With all of the talk of Shinnecok's 7th green, the 10th hole was even worse. It is only about 400 yards and players hit wedges into the green, but yet the scoring average on Sunday for this par 4 was 5.020 with only one birdie. That's worse than bogey. I am surprised that was overlooked. Was this a fair hole with the concrete green?
I don't get how you came up with this one...even under normal conditions for the Pebble Beach event, guys aren't lighting that course up, so I don't see how it would get any easier under US Open conditions. Tiger's -12 was one of the greatest displays of golf we'll ever see, so maybe it's easy to forget that no one else broke par that week, despite the shortness of the course. If the rough is up and the greens are fast as the USGA typically has them, I think we'll get a normal US Open winning score...somewhere between E and -4.
With no wind, I see the winning score between -8 and -12. Changing number 2 to a par 4 helped. If that wasn't done, winning score between -10 and -14. With wind, it is a brute. The third round in 2000 was brutal. The final round was tough because the greens were tough due to the third round. Wind is a necessity to protecting par at Pebble and keeping it fair. Same with Shinnecock and keeping it fair.
Shinnecock will always have wind, it's a question of how much and if the temps get warm, scores go up. Goosen and Mickelson putted brilliantly that weekend, otherwise, there would have not been anyone under par. It is probably too much like a British Open course for US fans.
I love Pebble, but there is already a PGA tournament there every year. I don't think they should host US Open's at courses they play every year. This will wring true when they play the US Open in San Diego in a few years.
They should move the US Open around to different locales in different sections of the country to show our diversity in courses. I would love to see them play the US Open at Ko'Olau in Hawaii and even Pacific Dunes in Oregon. I am sure there are many other masterpieces across the USA that would be far more interesting than playing at a annual PGA tour site.
I believe the USGA could make any course difficult with the greens and fairway manipulation.
The problem with my suggested courses is the money that the USGA loves from corporate sponsorship and tickets/concessions for fans to attend each day. Unfortunately, the USGA and PGA are geared for money first and foremost. They need to take a step back and try adding some interest to areas in the US that do not have "normal" appeal, but could create interest.
And of course the U.S. Open exists for much more than that. Next to The Masters it is the most distinctive golf championship in the world.
I may get flamed for this but I actually think the British Open is the most distinctive and prestigious golf tournament in the world. My reasons are as follows it's the oldest championship that's played in most cases at the birthplace of golf. The weather at a British Open can have a wider variance than any of the other Grand Slam events, and the field is truly an international representation of the golf world.
I may get flamed for this but I actually think the British Open is the most distinctive and prestigious golf tournament in the world. My reasons are as follows it's the oldest championship that's played in most cases at the birthplace of golf. The weather at a British Open can have a wider variance than any of the other Grand Slam events, and the field is truly an international representation of the golf world.
Excellent points, all. And largely unarguable. I'm sure many people would agree with you.
I may get flamed for this but I actually think the British Open is the most distinctive and prestigious golf tournament in the world. My reasons are as follows it's the oldest championship that's played in most cases at the birthplace of golf. The weather at a British Open can have a wider variance than any of the other Grand Slam events, and the field is truly an international representation of the golf world.
I know I find it the most distinctive. I really enjoy watching them play courses unlike anything we see over here. It's one of, if not the favorite of mine.
April 15th, 2006, 09:03 AM
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