US Womens Open @ Oakmont

[kafka01]

Looks like the girls will have some "fun" on this course.

Par 3 8th 252-225 (if they really set it to 252 most of them wont even reach with a driver)
Par 5 12th 602
Par 4 15th & 18th ~ 440

The rough seems to be very juciy, anybody has an idea about the greens (hard/soft?).

I doubt the USGA will make it too easy for the ladies, when Cabrera clinched the title with 5 over back then. So my guess is, lots of bogey golf coming up this weekend. What´s your opinon on the winning score?

[Chilli Dipper]

Here's what we do know: when Oakmont hosted the ladies before, in 1992, even par was the winning score. The course was playing as a par 70 then (par will be 71 this year), and the removal of most of the property's trees since then have drastically changed the nature of the course. Only two Women's Opens in the last quarter-century have been won with a score over par.

The difference between the winning scores in the 1994 and 2007 men's Opens was six strokes. Using the same metric, the low 72-hole score for the ladies should be around 286, or 2-over-par.

The big question is whether the new women's number one, Cristie Kerr, can put up a performance anywhere near her effort at the LPGA Championship a couple of weeks ago. She has won this championship once before, and is the last American winner of our national title.

On a side note, two weeks between majors seems a little sudden to me. Then again, the Champions Tour will have two majors on two continents in successive weeks at the end of this month.

[kafka01]

Found out that the greens are running around 14 - which seems to be very very very fast for LPGA standards.

On a side note, two weeks between majors seems a little sudden to me.

Thats kind of strange indeed - their schedule looks like swiss cheese - sometimes you wonder if the LPGA still exists, but they cant manage to seperate the majors in a timely fashion...

[GolfBear]

Looks like the girls will have some "fun" on this course.

I doubt that they'll set up a par 3 at 252 yards, that'd be the equivalent of setting a men's par 3 at about 275 or more wouldn't it?

Still, even at 225 there'll be a lot of BIG numbers on that par 3.

[kafka01]

They had the same hole setup as a 300y Par 3 in 07 - so go figure.

[LongballGer]

I doubt that they'll set up a par 3 at 252 yards, that'd be the equivalent of setting a men's par 3 at about 275 or more wouldn't it?

There used to be a 300+ yards par 3 on a course that hosted a US Open.

[Chilli Dipper]

There used to be a 300+ yards par 3 on a course that hosted a US Open.

It was the very hole being discussed, in fact.

[Lefty-Golfer]

I am seeing a +8 for the winner.

[rudygu]

Found out that the greens are running around 14 - which seems to be very very very fast for LPGA standards.

I saw that too. Paula Creamer said on twitter that they were stimping at 13.9. I don't think I've ever seen a LPGA event with greens anywhere close to that fast.

[TourSpoon]

That's garage floor fast...

Oakmont could be the winner as it will be a biaaaatch.

[shades9323]

The "par" of a hole is irrelevant.

[BSH]

Kay Cockerill thinks there will be some 100's out there and +10 or 12 could win it. Brutal. Can't wait to watch though. I'd love to see Christie play well again and if Wie is on with the driver/irons, she'll be tough. Hitting shorter irons to those greens could be quite an advantage...

[kafka01]

Michelle Wie is already out of it - +8 after 8 holes. Chrities performance really was pretty stellar and since she isnt the shortest and a good putter, she might have a good chance.

[GolfBear]

Michelle Wie is already out of it - +8 after 8 holes. Chrities performance really was pretty stellar and since she isnt the shortest and a good putter, she might have a good chance.

I almost feel bad for Michelle Wie. The girl was sooo hyped coming out and has been absolutely mediocre as an LPGA player.

As for Oakmont, it sounds like the ladies are playing on a big boy layout. I'm not sure how I feel about that??? Doesn't the LPGA have input into how the course is set up? Are they intentionally trying to embarass their players?

[shades9323]

As for Oakmont, it sounds like the ladies are playing on a big boy layout. I'm not sure how I feel about that??? Doesn't the LPGA have input into how the course is set up? Are they intentionally trying to embarass their players?

No they don't. It is all the USGA.

[kafka01]

As for Oakmont, it sounds like the ladies are playing on a big boy layout.

First of all, Oakmont as it is setup is not a "big boy" layout. They shortend it, and yes it has difficult rough and fast greens, but hey, we are talking golf here, right? Not pitch&putt;? And maybe if the LPGA would stop playing on those boring 6000y superwide fairways no rough easy setups, more people would watch.

Regarding Michelle Wie, i cant feel sorry for her, just look at her arrogant behavior on the course. She reminds me a bit of Sergio Garcia, just worse, and with this kind of attitude its hard to have success.

[sean_miller]

First of all, Oakmont as it is setup is not a "big boy" layout. They shortend it, and yes it has difficult rough and fast greens, but hey, we are talking golf here, right? Not pitch&putt;? And maybe if the LPGA would stop playing on those boring 6000y superwide fairways no rough easy setups, more people would watch.

She reminds me more of Serena Williams - minus all the winning everything in sight of course.

PS. I'm pulling for Angela Stanford and Suzanne Petterson - or one of the other usual suspects on tough courses. Kerr of course.

[GolfBear]

First of all, Oakmont as it is setup is not a "big boy" layout. They shortend it, and yes it has difficult rough and fast greens, but hey, we are talking golf here, right? Not pitch&putt;? And maybe if the LPGA would stop playing on those boring 6000y superwide fairways no rough easy setups, more people would watch.

I'd classify a 252 yard par three and greens running at 14 as "big boy" but that's just me.

Apparently you missed the tournament at Locust Hill where the fairways are about 30 yards wide and the rough is 6 inches deep. I've played there several times, it's BRUTAL if you miss a fairway.