Final holes may lead to fireworks

SPRINGFIELD, N.J. – From a design standpoint, it’s all wrong. No golf course, at least nothing built in the modern era, is supposed to end with consecutive par-5 holes.

A course builder with the dullest drafting pencil around knows it breaks all the accepted architectural maxims, particularly when the holes represent the only par-5s on the layout.

Yet in terms of potential theatrics in today’s final round of the 87th PGA Championship, it couldn’t have been drawn up better if they tried.

In terms of potential fantastic finishes, how about going birdie-birdie to steal a victory? Better still, what about birdie-eagle? It’s not improbable that somebody could make up three shots in two holes – or make a mistake and drop a stroke or two instead.

The longest hole in major championship history, the 17th is mostly unreachable in two blows, but has instead turned into a “short par-3,” as Davis Love called it. If a player can wrestle his drive into the fairway, a lay-up shot with a fairway wood leaves an easy pitch shot from about 100 yards to the green. As a result, there has only been one eagle, but plenty of birdies.

Statistically, through 54 holes, the 17th is carrying a scoring average of 5.04 strokes, making it the fourth-easiest hole on the course.

The 18th is a different story altogether, as the course has dried out this week and the fairways have offered more roll on tee shots, players have been easily reaching the green in two and piling up eagles at an astounding clip. In fact, after three rounds, it ranks as the easiest hole on the course, averaging a decidedly meek 4.50 strokes.