ROCHESTER (N.Y.) — Players and caddies agree that the 2023 PGA Championship will be a U.S. Open. Oak Hill Country Club underwent significant changes after Jason Dufner’s 2013 PGA Championship. Scores of trees were removed. However, the club still has the old-school feel that you would expect from a U.S. Open, with its fast greens and thick rough.
Rory McIlroy said on Monday that he thought a course like this was similar to Winged Foot 2020, with its long course, rough and narrow fairways.
Professional golfers aren’t as interested in a 500 yard par 4, but they will be if the par 4 is surrounded by a snarly green of 4 to 5 inches.
Scottie Scheffler said, “You are rewarded for good shots. If I miss the fairway at one of those 500-yard holes, I will be hacking out something from the rough, and I won’t be able get to the green within two,”
The conditions for grass growth in Rochester have been perfect this spring, with plenty of rain and cool days. When golfers first arrived at Oak Hill to play practice rounds, they quickly realized that their equipment could need to be adjusted.
Max Homa and Dustin Johnson are among the notable players who use a 7 wood regularly. However, many players have spoken with PGA Tour representatives and asked them to produce hybrids and high lofted fairway wooden clubs, such as 7-woods or even 9-woods that can be used during this week.
Spencer Rothluebber, a Ping employee, worked with Callum Tarren Monday after building a 9-wood for the 32-year old. Rothluebber pointed to an area of rough that was behind the manicured turf on the driving range. “I told him to hit his 9-wood out here and then his 4-iron,” Rothluebber explained. The 9-wood flied about 45 yards further and his 4-iron appeared to be struggling.
Tarren’s 9 wood has a head with a 24 degree angle, but the loft can be adjusted to be closer to 22 degrees using its adjustable hosel. Ping builds its 9 woods for tour players one inch shorter than the standard length of 40 inches, making it easier to control shots in rough or awkward lies.
Rothluebber stated that Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 U.S. Open champion, has also been using a G430 nine-wood as part of his preparations for this week’s PGA Championship.
The soles of hybrid clubs and high-lofted woods are wider and have a lower profile compared to long irons. This helps them cut through thick grass easier. The center of gravity is also lower and further back away from the face. This encourages a greater launch angle.
JJ Van Wezenbeeck said that Titleist’s director of player promotion, JJ van Wezenbeeck, saw a rise in hybrids among players who wanted to take on the rough.
Van Wezenbeeck explained that the hybrid seemed to be the best choice for many players. “There were some challenging shots on the fairways and some long par 3s. Earlier this week, the wind was a bit stronger, so it seems like the hybrid is a good option,” he said. Some players have tried 7-woods or 9-woods. But the hybrid seems to be a good choice for most players to move the ball from the rough while still allowing them to play the other shots they will have this week.
Van Wezenbeeck confirmed that Jordan Spieth was among the players testing hybrids at Oak Hill this week. In Spieth’s case, a TSR1 hybrid.
You can work with a professional who will use a launch monitor and watch your shots to determine if a hybrid or high-lofted wood is a good choice for you. Here are some notable options to try.
