Scottie Scheffler criticises PGA Championship pin locations
World number one Scottie Scheffler has labelled the pin locations set for the second round of the PGA Championship as “absurd.” Currently two shots off the lead, Scheffler expressed his frustration with the challenging placements, particularly highlighting the difficulties faced by players, reports BritPanorama.
Scheffler stated, “Most of the pins today were kind of absurd. There are just some things that are out of your control.” He pinpointed the 14th hole as particularly problematic, describing it as the hardest pin he had encountered in a long time. “I mean, there’s literally just like a spine, and they’re like: ‘Oh, we’ll just put the pin right on top of it.’ And you’re like: ‘All right, well, I’ll see what I can do,’” he added.
The 2022 Masters champion sought the opinions of his caddie, Ted Scott, and Justin Rose’s assistant, Mark Fulcher, about the unyielding pin placements. Scheffler remarked, “This is the hardest set of pin locations that I’ve seen since I’ve been on Tour, and that includes US Opens, that includes Oakmont.” He inquired if these conditions were familiar to them, underlining the severity of the challenges presented.
Scheffler noted the unique characteristics of the course: “But it’s different in a sense on this golf course, because Oakmont, their greens are extremely severe, but they’re extremely severe in one direction. Here, it’s like the green may slope all this way, and then we put the pin down here, and then there’s also a slope this way.” He emphasized that the greens appeared artificially challenging, complicating the players’ performances.
Despite his criticisms, Scheffler entered the weekend at two-under-par. Fellow competitor Rory McIlroy made the cut and offered a more optimistic outlook, anticipating improved pin placements in the coming days. He remarked, “With calmer conditions and maybe a couple more favourable hole locations, I think everyone’s got to feel like they have got a chance.”
McIlroy further noted the tight competition, saying: “Yes, it’s bunched, but you get on a run with wedges on that front nine, and you shoot four, five-under and all of a sudden you’re right in the thick of things.”
As the tournament progresses, the challenge of pin placements will be crucial for the players, with a noticeable impact on their strategies and outcomes. It serves as a stark reminder of how nuanced and unpredictable the game can be, not just of skill, but of the conditions set forth on the course.
