PGA Championship: long diabolical road | JDM

Never has a Grand Slam tournament been played on a course as long as that of the Ocean Course on Kiawah Island. The PGA of America Championship will take off on Thursday on one of architect Pete Dye's most diabolical courses. A creation extending over 8876 yards and bordering the Atlantic.

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These numbers catch the eye when looking at the map of South Carolina's magnificent course. Especially the 4061 return yards. Since the 2012 edition of the PGA Championship of America won with a bang by Rory McIlroy, the Ocean Course is longer by 200 yards.

Among the hosts of the four Grand Slam tournaments, he leads by 31 yards Erin Hills, venue for the 2017 American Open, which has so far sat at the top of the longest courses. The Augusta National doesn't even come close at 7,475 yards while the longest field contested at the British Open was Carnoustie in 2007 with its 7,421 yards.

Running along the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the Ocean Course is a links-style course exposed to the elements of Mother Nature. With the 'breeze' blowing in all directions, golfers are faced with an array of possibilities, both in what club to use and what type of shot to execute. Winds can require up to eight sticks of difference! It is therefore imperative to control the distances of 150 to 220 yards when approaching the greens.

"This course is more akin to a typical US Open setup," Tony Finau candidly compared after his first round of practice. I tasted the extreme experience playing it at its maximum distance. Long holes abound, especially with headwinds being a problem. It's very difficult. »

A long hitter, Finau isn't used to hitting long irons to reach the greens in regular shots. He found what he was looking for at Kiawah Island when he took out an abundance of 3, 4 and 5 irons from his bag.

"I was thus able to get a taste of what awaits me this week," said the 14th player ⁱⁿ the world. He finished fourth in the 2020 PGA Championship of America at TPC Harding Park in San Francisco.

Different options

The competition committee has let it be known that they will configure the course according to the conditions. He will modify, among other things, the location of the starting milestones in order to shorten it a bit...

“I hope that will be the case, because from the ^14th to the ^18th , I could not play shorter than a 5 iron to reach a pennant, pointed out Jon Rahm. I'm not a little puncher. For our sanity, we need to be able to play front tees in a few places. Distance isn't the only challenge with this diabolical design that demands precision and creativity. The visual effects and optical illusions force golfers to constantly challenge themselves, especially when adding the winds into the equation.

"With narrow targets and windy conditions in a place like this, you have to have a clear idea of ​​what strategy to apply," added Rahm. You have to be fully committed to your shot. You have to be confident in your options, otherwise it's impossible to post a good score on this course.

“The options are many. You have to choose one, apply it and execute it as well as possible. »

Demanding finish

The final push begins from the 14 ^th flag mound, a long par 3. Often exposed to headwinds, the five holes are as demanding as they are grueling.

After the long par 5 of 608 yards representing the last excellent birding opportunity if it is successfully negotiated, golfers are faced with a terrible par 3 of 223 yards where water threatens all miscalculated shots.

“It's an extremely difficult hole. I hit a 2 iron there from the tee in practice,” Rahm said. When it's your stick in the wind for 230 yards flying over a body of water towards a narrow target, it's really not easy. Despite its requirement, it is a magnificent hole. »

That's the beauty of Dye's creations. As arduous and complex as they are, they lead golfers to push their limits in discomfort. They never disappoint. They have this gift of turning a dream course into a real nightmare.

Kiawah Island Ocean Course

The big tournaments

17th ^: dry, please

On this par 3 of 223 yards, the water is watching at all times in front and to the right of the green. It is imperative to aim for the center of the surface. A dry ball to the left is worth its weight in gold when there is no need to tempt fate. Placed diagonally, the green is 44 yards deep. But due to its shape, angle and slopes, the landing area is only about a dozen yards. During the Ryder Cup in 1991, many balls fell to the fleet. Including that of Mark Calcavecchia. While he was 2 holes ahead of Colin Montgomerie with two holes to play, the American hit the worst shot of his life. After seeing his rival hit the water, he just had to put his ball dry on one of the most terrifying shots to be executed. But a shank in the middle of the lake, one of the worst shots of his career, and a terrible two-foot miss putt forced him to commit a triple bogey. By playing +6 on his last 4 holes, he lost his lead and finally equalized his match against the European. A discomfiture and a sad ending that still stick to his skin. Nevertheless, the Americans had managed to win the precious Ryder Cup.

Omnipresent relief

Among the many particularities of the Ocean Course, we find the relief on all the holes. At this third flag, the shortest par 4 on the course (390 yards), the elevated green makes certain approaches difficult. Especially those coming from the right. By missing the green despite having a short iron in hand, the par is difficult to register.

Unique by the ocean

Kiawah Island's Ocean Course is ranked 24th ⁱⁿ the prized 2020-2021 list of the 100 most beautiful courses in the United States published by Golf Digest magazine. Links type through sand dunes and seagrass, it is probably the most diabolical course designed by architect Pete Dye. Ten of the 18 holes run along the Atlantic for almost 5 kilometres. No other course in the northern hemisphere has so many. Raised above the coast, all shots are exposed to winds from the ocean. Fairways and greens are bordered by long bunkers and long grass areas.

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