Storm uproots strategic tree on Pebble Beach’s iconic 18th hole

Pebble Beach’s iconic par-5 18th hole looks a different after a strong storm ripped through the Monterey Peninsula on Thursday. One of two cypress trees that play into the strategy of the tee shot at the sea-lining finishing hole was uprooted.

Longtime USGA official Ron Read was on site during the storm and recounted the nasty scene to Golf Digest.

“I was standing on the 18th tee and conservatively the wind was blowing at least 40 miles an hour,” Read said.

The trees were planted in 2004, replacing another pair of diseased trees that had been there. One tree still sits out about 300 yards from the championship tees, still providing plenty to think about before pulling driver from the bag.

The bad news for Pebble Beach is that officials may not have a replacement tree planted in time for the PGA Tour’s annual stop on the property as part of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, to be played Feb. 12-15, 2015.

It’s been a tough year to be a well-known tree on a top-tier golf course. First, the Eisenhower Tree on the 17th hole at Augusta National was irreparably damaged in a February ice storm. Then an overhanging tree at the par-4 sixth at TPC Sawgrass, home to The Players Championship, was chopped down in October. Now this one.

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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