The Cognizant Classic, a flagship event on the PGA Tour, returned to PGA National this week, with the infamous Bear Trap section of the course once again taking center stage. Despite consistent criticisms leveled at PGA National, the Bear Trap continues to captivate audiences and challenge even the most accomplished golfers with its grueling blend of two par-threes and a formidable par-four.
This series of holes, all of which incorporate water hazards and complex approaches to the green, demands nothing short of golfing excellence from those who dare to navigate it. The recent victory of Joe Highsmith at the Cognizant Classic, a feat unseen on the PGA Tour since 2016, further underlined the significance of the Bear Trap.
In the wake of the tournament, the PGA Tour media team sought to gauge the opinions of top-tier golfers on the notorious Bear Trap. The overwhelming sentiment echoed by most players centered on the difficulty and complexity of this three-hole section. But this consensus was challenged by one dissenting voice: Joel Dahmen.
In stark contrast to his peers who used descriptors like tough, tricky, and watery, Dahmen offered a rather dismissive evaluation of the Bear Trap. His succinct commentary? ‘Not that bad’.
Dahmen’s tongue-in-cheek response stands out from the crowd, but it doesn’t lessen the general consensus of the Bear Trap’s difficulty. Other golfers like Min Woo Lee and Matt Wallace offered their own adjectives to describe the stretch- tough, intimidating, fun, watery, and exciting.
The Bear Trap’s reputation as a formidable adversary on the PGA Tour is well-earned. Its treacherous nature has claimed several victims over the years, most recently Taylor Montgomery. He saw his chances at victory crumble after carding a disastrous quadruple bogey on the par-three 15th hole.
In conclusion, while Dahmen may have downplayed the difficulty of the Bear Trap, the consensus among PGA Tour players remains. This iconic three-hole stretch continues to be a captivating spectacle, a testament to the challenge and excitement inherent in the game of golf.
