Page 18 - ARUBA TODAY

A18 SPORTS
Thursday 17 May 2018
Spieth headlines as hometown Byron Nelson changes venues

can get to a links course,"
said Garcia, who is from
Spain. "It's an American
links course."
A day after Horschel won
the last Nelson at the Four
Seasons, his wife went pub-
lic on social media with
her struggles with alcohol-
ism. Horschel had made
a vague reference to per-
sonal issues after winning.
A year later, he raves about
the response he and his
wife received. He is com-
ing off a win last month in
New Orleans and is dealing
with not having the data
he would prefer to create a
game plan for Trinity Forest.
"I've been saying it may be
a touch easier to defend
at a new course because
except for maybe a hand-
ful, two handfuls of play-
ers that play this course a
little bit, everyone is on an
even level playing ground,"
Horschel said. "We're all try-
ing to figure it out."
Spieth's first splash in pro
golf came as a 16-year-
old amateur at the Nelson
in 2010, when he tied for
16th. That remains his best
finish, which is another rea-
son he's excited about the
venue change. He believes
his peers will come around.
Ogilvy, who showed an in-
terest in the project from its
earliest stages, agrees.
Jordan Spieth watches his ball after hitting from the fairway on the first hole during the pro-am at the AT&T Byron Nelson golf tourna- "I think this course will stand
ment at Trinity Forest Golf Club in Dallas, Wednesday, May 16, 2018. the test of time," he said.
Associated Press "People will enjoy it every
year they play it more and
By SCHUYLER DIXON the course, didn't do much admitted he probably yet," Ogilvy said. "Nothing more. Getting guys out of
AP Sports Writer to change that, at least for wouldn't be at the course to stop the wind. Pretty ex- their comfort zone I think is
a good thing."
DALLAS (AP) — Jordan now. co-designed by Ben Cren- posed place." If Spieth ever decides to
Spieth didn't try to sell his "The most common ques- shaw if he weren't the de- Spieth is talking up the par-3 make a sales pitch, he
peers on joining him at a tion is, 'What's it like?'" Spi- fending champion. No. 17 because of a green
new links-style course for eth said. "Pretty vague "Look, most people just with a large mound through might have a partner.q
the 50th anniversary of his question but, you know, I don't like different, do the middle that Crenshaw
hometown AT&T Byron Nel- say it's very different. These they?" asked Adam Scott, says was the natural part of
son tournament. are my words: It's really fun the 2008 Nelson champ the landscape. A double
The three-time major win- as a member, as a change- playing the event for the green for the third and 11th
ner says he was honest of-pace kind of golf club." first time in six years. "This is holes is billed as the larg-
when asked over the past Spieth (No. 3) and ninth- just different than what we est on an 18-hole course in
year about the undulating ranked Hideki Matsuyama, normally roll out and play." North America.
layout, with no trees or wa- making his Nelson debut Wind will determine the dif- The short par-4 fifth will be
ter hazards, on what used Thursday, are the only play- ficulty on the par-71 layout. one to watch because it's
to be a landfill a few miles ers from the world top 10 in Thursday is supposed to be easily reachable off the tee
south of downtown Dallas. the field. Sergio Garcia, the calm, with winds expected — especially with a prevail-
The fields weren't great Nelson winner two years to pick up Friday and Satur- ing south wind — and eas-
the past decade at the ago and 2017 Masters day into the 20 mph range ily could be a big source of
TPC Four Seasons resort in champ, is next at 14th. — a number Geoff Ogilvy trouble. The finishing hole
suburban Irving, the tour- Whether it's scheduling, used a threshold for things on each nine is a par-4 of
nament's home for 35 losing the amenities of a getting "interesting." more than 500 yards.
years. The return to Dallas resort or facing an unfamil- "You have to ask Jordan "Like everything here in the
at Trinity Forest Golf Club, iar brand of PGA Tour golf, or the members who play U.S., the greens are bigger,
named for the 6,000 acres most of the big names are out here into crazy winds the fairways are bigger,
of thick trees surrounding staying away. Billy Horschel because I haven't seen it but it's the closest thing you