2017 WGC-Mexico Championship

[Golfingdad]

I believe that we are going to see some loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong drives this week.

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/the-unusual-problem-pga-tour-pros-will-face-at-this-weeks-wgc-mexico-championship?mbid=social_facebook

Quote

The course's clubhouse sits approximately 7,780 feet above sea level. That's an altitude that's 50 percent higher than Denver, aka the "Mile-High City." And yes, that kind of height will have a big impact on how the golf ball travels.

"I live at 8,000 feet, and I know that if I played here every day and I didn't go to sea level, my equipment would look completely different," 12-time PGA Tour winner Justin Leonard said during a recent NBC/Golf Channel conference call. "And I think you will see guys making adjustments at altitude, especially with driver, possibly with the golf ball. The golf ball doesn't spin as much, doesn't curve as much."

"You're going to see guys putting in quite a bit of work Tuesday and Wednesday," Leonard added.

The last time the tour played in anywhere near this altitude was at the 2014 BMW Championship, which was held at Cherry Hills Country Club just outside of Denver.

“It becomes a little bit of a math game,” Rickie Fowler said before that event in which he finished T-4, five shots behind winner Billy Horschel. “You just need to trust your numbers.”

Under those atmospheric conditions, the golf ball is expected to fly 10 to 15 percent farther. And Rory McIlroy routinely hitting 370-yard 3-woods that week seemed to back that up.

 

[Ernest Jones]

1 hour ago, Golfingdad said:

And Rory McIlroy routinely hitting 370-yard 3-woods that week seemed to back that up

 

 

It's gonna be awesome! Like PlayStation golf. Lol. 

[Fairway_CY]

Wow... I had no idea Mexico City was up that high.  It should be an interesting week!  Looking forward to it now more that I've read this.

CY

[woodzie264]

1 hour ago, Golfingdad said:

Rory McIlroy routinely hitting 370-yard 3-woods that week seemed to back that up.

I have that same problem 

[Chilli Dipper]

If the altitude does play a factor this week, it could favor the South Africans in the field; they're used to playing at high elevations.

(In fact, the European Tour event last week was in Johannesburg, which is at roughly the same elevation as Mexico City. I don't know if anyone in the field this week is coming straight from the former, but it might actually be benificial if they have.)

[Golfingdad]

56 minutes ago, Chilli Dipper said:

If the altitude does play a factor this week, it could favor the South Africans in the field; they're used to playing at high elevations.

(In fact, the European Tour event last week was in Johannesburg, which is at roughly the same elevation as Mexico City. I don't know if anyone in the field this week is coming straight from the former, but it might actually be benificial if they have.)

Of course if it just comes down to some calibration and/or maybe a simple bit of math then it's really no different than going from Europe to US and converting meters to yards.

I don't expect it to affect anybody by causing them club choice issues.  If anything, I could see it affecting them a little bit with their breathing and stamina.

Then again, it is just golf. :)

[chris3putt]

20 minutes ago, Golfingdad said:

Then again, it is just golf. :)

Can't believe you said that!........................

[Golfingdad]

12 hours ago, chris3putt said:

Can't believe you said that!........................

Haha, I meant just in the sense that it's not exactly strenuous ... compared to, for example, when the US soccer team goes to play there.  (Where they always lose)

[phillyk]

It'll be interesting to see how McIlroy comes back this week after his injury.  He has to be eyeing the Masters now too and trying to get into tournament form.  I wouldn't expect a top finish from him, but something near the mix would be a good start.

[Finman]

I have also heard that the greens are rolling quick in Mexico City. I like a short-game master to come out on top this week, Spieth being the obvious choice in my mind.  

[MuniGrit]

Thomas just posted his drives carrying 355 and rolling out to 380+. Distance is overrated though as even the short knockers will be pumping them out there.

[65ross]

• Altitude,small greens, a course that can bit the aggressive player will make for a interesting four days, some people might find the altitude oppressive, change in altitude +4500 ft. can take time to adjust. Being at 7600/800 ft. will take some adjustment in body and mind.  

[Wally Fairway]

I would have thought the weather would be warmer, kind of surprised to see it in the low 60's (but that is me not taking altitude into consideration)
Seeing the distances is awesome, but also watching some of the approach shots fly the green tells you that it isn't an easy adjustment.

Or as NLU tweeted

 

[Groucho Valentine]

Great looking course. 

[MuniGrit]

I love all the trees on this course. It makes for many different strategies.  You have to putt well too. DJ got his ass kicked on 5 footers yesterday. A decent putting round and he shoots 7 under yesterday.

[Ernest Jones]

Total hole out festival. I just saw half a dozen hole outs in half a dozen minutes. Crazy. 

lol, wtf, another hole out!

[Broke100Once]

Forget about the elevation or the greens, the biggest enemy this week seems to be stomach flu

[Ernest Jones]

McIlroy in fine form. Could be back to world #1 by Sunday.