The volatile nature of PGA National

The changing course

If it sounds as though a freak of nature changed PGA National’s character at the decisive moment, well, don’t get too carried away with that. Even under the benign south Florida weather that ruled for all but the tournament’s final few moments, PGA National changed dramatically as play moved along.

You could see the change just by looking at the scores. On Thursday and Friday, the field average was between 71.25 and 71.50, historically average for the par 70 layout.

Then on Saturday and for no discernible reason, that average gained nearly a full stroke, all the way to 72.15. And as suddenly as the scores rose on Saturday, they receded to a tournament-low 70.21 and did so under what one would have presumed would be Sunday championship pressure.

The Saturday carnage was as dramatic as it was inexplicable. Over the tournament’s first two days, the full field of 144 competitors averaged 21 rounds of 75 or worse. On Saturday, after the supposed worst half of the starting field was cut, the 72 survivors produced 17 rounds of 75 or worse.

Then, as abruptly as the field-wide slaughter came, it went. Only two of the 72 finalists shot 75 or worse on Sunday.