JOHNS CREEK, Georgia – The par-4 sixth hole at Atlanta Athletic Club’s Highlands Course has a bit of a split identity. One day it gives; the next day it takes.
For the second time this week, the tees on No. 6 have been moved up, making it drivable and an intriguing risk/reward option.
The club agreed to add a new tee box for the KPMG Women’s PGA so that the women could be presented with the same option as the men at the 2011 PGA Championship. With a back-right hole location on the 246-yard hole Sunday, many players will be primed to take on the risk with water on the left and bunkers guarding the green.
“When I was here 18 months ago,” said PGA of America Chief Championship Officer Kerry Haigh, “we talked about it and shared with the club, and they were excited because they’ll be able to use it for their membership day in, day out, and it’s certainly – it makes you think. Do you lay up short of the lake, which is really not much club at all? Or do you go for it? There’s plenty of room to the right to bail out but then it’s a really tough chip if you do miss it right, but obviously you’re rewarded with a birdie or eagle if you’re straight.
“It should be fun to watch.”
KPMG Women’s PGA: Leaderboard | Photos
The hole played 376 yards in Round 1 and ranked the most difficult with a 4.583 scoring average. It ranked the second-hardest in Round 3 with a 4.457 average. The field made a combined five birdies over the course of two rounds.
On Friday, however, the tee was moved up to 229 yards and tied with the second hole as the 16th easiest hole of the day. There were 53 birdies and five eagles in the second round. Seventeen players made bogey and four players made double or worse.
Big-hitting Jessica Korda chose not to go for the green on Friday while Inbee Park hit driver long and then chipped in for eagle.
“I think it was in a pretty smart setup,” said Park. “It was probably maybe not a driver for a lot of the girls, and we definitely had to think about it, laying up, as well, with the water on the left. If you’re on the borderline of the cut line, if you’re ahead of the field a lot, you have to think about yourself.”