It’s fair to say Rory Mcilroy isn’t the biggest fan of changes made at Riviera Country Club, describing one in particular as “horrible” ahead of the Genesis Invitational.
The $20m Signature Event hosted by Tiger Woods is one of the biggest stops on the PGA Tour schedule, due in part to the history and tradition of the event, the course and the name attached to it.
Already a tough par three, the signature fourth hole is now an even more difficult prospect for even the PGA Tour’s finest – and McIlroy is definitely not a fan.
“I don’t think four plays any differently, you’re just hitting a slightly longer club. I actually think it’s a horrible change,” said McIlroy after a practice round at the Genesis Invitational.
“And 18, yeah, 18 played downwind today and I hit driver, 8-iron. So certainly it’s a bigger hole than it was, so 18’s probably the better change.”
The new Grand Slam champion says extending the fourth hole was not a change that was needed given how tough it was to find the green in the first place.
McIlroy also feels Riviera needed to amend the surrounds to the fourth green, with the grass type not conducive to players being able to run the ball up onto the putting surface from such a hefty distance.
“Well, like 15 percent of the field hit the green last time when it was played at its original yardage at 230,” McIlroy explained. “If you want it to be a 275-yard par-3, you have to change the apron leading up onto the green.
“It can’t be kikuyu, it has to be another type of grass that can help you run it onto the green because again, in the right conditions, you try to fly that ball on the green with a 3-iron, it’s going to land – it’s going to finish up on the fifth tee box.
“That’s sort of what I mean by why it’s not a great change.”
With the famous old…
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