Drivable par 4 steals the show

The 18th is THE place to be at The Barclays.

By Paul Mahoney

After the pain comes the pleasure. The players endured a Hellish 254-yard par three at Atlanta during the PGA Championship. But Plainfield offered up a much more Heavenly 285-yard par four at The Barclays. Of those in the top 20 on the leaderboard, half bagged birdies the 18th and the other half holed for par. There was not a single bogey to be seen.

The 18th green was THE place to be on a storm-lashed Thursday at The Barclays. As darkness began to fall just after 7pm, there had been 36 birdies, 46 pars, one eagle and just seven bogeys. Its average score was 3.656. The eagle prize went to Troy Matteson who chipped in from off the green. Shot of the Day went to Steven Bowditch who drove to five feet. He had to hand back his award, though, after three-putting for par. Sergio Garcia almost slam-dunked his drive for what would have been an extraordinary hole-in-one. He settled for a two-putt tap in birdie. Harrison Frazer probably doesn't care that he is awarded The Chicken Award for laying up off the tee with a 7-iron. His ho-hum par completed a seven under par 64. He leads The Barclays after an incomplete round one.

What the players think of the 18th

Phil Mickelson
I think it's terrific. If I ask anybody to think of your favorite golf course, and on that golf course, to think of your favorite hole, it's either a par 3 under 150 yards or a drivable par 4, occasionally a reachable par 5. That 18th hole is going to be one of the favorite holes for the guys. It gives us a chance to get aggressive, conceivably make an eagle, most likely make a birdie, and if you hit a bad shot, make a 5. That makes it exciting for the finish. You can look at it as a really long par 3 if you want. You can call it a short par 4, whatever par is, that hole is going to create some excitement. And the fact that just about everybody can reach it or get close makes it really fun. Into the wind it will be tough to reach.

Adam Scott
It's quite an interesting set-up, really, to have such a short drivable par 4 as the 18th. It could provide a lot of entertainment. I don't think it's a bad thing at all because it is a bit of a risk/reward. It's not that much different in the end than a gettable par 5. I hit a nice tee shot. I went for the green and I hit it to maybe just over 10 feet, and I left the putt hanging on the edge. So you know, I hit a good drive and I got rewarded.

Webb Simpson
I love it. I think it's great. Not only for us but also for the fans out there, and watching on TV. We have a choice to either hit an iron or a wedge and go for it. So when you're two back coming to the last hole, you're certainly not out of it. Too many times on tour we play final holes that are 480 yards and I can see how it would get boring for fans. So I think it will be great.

Nick Watney
I'll probably hit driver there almost every day. You know, we'll see how that works out for me. But I think if you can reach it, it would be an advantage to get it up there around the green. Even though it's reachable, you still have to hit a good shot in order to have a birdie opportunity.

Steve Stricker
If I was 25 years old and had the length that Nick Watney has, I would be pulling out driver, too, but I can't get there. My best effort, if there's no wind, I can probably get it up towards the front somewhere and for me, there's just too much risk there. There are bunkers around. There's real tall heather stuff on both sides of the fairway. And really, I can hit an iron or a utility club and have a wedge in my hand. But you're going to see scores from guys hitting drivers that are going to make doubles and stuff like that. It's a tough shot. Unless it's downwind, I'll be laying it up.