The Players Championship greens on Saturday were very unforgiving, with a record 149-three putts for a PGA Tour event on the course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.
ONE HUNDRED FORTY NINE!! That's how many three-putts there were today. New record for a PGA Tour event! I'm sure the players aren't excited.
— Michael Collins (@ESPNCaddie) May 14, 2016
In what should be the least surprising development in this story, golfers on the tour have been speaking out against the difficult greens and they are clearly unhappy.
“That was borderline unfair on a few holes,” Rory McIlroy said after Saturday’s third-round, via USA TODAY Sports. “A few pin positions were on crowns, and you dribble a putt by, all of a sudden it’s six feet by.”
McIlroy was not alone.
“A lot of caddies kept asking, ‘What’s this remind you of?’ Everyone said, ‘Shinnecock,'” added Ryan Palmer’s caddie.
They were as fast as Shinnecock hills 2004 but shinnecock more severe slopes, so I think they were quickest I've ever seen.
— Ian Poulter (@IanJamesPoulter) May 15, 2016
This is just a small example of how things played out over the weekend.
Putting is hard.#QuickHits https://t.co/cg1IOjE91b
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) May 14, 2016
There were still some solid scores throughout the round, so a handful of golfers were able to figure out the difficult greens, but you will likely hear some additional criticism after today’s round if the greens continue to play as fast.
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*Featured Photo (above) credit to USA TODAY Sports