The Stadium Course here at Sawgrass was lashed by one-fifth of an inch of rain last Sunday. It would have taken a similar daily downfall right through to Thursday, however, to soften up one of the most feared stretches in US tournament golf.
When the weather proved to be drier, windier and cooler than forecast 12 months ago, scores rocketed to the extent that David Duval captured the title with a record high total of 285 - three-under-par. "If they want the same conditions this week, that's fine by me," said the world number two.
Meanwhile, those who have struggled here in recent years claim it is all down to the so-called Norman Conquest of 1994. That was when Greg Norman blitzed the feared Pete Dye creation with a record 24-under-par aggregate of 264 to beat Fuzzy Zoeller, whose 21-under would have won in any other year.
In the way of professional players, they actually complained at the time that the course had become too easy since it was launched in 1982. A year later, they encountered firmer greens and tougher rough and Lee Janzen won with 283. And Sawgrass would never be quite the same again.
Through studies of the weather patterns in this area of north Florida the green-keepers have worked on providing what they believe to be the optimum test of golf. But some leading players are of the view that an important ingredient has been lost along the way.
"Pete Dye designed this course for target golf," said Hal Sutton, the 1993 champion. "It's supposed to be played by hitting high shots into greens, because most of the holes don't have run-up areas. But right now, those greens are too hard to accept any kind of shot."
Still, Dye has no problems with the changes. "Look at Augusta National," he suggested. "They make changes every year. It is interesting that the players thought the Stadium course was too tough in 1982, but when Norman won it was too easy. Now they think it's too tough again. Players are never happy, are they?"
They are certainly not happy when standing on the tee at the famous - or should that be infamous? - 17th, with the title in sight. At only 137 yards, it should be one of the game's easiest par threes, but by surrounding the green with water, Dye supplied the stuff of nightmares.
One recalls the experience of journeyman Len Mattiace two years ago when, with victory beckoning, he carded a wretched eight there. And all because his tee shot and a later bunker recovery both found the ubiquitous water. "It kinda killed me," said the crushed American afterwards.
It is fascinating to note that during the 18-year history of the tournament here, the 17th has played below par only four times. Those occasions were in 1987, when it returned an average of 2.9 strokes; in 1994 (Norman's year), when it was 2.98; in 1996 (2.92) and 1997 (2.95).
On the debit side, it was at its most demanding in 1984 when it played to an average of 3.37. Which tends to make a nonsense of suggestions that the green has been rendered more difficult over the years, especially by deliberately making the surface less receptive in certain areas than in others.
Professionals like to boast than only amateurs see water. Not here. On this devilish little hole, Dye has provided emphatic proof that the only way to throw a scare into a tournament professional is through wind and water. And 137 yards is more than long enough.
