"So it's just a terrible tee box."
I haven't heard many negatives from players until today when Phil Mickelson made the 4-mile journey to the media center and was asked about some of the USGA's alternate tee locations. Check out this exchange:
Q. You talk a little bit about No. 14, can you talk a little bit about No. 3, the possible change at the tee box, and 13, too, and their impact on the tournament?
PHIL MICKELSON: I love playing up on 3 to that left pin. You're not going to go at that pin from the other tee. But the angle that the short tee on No. 3 gives, it now allows you to go at the pin, if you miss it long it's not in the hazard it's just longer into the green. Guys will go at that left pin. I think it will be exciting. Because you're going to see some birdies, but you're also going to see some 4s and 5s. 13, the par-5, that new tee box is terrible. It's the biggest waste of money that I've ever seen. But it doesn't matter what I think, we're going to end up playing it and I've got to be ready for it. But it's terrible.
Brief break here for boring questions before someone smart grabbed the microphone.
Q. I can't remember the last time I saw you talk so passionately about a golf course-related thing. What is it about that particular tee is it that struck you as being a waste of money?
PHIL MICKELSON: On 13?
Q. Yes. You usually don't say it quite so unequivocally.
PHIL MICKELSON: Because there's no other way to look at it. It's just terrible. The reason it's so terrible is that before there was great risk/reward. There was great reward if you hit the fairway from the tee where you could go for it. Because it's such a tough shot from the bottom of that hill for birdie. But from the back tee nobody can reach it. Everybody's going to be laying up to the same spot, some with a 6- iron, some with a 3-iron, and everybody is going to have the same pitch, it's like a par-3 from the bottom of the hill. So there's no opportunity for a longer player to take advantage of his length. There's no opportunity for a guy who strikes it straighter to take advantag! e of his skill. And there's no opportunity for a guy who wants to take a little bit of risk and try to get it by the green and be rewarded. So it's just a terrible tee box.
Phil is right. And he's not.
Yes, the back tee poses a certain test that many of us would not consider ideal. However, over the course of four days wouldn't it be more interesting to see a variety of tees used here, including the 614-yarder?
The point of this tee is to provide a different look at a course that the players know well. To pose different questions over four days instead of the same question each day.
Let's see what Phil says after four rounds from a variety of locations.
Comments