“From a glass-half-full kind of guy, I think [yesterday] was the best-case scenario. I think all the right things were done and in place to take what happened, so everybody reacted appropriately and was prepared appropriately,’’ said Brodeur, who has been TPC Boston’s superintendent since the course opened in 2002. “When you don’t have anything really go wrong, you’ve got to say that’s pretty darn good. We felt incredibly fortunate.’’
Brodeur said that none of the playing surfaces - tees, fairways, and greens - were damaged, with the bulk of the downed trees coming from the wetland and wooded areas. He estimated that the largest tree to fall was one with a diameter of between 24 and 30 inches behind the first tee, which slightly affected some grandstand seating. That was the worst of it.
“If you came out here right now, other than some large brush piles and a few tree trunks laying here and there, you probably wouldn’t know anything happened,’’ Brodeur said.
Tournament officials and operations staff made the decision to delay erecting smaller structures until after the storm blew through, with that work resuming yesterday. Larger structures were reinforced before Sunday.
“We feel fortunate that Irene had very little impact here,’’ tournament director Eric Baldwin said. “By the time we hold our opening ceremonies [this morning], fans won’t notice anything different.’’
Players might not notice anything different, either, even with all that rain. TPC Boston drains well, and Brodeur said he expected all areas of the course - tees, fairways, greens, rough - would be mowed yesterday. The only difference? The course won’t be up to tournament firmness for a couple more days.
It’s the second straight year that the Deutsche Bank Championship prepared to deal with the possible arrival of a hurricane. Last year, Hurricane Earl brought less than an inch of rain and 20-mile-per-hour winds during the first round of play.
The best news? This week’s forecast calls for high temperatures in the mid-70s to low-80s. Most importantly, the chance of rain is minimal.
Star power Today’s Red Sox Legends & Friends Pro-Am will feature 19 teams and include a professional golfer, a sports celebrity, and amateurs. The shotgun start begins at 9 a.m. Among the sports celebrities expected to participate are former Red Sox greats Dennis Eckersley, Dwight Evans, Jim Rice, Jim Lonborg, Rico Petrocelli, Luis Tiant, Bob Stanley, Carlton Fisk, Fred Lynn, and Sam Horn, former Patriot Andre Tippett, Mike Eruzione, former Bruin Ray Bourque, and current Bruins Shawn Thornton, Daniel Paille, and David Krejci. Pros with Bay State ties include Scott Stallings, Jim Renner, Jason Caron, and Fran Quinn.
Michael Whitmer can be reached at mwhitmer@globe.com.
