One thing comes to mind when you play in The International at Castle Pines -- long. It's a really long golf course.
But playing at altitude makes a big difference. It's a long golf course on the card -- some of the par-5s are longer than 600 yards -- but that's just on the card. Players will be hitting some unbelievably long tee shots and have some second shots that are just as surprising in how far they go. So it won't be quite as long as it would be at sea level.
But it's still long.
That length can be deceiving, though. It's hard to get a feel for the distance of clubs when you play at altitude like this only once a year. When I played there, I found that you either clicked in immediately with how far you're hitting your irons or you don't even come close all week -- or as long as you're alive.
So much depends on the trajectory of the shot. You can hit three nine-irons in a row with different trajectory and they'll go three wildly different distances. That's why the guys who hit the ball high and hard have such an advantage here -- they usually hit the ball with the same trajectory each time.
From a strategy standpoint, playing the Stableford scoring system is a nice break for the players. You have so many options -- you can play conservatively, making a few birdies and not making any mistakes, or you can go nuts, rip at every pin and hope to make some eagles. That makes for some interesting golf.
The International also comes at a good time for the players. They've just finished the U.S. and British opens and the PGA over a two-month stretch. It's the time of the year when they're getting a little tired of seeing the same thing week after week after week. So in that regard, it comes at the perfect time.
It's also a week when the players are treated very well. Castle Pines is not only a neat golf course -- the locker room and clubhouse are among the nicest the players on Tour see all year. And the food is about the best -- especially the milkshakes. You can't say that about every event.
But on the course, the key is length. That's why you have to look seriously at Tiger Woods this week. He hits the ball a mile, which is an advantage. He's playing unbelievably well right now. It's a terrific opportunity for him -- and there's some precedent: last year, Vijay Singh won the PGA, then won the International the next week.
