ATT Byron Nelson - 2022

[TBS 741]

Do you think that the image of this tournament (easy course... boring setup... etc etc) would change if they changed it to a Par 68? or even Par 66? (Par is irrelevant regardless, but that's a rant for another day.)

The course isn't that exciting to watch but I watched the final round for a couple of hours just because of the number of players in contention. I wonder how many people don't watch just because of the scores?

[ejgaudette 4,104]

30 minutes ago, TBS said:

Do you think that the image of this tournament (easy course... boring setup... etc etc) would change if they changed it to a Par 68? or even Par 66? (Par is irrelevant regardless, but that's a rant for another day.)

The course isn't that exciting to watch but I watched the final round for a couple of hours just because of the number of players in contention. I wonder how many people don't watch just because of the scores?

Personally I think the variety is great. Last week was a tough set of conditions and winning score is in the single digits under. This week is fast, easy, and the winning score is very low. It can be fun to see tour pros struggle, and then have a tournament where a par is losing ground. Even in the majors we have this a bit. The US Open is tough, the Open can be difficult or easy depending on the weather, PGA is set up a bit easier, and Masters in the middle. Variety is fun. Don't need every event to be a tough -4 to -8 winning score. Just my opinion.

[fixyurdivot 18,313]

3 hours ago, TBS said:

Do you think that the image of this tournament (easy course... boring setup... etc etc) would change if they changed it to a Par 68? or even Par 66? (Par is irrelevant regardless, but that's a rant for another day.)

The course isn't that exciting to watch but I watched the final round for a couple of hours just because of the number of players in contention. I wonder how many people don't watch just because of the scores?

Personally, I prefer courses that play really tough for these guys.  This is no doubt my envy talking here but the game is not supposed to be that easy... and is not for 99.7% of all golfers. What is relative to me as a viewer is seeing their scoring a bit more in line with our game.  Being 6-8 under par/round is not even close. Watching them play a course as if it was an executive layout gets a bit boring IMO.  A great example, and not helping with the excessive distance debate, is rollout on drives.  Between this event and the Regions Traditions, I was laughing at some of the rollout distances.  If we played courses like that I think our scoring would improve. These guys are at a stratosphere level of play and, because of that, I like the courses they play to be a commensurate level of difficulty.   

[cnosil 26,485]

I guess I take a different look at TV golf; score to me is irrelevant and I just watch to see who hits what shots and ultimately wins.  While score is the measurement of who wins the winner could be -24 or +5 and I still find it just as entertaining.  

[TBS 741]

29 minutes ago, cnosil said:

I guess I take a different look at TV golf; score to me is irrelevant and I just watch to see who hits what shots and ultimately wins.  While score is the measurement of who wins the winner could be -24 or +5 and I still find it just as entertaining.  

I agree but there is something about hitting a 3 wood into an easy Par 5 (TPC Craig Ranch) vs a tough par 4 (Kiawah ocean course). Both are exciting but there needs to be a balance. Fried Egg will talk about how courses are like a piece of classical music, needs a story as you go through the round and too much of one thing can get boring but the right amount of tough / easy can put together a very fun viewing product.