par 3, it draws a number of detractors. Add Tiger Woods to the list of those who don’t like a course ending on a par 3. Personally, I couldn’t care less on what par a course ends on. I don’t know why a par 3 is an more or less interesting than a par 4 or 5 finishing hole. Imagine if 17 and 18 were reversed at the TPC Sawgrass course - think there’d be some REAL drama there? In any event, this past week’s tournament at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta ends on a 235 yard par three.
There was some discussion of reversing the nines - which might be interesting only from the standpoint that the front 9 appears to be more interesting and entertaining than the back 9.
“If you flipped the nines, you’ve got a short par 3, a short par 4, another short par 4 and a good risk-reward par 5. That could be pretty exciting,” Arron Oberholser said last week at the BMW Championship, where he failed to qualify for the Tour Championship.
The front nine was also the site of Tiger’s 28 on Friday. (Although, Zack Johnson shot 29 on the back in route to his incredible 60 on Saturday.) Of course, there is some reason that the front nine is likely more interesting and entertaining than the back nine.
Designer Rees Jones, who did the makeover at East Lake in 1994, cringed at the idea. “Please don’t do that,” Jones said. “I just souped up that back nine.”
“Souped up” is code from Jones for “made more boring” - as in added length, added or deepened bunkers, planted trees, added water. In any event, the wet conditions brought on by both rain and less than ideal green conditions (which turned out to be blown WAY out of proportion) resulted in conditions that allowed the golfers to fire darts all week.
Here’s Tiger’s take on ending on a Par 3.
“I’ve never been a big fan of the last hole being a par 3,” Tiger Woods said. “I think you should have to hit more shots to determine a champion than just one shot. I think you should have to play two or three shots to get to a flag, not just one shot.”
Hmmm… the champion has likely hit between 250 and 290 shots over fours days to determine the outcome of a tournament. The champion, unless he hits a hole-in-one will also have to hit at least two shots, including a putt, on a par 3.
Popularity: 17% [?]
I have to agree with Tiger. Stepping onto the final tee box can have a big impact on a player who is leading the tournament. Only one more hole to go! It seems fitting that there should be at least two full swing on that last hole to really determine a winner.
“Hmmm… the champion has likely hit between 250 and 290 shots over fours days to determine the outcome of a tournament.”
Exactly the point I made on my own blog, Taylor - I think Tiger’s logic took a moment off when he answered this question.
I think that as long as the 18th hole isn’t weak, it doesn’t matter what the par is. If a 2 or a 5 are equally feasible, depending on how you play it, then I don’t see anything anti-climactic in a par-3 18th.
Unless TIger’s playing it with an eight-stroke lead, of course…
Nolan-
We’ll have to agree to disagree. I don’t see how making at least two full swings adds any value - I do understand the drama from TV standpoint, but from a golfing standpoint, I don’t see any.
Jeffrey-
Thanks. By the way, really enjoy your blog and have been for sometime now.