The Demise Of The Sunday Afternoon Charge

In professional golf, there are four events each year that garner more attention and provide a greater test of skill than any of the others; the Majors. 

However, adjustments to Augusta National along with the setup of the recent US Open and PGA Championship host courses have bordered upon the unreasonable.   

The almost childish, "my tournament will be tougher than your tournament" tiff between Augusta National, the USGA, and the PGA of America has all but eliminated the thrilling Sunday afternoon charge from major championships.

The likes of Arnold Palmer making one of his renowned late Sunday afternoon charges with the roar of his army clearly heard from every corner of the golf course is a thing of the past.

Performances such as Jack Nicklaus’ score of 30 on the back-nine of his final round at the 1986 Masters en-route to his 18th major victory, which could arguably be considered one of the most amazing two hours of golf ever seen, is something we may never see again.   

The Sunday charge has not disappeared due to a lack of talent on the PGA Tour.

The tour is more flush with talent today than at an other time in the game’s history.

The Sunday charge has disappeared because Augusta National, and the modern day US Open and PGA Championship courses have made it all but impossible to do so.

The USGA has certainly led the charge in significantly increasing the difficulty of the courses chosen to host the US Open.

The average score at the US Open has increased by 2.5 strokes in the past ten years and the USGA is showing no signs of waning from their strategy of continuously increasing the difficultly of the courses.

The 2008 US Open host course, Torrey Pines, was the longest course to ever host a major championship, playing more than 7,600 yards

Never to be outdone, Augusta National has also significantly lengthened their jewel of a golf course in recent years.  The result has been in increase of more than two strokes on the winning score over the past ten years. 

The PGA of America has certainly grown tired of forever being referred to as the easiest major of the year.

The average winning score at the PGA Championship has increased by 1.2 strokes over the past 10 years; however, the PGA has given us a glimpse of things to come with their handling of the 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills.

Oakland Hills is a beast of a golf course in the most perfect of conditions, but the PGA of America wanted to take the difficulty of the course up another notch in 2008.

They decided to refrain from watering the greens which obviously produced rock hard surfaces where even the best of approach shots were seen rolling off the back edge of the greens.

The PGA of America also went as far as to literally rake the rough upwards around the typical landing areas, making a slightly wayward tee shot an almost automatic bogey. 

The British Open is a somewhat different kettle of fish in that there is not all that much that can be done to most British Open courses other than slightly lengthening some holes to coincide with the advancement in equipment.

British Open courses such as St. Andrewsor Turnberry are not all that difficult for a tour professional when the weather in decent.  However, on day of driving rain and wind, which is more common in England and Scotland, St. Andrews or Turnberry are barely playable. 

Any adjustments to increase the difficulty of British Open courses would make the courses all but unplayable in the wind and rain which is customary for the United Kingdom.

The majors should absolutely provide the most difficult test of golfing skill there is and it is indeed enjoyable to watch the best players in the world pushed to their limits.  

However, it should not be done so while compromising the fairness of a golf course.

A fair but difficult golf course severely punishes a bad shot while also rewarding great shots.

Sergio Garcia hitting perfectly struck, high-flying approach shots landing within feet of the pins at Oakland Hills only to watch the ball skirt over the back of the greens that could only be compared to pure concrete is not, in this writers’ opinion, a fair setup of a golf course.

Now, no one has won or lost a major due to the difficulty of the course.

Everyone plays the same major championship courses in the same conditions so it is only practical to say that the best player during each major week has been the won to win the event. 

What the continual increases in the level of difficulty at major championship course have done though, is virtually eliminate the exciting Sunday afternoon charge. 

Whereas players such as Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer used to climb their way up the leader boards on Sunday afternoons of the majors, now a day, if you are two to three strokes behind the leader heading into the back-nine at Augusta you better pray for those ahead of you to start melting down to have any chance.

The same holds true for the US Open and is beginning to become prevalent at the PGA Championship as well.

Golfers and fans alike live for the riveting Sunday afternoon charge. 

Players like to know that if they play well enough on the final day of a major championship they will have the opportunity to move up the leader board. 

A tournament is more enjoyable for the fans when there more players within legitimate striking distance of the leader. 

Unfortunately if Augusta National, the USGA and the PGA of American continue heading down the same road, the only Sunday afternoon charges we are likely to see will be shown on the "Golf Channel Classics."