"A day we will NEVER FORGET": PGA Tour players stunned by conditions in Bermuda
Matthew Fitzpatrick and Russell Knox were just two of many players to be blown away by the treacherous conditions in Bermuda.
Play was briefly suspended during the first round of the Butterfield Bermuda Championship on Thursday due to rain and extremely strong winds.
This will have come as no surprise to the players, spectators or fans watching on television as we saw some of the most difficult conditions we have ever seen on the PGA Tour.
Brandon Hagy and Chad Ramey currently lead the way on 6-under-par at Port Royal Golf Club, which is the home of the shortest golf course on the PGA Tour.
These were very impressive scores on a day that tested the players to the max. Matthew Fitzpatrick said that it was the worst wind that he had ever played in, describing how he creamed one drive a total distance of 245 yards.
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It was windy in Bermuda Thursday ... pic.twitter.com/cqEF7pLwi9
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 28, 2021
Damian Palanyandi, an amateur from Bermuda who shot a 76 in the first round, said that one of his playing partners hit a 3-wood to the par-3 13th hole and still came up 20 yards short.
Five-time PGA Tour winner Nick Watney was just relieved to see his ball land and find it on each hole. He said the wind felt like it was blowing at 40 miles per hour at some points.
Arguably the most shell-shocked player was Russell Knox. The Scotsman may have won the Irish Open in 2018 on the tough links track of Ballyliffin, but even he was overwhelmed by Bermuda yesterday.
"It was a day to kind of survive and I’m glad I kind of hung in there," said Knox.
"Every shot was extremely difficult, I think I hit a 7-iron from 120, I hit 4-irons from 150 at times. Chipping, I barely hit a full shot all day.
“This is the hardest wind I’ve ever played in.”
Get caught up on the blustery conditions that highlighted the opening round @Bermuda_Champ. pic.twitter.com/ojSpA2E4AP
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) October 29, 2021
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"No. 9, we were on the front edge of the green there and I’ve never experienced wind that strong, I think, on a golf course.
"I mean, we were down on the ground holding an umbrella. My fingers were like cramping I’m holding on so tight and it was pouring rain as hard as it’s ever rained.
"It was a nice day to experience the wildness with those guys. Honestly, it was a day that anyone out there will never forget."
Knox managed to shoot a 1-over-par 72 to remain within seven shots of the leaders. It's fair to say that there would've been many players grateful to walk off with a score around level-par in the first round.
