JOHNS CREEK, Ga. – Phil Mickelson issued the warning after the first round of the PGA Championship.
“You’re going to see a lot of calamity coming down the stretch,” he said.
The pain and suffering at the punishing 18th hole escalated Friday at the Atlanta Athletic Club.
Mickelson was among a procession of contenders who took beatings even with the tees moved up 21 yards to 486 yards at the long the par 4.
Mickelson was four shots back after making birdie at the 17th but knocked a 4-iron in the pond in front of the green and made double bogey.
Adam Scott was a shot off the lead when he punched a layup out of the trees only to see his ball race through the fairway and into the water. He also made double bogey.
Gary Woodland was two shots back and hit two shots in the water to make triple bogey.
Matteo Manassero was just four off the lead before making triple bogey.
Tiger Woods was way out of contention there, but he also found the water.
“If I needed a 4 to win, I don’t know whether I would be going for the green with a 3-iron on Sunday,” Scott said. “I would probably lay up because I could lose it by hitting a 3-iron.”
The hole played to an average score of 4.556 in the second round. It ranked No. 1 in difficulty on both Thursday and Friday.