Winds, course baffled players

KAPALUA, Hawaii - Justin Leonard took a quick shower and was headed to the airport for a flight home to Dallas when he saw David Toms at his locker and, in his own sarcastic way, wished him well at the next stop in Hawaii.

"I hear it's supposed to blow even harder next week," Leonard said.

That was the last thing Toms needed to hear after getting kicked around in a PGA Tour season-opener that was played in paradise and felt, uh, much warmer.

It was only three years ago at the Mercedes Championships that players were begging for a challenge after Ernie Els set a PGA Tour record by winning at 31 under par in fast, calm conditions. Now they're saying it's too hard.

The new greens on the Plantation Course at Kapalua were firmer and smoother than ever, so pure that PGA Tour rules official Jon Brendle thought there was a chance someone could go lower than Els. Then it kept raining overnight, the fierce trade winds arrived, and a working vacation became all work.

"I think they've blown it," Kenny Perry huffed after 77 in the third round. "It's a little unfair. Everyone has to play it, but I don't think it's golf, in my opinion. Who wants to shoot 75 or 76 when that's the average score? I tell you what, it's shot my confidence."

Beauty - and in this case, a beast of a course - was in the eye of the beholder.

Stuart Appleby brought his best golf to the Mercedes Championships and walked away with his third straight trophy by breaking par all four days to finish at 8-under 284, then beating Vijay Singh on the first playoff hole. Singh finally kept mistakes off his card and closed with 66, nine shots better than the average score.

But it raised questions how the PGA Tour season should begin.

With quick greens that demanded the utmost precision, and gusts up to 40 mph, it felt like a U.S. Open at times. Most of the players were rusty from their time off, whether that was two weeks or two months. Appleby was the first to concede that no one was at his best last week.

"I walked off the second green and told people they need to go watch football," said Toms, who was one shot out of the lead going into the weekend until rounds of 79-75 left him in a tie for 13th. "Obviously, some guys are playing good. But to see pros in the teens over par starting the season? That's not a lot of fun."

No one wanted to see the event turn into the Bob Hope Classic, where 65 means losing ground.

"I think it's great," said Brad Faxon, who opened with 82, closed with 74 and tied for 23rd at 17-over.

Even par would have been good enough for seventh place this year. Carlos Franco shot that a year ago and finished last.

It was obvious why the scores were so high, starting with wind so strong that Jim Furyk had a hard time standing up over his tee shot. The best story belonged to Perry. While hitting a provisional shot on the 12th hole, the wind blew his ball off the tee during his downswing. Unable to stop, he did his best to make contact, and dumped the ball 100 yards into the weeds.

Thankfully, he found his original ball and made par.

Augusta's Vaughn Taylor doesn't have much to say, but he seemed to have the right answer after steady improvement at Kapalua - rounds of 74-73-72-71 - left him tied for fourth.

"Playing well is a good way to start the year," Taylor said. "Hopefully, this will sharpen me up a little bit."

Even with difficult conditions, the PGA's best were treated like royalty in Hawaii.

Last place paid $70,000, and every player got a free room at the Ritz-Carlton.

"I don't think anybody was expecting this kind of battle the first week of the year," Mark Calcavecchia said. "It's a lot of work. But it's a great place to be. I'd love to be back next year."