STILLWATER, Okla. — All eyes are on Southern Hills Country Club for the PGA Championship.
“There are many good players here. It’s enjoyable,” said Dr. Yanqui Wu.
When he can, Dr. Yanqui Wu is keeping up with PGA Championship rounds. It’s really the grass though, that’s caught his eye.
“Especially the grass, it’s good looking at that place,” said Wu, a professor and grass breeder at Oklahoma State University.
He was one of the researchers who spent years making the turfgrass used at Southern Hills, Dodger Stadium, and Churchill Downs a reality.
“That’s a long time. It’s plant breeding, grass breeding work,” said Wu.
Researchers started working on the Tahoma 31 bermudagrass 15 years ago. They took samples from Africa and China, crossed them, and tested them in 20 different locations across the country.
The testing took a decade.
“We look at turfgrass quality, color, and uniformity,” Wu said. He says they also test for freeze tolerance, drought tolerance, and traffic tolerance.
“Traffic tolerance is top-level, so it’s used in many football fields and golf courses."
In 2017, OSU started licensing the Tahoma 31 to local farmers and businesses. About two years ago, Southern Hills started using it.
The OSU research team isn’t stopping there. They’re getting two other new grasses ready for commercial production.
Wu says for everyday Oklahomans, the grasses they are creating will save water and fertilizer, benefitting the entire community.
Trending Stories:
- Oklahoma Union High School graduates trip to Orlando canceled
- DOWNLOAD the 2 News Oklahoma app for alerts
- Gunshots fired at police officer during south Tulsa chase
- FOLLOW 2 News Oklahoma on Facebook
- Oklahoma lawmakers pass school 'bathroom bill'
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere --
- Download our free app for Apple, Android and Kindle devices.
- Sign up for daily newsletters emailed to you
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Twitter
