Liberty's wet conditions require different approach

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JERSEY CITY, N.J. -- Justin Rose isn't one of the longest drivers on the PGA TOUR. But neither is he one of the shortest ones. Ranking 91st in driving distance this year makes Rose about average off the tee.

And average on TOUR still puts you pretty far down the fairway. Certainly on par-4 holes, where an average drive generally allows you to opt for a short- to mid-iron -- maybe even a wedge -- for your approach shot.

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But not Friday at The Barclays, certainly not in the morning during near-constant rainy conditions that made an already brawny course even longer. Players who rarely touch their long irons or 3-woods were forced to rely on them merely to survive the par-4s at Liberty National.

"I was wearing out my 4-iron," Rose said. "I hit four or five 4-irons -- and luckily it was on fire today. That allowed me to keep my head above water."

Rose pounded out a 1-over 72, which might not seem like much until you consider that just four players among the 61 in the morning group could manage anything better.

In fact, the morning average of 75.55 was more than four strokes higher than the 71.50 average posted by Thursday's morning group. And considering that Friday's rain slacked off, then eventually stopped, in the afternoon, it's apparent that the "early-late" draw had the big advantage this week.

Certainly the best scores of the day came from the late group, with Webb Simpson and Ernie Els each shoot 3-under 68s, the rookie Simpson grabbing the clubhouse lead at 8 under for the tournament. The afternoon group's average round was 73.23, nearly 2-1/2 strokes less than the morning wave.

"I was watching it a little bit this morning and it didn't look like anybody was having a whole lot of fun," said first-round co-leader Paul Goydos, who didn't tee off until the afternoon and shot an even-par 71. "I went downstairs about 9 a.m., and it ... didn't look like the guy parking the cars was having a whole lot of fun, either."

Considering the morning conditions -- along with the probability that if he missed the cut, he would be knocked out of the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup -- Rose said it was one of his best rounds of the year. And this from a guy who just comes off four rounds in the 60s in last week's Wyndham Championship.

But that's how it felt Friday. We've heard all week how Liberty National required creativity and versatility in order to succeed. Forcing players to dust off clubs that they would normally not consider using on par-4s certainly is one way to make the guys in the Playoffs field think.

Thanks to the moisture creating heavy air, shots were traveling 15-20 yards shorter than usual. Meanwhile, tee shots were being struck with water in between the club face and the ball, making for a lot of squishy shots and missed fairways.

"It was brutal hard," Rose said. "The driver was just squirting off the face."

On the 496-yard par-4 10th -- which was actually playing 34 yards shorter with the tee moved up -- first-round co-leader Sergio Garcia split the fairway with his drive. That left him 220 yards to the green. He pulled out his 3-wood, which he'd normally use from a much longer distance. But he needed every bit of it to land in the bunker in the front left of the green.

On the next hole, the par-3 250-yard 11th, Garcia used a 3-iron, which was actually playing at 233 with the tee moved up. He cited other examples of a significant club difference -- a 5-iron from 190 yards seventh that would usually require a 7-iron; a 4-iron on the par-3 219-yard second; a driver, then 3-wood on the 611-yard par-5 eighth that still left him 100 yards short of the green, forcing him to hit sand wedge for his third.

Garcia ended up with a 5-over 76 and while he wasn't happy, he didn't seem all that displeased. He had just survived Liberty National's 7,419 yards, which felt like it played more like 7,700 yards.

"It was the longest course I've played this year," he said. "I don't know how many 5-, 4- and 3-irons I hit into the green. I hit some woods into the greens -- (and) I'm hitting good drives."

Ian Poulter had a similar 3-wood experience on his final hole of the day, the 508-yard par-4 18th. The tee was moved up, so the hole was actually 43 yards shorter, but after a poor tee shot, he still only had 220 yards to the front of the green. His 3-wood landed 10 yards short, and he had to hole a 9-foot putt to save par.

Poulter, whose 1-over 72 left him at 3 under for the tournament, also had two other par-4s in which he was forced to use his utility club for his approach shot.

"That's unusual when it's a hole that you don't think should be playing driver, utility," Poulter said. "...Anything in the red today is incredible."

While heavy rains are forecast for Saturday, the worst part is expected in the morning, meaning the leaders may get yet another break with the weather. But if the wet conditions persist, then it should prevent someone from running away with the tournament.

"If I'm behind, I would obviously like it difficult," said Padraig Harrington, who will be behind after his 4-over 75 left him at even par for the tournament. "If you're chasing, that's obviously going to be the case."

And if the same conditions exist, then it might behoove the players who make the cut to get very familiar with their long irons and 3-woods. They may have plenty of chances to use them this weekend.