Atlanta Athletic Club will play to its shortest distance of the week on Sunday — 7,236 yards.
Whether that produces more fireworks or flameouts remains to be seen.
Among the notable setup changes for the final round of the PGA Championship: The par-4 sixth hole is drivable for the first time all week, at 289 yards; the par-5 12th, all the way back at 560 yards, may force more players to lay up short of the greenside pond; the par-4 13th, at 359 yards with a severe left-to-right dogleg, no longer will tempt players to hit driver; the par-3 17th, now 160 yards, is the shortest it has played all week; and the oft-discussed 18th also is playing up a few tees, at 471 yards.
On paper, at least, the changes to course setup would seem to be in response to the criticism that there will be more bogeys than birdies coming down the stretch — which, in turn, would produce less excitement. (Unless you’re into that kind of carnage, US. Open-style.)
“Yeah, you can make up six shots in the last four holes,” said Adam Scott, who begins the day at 1 under, six shots back.
With the top of the leaderboard dotted with major-starved veterans and wide-eyed rookies, it will be compelling theater to see how they handle the final few holes, which Steve Stricker, in solo fifth, said were “the toughest four-hole stretch we play all year, probably.”
In 2001, the last time the PGA was held at Atlanta Athletic Club, the 18th played 490 yards in the final round. With 209 yards to the hole, and staked to a one-shot lead, David Toms elected to lay up short of the pond that guards the green. He wedged on, then sank the par putt to edge Phil Mickelson by a shot.
Said World No. 1 Luke Donald, who begins the day six shots back: “It’s going to make for an exciting finish - exciting in terms of, can you hold on?”
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