The Course Report
TPC Southwind
About TPC Southwind
A WGC event brings about another no cut event on the PGA Tour. Unlike most WGC events, we are looking at a course that often enters the fray as one of the more difficult courses on Tour. Fed Ex points are on the line as the playoffs are right around the corner.
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+
Weather Forecast
Past Winners
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.