Justin Rose was out on the 13th green rolling his putts on its huge surface, frying to get a handle on the speed and grain. He’s from the UK (by way of S. Africa), and if you’ve ever played golf out there, then you know these greens, large as they are, are small in comparison to the likes of St. Andrews.
But what St. Andrews doesn’t have, is the tilt of a volcano, and it is this extreme in terrain that makes the putting such a test here, at least for us mortals. Many of the players noted that judging the 15-foot or more breaks is key to success here, and they are correct.
So too is length. If you can’t get your ball down the fairways far enough, you will find yourself with tougher lies and approach shots. This can put more pressure on the putter too.
The greens looked beautiful today, and the course is simply amazing in how it is set-up.
I have to hand it to the Kapalua staff, and the PGA Tour, for the job they’ve done with this golf course. Just stunning.
You’ll be very lucky to play it after the event, as it doesn’t get any better than this!
