I've pasted the following from an Associated Press article in the Golf Channel Website. I don't agree with him. I think the US Open tests player skills more than any other. What do you think?
Ballesteros Calls U.S. Open "Worst Major"
By Associated Press - June 28, 2006
VERSAILLES, France -- Seve Ballesteros has called the U.S. Open the "worst of the majors."
The Spaniard, who won three British Opens (1979, '84 and '88) and two Masters ('80 and '83), made his comments before this weekend's French Open, his first tournament since last October.
"I watched 45 minutes on Saturday and didn't see a single birdie, so I decided not to continue watching it," Ballesteros said Wednesday. "For me, it was like watching basketball rather than golf. It is very sad to see real champions finishing plus-20, and I don't think that is the spirit of the game."
He added: "I have never been in any favor of the U.S. Open in any way, and I think it is the worst of the majors. The golf courses are good, but it is the way they set up the courses."
Geoff Ogivly of Australia was 5 over par when he won the U.S. Open at Winged Foot by one shot.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
I kind of agree with Seve, whats the sense of playing 51 weeks of golf one way and the U.S. Open another. Whats the difference if the winner is -15 rather than 5 over its the same for everyone, why try to humiliate the best in the world?
The US Open should be difficult. It is our National championship. The tournament is designed to identify the truly elite players of the game. Birdies should be really hard to make, not run of the mill like at 99% of the tour stops.
The US Open is just more so when compared to other course set ups....
The rough is rougher
The greens are firmer
The fairways are tighter
Two of these do not favour Seve's game, which is why he never won a U.S. Open. So his comments reek of sour grapes.
As for tricking up a course..... what did Seve have them do to that hole at Valderama for the Ryder Cup when he was captain? Oh yeah, they grew a large patch of rough across the fairway about 300 yards out so the predominantly longer hitting Americans could not get home in two.
The US Open should be difficult. It is our National championship. The tournament is designed to identify the truly elite players of the game. Birdies should be really hard to make, not run of the mill like at 99% of the tour stops.
That's understandable coming from him. He's never been known for his % of fairways hit, even at his peak. For all of his short game genius, even Seve couldn't score playing out of 6" rough all day. It's no coincidence that his major wins came at Augusta & The Open, which place a much lower premium on accuracy off the tee.
Remember that shot Harrington hit out of the rough with a wood that went thirty yards? I've hit a hundred of those but I don't think pros should be reduced to hitting them. Toughen it a little but dont make it ridiculous.
Remember that shot Harrington hit out of the rough with a wood that went thirty yards? I've hit a hundred of those but I don't think pros should be reduced to hitting them. Toughen it a little but dont make it ridiculous.
That was a poor decision on Harrington's part to try that shot.
What, you think Tiger has to win every tournament?
Sad. Really sad.
Certainly not and he has himself to blame for not making the cut. The PGA's slogan "These guys are good" doesn't seem to sit well with the U.S.G.A. When a course is made that tough it brings the element of luck as well as shotmaking ability into picking a winner.
Last edited by Bolt Fore : June 30th, 2006 at 08:25 PM.
All the feedback I heard from the boys on tour was it was "a fair test of golf."
What are they going to say without looking like a sour apple? I agree...make the course tougher, yes...but it just seems like a different game and I don't enjoy watching it as much as other events...I watch golf to see players go after it, and while the course management aspect is facinating (Phil), it is not as enjoyable as the British, where a choice of lines has to be made, or the Masters, where if need be players have really let it all hang out with results in both directions...more exiciting for me.
Last edited by wazmankg : June 30th, 2006 at 09:43 PM.
Reason: fixed quote box
my only gripe with the course was with the rough, make high, but make it so they can at least wedge back onto the fairway. mant times, they couldn't even do that because it was so thick.
I thought the Open was great. Why have rough if it doesn't penalize? Why have sand traps if the players actually aim for them? Does anyone on this forum aim for sand traps? Does anyone on this forum hit shots with little or no regard for the rough? I think the Open was set up the way golf was intended. "Accuracy is more important than distance." How many times has that statement been made on this forum? It applies to the pros as well as us.
June 30th, 2006, 11:10 AM
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