Texas Children's Houston Open

Memorial Park Golf Course



The Loop

East Lake Greens Not In Pro-Am Shape

September 08, 2007

The FedEx Cup can't seem to catch a break.

Marred by controversy over big-name players skipping events, criticism over the points system and the $10 million deferred payday, now comes more bad news about East Lake's troubled greens. They're so bad, Golf World has learned, players in the 30-man field will not be allowed to practice on them or hit shots into them prior to Thursday's opening round of the Tour Championship. The PGA Tour is expected to announce the cancellation of the pro-am and a long-term plan by course founder Tom Cousins to close the course for a year to change the greens from bent grass to a new strain of Bermuda that is more tolerable to Atlanta's searing heat.

Henry Hughes, Executive Vice President of the PGA Tour, would not confirm the information, saying it was speculation and that a release would be issued Sunday.

--Tim Rosaforte