BETHESDA, Md. (AP) — When a par 5 become a par 4, the result can be, in the words of Fred Funk, "downright stupid."
No. 6 at Congressional Country Club is this week's prime example. It is listed as 518 yards for the AT&T National - the third longest par 4 on the PGA Tour so far this year - and the large water hazard around the right front of the green makes it even more daunting.
"I don't like their mentality with that hole," said Funk, who double-bogeyed the hole to mar his even-par round of 70. "I think it's downright stupid, actually."
The hole produced one adventure after another during Thursday's first round. Defending champion K.J. Choi and Jim Furyk both landed in the front bunker yet saved par. Bo Van Pelt's 40-foot putt provided one of only two birdies among the morning rounds. Corey Pavin, one of the shortest drivers on the tour, had no chance at all: He laid up despite hitting a tee shot that landed in the middle of the fairway.
"That green's designed for a par 5," said Rich Beem, who parred the hole after missing a 15-foot putt for birdie. "That's the problem with par 5s turning into par 4s."
"It's difficult," added Furyk. "You've got to get the ball in the fairway, or you're going to be struggling."
Choi said he was so concerned about the hole that on Wednesday he practiced the very bunker shot he ended up hitting on Thursday.
"It's a one-dimensional hole," Funk said. "If you hit the fairway and you're a long hitter, you can get your shot to fit in there. The shorter hitters are going to have a long, long, long shot in there with a green that's really designed for a wedge."
FUNK & THE DRAGONFLY: Funk's other difficult hole came at the 18th, which he bogeyed because of an intruding insect in the tee box.
"I had a dragonfly hit my shaft on the way down," Funk said. "And I just totally flinched and hit 150 yards off the tee dead right in the trees."
Funk, of course, is a local favorite at this event as the former golf coach at the University of Maryland. He'd love to be in the final pairing Sunday against first-round leader Steve Marino, who grew up in the nearly Virginia suburbs and attended the University of Virginia. "I think we'll have a little border war," Funk said. "We're be the North and the South."
TIGER'S LONG DAY: The days are long for tournament host Tiger Woods as watches the event from afar on television, unable to travel following reconstructive surgery on his left knee.
"I'm wearing a full leg brace and will be on crutches for a few weeks. To be honest, I'm not sure when my rehabilitation will start. I can't put weight on my leg yet," Woods said on his Web site. "These are the longest days - it feels like a 38-hour day."
Fred Couples subbed for Woods at Wednesday's opening ceremony, hitting the ceremonial first shot while accompanied by 25 children whose parents are actively serving in the military.
Collectors in the field have an extra motivation to make it to the weekend. Starting with Wednesday's pro-am, each golfer every day receives a special coin featuring one of the five branches of the U.S. military. Anyone making the cut will receive all five.
"We think they are pretty cool keepsakes," Woods said.
