Feeling the heat Medinah needs help from Mother Nature Click here for more on this story Posted: Friday August 13, 1999 06:20 PM   At 7,401 yards, Medinah is the longest sea level course in major tournament history. CNN/SI By John Giannone, CNN/SI MEDINAH, Ill. -- The long, plush fairways, majestic trees and glistening lake provide the picture-postcard setting for this PGA Championship. But nestled amid the splendor of Medinah is an eyesore that has become a cause for concern - the scorched earth caused by a recent heat wave that in some cases makes green a misnomer. "The difference is that the ball is rolling over almost two different surfaces," says Justin Leonard, whose best PGA finish was two years ago. "The grass that's still alive and green and the grass that's brown-out and almost dead. And it does react differently on those two kinds of grasses." This year's U.S. Open winner, Payne Stewart also won the PGA 10 in 1989. He says golfers will have to be at their very best if they are to conquer the greens. "The 18th green has a lot of grass on it. So its speed is going to be different than the 17th and the 16th green. And then the 15th green has grass on it. So you go from 15 with grass to 16, which doesn't have any grass on it. The speed definitely changes." "Over half the green was brown in color and it just didn't look like it was healthy," said Phil Mickleson who's finished third in 1994. " I don't know if that's going to present a problem or what. It certainly rolled fine. The ball rolled over it fine. I just didn't know if they try to dry them out and make them harder if that's going to be possible." Getting to the flag stick will also be a daunting challenge. At 7,401 yards, Medinah is the longest sea level course in major tournament history. Jack Nicklaus joked that it's the only course with four straight par 5s. But the driver length and strength needed to conquer this aptly-named Monster of the Midwest will be no laughing matter. In 1998 Jim Furyk had very little to laugh about. That's because he missed the cut. So he knows just how tough the PGA can be and he says Medinah will be no different. "It's a long golf course. Every time you step on a tee and look at the yardage book it's says 450-yard par 4. And it kind of gets monotonous after a while. You quit looking at the yardage book." David Duval who's best finish in this tournament was a tie for 13th in 1997, says the added length to the course is not as a big a deal as some make it. "It's not as if you're playing, instead of 200-yard par 3s you're playing 300 yard par 3s. The added length is just subtle. It's a club more into each green, maybe. And that's where you come up with that extra yardage." Leonard recognizes that Medinah'a length is going to be what he calls "another battle." But for Tom Watson who will be making his 27th appearance in a PGA Championship, says it could be even more than that. "If you get those type of conditions, the long golf course, add the Chicago wind and you get brick greens, you'll see over par winning the PGA here," Watson said. The last time Medinah hosted a major championship was the 1990 U.S. Open. During practice rounds that week, a host of players complained about the length of the rough and the PGA ordered the grass cut before round one. Hale Irwin went on to win the tournament highlighted by an Open-record number of subpar rounds. PGA officials vow the course will not be tampered with anymore this week. That may be of very little consolation to the players.   Related information Multimedia Payne Stewart talks about Medinah's greens. (107 K) Phil Mickleson discusses the weather's influence on the greens. (114 K) Click here for the latest audio and video Search our site Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.

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