2015 Humana Challenge: It Is All About The Birdies And Memories

Jan 22, 2015; La Quinta, CA, USA; A general view of the signage in the first round of the Humana Challenge at Arnold Palmer Private Course at PGA West. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

It’s no secret that over the years, the Humana Challenge In Partnership With The Clinton Foundation has given us some winners with very low scores. Three of the easiest courses on the PGA Tour are typically being set up to not embarrass 156 wealthy business men, and that philosophy creates a shooting gallery for the average professional golfer.

Patrick Reed won the 2014 Humana Challenge by posting a 28 under par total for 72 holes. In fact, since the Clinton Foundation took over sponsorship of this event in 2012, shortened it from five days, and 90 holes to four days and 72 holes, the winning score average has been 25.66667 under par.

More from Pro Golf Now

Mark Wilson was the first winner after the reduction, and turned in a 24 under par total, with Brian Gay winning at 25 under par in 2013.

If you get the calculator out, or in my case, the iPhone, and run these numbers, you will find that if a player wants to keep pace with the projected finish, he needs to have daily scores in the six under par range.

In particular, one needs to be 6.4165 under par or better each day, if they want a chance to lift a trophy on Sunday afternoon. To keep up this average for four days, one needs a ton of birdies, and a few eagle along the way.

Our defending champion opened on Thursday with a seven under par 65 at the LaQuinta Country Club, and finds himself two shots off the pace. Patrick Reed went bogey-free, and carded seven birdies at the longest of the three course rota.

Arnold Palmer won the inaugural Palm Springs Desert Golf Classic back in 1960 with a 20 under par total. Folks, that was using persimmon clubs, and a golf ball that was so hard, it felt like hitting a piece of granite.

The highest score, and the only time in history when the aggregate score was in the single digits, was 1964. Tommy Jacobs posted a 353 total score, which was a whopping seven under par.

The tournament record for the lowest score was set toward the end of the Bob Hope days by Joe Durant. Durant turned in a 324 total in 2001. That shakes out at 36 under par. Of course, this was a 90 hole score.

Both Patrick Reed, and Joe Durant hold the course aggregate records with Durant’s setting the 90 hole record, and Reed’s, the 72 hole total.

So while checking out leaderboards around the internet to see how your favorite player is doing, the one thing you need watch is his daily average. If he is not averaging six and a half birdies a day, he probably will not be visiting the winners circle on Sunday.

Reed is now two shots off of the pace set on Thursday, by Michael Putnam, who made 10 birdies, and one bogey, and is your leader going into the second round on Friday.

Five players led by the 2012 champ, Mark Wilson are one shot back at eight under par, and Reed is in a group of four players at seven under par including his playing partner, Matt Kuchar.

Jan 22, 2015; La Quinta, CA, USA; A man dressed in a clown costume walks across the 18th fairway in the first round of the Humana Challenge at La Quinta Country Club. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Although the Humana Challenge is easy pickings for good players who can make birdies in bunches, it is avoided like the plague by players who have trouble dealing with the distractions.

Celebrities who play slow, and huge crowds of people trying to get an up-close glimpse of their favorite movie star, keep some top players from playing here. Tiger Woods has never played in this event.

Jan 22, 2015; La Quinta, CA, USA; A general view of the 17th hole as Bill Haas tees off in the first round of the Humana Challenge at Arnold Palmer Private Course at PGA West. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Tournament organizers tried to lure good players by shortening the once 90 hole grind to a standard 72 holes, but they are not showing up. Most of the good players in the field, like Phil Mickelson this year, use this event to get ready for the remainder of the West Coast Swing and season.

This is the last year with sponsorship from the Clinton Foundation, and the future of the tournament is uncertain. It’s a shame, because it has been a fixture on the tour for the last half century. Many players, and fans supported this event out of love for its long-time host.

Bob Hope passed away in 2003, and the support for this staple on the PGA Tour has steadily passed with him.

Next: Fantasy Picks For The 2015 Humana Challenge

Home/Golf News