US Open update.
I'll give Pinehurst and the USGA credit in one respect. The wiregrass and natural sand areas along the fairways instead of 4" thick rough is a terrific change from the usual USGA meddling. The fairway setup is exactly the way Donald Ross wanted it to be, it's the way regular folks play No. 2 and it's great to see wayward shots be penalized by having to play out of it. Max Homa chunking a fairway wood out of the wiregrass sand area is exactly how he should be punished for a stray tee shot and a bad club selection.
But as expected, the USGA turned a beautiful Pinehurst No. 2 into a mini-putt gong show. Did anyone watch the fiasco that was the 9th green yesterday? The 9th is a wonderful, challenging, visually-stunning par 3 where the green is well-bunkered and protected. It is a real challenge without the tricked-up green. Yesterday, balls that were hit within 6 feet of the pin would slowly roll off the green and result in bogey or worse. On the 8th hole, Patrick Cantlay had three chips back and forth across the green as he pingponged his way to a double bogey. You know the players are pissed.
The goal of the USGA is supposed to be to reward great shots and penalize poor ones. Somewhere along the way the notion that "Par must be protected" has taken over and the greens, that were already tough, have become a carnival show.
Having said that, the golf has been great. The guys at the top of the leaderboard have played really well and not let the occasional double bogey slow them down. So many good stories heading into play this weekend. Can Rory finally win another major? Can Xander go back to back? Scottie squeaks into the weekend but he's only 10 back, can he go low twice over the weekend? You know everyone is going to be watching him this morning. If he gets off to a quick start guys will see him coming for them. Will Finau finally break through and win a major? Will the lesser known names on the leaderboard crack under the weekend spotlight? Also, the re-emergence of Bryson's big personality. Looking forward to his return to the PGA in 2026. Should be a fun Saturday and Sunday.
Replies to: US Open update.
Looking forward to a great weekend of golf, Happy Father's Day.
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Fair critique Rooney. Let’s hope the greens do not become the storyline.
I heard Rory’s interview about US Open mentality: keep the ball in play, aim for center greens (vs pins) and take your medicine when you find trouble, knowing it will happen to everyone.
We are big Denny McCarthy fans, as we known his family for years, before Denny was even born.
Great putter and scrambler, struggles with ball striking.
+5 first round with several missed fairways and greens. -3 yesterday with solid tee shots and iron play. His scoring differentials reflects his play, the way it should be.
Looking forward to the coverage this weekend.
I get all you’re saying and appreciate it but what I have never understood
Is the players complaining and it feels like it’s every US Open because at the end of the day they are all playing the same course.
That's like saying the field conditions are the same for everyone in football. They may be but you
throw danger to the better teams by having them more susceptible to the bad break that may determine the winner of a game. Some fan throws a snowball and hits the football when a player would have caught it is a poor example but an example of fluke stuff determining the outcome. Even if we make the playoffs and have the first game in cold conditions at our place I would rather play a team we should beat under perfect conditions so as to not have the chance of something flukey happen. That is why I am not in favor of a game at our place in December...too many variables. I'd rather that they would establish the seeds based upon final national rankings going into playoffs and playing on a neutral field with little interference from the weather.
Think about an SEC football team complaining about playing in snow. Or ND
playing in a hurricane in Notth Carolina. Both teams were playing in the pouring down rain and wind, but only one of them likes to pass the ball nearly every down from the shotgun formation.
There is that and my opinion is about guys that are a million x better than
So my opinion means squat just have a hard time with their reasoning again since they are all playing the same course.
I do like the debate.
Or for me the greens that give me fits are elevated ones as I play bump and run and a firm believer of keeping the ball low when it comes to being close to the… get the ball rolling as soon as possible. They give me fits but if I’m on the course playing for money we are all on the same course.
Don't think Scottie can make up enough ground on this course to be a factor Sunday. Supposed to be
placing pin on lower level on 9 today.
Should be fun but in a different way....watching guys try not to F up instead of making a sustained charge.
I’m not a fan of the turtle back greens. The pin placements may get absurd.
But it’s the same for everyone.
I won't play those type of courses anymore, a good shot should be rewarded.
I also lack the spin control, so there is that.
Turtlebacks reduce the effective green size.
I think good to very good shots should be the norm.
Great shots should be rewarded and not demanded.
Link: https://www.golfdigest.com/story/2024-us-open-pinehurst-green-approach-short-sided-strategy
True, when you verify green size you don't count areas where the ball willl roll off.
A ball will be set on the green and if it doesn't hold it's ground it's not considered a part of the green for measuring size. I've walked courses as a volunteer to verify yardage, handicap and slope ratings. It's a fun learning experience.