The Course Report
TPC Southwind
About TPC Southwind
Is this a WGC event? Nope. We have the first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs infront of us as “some” of the best goflers in the world tee it up for a whole bunch of pride, wealth, and bragging rights.
The course isn’t easy, but we will see scoring. It really just kind of sits in the middle of all the key rankings that we look at when evaluating a course. Much of the difficulty lies in the fact that PGA players will have to manage water as well as Bermuda greens.
The main protection on this course is the wind and the water. The rough is not something that is penalizing, and anyone not making this cut is more than likely going to be a victim of a double bogey or worse. Scoring is not going to be easy, as there are only 2 par 5’s and 4 long par 3’s. Just for an added bonus, the 5 hardest holes on the course are all par 4s.
Finding fairways will be important because it will just be easier to hit calculated approach shots from the short grass. While the rough isn’t penalzing, this course is not easy if you’re missing greens, hitting deep bunkers, or splashing it into the water.
There is just a massive penalty for missing fairways at TPC Southwind. Yes the aforementioned water comes into play, but even more important is the zoysia fairways. The grass holds balls up, almost as if they are on a tee, and allows golfers to easily attack pins.
Don’t get fooled by the “TPC” name. This is not a course that will allow golfers to feast on birdies, and there are big numbers out there that can ruin any round.
Architect: Ron Prichard
Greens: Bermuda
Green Size: 5,420 Sq. Feet (Smaller than Average)
Stimpmeter: 12 – Average
Length: 7,244 – Par 70
Water Hazards: 10
Bunkers/Waste Area: 100+
Nuggets and Tidbits
-Around the green game will have a higher importance than you think.
-Don’t get fooled by the low scores. There are plenty of big numbers out there, and we will see some holes just eat players alive.
-Putting isn’t difficult here. Yet, do not dismiss your bermuda experts.
-Little known fact. TPC Southwind water holes have swallowed up nearly 6,000 golf balls. That is more than any course on the PGA Tour in that span of time.
-It won’t end up being a secret, but look at Nationalities when selecting some of your plays. If you need something to tip the scales, South African and Australian players grew up on Zoysia fairways. The same turf that the golfers will see this weekend.
-The 18th hole will often claim plenty of victims due to its degree of difficulty. Yet, most of the difficult holes come on the back 9. This could be a potential Showdown edge.
-Fairways are essential. Hitting out of bermuda rough will lend itself to trouble. In addition, the Zoysia fairways are going to acts somewhat as a tee due to the way the ball sits up in the grass.
Weather Forecast
Approach Shot Distribution
Past Winners
Ancer outdueld during a playoff with Sam Burns and Hideki Matsuyama as he scored a birdie on the second extra hole of the tournament.
This was the only win in Ancer’s career, but the writing was on the wall with success at the Wells Fargo and the Olympics.
Thomas won by three strokes, but this tournament was a lot closer than scores would indicate.
Thomas’ birdies on 2 of the final 4 holes created a lead that could not be caught by the likes of Daniel Berger, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler.
Koepka cruised to a 3 stroke victory to earn the victory. Up to this point, Koepka had been so close with multiple top-5 finishes.
Koekpa hasn’t been shy about how much he loves his course. He showed it this weekend.
He didn’t melt down this time, but he almost did. Speith won the Claret Jug by three shots after starting the round with 3 bogies on the first four holes.
On the back 9, Spieth figured things out as he had a birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie after hole 13. His win marked his 3rd major championship and became the youngest American to hoist the Claret Jug.
After seven career top-five finishes at major championships, Stenson broke through for his first major victory.
Stenson posted a 63 on Sunday, tying the major championship record for a low round. Stenson was spectacular on Sunday, and outlasted Phil Mickelson who just couldn’t keep up with the Sweedish pro.
It took a 3-man playoff, but Johnson beat Louis Ossthuizen and Marc Leishman by shooting a 15, 1 under in a four hole playoff.
Johnson was a surprise win as just the week before his prep came in Illinois at the John Deere Classic. This was Johnson’s second major win, and his first Claret Jug.
Entering with a six-stroke lead over the field, McIIroy went from dominant to just hanging on. Still, no golfer ever got withing two strokes the entire day, and he held his composure despite struggles off the tee and on the greens.
In winning, McIIroy became the seventh wire-to-wire winner in Open Championship history.
After winning the Scottish Open the week prior, Mickelson birdied four of the last six holes and became the Open Champion.
To this point, Phil had come close to winning, but had often doubted his abilites on links style courses.
Els began Sunday 6 shots back, but still clinched the vicotry after Adam Scott imploded.
Els’ 68 was a comeback of epic proportions when you consider the fact that Scott was still winning by 4 strokes on the 15th tee.