In many ways, the opening round of the PGA Tour was without precedent. Even top players like Scottie Scheffler, Rory McIlroy, and Xander Schauffele failed in the face of challenging conditions following torrential downpour preceding the event. The course was hit with nearly four inches of rain. This made for some muddy fairways and greens, resulting in double bogeys and strange ball hops from some of golf’s superstars.
Even Scottie Scheffler, who has been plagued by the yips, tested just how bad it could be. He gave up his ball because the lie was deemed unplayable. Now, he found himself in a pickle with his ball now caked in mud. This situation took a huge toll on his play. He missed the green and chipped 39 feet past the hole and didn’t convert a two-putt coming back for a 6 on the par-4 16th hole. “I understand it’s part of the game, but there’s nothing more frustrating for a player,” Scheffler stated. He acknowledged the impact of the conditions on his performance, adding, “You spend your whole life trying to learn how to control a golf ball, and due to a rules decision all of a sudden you have absolutely no control over where that golf ball goes.”
Rory McIlroy was certainly not immune from an emotional roller coaster on the course. He made two more bogeys at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and ended up T-85th, three over par. An absolutely miserable second shot McIlroy faced on the 16th hole courtesy of a sidehill lie only added to his troubles. His third from 206 yards came up short to the right of the green. Now, all he needed was to try a perilous fourth shot across a greenside sand trap. All of that did not begin to camouflage the golfer’s frustration as his second shot splashed into the pond lurking behind the green.
Xander Schauffele had a lot of the same quibbles about the state of things. He then uncorked a beautiful 323-yard tee shot down the fairway on the 16th hole. His second shot crumbled, reminiscent of the struggles Scheffler encountered on the same hole a short time before. Schauffele expressed his concerns after making a double-bogey six on the hole. Answering these questions is not easy and he understands this, especially as forecasted temperatures are predicted to soar over the weekend. The mud balls are only going to increase in severity,” he said.
The par-4 16th hole ended up being the most difficult test for all three players. Today, at 535 yards, it was the longest par-4 on the course and proved to be the most critical moment in both of their rounds. The players knew that when even a strike from the fairway didn’t ensure a desirable outcome in the tricky, soaked conditions. Schauffele noted, “We were in the middle of the fairway, and I don’t know, we had to aim right of the grandstands probably.”
Early in the first round, Scheffler – who kicked off the week with a 12-foot eagle on the par-5 15th hole – had already started feeling hopeful. Sadly, this momentum was fleeting as he stumbled on the 16th hole. He reflected on his day by saying, “I kept the honor after making a double,” hinting at a rare moment of light-heartedness amid the frustrations.
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