PGA Tour Harder Courses: Response to Fan Demand
East Lake is Getting a Major Tournament Test: Here’s what’s changing for the 2023 TOUR Championship
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East Lake Golf Club, home to the season-ending TOUR Championship, is set to present a sterner test to the world’s best golfers this year.While the course is already known for its challenging layout, subtle but important changes are being implemented that promise to make scoring tougher and the competition even fiercer. Let’s dive into the specifics of what you can expect when the FedExCup Playoffs culminate in Atlanta.
A More Demanding East Lake: Rough, Greens, and Fairways
For years, East Lake has played relatively forgivingly, allowing for low scores and exciting finishes. But this year, officials are dialing up the difficulty. The goal? To separate the contenders and truly test every aspect of their game.
Roughing It Up: Longer Grass Off the Fairway
Perhaps the moast noticeable change will be in the rough. In two weeks, the rough will be cut around 3.5 inches – a full half-inch longer than it has been in recent years. While not quite as penal as the notoriously thick rough at the memorial Tournament, it’s a significant increase that will demand precision off the tee. Missing the fairway will be a far more costly proposition, requiring players to rely on exceptional long-iron play and a bit of luck.
Putting Under Pressure: Faster Greens
The putting surfaces at East Lake will also be significantly faster. green speeds will be cranked up to 13.5 feet on the stimpmeter,compared to 13 feet in 2021. This seemingly small adjustment will have a big impact, demanding greater control and finesse on the greens. Lag putting will become even more crucial,and making those crucial 8-12 footers will be paramount. Expect to see more three-putts and a greater emphasis on reading the subtle breaks of these slick surfaces.
Subtle adjustments to the Course Layout
Beyond the rough and greens, a handful of other changes are being made to individual holes. The fairway on the 17th hole will be narrowed slightly, putting even more pressure on players during a critical stretch of the tournament. Additionally, trees are being planted along seven different fairways, adding to the course’s aesthetic appeal and, over time, increasing the challenge. These changes are more long-term in nature, but they contribute to the overall effort to make East Lake a more demanding test.
Will These Changes Impact Scoring?
These changes are all relatively subtle, and tournament officials are acutely aware of the dangers of over-challenging the world’s best golfers. The modern game has seen players consistently break scoring records, and the line between a fair test and an unfair one is frequently enough thin.
However, the combination of thicker rough, faster greens, and subtle fairway adjustments will add up to something. The question is, how much? Will we see a winning score dip into single digits under par, rather than the 22-under-par totals we’ve witnessed in the past? It’s a engaging prospect.
Ultimately, the weather will play a significant role.As always, a little wind would amplify the difficulty and make East Lake even more of a challenge. so, as one fan put it, let’s all “pray for wind.”
The 2023 TOUR Championship promises to be a thrilling conclusion to the FedExCup Playoffs. These changes to East Lake will undoubtedly add another layer of intrigue and ensure that only the most skilled and resilient golfers will emerge victorious.
Author: Sean Zak
Role: Golf.com Editor
Sean Zak is a senior writer and author of Searching in St. Andrews, which followed his travels in Scotland during the most pivotal summer in the game’s history.