Revamped TPC Scottsdale Re-Opens November 14th

From an unbylined PGATour.com story, the TPC Scottsdale has been revamped by Tom Weiskopf and re-opens November 14th. It sounds like the big changes were made on the front nine which probably won't upset anyone, as the course has always felt a little back-nine heavy.

From the item:

The course renovation has included resurfacing all greens; relocation of select greens, tees, and bunkers; reshaping of bunkers and tee complexes; new cart paths; desert landscaping enhancements and a new irrigation system. The redesign resulted in strategic changes on all 18 holes. Easily recognizable changes are new green locations on hole Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 14 and significant fairway and green complex modifications on No. 13.

This part doesn't get me so excited, especially for a desert course where the bunkers have always fit the landscape and native areas.

The renovated bunkers will feature white sand, which will add a dramatic new look to the course. More than 250 trees have been planted for both strategic and aesthetic value.

Match Play To Adopt Pool Play Format Starting In 2015

Ron Kroichick reports in anticipation of Wednesday's big day of announcements at Harding Park that the 2015 WGC Match Play will adopt a round-robin pool play format providing some guaranteed great golf viewing for the first three days.

This will keep the full field around through Friday but keep the final 16 format the same as in the past.

The top 64 players in the Official World Golf Ranking will qualify for the event, as in the past. Starting next year at Harding, the field will be divided into 16 four-player “groups,” with round-robin match play on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of tournament week.

Then the winner of each group will advance to the round of 16 on Saturday morning. (Head-to-head results will be used to break two-way ties, with sudden-death playoffs for three-way ties.)