A bad course turns the game bad. The PGA National’s Champion Course, notorious for being one of the most difficult courses on the PGA Tour, seemed to lose its edge in the 2025 Cognizant Classic. The course, which has hosted the PGA Tour event in Florida since 2007, was overrun by low scores, including a record-breaking 12-under 59 by Jake Knapp, the 15th sub-60 score in PGA Tour history.
Some players welcome the forgiving, softer, post-rain setup, but Billy Horschel and Shane Lowry aren’t thrilled, saying PGA National has lost its bite. For them, it must be like cramming for an exam, expecting a brutal test, and then realizing it’s open-book. Forget vulnerable swings and bogeys, Horschel had to take on an alligator mid-round here during this Cognizant Classic. He gently guided it away in the water but one has to wonder – will golfers get a free drop if their ball lands near a prehistoric predator, or can we expect real changes?
Currently, it doesn’t look so. As the PGA Tour event unfolds, challenges at the first KFT Monday Qualifier for the Valero Texas Open have begun, with one site posing exceptionally poor greens, possibly the worst in qualifier history. Many photos have been shared, that show the subpar conditions, with barren, sandy areas scattered throughout the course. “There are two sites. And one of the sites might have the worst Monday Q greens I’ve seen,” read the tweet posted by the event’s official X account. The contrast between the two events is striking, with the PGA National’s Champion Course yielding low scores and the KFT Monday Qualifier site presenting a challenging and unpleasant playing experience.
Today is the first KFT Monday Q for an event in the States.
There are two sites. And one of the sites might have the worst Monday Q greens I’ve seen.
These are 4 of 50-75 pics I’ve received. All are the same. Really unfortunate. pic.twitter.com/WXRdHg4fyD
— Monday Q Info (@acaseofthegolf1) March 31, 2025
The photographs shared by Monday Q Info paint a vivid picture of the struggles the golfers are facing, highlighting the unfortunate reality that the competitors have to contend with such difficult conditions but it seems like fans have come to their rescue as they are raising their voice on the same.
Netizens are bashing the PGA Tour
Earlier this year, Journalist Daniel Rapaport expressed the unexpected ease, tweeting, “I know it’s early, I know there’s no wind—but seeing only 4 out of 72 players over par so far at PGA National is wild.” This emotion has now turned into a loud cry.
Viewing the spotty condition of the course, one fan started strong with, “PGATour doesn’t want to pay decent courses to host!!!!!!!!!” while the other said, “Are you kidding me?” Well, no. We might be close to April 1st but the Tour is certainly not kidding with the conditions. This shouldn’t have come as a surprise considering the concerns Cameron Smith raised at the 2024 Australian Open. Smith, who had had a taste of the Melbourne Sandbelt courses through several practice rounds, lamented the soft and slow layouts at Kingston Heath Golf Club and Victoria Golf Club, which were normally known for their firm and fast characteristics.
“It seemed there had been a lot of water and it wasn’t exactly what I was expecting,” Smith said. “The course(s) were in great condition but played so much differently to how they were designed and how they were meant to be played, which was pretty disappointing.”
One fan said, “Unplayable”, while the other said, “Just absolutely terrible. The Tour should be embarrassed.” Well, the same was the story at last year’s US Open, and it’s déjà vu all over again. The narrative of last year’s major tournament had already shifted to the brutal course conditions at Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina. The course was notoriously tough, with long bunkers, domed greens that punished short shots, and native areas with long grass that made recovery shots nearly impossible.
With temperatures that soared above 90 degrees for most of the tournament, the greens had become even firmer and more unforgiving. One fan said something that truly sums up the scenario in two words, “Truly unbelievable.” But, what do you think about this course’s struggle? Let us know in the comment section below!
The post ‘PGA Tour Doesn’t Want to Pay..’: Fans Appalled by ‘Unplayable’ Conditions at Monday Qualifier for $9.5M Event appeared first on EssentiallySports.
