PGA Tour: Xander Schauffele shocked finale didn’t go away East Lake

ATLANTA — Loads of dialogue at this week’s Tour Championship revolves round East Lake Golf Membership itself. The course just lately underwent a restoration led by famend architect Andrew Inexperienced, who additionally revamped Oak Hill Nation Membership, the location of the 2023 PGA Championship.

Viktor Hovland known as East Lake a “main championship golf course,” whereas Scottie Scheffler saved speaking concerning the greens. Many have used ‘difficult’ and ‘agency’ to explain these placing surfaces, which can run at a few 13 on the stimpmeter, maybe creating U.S. Open-like circumstances.

Newer golf programs—and ones with new inexperienced complexes—take some time to melt up and soak into the terrain. Therefore, as we noticed earlier this yr at Quail Hole and Colonial, new greens agency up, making it tough for the professionals to carry them from wherever, not to mention Bermuda tough.

“I’ve performed some new programs earlier than, they usually’re a bit bouncy,” stated Xander Schauffele, who has an incredible document at East Lake.

“Nonetheless it was designed to be performed, it’s going to be a bit bit totally different for the primary two years simply because it hasn’t settled in.”

Schauffele added that he was shocked to see the Tour Championship return to this course so shortly.

“I wouldn’t have been shocked if we needed to play a unique venue for a yr or two, wish to let this course settle in. That’s how new it’s,” Schauffele stated.

Photograph by Tracy Wilcox/PGA Tour through Getty Pictures

“It’s simply too new. The course is absolutely, actually new.”

East Lake Golf Membership has hosted the Tour Championship yearly since 2004. It additionally hosted the PGA Tour’s finale in 1998, 2000, and 2002.

As well as, the tour has obtained an incredible monetary dedication from its three presenting sponsors for the Tour Championship: Coca-Cola, Southern Firm, and Accenture, all of whom have a big presence in Atlanta. For the tour to stroll away from East Lake would have been robust, contemplating the 30 gamers on this week’s area will obtain $100 million in FedEx Cup bonus cash. However on the flip facet, the Atlanta Athletic Membership might have welcomed the Tour Championship for a yr. TPC Sugarloaf in Duluth might have carried out in order nicely. Each have hosted tour occasions earlier than. Atlanta Athletic Membership even hosted the 2011 PGA Championship, the place Keegan Bradley bested Jason Dufner in a playoff.

But, the tour, its sponsors, East Lake administration, and its membership determined to maintain the Tour Championship on the similar venue for 2024, leaving Inexperienced barely any time to finish the restoration.

“We solely had a sure period of time. The East Lake staff ought to actually be placed on an enormous pedestal as a result of they have been right here final yr, and the upkeep staff was making ready the golf course for this championship final yr, and the day after this occasion was carried out, we have been making an attempt to kill grass and begin development,” Inexperienced stated.

“However at each step, we knew we needed to be prepared Thursday.”

Certainly, the course will probably be prepared, however it’ll play agency and quick. Its newness might even result in some unfortunate bounces and breaks, which seemingly wouldn’t happen one or two years from now.

It’s actually model new.

Inexperienced and his staff laid down the ultimate items of sod on Jun. 15, a bit greater than two months in the past. For reference, the third spherical of this yr’s U.S. Open fell on Jun. 15. The subsequent day, Bryson DeChambeau bested Rory McIlroy, which may be very a lot nonetheless on everybody’s thoughts. It’s definitely nonetheless recent on McIlroy’s.

However, this golf course is greater than recent.

It’s going to entertain golf followers and viewers however can probably create some points for these among the many 30-player area. Look no additional than Schauffele describing what he noticed on the par-5 18th on Tuesday.

“I noticed somebody from the golf green hit an extended iron that landed [in a small part of] the perimeter, [which is pretty narrow], and it hit actually mushy and plugged,” Schauffele defined.

“Then a ball that landed [on the front of the green, inches beyond the fringe] simply went straight over the inexperienced. It’s simply because it’s new, so it’s onerous to inform.”

These bounces might result in chaotic leisure, which is what PGA Tour followers need, proper?

And but, Inexperienced, who obtained unimaginable popularity of his work at Oak Hill, has made one other true masterpiece, one that can obtain large reward as time goes on.

Jack Milko is a golf employees author for SB Nation’s Enjoying By means of. You’ll want to take a look at @_PlayingThrough for extra golf protection. You may comply with him on Twitter @jack_milko as nicely.