The likes of Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas return to PGA Tour action this week, with the Blue Monster at Doral set to host the Cadillac Championship.
Doral was previously a regular stop on the PGA Tour schedule, while it also hosted a WGC event for a number of years until 2016.
More recently, the Blue Monster has featured on the LIV Golf calendar. However, the course will host the next signature event on the PGA Tour, with the Cadillac Championship introduced for 2026.
Many of those in the field this week will not have played at Doral in a PGA Tour event. The Blue Monster is known for being extremely difficult, with water on a number of holes and plenty of bunkers to defend the course.
Jordan Spieth finished 17th in two of his three starts at Doral. Meanwhile, Justin Thomas ended up in a tie for 35th on his sole appearance at the venue, finishing the week at four over par.
And speaking on Golf Channel, the pair issued their verdict on the Blue Monster as the venue prepares to make its PGA Tour return.
“It’s been 10 years. I have played here three of the years before. It looks very similar. You have to drive the ball well. Certainly they took some tees back, so it’s a long golf course. There is a premium on putting it on the fairway and obviously controlling it in the wind,” Spieth said.
“I only played it once and I played it pretty averagely. You look at someone like an Adam [Scott], who has played here and won, and I would say he sees it a bit differently than I do,” Thomas said.
“But it’s always helpful, especially on these preparation days, being here before. I am not stepping up on a hole and totally trying to learn it. I am trying to remember some stuff, which is always easier than learning.”
Rickie Fowler had a little more success at Doral during its previous run on the PGA Tour.
Fowler finished eighth on two occasions in six starts, including in 2016.
The 37-year-old can take plenty of encouragement from a top 10 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational this year. Of course, Bay Hill is one of the tougher stops on the PGA Tour calendar.
And he also spoke about some of the big challenges playing at Doral.
“I feel like the golf course for the most part is right in front of you. It’s not short, there is a lot of water in play. The greens are big but where the pins will be are fairly sectioned off and into smaller sections,” he said.
“It’s just tough. First you have to drive the ball well and have control from there. I think overall it’s a good, tough, test.”
The Blue Monster should definitely put all parts of a player’s game under the microscope.
Those who are struggling in any way are going to be gearing up for an extremely long week.