Official Thread: 2009 U.S. Open (Bethpage)

[CarlSpackler]

I dont think it will. Its supposed to be a decent day in this area tomorrow, but that looks like it. Even going into next week. It has rained in some fashion or another everyday in this region for the last 2 weeks, it seems like.

Black course = swamp.

[kleinrider]

usopen website says

Mike Davis just informed us that it will be at least until 2 p.m. before players possibly could get out to the practice range to warm up for a resumption of play today. Heavy rain is still expected over the next 45 minutes, but the good news is there's a window this afternoon when golf should be able to resume. The hope is that the morning wave of 78 competitors can complete round one today, with the afternoon wave, which includes Phil Mickelson, completing the first round on Friday.

Once the rain does stop, Jim Hyler, the chairman of the Championship Committee, said it would take 30 minutes or so to get the course back into playing condition.

[XMScott]

I find it hilariously ironic that the foot joy rain jacket i got online (for a good price) arrived today. But im not playing in the open. Or at all today. Its nasty here in New York.

[CarlSpackler]

I find it hilariously ironic that the foot joy rain jacket i got online (for a good price) arrived today. But im not playing in the open. Or at all today. Its nasty here in New York.

I guess the Big Apple is a little juicy today.

:waits for resounding boo's:

[CarlSpackler]

Just heard that play has been called for the day. BOOOOOOO!

[pusher]

I didn't think play would resume. There are several holes under water. there's no way they'd get that course playable today.

What do they do if it continues to rain like this? Do they just keep pushing rounds to the following day? Is it possible this championship could be decided on Tuesday or even Wednesday?

[CG031]

Wow, this is a nightmare to be honest. The rounds will keep being moved back. Tomorrow they need to get in as much as possible because it's the only day it won't rain, lol.

[CarlSpackler]

I didn't think play would resume. There are several holes under water. there's no way they'd get that course playable today.

They said they would stay there until they have a champion (hopefully before the British Open).

[Shindig]

Has anyone been following Ian Poulter on twitter? He's made some great comments about this. My favorite:

Does any know how your supposed to putt on that... Practice putting green. Where's my canoe

( from

http://twitter.com/Ianjamespoulter )

[Alex B]

I was at Bethpage today from about 9:00 until a bit after the stoppage of play. Here are things I observed in that brief time.

Players and play.

Tee-time issues. It seems that the groups of Kittleson/Bae/Sim (7:11 off the back) and Slocum/Wi/Bland (7:22 off the back) began in the opposite order than they should have. If you look at the leaderboard, you'll notice that Slocum, Wi, and Bland have all completed eight holes, whereas Bae and Sim have finished only seven. A bunch of us noticed this in the grandstands behind the simple 14th hole (an ~160 yard par 3), where my dad and I sat for four groups.

Andrew Parr. After cutting a significant amount of the dogleg on the opening hole, he took forever to hit his short-iron approach. The crowd's mutterings, however, turned to cheers when he stuck his ball within four feet of the cup. He would birdie.

Graeme McDowell. He curled in a lovely 20-foot birdie putt from above the 14th hole. The best putt I saw all day.

Andrew Svoboda. He had a similar putt to that of McDowell, but didn't fare as well. After bombing his birdie try five feet past, he either shoved or misread the shorty coming back uphill. Then came the shocker: Svoboda rushed the tap-in (about 9 inches) for bogey, power-lipping it three feet by. He grimly rushed to his ball and in one motion slapped it at (and fortunately in) the hole for a pathetic and quite unprofessional double bogey. After doubling 15 as well, Svoboda is +7 through 6 holes and all but done for the tournament.

Chad Campbell. He pulled a 12-footer for birdie on 14 so badly that it didn't come within a foot of the hole as it passed by. Beautiful swing; wretched putting stroke.

Steve Stricker. Stricks stuck an iron eight feet below the 14th hole, then missed the putt. He looked calmer than usual -- I hope his recent win may give him the confidence to overcome the nevres that have plagued him toward the end of majors (especially on short putts).

The Furyk/Ogilvy/Casey pairing. All three hit middling irons to the left side of the green and would two-putt for par. Their demeanors, however, were quite loose: Casey and Ogilvy (decently good friends at Whisper Rock) were talking coming up to the green, and Furyk looked exceptionally calm. These three guys all have a shot -- I wouldn't be surprised if the group's good vibe carries them each into the top 10 come the third round.

Miguel Angel Jimenez. Hit a terrible putt from 10 feet on the 13th hole, then shook his head slowly. Didn't look confident.

The course and layout.

The opening tee. The lack of fairway bunkers on the first hole creates a cool effect: you see only rough and fairway (plus a few trees), so the task becomes very simple and uncluttered -- either you hit the strip of short grass, or you don't. No options or room for bailing out; no thinking-man's golf to ease one into the round. A true test of nerves and skill.

The turn. Unlike most American courses, the 9th hole doesn't come back to the clubhouse. In fact, must like the Old Course, holes 7 through 11 make a sort of loop as far from the clubhouse as possible. We were trying to catch Tiger in the loop, but the horn sounded.

The 12th and 13th holes. Exceedingly long and difficult. I couldn't believe where the guys were hitting their third shots from on 13 (the long par 5) -- most must've been hitting mid-irons into the green. We were walking down these holes when play was suspended.

The 14th hole. I really like this little par three. Although it's a birdie hole meant mostly for it's aesthetic qualities, the sloping green is no pushover. In addition, the fescue-ringed bunkers flanking the green (although mostly cosmetic for the Open -- all twelve pros we saw on 14 easily hit the large surface) look brutally tough.

The 15th and 17th holes. I saw each only from a distance, but they look exceptionally difficult (and they're each beautiful holes, to boot). Fifteen may be a bit shorter than some of Bethpage's other par 4s, but it plays tough (it was the hardest hole in 2002): the uphill rise to the green is severe.

The 18th hole. After reading a good deal about how much 18 sucks, I was pleasantly surprised. The hole looks great and shouldn't be a total pushover -- just as with the 15th, a massive incline to the green will toughen the hole. A classic-looking finishing hole with a massive grandstands behind and to the right of the green.

The rough. It's bad but not impossible. I reached my hand under the ropes and felt a bit -- it's gnarly, to be sure, and dense and decently tall as well, but you won't be seeing many pitches out sideways. It's lush greenness makes it look really neat, both from close up and from far away.

Anyway, that's my spiel; feel free to ask questions.

Alex

[Chilli Dipper]

On the "tee-time issues": although the USGA postponed play, the players reserved the right to continue if they wished, as there was no threat of lightning in the area.

[wrx_junki]

USOpen.com coverage runs the entire day? What's the next "marquee" group?

[Chilli Dipper]

USOpen.com coverage runs the entire day? What's the next "marquee" group?

Phil, Ernie, and the Goose.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I was looking over the weather again. And it seems like after today, its not going to stop raining until next wednesday in this area. I think its a real possibillity that the event gets shortened to 54 holes, or just gets indefinatly postponed. Today is the only full day of golf they are going to have for the next 4 or 5 days. I cant imagine how the USGA is going to make this work.

[senorchipotle]

Phil, Ernie, and the Goose.

tiger, angel, and padraig are on USOpen.com, very nice coverage of an excellent matchup

[XMScott]

So by the time TV coverage starts Tiger will be done for the day?

[David in FL]

I was looking over the weather again. And it seems like after today, its not going to stop raining until next wednesday in this area. I think its a real possibillity that the event gets shortened to 54 holes, or just gets indefinatly postponed. Today is the only full day of golf they are going to have for the next 4 or 5 days. I cant imagine how the USGA is going to make this work.

The US Open will never get shortened, IMHO. They'll keep at it until it's finished.....Wed, Thurs, whatever, it is what it is.

[Chilli Dipper]

So by the time TV coverage starts Tiger will be done for the day?

TV coverage starts in 15 minutes. Tiger and his group are standing on 15 tee, waiting for the group ahead of them to clear the fairway. They might still be waiting there when ESPN signs on.