The wet conditions at Valhalla Golf Club are allowing players to hold fairways and attack more pins, but the notorious “mud ball” has become the course’s unexpected saviour.
The modern day Tour pro might hit the ball huge distances in the air off the but for round three of the PGA Championship this might work against them for once as the wet fairways start to dry out.
With no lift, clean, and place rule in effect, players must play the ball as it lies. As balls land on the wet, drying fairways with steep angles of attack, they are likely to pick up mud. Saturday’s sun will dry the mud quicker than in previous days, causing it to stick to the ball’s cover.
This situation could benefit the current leader, Xander Schauffele. Despite his reputation as one of the bigger hitters, Schauffele’s lower apex height off the tee helps his ball release when it hits the fairway, reducing the likelihood of picking up mud.
Mud on the right side of the ball causes it to fly left, and vice versa. Mud on the back can act like a flyer, while mud under the ball introduces tends to be a complete guess.
Players facing a mud ball must exercise caution, as there’s no telling how the ball will react. Brooks Koepka experienced this firsthand yesterday when a mud ball caused his fairway wood approach on the par-5 10th hole to sail out of bounds, leading to a double bogey on a hole he would normally birdie.
Some might argue for the lift, clean, and place rule, as used in the 2016 PGA Championship when Jimmy Walker won. However, such a move would turn the season’s second Major into a dart-throwing contest. The presence of mud balls will force players to be more cautious and deliberate with their shots, potentially giving Schauffele a slight edge.
