http://thesandtrap.com/columns/the_numbers_game/2007_us_open_scores Golf News, Reviews, and Commentary Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:31:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/the_numbers_game/2007_us_open_scores#comment-6224 Bruce Thu, 21 Jun 2007 00:26:56 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/the_numbers_game/us_open_scores#comment-6224 Given that Oakmont's rating is about 78, I'd say, on average that they did a little bit better than shooting their handicap. I was there for two days and witnessed the carnage. When I'm shooting my handicap, I miss a few more putts and have about the same number of screwed up approach shots. I think it was a fair test. I think -10 to -20 winning scores are not a lot of fun to watch (unless it would happen to me). :wink: Given that Oakmont's rating is about 78, I'd say, on average that they did a little bit better than shooting their handicap. I was there for two days and witnessed the carnage. When I'm shooting my handicap, I miss a few more putts and have about the same number of screwed up approach shots. I think it was a fair test. I think -10 to -20 winning scores are not a lot of fun to watch (unless it would happen to me).

]]> http://thesandtrap.com/columns/the_numbers_game/2007_us_open_scores#comment-6220 richard Wed, 20 Jun 2007 20:44:51 +0000 http://thesandtrap.com/columns/the_numbers_game/us_open_scores#comment-6220 All tour courses should force the players, vying for high stakes, to perform vastly better -- and differently -- than at the driving range and on the practice putting surface. Oakmont was the quintessential example of what such courses should demand: physical and mental adjustment, invention, imagination, precision, endurance. Business as usual may be OK for the LPGA, but should never toss over multi-million dollar purses to the first ten PGA members who ho--hum around a pussy-cat course. That was certainly the way it was before Tiger changed the scene, and with it everyone's preparation. All tour courses should force the players, vying for high stakes, to perform vastly better -- and differently -- than at the driving range and on the practice putting surface. Oakmont was the quintessential example of what such courses should demand: physical and mental adjustment, invention, imagination, precision, endurance.
Business as usual may be OK for the LPGA, but should never toss over multi-million dollar purses to the first ten PGA members who ho--hum around a pussy-cat course. That was certainly the way it was before Tiger changed the scene, and with it everyone's preparation.

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