FARMINGDALE, N.Y. _ The only water hazard at Bethpage Black is the pond in front of the green on the par-3 eighth hole, but after a rainy weekend followed by a Monday afternoon deluge, it's fair to say all 18 holes could be considered a potential water hazard for the 101st PGA Championship that begins on Thursday.
In fact, when Ireland's Shane Lowry arrived at the course on Sunday, he said the first hole looked like the set for the movie "A River Runs Through It." But Lowry and several other top contenders were pleasantly surprised to see during their Monday morning practice rounds how well the course handled so much water.
"It's unbelievable," Lowry gushed. "I can't believe how dry it is. The fairways are firm for the rain we've had.
