Dubsdread not rough enough
Frank Jemsek hoped his newly-renovated Dubsdread course at Cog Hill would provide a tough test.
It did, even though Tiger Woods flat-out aced it.
Others in the field also scored well.
Woods' win in the BMW Championship included a course-record 62 Saturday.
"I was hoping we were tougher than that," Jemsek, Cog Hill's CEO, said of Woods' third-round score. "In trying to defend the course - which obviously we didn't defend very well - if we had the deep rough that we used to have for the tournament, a lot of spectacular shots would not have been possible.
"By having the rough not as high, it enables the players to show what great shots they can hit out of the trouble. It also makes golf a lot more enjoyable for our customers in advance of the tournament."
Woods finished at 19-under for the tournament. Marc Leishman (-11), Jim Furyk (-11) and Sean O'Hair (-10) also were double digits under par for the four rounds. In total, 22 of the 70 players finished with a red number.
"I predicted the (winning) score would be in the single digits under par," Jemsek said.
The Dubsdread rough was very playable, cut at 31/2 inches, Jemsek said. Good weather combined with little wind surely attributed to the low scores, as well.
"With it being so dry, (the rough) probably didn't grow much," Jemsek said. "(The players) were worried that we would mess up a golf course they really liked. They still really like it. They think as time goes on, the greens will be even better than they are now.
"We'll go look at those shot-length books and see if we can figure out how to make it a little bit tougher for them in the future."
What a heartbreak: Brandt Snedeker, playing in the final group along with Tiger Woods and Marc Fleishman, needed only a bogey on No. 18 to earn a berth in The Tour Championship.
Snedeker carded a triple-bogey 7, however, missing two short putts.
"Yeah, the entire group knew what the situation was," Woods said. "You feel bad for him."
High five: The top five players in the FedExCup standings (Tiger Woods, Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk, Zach Johnson and Heath Slocum) control their own destiny at The Tour Championship. If any of the five capture the title, he will win the FedExCup.
Good luck, Luke: Northwestern product Luke Donald earned his way into the Tour Championship, despite shooting a 2-over 73 on Sunday.
Donald finished at 4-under (tie for 10th) and wound up 28th in the FedExCup standings.
Mark Wilson of Elmhurst finished 32nd, two spots short of a berth in the Tour Championship.