Even before the first tee shot of the PGA Championship, Aronimink Golf Club is already stirring up controversy. Rory McIlroy set the tone by declaring there's "no strategy off the tee" — just bomb it as far as possible and rely on a wedge from there. He lamented the modern trend of tree removal, saying it strips the course of its strategic soul.

But while the front nine might look like a driver-wedge paradise, Michael Kim spotted something during his practice round that caught him completely off guard — a feature he's never seen at any golf course before.

Let's start with the obvious: Aronimink is stunning. The setting is championship-worthy, but its defense relies heavily on fairway bunkers that many of today's pros can easily carry. The front nine, in particular, seems ripe for low scores. Yet Kim's observations suggest the back nine tells a very different story.

"Played the back nine today early. Definitely tougher than the front nine. At least 1 shot harder, I'm going to guess," Kim noted. He highlighted the 15th hole as especially brutal — into the wind, he needed driver and then a 3-wood just to reach. Even with a downwind shift, it remains a stiff challenge.

Then there's the 18th hole, where Kim pointed out something remarkable: "Idk if I've ever seen a tree in play that's this big." The left side is preferable, but even from there, players will likely have to navigate around or under its massive branches. It's shaping up to be a fascinating, nerve-wracking finishing stretch where even the best might hang on for dear life.

But the real game-changer? The rough. Kim described it as "STRONG" — patchy, yes, but from a poor lie, he can't carry the ball more than 100 yards. And it doesn't stop there. "Also, the first cut here is probably the highest I've ever seen," he added. His plan? "Putting with a wedge and bellying it" — a move he admits might not happen often, but it's that tricky.

So while the fairways are wide, missing them — even by a few feet — could turn a promising round into a survival test. Aronimink may look like a bomber's paradise from the tee box, but the real drama is waiting just off the grass.