SPORTS

Biggest star at The Barclays may be Bethpage Black itself

Steve DiMeglio
USA TODAY Sports

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — Nearly every big name in golf headed to The Barclays, the first event of the rewarding FedExCup Playoffs.

Rory McIlroy said Bethpage has been tough so far and "could get a little bit tougher" heading into the weekend.

Jordan Spieth, Jason Day, Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, gold medalist Justin Rose and Rickie Fowler to name but a few.

But the biggest star at the end of the week may be an intimidating, 7,500-yard green monster named Bethpage Black.

The A.W. Tillinghast design that opened in 1936 is a dangerous gem in the heart of Bethpage State Park and lets golfers know they are in for a fight before they even peg their ball on the first tee.

"WARNING: The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers" is what the sign reads some 15 yards from the start of the first hole.

Jordan Spieth answers adversity, climbs leaderboard at The Barclays

That startling advice holds for everyone who plays this public golf course — including the professionals this week in The Barclays.

"This golf course, you're never at ease," said Ryan Moore, who is on the first page of the leaderboard after consecutive rounds of 68. "Every single tee shot is difficult. You've got to put it in the fairway to have any chance of making birdies out here."

And Moore said this after the first two rounds were played with the greens and fairways on the soft side and with little wind to face in the second round. You have to wonder what he will say after the third and fourth rounds if the forecast holds. Nothing but sun is expected the next two days, with temperatures in the high 80s and winds supposed to pick up.

Through 36 holes, Patrick Reed is two clear of the field at 8 under.

That could be the winning score come Sunday.

Because no matter the conditions, the challenges of Bethpage Black are numerous. For starters, there’s length and plenty of it. Stretched out to about 7,500 yards and played to a par of 71, the world’s best are in for a battle on a course that features six par-4s of at least 475 yards. Then there is plenty of movement with its rough edges and deep rough, cavernous and plentiful bunkers, doglegs and many uphill and downhill shots to deal with.

If there is such a thing as a breather on the course, that would be the greens, which are relatively flat but possess maddening, subtle breaks.

Earlier this week Spieth said Bethpage Black was one of the toughest courses he’s tangled with. He hasn’t changed his mind after rounds of 71 and 67.

"If they made the greens firm today, it would have been unplayable on a few holes," Spieth said after the first round. "... I think it's great. I think you have to work the ball both ways here. You have to hit a variety of shots into the greens, different trajectories. It's the all-around golfer's golf course.

"... It's such a tough golf course. It's rare when we play tournaments on courses this challenging. Normally they are majors."

Fowler said players have to preach patience — and abide by it.

"You can't push, you can't get ahead of yourself and you can't try and step on the gas at any time," said Fowler, who sits at 6 under after rounds of 67 and 69. "You have to hit fairways out here. You can't try and hit the ball harder than you should. You can't try and get any extra out of it. You've just got to stick to the game plan. You've got to stick to hitting just quality golf shots and not try to get any extra out of anything.

Patrick Reed builds a 2-shot lead at Bethpage Black

"It is a long golf course and it kind of tempts you to try and push a little bit. The first hole today, my first hole, the 10th, it's a little over 500 yards and it's into the wind. I had to hit driver, 5-wood. You can't try to swing hard off the tee and get anything extra out of it. You have to accept it and play the course."

McIlroy was having his way with Bethpage Black in the second round but stumbled coming home with bogeys on 15 and 16. The course is tough enough right now, he said, but he knows it could go to another level.

"It can get tougher. It's still soft," said McIlroy, who shot rounds of 71 and 69. "There's no real root system under the greens, so even if they do get firm, it's sort of sandy underneath. So the ball is not really going to run on like it normally would. So you've got to hit fairways. The fairways could firm up a little bit, which could make some of the doglegs tricky.

"It's pretty tough at the minute. I mean, it could get a little bit tougher but with this wind, it's playing tough enough. If there was any day or any time to make a good score, today was it."

Follow Steve DiMeglio on Twitter @Steve_DiMeglio.