2013 PGA Championship at Oak Hill Discussion Thread

[ChrisP]

Originally Posted by iacas

The rough is pretty bad at Firestone this week, isn't it?

Not at all. Tiger's reaching the green on almost all his missed drives. He won't be able to do that next week. That's my worry with him. He has to be more straight next week to have a chance. He can't expect to get up and down constantly from missed fairways like he did yesterday. A good, long ball-striker who can hit it straight is going to be a tough contender next week....that's why you're hearing Adam Scott's name a lot on the short list of contenders.

[Cracker24]

Originally Posted by ChrisP

Not at all. Tiger's reaching the green on almost all his missed drives. He won't be able to do that next week. That's my worry with him. He has to be more straight next week to have a chance. He can't expect to get up and down constantly from missed fairways like he did yesterday. A good, long ball-striker who can hit it straight is going to be a tough contender next week....that's why you're hearing Adam Scott's name a lot on the short list of contenders.

The fact that you all but write Tiger off for next week, and then say that the course is well-suited to a player like Adam Scott is a huge contradiction. They have very similar games. Both are in the top 20 for total driving for this season, with Tiger the slightly more accurate of the two.

I'm not saying that the course is perfectly suited to Tiger but I think one of the keys to his game and the reason he's number 1 in the world is that he can win and compete on all sorts of different courses. On top of this, from what I've heard, Oak Hill sounds like a slightly more extreme, more difficult version of Firestone, how's Tiger doing there?

[dtc48]

Originally Posted by tefunk

There are several good spots.  What I usually do is find a couple greens and tees that are in a general area so I can take short walks between the few, depending on who is making their way through those holes.

The course is pretty much surrounded by residential neighborhoods (also small parts back up to Monroe Ave, and Irondequoit CC... but you won't be able to get on from there), so there really isn't any better option than to park at MCC and take the shuttle in.

I found some paid parking at a house just off Kilbourn. Hopefully it will be better than the shuttle. Craigslist has several options.

I have been to many events, not just at Oak Hill. I agree on finding a place with several option.  I can look at the course layout, but was just wondering if anyone had specific suggestions.

Thanks.

[k-troop]

Might as well get this week on and give the thread a bump. Lots of expectations this week for Tiger, but it would be really cool to see Rory come out of nowhere and play like, well, Rory.

[Beachcomber]

What are the people in the know saying about how difficult Oak Hill will play this week?  Will it protect par?  Like Merion did?  Or is it going to be moreso like other PGA tournaments where ~ -10 wins?

[tefunk]

Originally Posted by dtc48

I found some paid parking at a house just off Kilbourn. Hopefully it will be better than the shuttle. Craigslist has several options.

I have been to many events, not just at Oak Hill. I agree on finding a place with several option.  I can look at the course layout, but was just wondering if anyone had specific suggestions.

Thanks.

That's true, there are probably several people in that neighborhood willing to make some cash.  I didn't think of that.  That's actually where I'm parking as well (a friend of mine lives on Stoneleigh).

[tefunk]

Originally Posted by Beachcomber

What are the people in the know saying about how difficult Oak Hill will play this week?  Will it protect par?  Like Merion did?  Or is it going to be moreso like other PGA tournaments where ~ -10 wins?

Oak Hill is brutal... small and undulated greens, many trees to tend with, long for a par 70 (7100 plus), not many birdie opportunities.  I've heard the rough won't be as bad as past tournaments though (there will be three cuts).

My thought is the winner will make the fewest mistakes (which isn't uncommon I guess) and pull of a few great shots to put some birdies on their card... luck will certainly come in handy as well.

[Zeph]

How many times will Tiger use driver at Oak Hill? His irons were good at Firestone, but the driver sending him into trouble left and right.

DRIVING ACCURACY	71.43%	64.29%	57.14%	57.14%	62.50%	T11
LONGEST DRIVE	324	379	333	326	379	2
GREENS IN REGULATION	88.89%	72.22%	50.00%	83.33%	73.61%	2

[dtc48]

Originally Posted by tefunk

That's true, there are probably several people in that neighborhood willing to make some cash.  I didn't think of that.  That's actually where I'm parking as well (a friend of mine lives on Stoneleigh).

I am also on Stoneleigh. Hope the traffic getting out is not too bad. Still better than the bus, I hope. Good money for people there as long as it does not rip up their lawn too much. Got the idea from an article in the D&C.;

[Chilli Dipper]

Originally Posted by Zeph

How many times will Tiger use driver at Oak Hill? His irons were good at Firestone, but the driver sending him into trouble left and right.

DRIVING ACCURACY

71.43%

64.29%

57.14%

57.14%

62.50%

T11

LONGEST DRIVE

324

379

333

326

379

2

GREENS IN REGULATION

88.89%

72.22%

50.00%

83.33%

73.61%

2

Tiger won't have to pull driver that often at Oak Hill, but he needs to trust it when he does. There were times at Muirfield where he needed to hit driver off the tee, but lacked the confidence (or adopted overly conservative course management, at least) to do so. It definitely cost him there; on a course whose closing holes are a pair of 500-yard par fours, it will cost him again if he's in contention late Saturday or Sunday.

[tmac20]

Originally Posted by Chilli Dipper

Tiger won't have to pull driver that often at Oak Hill, but he needs to trust it when he does. There were times at Muirfield where he needed to hit driver off the tee, but lacked the confidence (or adopted overly conservative course management, at least) to do so. It definitely cost him there; on a course whose closing holes are a pair of 500-yard par fours, it will cost him again if he's in contention late Saturday or Sunday.

If Woods doesn't pull out his driver this week, he won't win. Plain and simple. However, using his driver could cost him the win as well. There are plenty of holes on this course where if you don't hit driver, you'll be way too far back to have any chance getting it close, but if you do hit driver there is trouble right and left. The best drivers of the ball this week will likely be in the top 3 on Sunday, which is why I'm leaning towards Adam Scott and Hunter Mahan.

[Zwick]

Woods drove it pretty well at Firestone, always on the correct side of the fairway or (mostly) only a few yards in the rough. He was third in total driving.  As long as he does thie same at the PGA the driving won't be the problem. It will all come down to putting again.

[iacas]

No, its not bad at all. hard for us, easy for them

Spitfisher, were you at Firestone last week like I was, or at Oak Hill right now like I am? If the answer to either is no how can you reasonably compare the rough or tree lines? BTW there are more trees at Firestone. [quote name="ChrisP" url="/t/68920/2013-pga-championship-at-oak-hill-discussion-thread/30#post_877905"] Not at all. Tiger's reaching the green on almost all his missed drives. He won't be able to do that next week. That's my worry with him. He has to be more straight next week to have a chance. He can't expect to get up and down constantly from missed fairways like he did yesterday. A good, long ball-striker who can hit it straight is going to be a tough contender next week....that's why you're hearing Adam Scott's name a lot on the short list of contenders. [/quote] Adam Scott is basically no better a driver than Tiger.

[Zwick]

I don't know if that has already been posted: Hole by hole flyovers including commentary by Claude Harmon, the head pro at Oak Hill.

Some pretty hard par 3, only one of the par 5 is reachable I guess and most of the par 4 don't require a driver.

http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/course/2013/tour/1

[tefunk]

Craig Harmon is the head pro at Oak Hill (Claude was his father).

[bplewis24]

Just FYI, if Tiger is in contention going into the weekend, I will not be able to join you guys in the fancy chatroom.  Every time I join, he starts playing poorly.  When I'm in the regular chat, he plays great.

I know you all will miss me, but I gotta do what I gotta do.

[colin007]

Just FYI, if Tiger is in contention going into the weekend, I will not be able to join you guys in the fancy chatroom.  Every time I join, he starts playing poorly.  When I'm in the regular chat, he plays great. I know you all will miss me, but I gotta do what I gotta do.

Tiger wanted me to tell you that both he and I appreciate your consideration and we look forward to working with you in the future! :-D

[MonarchGolf2010]

Oak Hill is a course that Tiger can win on with his iron play alone.  Think back to Hoy Lake.  The scores will be such that he won't need to make many birdies to stay in contention.  Pars will serve players well.  As for those that say you need to hit driver at Oak Hill, you don't.  The holes that seem like driver holes such as 7, 9, 17, 18, although striping one 320 will set the hole up nicely, the difference between hitting a 6 iron and 4 iron into a green is not great, when it comes to proximity to the hole and birdie average.  So, the difficult holes are played for par, and then some of the easier holes need to be capitalized on, such as 2, 5, 10, 12, 14.

I think Tiger has a great chance because of his iron play.

Cheers!