"Most of the time, all you could do was hack it back onto the fairway. But in 2-to-3 inch rough, you maybe have a shot at the green."
/It'll be interesting to see how this concept for the TPC rough plays out. Personally, I think we'll see shorter rough allow for some dynamic recoveries and some really, really stupid decision making. Both good things for us fans.
Garry Smits reporting:
Bermuda rough: Since the 1995 Players, 4-to-6-inch overseeded bentgrass rough was the norm. The course had to be overseeded with the hardier strain of grass to get through the winter because freezes could occur within days of the tournament when it was in March. The Bermuda grass will be cut to about 2 to 3 inches.
The result, from a competitive standpoint, is that players have a better chance of reaching the greens. However, balls sitting down in Bermuda rough are called "flier" lies because they have a tendency to come out hot. Upon contact, grass is caught between the club and the ball, reducing spin and increasing distance. Players must adjust their club selection accordingly, and it's a guessing game that two-time Players winner and Tour Policy Board member Davis Love III of St. Simons Island, Ga., said will create more drama.
"It was boring," he said of past Players Championships with higher bentgrass rough. "Most of the time, all you could do was hack it back onto the fairway. But in 2-to-3 inch rough, you maybe have a shot at the green. The issue is whether you picked the right club."