Scottie Scheffler expressed frustration with East Lake’s design during the Tour Championship, arguing that the course layout prevents competitors from separating themselves on the leaderboard. The world’s top-ranked golfer examined statistics from the par-3 ninth hole, noting that out of 87 player attempts across three rounds, 79 resulted in pars alongside just two birdies and six bogeys. This clustering of results prompted Scheffler to question the hole’s competitive value.
Scheffler attributed the compressed scoring to modern course design trends that prioritize larger fairways and greens while positioning pins defensively near edges. He explained that this approach creates a difficult balance for players deciding how aggressively to attack each shot. While Viktor Hovland maintained a one-shot lead entering the final round, the tournament has been characterized by bunched scores throughout, with several players hovering near the top of the standings.
Other competitors, including Rory McIlroy and Ludvig Aberg, compared the leaderboard congestion to the PGA Championship at Aronimink earlier in the season. Both players noted that East Lake’s wider layout produces fewer dramatic scoring separations compared to previous iterations of the course. McIlroy observed that players rarely score better than 67 or worse than 71, leaving little room for standout performances that typically distinguish champions from the field.
Originally reported by Sports.yahoo →
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