Some concerns ahead of the US Open

[Aotearoa_Brad]

So... it sounds as though not everyone is happy with all aspects of Chambers Bay at present. 

 

---

Chambers Bay greens getting mixed reviews

By Rex Hoggard

 

SAN FRANCISCO – With the WGC-Cadillac Match Play being played on the West Coast in April, some players took a detour to scout Chambers Bay, site of June's U.S. Open, this week and the reviews have been mixed.

 

Henrik Stenson made the trip to the Pacific Northwest on Sunday and decided to walk the course instead of playing it.

 

“It's different. A lot of elevation changes. It's a different animal, that's for sure,” he said.

 

Ryan Palmer also made the trip on Sunday and played 18 holes with Brooks Koepka, and his take was not nearly as measured.

 

“Tee to green it is good. It looks good, it's fair. Green wise, speed is the key. I heard the [2010] U.S. Amateur was a joke,” he said. “If it's firm and fast it will probably be another joke. It's like nothing we've ever seen or we'll ever see.”

 

On Monday at media day for the championship, USGA executive director Mike Davis suggested that the normal practice of showing up on Monday to learn the course will not work for this first-time major venue.

 

“The idea of coming in and playing two practice rounds and having your caddie just walk it and using your yardage book, that person's done. Will not win the U.S. Open,” Davis said. “This is going to take the players and their caddies really studying the golf course to have success.”

 

Chambers Bay architect Robert Trent Jones even suggested players would need as many as 10 practice rounds to fully grasp the nuances of the links-like layout.

 

“Not going to be many guys who are going to play 10 rounds before the U.S. Open,” Stenson said. “We don't have that luxury to spend 10 days at a course. Which tournaments are you going to take out to go play there?”

 

Palmer had a slightly more direct take on the suggestion.

 

“Why would you?” Palmer asked. “What makes that a championship golf course if you have to play it 10 times before the tournament?”

---

 

I can see Stenson's point - it'd be really tough to make time to play a significant number of rounds at a Major course prior to the event to get the feel for it. Still, it is supposed to be a challenge. This US Open definitely is shaping up to be a little different.

[TIBA_Putt - Kyle]

Saw that Poulter also tweeted that he wasn't a fan of the course. I think it's kind of nice that to have an edge, you'd really have to play a dozen rounds there. That means that literally anyone going in could have a shot. Whoever plays the best golf that week will walk away the champion.

[RoverRick]

Maybe Phil skipped the WGC Match Play to play that course.

[Mr_Theoo]

Sounds like a lot of whining from Stenson. What did he think it was going to be easy?

[MmmmmmBuddy]

I have played this course twice.. Not recently, but it is fresh enough in my mind to really remember most of the experience. 

 

I could care less if some of the pros feel like the course is too hard or too different from what they play every week. Over 72 holes of championship golf out there, you will have players hit some perfect shots that end up f'd, and some very questionable shots that end up perfect. That's golf. It will take imagination, all types of shots, and patience to win this US Open, and I for one cannot wait.

 

 

FWIW, I really like this course.   

[JohnBarry]

I can't wait, I hope par wins and make these guys really uncomfortable. When they are not feeling in the groove, the mental game is 95% of what it will take to win. Who has that metal toughness when you can't just except everything to be perfect with your game? I think Phil has been playing the heck out of the course, I am sure Tiger is studying it, does he still have the mental toughness to win? Does the young guns have what it takes for this beast?

 

Bottom line, going to make for some great TV!!

[BK in TEXAS]

Maybe Phil skipped the WGC Match Play to play that course.

That would actually be a smart move.