The CBS Sports golf reporter discusses this week’s PGA Championship, the first major of the season, and how the course and weather will challenge players.
(CBS San Francisco)- This week’s PGA Championship at TPC Harding Park will look different than any major that we’ve seen before. No fans will be in attendance due to the coronavirus pandemic and the golfer’s take on a Harding Park course that presents a variety of different challenges. CBS Sports golf reporter Amanda Balionis says that the lack of fans will actually test golfers in a different way on this particular course. “I think that really just allows the golf course to show all of its teeth. The rough won’t be trampled down. The rough is around three and a half inches right now, but it’s going to be really thick and unpredictable and continue to get worse,” said Balionis in an interview with CBS Local’s Ryan Mayer. “I was just talking to Michelle Wie West before this and you can’t really see how big those trees are or appreciate how big they are on television. She said the fact that there are exposed trunks can really cause more chaos than you’d expect because you can see crazy bounces and landing areas.” Aside for the potential hazards that golfers face for not keeping the ball in the fairway off the tee, the greens will be different than what they’re used to from a normal West Coast stop. “The greens have been resurfaced so they’re not the bumpy Poana that we’re used to seeing out West but there’s just enough Po left in it that you’re going to see some putts do things they’re probably not supposed to do in probably some big-time moments especially as the week rolls on and things start to firm up a bit,” said Balionis. Those challenges are ones that golfers on the Tour are used to adjusting to each week. Each course presents differing lengths of rough, a different speed to the greens and whether it’s trees, bunkers or both, different hazards to avoid with wayward tee shots. But, one other aspect that will be interesting to watch this weekend is the weather. The temperature is shaping up to be in the mid-50s to low 60s with winds anywhere between 10 and 18 miles per hour with the added element of fog throughout the weekend. Balionis says the fog, which she has affectionately named Carl, has made a huge appearance already this week. Combine those weather factors and there’s likely to be less length to shots than guys are used to. “It’s been 55 degrees. Cold, fog, the ball is not going to go as far as we’re used to seeing the last six weeks,” said Balionis. “Accuracy is going to be key, length is going to be key and as always putting down the stretch will be as well.” The PGA Championship is the first-ever major held at TPC Harding Park, a course that has seen its share of challenges over the years.
