A gimmicky joke of an oak or a return to the roots of the Stadium Course? Whatever the pros make of the foreboding obstacle that has been plonked in front of the sixth tee box, it will undoubtedly be a central talking point here at the Players Championship.
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RoryMcIlroysayshewillhavetohithisteeshotonthesixtha‘littlelowerthanmypreferredlaunchwindow’–APPhoto/ChrisO’MearaAgimmickyjokeofanoakorareturntotherootsoftheStadiumCourse?Whatevertheprosmakeoftheforebodingobstaclethathasbeenplonkedinfrontofthesixthteebox,itwillundoubtedlybeacentraltalkingpointhereatthePlayersChampionship.
EventhePGATourreferstothe500,000lbtreeas“diabolical”onitsownwebsitebeforeexplaininghowthisniftypieceofreforestationhasactuallyrestoredaniconicfeatureofPeteDye’soriginaldesign.
ThelateAmericanarchitectwasproudofhismonikeras“golf’sevilgenius”anditisfairtosaythatthisparticularcharacteristiconthe413-yardercamefromthemoremischievouscornerofhiswarpedmind.
Overtheyears,thetreewiththehugebranchthatoverhangstheteewas,amongstotherthings,c
