Weather, course to test field at Senior PGA event
PITTSFORD, N.Y.— It didn’t take long for Jay Haas to be reminded of how gusting winds can wreak havoc on players attempting to navigate the narrow fairways of Oak Hill Country Club’s east course.
“Got here on Sunday night and played nine holes Monday, and it was blowing, what, 25, 30 (miles per hour),” Haas said with a laugh Wednesday, a day before the Senior PGA Championship opens.
“I couldn’t wait to get off the golf course,” he added. “I was making bogeys and doubles on every hole. It was pretty discouraging.”
In some ways, the 65-year-old’s experience was no different than his previous visit to the Rochester suburbs 11 years ago. That’s when Haas overcame frigid conditions, heavy wind and a onestroke final-round deficit to finish with a 7-over 287 and win his second Senior PGA title. And no, 7 over is not a misprint.
“There’s not many tournaments that you can be trailing by a stroke, shoot 4 over, no birdies and win the tournament,” Haas said. “That’s a testament to how difficult the golf course was playing that week.”
No need to remind Bernhard Langer, who shot a final-round 6 over to finish second to Haas.
“I think that was some of the highest scoring and most difficult conditions I’ve ever experienced anywhere for four days in a row,” said the 61-year-old, who has one victory among his five top-10 finishes this season and is second on the money list. “This golf course is very difficult even if you have good weather.”
It shouldn’t be any different this time at the US$3.25 million major, of which $585,000 goes to the winner. The 6,800-yard course is notable for narrow fairways, tiny greens and an unforgiving rough that places a premium on hitting straight off the tee.