<!–
–>
Ten years on from the last time it competed in a PGA tournament, Valhalla will once again host a Major and many are looking for similarities between that 2014 season and this one but it's important to note that a lot has changed in the format.
The game itself has undergone major changes of late whether the fans like it or not and while there are certainly similarities on the surface and on the PGA Tour this may be a very different experience.
Punters raced to back Rory McIlroy to claim another major victory on the site of his last major victory.
McIlroy enters the PGA Championship with a win at Wells Fargo and those looking for patterns will note that he did the same in 2014.
Before the return, Valhalla will play longer than in 2014
The 2024 PGA Championship will play on par 71, as it did in 2014, with a total length of 7,609 yards, which is 151 yards longer than the 2014 yardage.
Hole No 2 will now be a par 4, instead of a par 5.
More Championship games in key areas improve the length.
The first hole will be a 484-yard par-4 by adding 38 yards.
Stretched to 494 yards the 12th hole remains a par 4.
A gain of 36 yards will take you to 254 yards on the 3rd on the 14th hole, and another 28 yards will take you to 570 yards on the 18th hole.
Championship players have been moved to a new location about nine feet below the 13th hole, which retains its 2014 grade.
Turf changes can also affect how Valhalla plays
Zeon Zoysia replaced the curved fairway turf and tee tops during an extensive change in 2021. In more than three months, thirty hectares of Zeon Zoysia have been planted.
Zeon Zoysia is a warm season grass similar to bent grass and can withstand a lower cutting height than standard Zoysia grass due to its thin blade. The PGA of America says there were several reasons for the change in grass, mainly the fact that bent grass is difficult to maintain in the “transition zone,” a region in the middle of the temperate climate, ideal for cool-season grass. , and a hot and humid climate, ideal for warm-season grasses.
The new fairways also allow for firmer and faster playing conditions throughout the season, although that firmness may be dampened this week with a significant chance of rain over the next few days.
(function(d, s, id) {
var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];
if (d.getElementById(id)) return;
js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id;
js.src = “//connect.facebook.net/en_GB/sdk.js#xfbml=1&version=v2.8&appId=203299386383530”;
fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);
}(document, ‘script’, ‘facebook-jssdk’));
Source link
