The Rough At Oak Hill For The PGA Championship Has Caddies And Players Thinking It’s the U.S. Open

The rough at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York, the site of this weekend’s PGA Championship, has caddies and players stunned, wondering if they’re at the U.S. Open instead of golf’s second major.

While playing conditions at Major Championships are usually a tad tougher than any other weekend in an attempt to truly weed out those who are less-than-prepared, the conditions at the U.S. Open have always been some of the harshest.

The Oak Hill rough looks juicy 👀 pic.twitter.com/1cSrosp6RJ

— Golf Monthly (@GolfMonthly) May 16, 2023

Many U.S. Opens have been played at relatively difficult courses, to begin with, but in preparation for a Major course, maintenance crews might leave the rough a tad longer than usual, the greens faster than normal, and tee boxes in areas that fairways are not necessarily the easiest to access.

This week’s rough seems to be close to U.S. Open conditions, according to a couple players who spoke to Golf.com.

“It’s not quite like a U.S. Open. No, it’s not that thick, maybe more like a Memorial Tournament,” Patrick Rodgers said. Seconds later, Rodgers would flub a ball from the rough, and it would trickle well past the hole, with the next shot showing improvement. But there are no mulligans at Majors.

The rough is a problem.
The sand is a problem.
Oak Hill is a problem. pic.twitter.com/NIqnz33Xnh

— Rick Gehman (@RickRunGood) May 15, 2023

Sam Burns also fell victim to the unpredictability of the course’s conditions. Two consecutive tops had the LSU Tiger leaving the beginning of his practice session to try something a little less intense.

Max Homa’s caddie Joe Greiner said, “It’s almost like Winged Foot. It’s not quite as thick…the blades [of grass] are thicker — and stickier.”

Golfers were seen needing two or three shots to get a good gauge of how aggressive they could be out of lies from the rough. It seems like the worst might be yet to come.

All of this happened on Monday, three days before the start of the 2023 PGA Championship. The grass still has several days to grow and there is no indication whether crews will manicure the course as the week goes on.

Greiner said

“The lie might not look that bad, but it’s still really tough to get the club out.”

A fan stated the 1980 PGA Championship was his favorite tournament and offered similar conditions. Jack Nicklaus won that tournament as the rough offered five-inch-high conditions. He is looking forward to a tough tournament because it is “more fun that way.”

Golfers have not yet been vocal about criticisms they may have for the course, so this week’s press conferences will be interesting to watch to hear their thoughts. If they do complain, it will be far from the first time. Last year, Patton Kizzire called the conditions at Southern Hills “pitiful” and the course “overrated.”

Tyrell Hatton also said the course seemed to be the PGA’s attempt to one-up the USGA with course length:

 “It would be nice if they were a bit more creative with course setup rather than just trying to make it hard through length all the time.”

Oak Hill CC (East Course):

Par 70 (7,394 yds)
Remodeled in 2019

4,500 sq. ft. avg. green size
27 yds avg. fairway width

78 sand bunkers
1 water hazard
6 holes w/ water in play

Bentgrass greens
Fescue/Bluegrass/Rye rough

— Underdog Golf (@Underdog__Golf) May 15, 2023

 

The 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay offered criticisms as well. Billy Horschel said the putting surfaces were the “worst rolling greens I’ve ever putted on.”

“Happy to be done,” Camila Villegas said.

“One of the worst surfaces on the course,” according to Graeme McDowell.

If the scores are higher than normal, expect to hear golfers talk about the potentially harsh conditions that Oak Hill may offer this weekend.

Cover Image Via Twitter & Twitter