PGA Tour: US Open, Into the Unknown: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

OK, This is one of those weeks where we don't know what we don't know.
We don't know anything about the Chambers Bay course, except that it's visually breathtaking. But so is Bryce Canyon. We know it's been very dry and there are reports about greens being "on the edge", but whether that's by accident or design, who knows?
We know there might be Par-5's morphing into Par-4's and vice versa, but no word yet as to whether Mike Davis might create a Par-2 or a Par-6. We DO know promised transportation infrastructure ain't happening, and that "patrons" are advised to view from grandstands rather than follow specific groups - use your own sporting analogy, but that sounds bl00dy stupid to moi.
And we do know that this course is not pro-tournament proven; the only significant event staged there so far is the 2010 US Amateur.

So let's not try and pre-judge what we don't know, or forecast based on subjective snippets about the place, and offer a few notes based upon what we do know about the PGA Tour season:

1).For the second straight week an Englishman was beaten into second place by a first-time "foreign" winner, David Lingmerth beating Justin Rose at the Memorial, Fabian Gomez outplaying Greg Owen, and everyone else, in Memphis.
Greg Owen played out of his skin, his customary excellent ball-striking giving him a chance, and putting with a calm stroke seldom seen from him. Although he looked a bit jittery on his back nine, his usually questionable composure only betrayed him following a 3-wood wide-right into the water on #12 and subsequent demolition of said club. Good job he didn't really need it after that.
The man from Mansfield earned his richest golfing pay-day and gives himself an even chance of keeping his Tour card for another year, via the Top 125 in earnings if not the Top 125 in FedEx points.

2).And, after a 3-month string of tournaments being won by high echelon players, we now have three in a row won by unheralded non-Americans, with Bowditch having won in Dallas. Imagine that trend may screech to a halt this week.

3).Russell Knox continued his run of good form and extended his lead in bogey-free rounds on Tour these past two seasons. $300K in Knox's pocket in the last three weeks without threatening to contend for a title. Apart from being no better than Tour average around the greens, Knox has scarcely a weakness in his game:
Eighth in greens in regulation.
Second in "proximity to the hole".
But does he have that "extra gear" needed to win tournaments? He has a week off and hopefully the rest will helpful as he goes to Hartford next week to play a course which suits him down to the ground.

4).Luke Donald showed glimpses of a return to form in Memphis, but McDool missed the cut. Both are in real danger of failing to earn their way into the FedEx Play-Offs; at least Luke shows signs of adjusting his schedule accordingly - he'll visit Hartford for the first time and, if he fails to qualify for St.Andrews, may add another US event. Meanwhile, Brian Davis started out like a house on fire in Memphis, but the early flashes of form became extinguished as he struggled the rest of the way. Odds against him retaining his card without a visit to the WTF series.

5).And so to Chambers Bay, in the great Pacific North-West, just outside Seattle. No idea what to expect from the course and the USGA set-up. And no idea what to expect from Fox TV as they broadcast their first Pro tournament. Just hoping for the best on both counts.

super_realist wrote:

sirbenson wrote:Super is correct barring any wind St.Andrews will be torn apart! The major scoring record is in the danger you'd imagine....Are birdie fests for a major a bad thing though? Once in a while it probably isn't!

Nothing wrong with birdies, if there is scope for double bogeys too. The lack of drama is what makes a low scoring course boring.

What's so great about the likes of Carnoustie is you could be 3 ahead with three to play and blow it. You can't really do that at St.Andrews, you might as well go home when the leader gets to the turn.

Fair point, there is a certain lack of danger at St. Andrews (the 17th being an exception)....leaders can be chased by birdies and eagles though. Interesting to see how firm they can get the course.

17 is not that bad really. You can hit a draw virtually over the hotel roof especially as any breeze usually comes over there.

Firmness might be a good leveller, it's barely rained up here in 8 weeks and it's already quite bare.

Looking forward to watching Cameron Smith and/or Branden Grace at Hartford - Oosthuizen and Snedeker in the field among other high finishers from yesterday, Jason Day an early withdrawal that Mac will undoubtedly take as further evidence of him faking illness.
Probably off to do some cliff-diving in Acapulco.

Kwini

I have no doubt he felt a bit off on Friday but to suggest he played golf with even a moderately serious case of vertigo seems absurd to me. I am also happy to blame the media for the hype and not Day. All I ask is that this board has a healthy level of skepticism when told someone played a sport heavily reliant on posture and balance while suffering from vertigo.

Vertigo from what? Chambers Bay is at sea level.

Vertigo arises from vestibular disorders and has nothing to do with height.

Nice bit of googling there WikiMac

Mac,
I don't have either your first-hand knowledge or medical experience, but there were times when he looked completely disorientated, both on Saturday and Sunday.
Have no doubt that golf is the only remotely athletic sport he'd've been able to play - even darts or snooker would probably have been beyond him, given the different paces of play and the fact he was undoubtedly depending on caddie help and support, literally.

Jason Day could barely stand and was clearly suffering from Vertigo...kind of disrespectful to suggest otherwise!!

How long before Spieth overtakes McIlroy as number 1??

incontinentia wrote:How long before Spieth overtakes McIlroy as number 1??

The earliest it could happen is TOC, as Rory has a 90 pt lead.

Rory could put the #1 out of reach at TOC if he wins the Scottish Open as I think it will be worth 10 pts more than the John Deere (which I assume Jordan is playing).

If they have comparable finishes at the Deere and Scottish Open, Jordan would have to win, and Rory would have to finish worse than ~15th.

Ian Poulter's view from Chambers Bay:

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/promised-poulter-shares-chambers-thoughts-after-play/?cid=golfchannel_majorshomepage_us_open_latestnews_position_12_link_1

Jim Furyk wouldn't agree to be interviewed yesterday as "I don't have anything good to say"; it's not just Europeans and Billy Horschel who didn't think the week measured up to the standards the USGA has set for US Open play.

I think its inevitable GPB, and would be surprised if Spieth isn't No. 1 by the end of the year.

Of course, another patented August hot-streak by Rory could delay that considerably.

I disagree, unless Rory loses his form.
Spieth wore out last year; no top five finishes from The Players in May to the blitzkrieg he inflicted in Sydney in November. This season he's a year older and a year wiser, but he's been on the go without so much as a two-week break since Feb 1st. Perhaps he'll take a breather now.
Rory's pacing himself much better now and would imagine he's ready for July and August. Course record at St.Andrews, defending champ at Bridgestone, 3rd last time at Whistling Straits.

Poulter may have a point. Yet the cream still rose to the top, so it can't be that bad / random?

Agree Spieth is a bit dull. A bit under the radar type. But I think we can now agree he's the real deal?

Super, why does a low hcp'er like you bother playing a dull course like TOC at all?

TOC is good fun to play as a club player because there's a chance to hit a really low score, perhaps the best chance you'll have as a club player. I'm not bothered about the history of the place, it means nothing as a local. It's just another course.

The issue with TOC is its suitability for holding memorable and dramatic Open Championships which it seldom does.

It's got a long history in the game, and is important on a global scale, but once every five years is way too frequent when it routinely dishes up rubbish tournaments and a lack of drama. That's all really, that and it's a terrible venue for spectators too.

Once in 8-9 years would be more appropriate.

Agree about Spieth, he's been the real deal since way before the Masters.

I reasonably balanced response from Poulter who seems to have at least made the effort to emphasize fan satisfaction. But do we have any proof that the fans who attended found the site problematic or attending the event to be a disappointment?

Weren't there 5 holes with no spectators? Not exactly good for spectating if that is the case.

Super

If the other 13 holes offered a better than normal experience then maybe the fans were ok with that arrangement.


Will you be attending any of the days at this years open?

If I can get into the beer tent without having to pay £80 then perhaps. £80 is a lot to pay to watch a dreary event.

Are there no discounts for locals?

Thats something I've wondered about, don't members get any kind of discounted deal when the Open is on their patch? Or is the only cheap way in to be a volunteer marshall (which of course would restrict your viewing ability to one or 2 holes)?

There's opportunity to do marshalling and scoreboards etc. I used to do it whilst at School.

Might be able to wangle a ticket from a friend though.

The R&A are tighter than a nuns chuff. No discounts. The clubs that play out of St.Andrews have no running in the Links.

Hate the course - best golfer won. Well done Jordan - excellence sometimes looks easy, which is real class IMHO.

And btw lots of French golfers at top end of Amateur Championship, including winner. Sign of times to come, and present?

puligny wrote:And btw lots of French golfers at top end of Amateur Championship, including winner. Sign of times to come, and present?

Enjoyed watching that yesterday, mainly for the course and how they were playing it (getting the juices flowing for the Tassie already) but yes very impressive from Langasque.

All in all a worthy winner but that is one goofy course.

I was at a golf outing today and, at one of the holes, a touring pro played along with us. Will go unnamed, but he's 125+ so "conditional" status (yet tour winner). He claims he knew of a number of guys that did not even try to qualify for the Open given the course (he DID try to qualify, but did not get in). Was PC on the course itself, but reading between the lines and he would not want a heavy dose of anything like it.

Good for Gary Player giving his not edited opinion.

Spieth is no Rory, but he's obviously top gun in the next level down.

I see Tides Out as being every bit as good as Pubehead. Ok, he doesn't have the length or that perfect swing, but he does seem to have better focus and greater form consistency, not to mention how good a putter he is.

My only doubt about Spieth, is that he seems to play a hell of a lot and may lead to burnout and a reduction in form over time.

This rivalry could be the thing to make this years Open actually interesting. Hopefully they both get similar tee times so have to deal with the same weather.

super_realist wrote:

My only doubt about Spieth, is that he seems to play a hell of a lot and may lead to burnout and a reduction in form over time.

Good grief it's only golf, no athleticism required. How can you burn out walking?

MontysMerkin wrote:

super_realist wrote:

My only doubt about Spieth, is that he seems to play a hell of a lot and may lead to burnout and a reduction in form over time.

Good grief it's only golf, no athleticism required. How can you burn out walking?

I'd completely agree from a physical point of view, when you look at the real athletic sports like Tennis and Cycling, these guys use more energy in a day than a golfer will in 4 tournaments, I was thinking more about the mental burnout from playing at the top end so frequently.

What are the chances Rory and Speith will be 'randomly' drawn together in the first two rounds at TOC?

Well, in the past they have gerrymandered the draw in order for 9C to appear prime time, so in order to do the same, I'd hope they'd do that.

unfortunately i think they'll actually have them out on different sides of the draw to keep interest staggered on TV

Probably a late start for Tide Going out and an early start for Pubehead then

I seem to remember Rory got the 9.05 tv start time last year instead of 9c.

SR did you see the driving stats for the week?
steve Marino worst average by about 30 yards!

Crikey. THought it was a random choice. I think I only picked him because he did well on a links course one Open about 8 years ago.

The least likeable thing about Spieth seems to be his dad though. Just something unlikeable about him.