Wind, short iron play key factors as Challenge begins

Albany (The Bahamas): Tackling the wind and short iron play will be key factors at the course here, venue of the $3.5 million Hero World Challenge that teed off on Thursday. Almost every player coming off the Albany fairways on Wednesday made a mention of the first factor, and how much wedge use would matter on this par-72 7,000-plus yard course.

Said tournament host Tiger Woods after his Pro-Am round on Wednesday, “This golf course is playing tough, it’s just whipping out here. But I think they (green-keepers) did the right thing, slowed the greens down, single cut them because they would have been too quick with this much wind.”

Asked if the round had help ease into tournament mode, Woods said, “I did a little bit of work for probably 12 holes or so.

“I probably did a dumb move in not playing in sunglasses out here because we’re in carts zipping around and walking between holes and I’m starting to get a pretty good headache from squinting so much. Live and learn and tomorrow I’ll have them on.”

So what were his focus areas? “Probably my putting. My speed’s off. I did some work two and three days ago, but they were double cut and now they’re single cut, different speed. Most of my putts I left short. The last couple of holes I made a couple of putts. I’m going to hit it at least four, five feet past the hole, I don’t care, and they were going about a foot past.

“I felt good with pretty much everything. I was able to hit all the shots I needed to hit. The wind was definitely pumping today and it was good to see it under — in this direction. The time since I’ve been here on Saturday it’s been blowing out of the other direction, so it’s good to see it out of this direction.”

For player of the year Dustin Johnson, it is his swing that led to a series of consistent results. Known for his long hitting, Johnson felt it was his short game that was making the difference.

“I don’t think the distance has anything to do with it, just a lot of work that I put in on the wedge game, that was a big factor this year. And then why I hit it so far, ask my coach because I just swing it and hit it.”

For Olympic silver medallist Henrik Stenson, much of his success comes from the mental side. Speaking after Wednesday’s round, the Swede said, “Golf is a game where you’re never going to reach that goal where you’re finished. You can always be better at all the different areas of the game and I think that’s for me it’s two different parts.

“One is the competitive part. I like to compete, I like to beat the other guys out there and try and bring my best game, but it’s also working on my game and trying to improve as a player.”

Winner of the event in 2014 at Isleworth in Florida, Jordan Spieth said his short play was an area he felt had improved after a relatively lean 2015.

“The only stat that really stood out was approach yardage from — it was really my wedge play, 60 to about 140, 150 yards in the strokes gained department.

“I actually improved in putting this year from 2015. Driving the ball was similar enough, I can definitely improve in that department in the accuracy.

“It was really the scoring clubs, the proximity to the hole, the strokes gained from 60 to about 150 yards (that made a difference).”