The Old Course it ain't

Anybody catch Sergio Garcia's travails at No. 17 in the second round? His tee shot carried most of the island, trickled down the narrow walkway that connects the green to the rest of the course, and settled on a strip of astroturf. ASTROTURF! Garcia ended up taking a drop, chipping over the water's edge and watching his ball nearly roll into the drink on the other side. He looked like he was playing a hole of miniature golf. He made a double-bogey 5 and lost his lead.

In discussions about how good (or how bad) the TPC Sawgrass is, talk eventually turns to some of the more eccentric aspects of Pete Dye's layout. The railroad ties. The bulkheads. The 17th hole. The Astroturf. Supporters say the course is unique, fun, challenging and memorable. Detractors say it is contrived, strange, fake and forgettable. Love it or hate it, Sawgrass isn't dull. And Dye, for the record, found out this week that  he will be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in November.

(Photo: Robert Beck/SI)