US Open underway

[trevorwc]

Tiger birdies the 10th (his first hole) to get off to a nice start.

[Skjonne]

..and boggies 15th and 16th

[RacersEdge]

Some of the pros will be complaining about these greens. I don't think I can blame them.

[andyfox]

Why do they all complain about how difficult the course is? Shouldn't the better players have an advantage on a difficult course? What difference does it make if you shoot 72 and everyone else shoots 73 and higher, or if you shoot 61 and everyone else shoots 62 and higher? Don't you still have a one shot lead?

It's like if Derek Jeter complained, "Santana was too hard to hit. Where's Aaron Sele?"

Somebody is going to win by shooting a lower score than everyone else. Stop bitching and play.

[Clarkmeister]

I think the typical US Open setup hurts the top players. When you force any shot in the rough to be a chop shot back to the fairway and when you force all puts to be super-touchy lag puts, you are reducing the differences between the players. Since the better players are superior in most areas, taking away their edge in recovery shots, taking driver out of their hands, etc., just reduces their overall edge since those aspects of their game are forcibly equalized to the rest of the field.

[CrazyEyez]

[ QUOTE ]
I think the typical US Open setup hurts the top players. When you force any shot in the rough to be a chop shot back to the fairway and when you force all puts to be super-touchy lag puts, you are reducing the differences between the players. Since the better players are superior in most areas, taking away their edge in recovery shots, taking driver out of their hands, etc., just reduces their overall edge since those aspects of their game are forcibly equalized to the rest of the field.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with this, but it's not my biggest problem with the course(s). I'm all for making it a tougher test of golf, but it shouldn't be turned into a totally different game. The players have to hit shots they never hit the other 45 weeks of the year. I think that's lame.

[HDPM]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I think the typical US Open setup hurts the top players. When you force any shot in the rough to be a chop shot back to the fairway and when you force all puts to be super-touchy lag puts, you are reducing the differences between the players. Since the better players are superior in most areas, taking away their edge in recovery shots, taking driver out of their hands, etc., just reduces their overall edge since those aspects of their game are forcibly equalized to the rest of the field.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with this, but it's not my biggest problem with the course(s). I'm all for making it a tougher test of golf, but it shouldn't be turned into a totally different game. The players have to hit shots they never hit the other 45 weeks of the year. I think that's lame.

[/ QUOTE ]


The players should definitely have to hit some shots that aren't called for at the usual Accenture-Booz Mercedes presented by Cialis at the TPC of Development Heights. That said, the USGA can blow it with set up like last year.


Here is the tournament I'd like to see once in a while, and you would get to see some shots. Old golf course here or there, i.e. St Andrews there, Pinehurst/Winged Foot/Oakmont etc... here. No goofy set ups. The rough could be a little longer, but the greens stay alive. Each player gets his pick of seven clubs and must carry them himself. No caddies. No yardage books allowed. No sheets with the hole location. Any yardage markers on sprinkler heads eliminated for the tourament. Each hole would simply have the total yardage to the middle of the green. Slow play penalties strictly enforced. Do it once a year and see how it identifies the players. I think in that format the top players really would rise to the occasion. And you would see some golf shots.

[offTopic]

[ QUOTE ]

Here is the tournament I'd like to see once in a while...

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AND - Make them put up their own money! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Phat Mack]

[ QUOTE ]
That said, the USGA can blow it with set up like last year.

[/ QUOTE ]

Last year was the first time I enjoyed watching a golf tournament in decades.

[ QUOTE ]
Here is the tournament I'd like to see once in a while, and you would get to see some shots. Old golf course here or there, i.e. St Andrews there, Pinehurst/Winged Foot/Oakmont etc... here. No goofy set ups. The rough could be a little longer, but the greens stay alive. Each player gets his pick of seven clubs and must carry them himself. No caddies. No yardage books allowed. No sheets with the hole location. Any yardage markers on sprinkler heads eliminated for the tourament. Each hole would simply have the total yardage to the middle of the green. Slow play penalties strictly enforced. Do it once a year and see how it identifies the players. I think in that format the top players really would rise to the occasion. And you would see some golf shots.

[/ QUOTE ]

Great idea. My only suggestion would be to make them tee off with 6 irons, par 3's excluded.

[Phat Mack]

[ QUOTE ]
The players have to hit shots they never hit the other 45 weeks of the year.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes, but it's a USGA event, not a PGA one. They have no obligation to accomodate touring pros. In fact, it would be wrong to do so.