PGA Tour needs to toughen up, starting with golf in La Quinta

Congrats to Pat Perez. My condolences to Arnold Palmer.

Yeah, I know the Bob Hope Classic isn’t a major, and the four La Quinta, Calif., golf courses they used won’t be confused with TPC Sawgrass’ Stadium Course and Bethpage Black.

They played five rounds, too, and Perez notched his first career victory Sunday with a 69 for a 33-under total of 327.

That’s right … 33 under!!

Ridiculous. Palmer, one of the game’s greatest competitors and grinders who made a special appearance to host the tournament’s 50th anniversary, shouldn’t have had to endure such goofy golf. I would have given him a standing ovation had he refused to hand over the trophy and $918,000 check.

I turned it off. Forget it, I’m not watching these guys collect birdies like banks collect bailout money, especially when only a handful of players in the top 25 of the world rankings bothered to show up.

Perez won by three strokes and “held off” John Merrick, Mike Weir and Steve Stricker during a “wind-swept” final round. I don’t care if a freak hurricane hit the Coachella Valley and they set the flagsticks against cactus.

C’mon PGA Tour, toughen up the courses. I know amateurs play this event, but they can hit and giggle all they want. Video games aren’t made this easy. At least grow some rough, narrow the fairways, tuck some pin placements and pretend you‘re trying to test the pros.

This is unbelievable: 18 guys were at 25-under or better. All totaled, 53 guys shot at least 20 under. Only 16 players couldn’t reach that score. And poor Tim Petrovic, who finished dead last with three others at 16 under, good enough to WIN most tournaments.

These guys are good - they’re not that good. Heck, if you’ve got to put some of these courses at 8,000 yards, do it.

I’m not sure what else can be done. But in my mind, it cheapens the game and product.