2012 US Open at Olympic Club Discussion Thread

[SamCreamer]

After last week, I believe Tiger has it for sure. I just can't think of any other golfer who has it in them to conquer such a beastly course!

[k-troop]

Originally Posted by Mr3Wiggle

That 18th hole isn't driveable.

Look at the approach to the green:

Don't know how much view of the green you get from that tee, or which way the wind will be.  But it looks like the easiest place to approach that green might be from the left or middle bunker.  If the wind is favorable, I could see guys trying to hit a bomb for the left side of the green, thinking that if it goes in the left bunker that would be just as good as an 80-yard wedge from the fairway.

[clubchamp]

Originally Posted by Mr3Wiggle

I think Congressional is a crap course.  I'm from Maryland too, so I'm not just hating.  One of the worst setups I've ever seen was the one Els won there.

Your kidding right? I finally got to play there last week and it was immaculate granted there was some holes I didn't like but every course has that problem. The set up when Els won was different but this past year the set up was way better. It would have been a lot more difficult but the weather didn't cooperate so there was nothing they could do to make it harder.

Olympic I think will be very tough and I hope it plays as tough as everyone thinks. 18 is not remotely drivable for anyone it's 344 yards plus it's also very uphill and with the fairway being so narrow I doubt you will see more than a long iron off the tee.

[Motley01]

Originally Posted by clubchamp

Olympic I think will be very tough and I hope it plays as tough as everyone thinks. 18 is not remotely drivable for anyone it's 344 yards plus it's also very uphill and with the fairway being so narrow I doubt you will see more than a long iron off the tee.

I bet Bubba can drive it!!! Easily, he can hit fade around the tree line, right on the green. No problem.

[clubchamp]

Originally Posted by Motley01

I bet Bubba can drive it!!! Easily, he can hit fade around the tree line, right on the green. No problem.

344 uphill on the fly? I'd love to see it but reality tells me he doesn't have that kind of power...

[Motley01]

Originally Posted by clubchamp

344 uphill on the fly? I'd love to see it but reality tells me he doesn't have that kind of power...

Hell ya he could do it. But it measures that distance from the fairway. So hitting a driver, with a fade, is probably more like 320 yards.

[Ping]

Tiger played the  "B" Team at The Memorial..of course he won. Just like Bay Hill.."B" Team. When Eldrick plays against A players,( Master's) he folds like a lawn chair.

[brocks]

Tiger played the  "B" Team at The Memorial..of course he won. Just like Bay Hill.."B" Team. When Eldrick plays against A players,( Master's) he folds like a lawn chair.

Yeah, let's see what happens when he has to beat guys like Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy.

[Elvisliveson]

Originally Posted by brocks

Yeah, let's see what happens when he has to beat guys like Luke Donald and Rory McIlroy.

Yes, if they can manage to make the cut, they might be formidable.

[turtleback]

Originally Posted by Ping

Tiger played the  "B" Team at The Memorial..of course he won. Just like Bay Hill.."B" Team. When Eldrick plays against A players,( Master's) he folds like a lawn chair.

I'm surprised you don't consider the #1 and #2 players in the world rankings as A players.  Why do you hate the British?

And I guess you don't count the reigning Masters champ an A player either?

Interesting.

[zipazoid]

Originally Posted by Ping

Tiger played the  "B" Team at The Memorial..of course he won. Just like Bay Hill.."B" Team. When Eldrick plays against A players,( Master's) he folds like a lawn chair.

Yeah. "Eldrick" has such a lengthy history of choking. Maybe one of these days he'll learn to handle pressure.

[xxsoultonesxx]

"Ping" is clearly trolling. (Eldrick, lawn chair, etc.)  Give it up, dude.

Anyway... I love the US Open for the simple fact that it makes the players sweat every shot. That video posted in this thread "Mickey mouse golf" is a great example of the power of the USGA.  Everyone still has to play the same course, even if it's considered a beast, it isn't like these guys don't all have the same chance to go out there and win it.

It might not make everyone happy when their ball is buried in 6" rough, or decent putts are rolling away from the hole. But IMO the USGA can choose to make it a golfing dystopia if they want to.

And that being said, the players should embrace the challenge, rather than ridicule the governing bodies.

Crank the stimp up to 14, grow out that rough, tuck the tees and pins...it will make great TV.

[bplewis24]

I agree with Ping.  Once Tiger has to face these guys, he is going to fold:

[Chilli Dipper]

Originally Posted by Motley01

Hell ya he could do it. But it measures that distance from the fairway. So hitting a driver, with a fade, is probably more like 320 yards.

It's a 330-yard uphill carry over the "O" bunker to reach a green that is 15 yards at its widest point, with the prevailing wind coming in and from the left off the ocean, where a 300-yard-carry will either find the "U" bunker and leave a 40-yard bunker shot to the hole, or roll 50 yards back down the hill (or until the rough eats it, whichever comes first). A pro would be crazy to even attempt to go for the green in competition, because he's going to be better off with a wedge in his hands from the fairway 100 yards out than anywhere his ball is likely to rest after bombing driver.

[Wansteadimp]

Luke will struggle round here, the reason everyone raves about his short game and putting is because he needs to use them, he misses too many fairways. The idea of him being accurate off the tee is, well, just wrong. Westwood will be a better bet of the Europeans, I like Rose's chances as well. He's been in good form this year, has a history of winning on tough courses with brutal greens - Aronimick for example.

Also, Peter Hanson plays well on tough courses, but it'll depend if there are lay up areas for unmentionables!!!

I'm not buying the Tiger love, the fairways at Memorial were wide and he didn't have to pull driver too much, not sure Olympic is going to be the same. Having said that if he finds a way to get the ball in the fairway he'll torch the field.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by bplewis24

That makes me think of 15 at Augusta.  Or is it 13?

It sounds like this hole is the opposite of that, which I wouldn't even know how to play.  I'm guessing the ideal play is something high that lands softly.  But my driver shot is kinda low and rolls out a lot.  The more it rolls, the more likely to end up in the rough, right?

Brandon

I think the high ball hitters will definitely have an advantage.

[Mr3Wiggle]

Originally Posted by clubchamp

Your kidding right? I finally got to play there last week and it was immaculate granted there was some holes I didn't like but every course has that problem. The set up when Els won was different but this past year the set up was way better. It would have been a lot more difficult but the weather didn't cooperate so there was nothing they could do to make it harder.

Olympic I think will be very tough and I hope it plays as tough as everyone thinks. 18 is not remotely drivable for anyone it's 344 yards plus it's also very uphill and with the fairway being so narrow I doubt you will see more than a long iron off the tee.

I think it's a great members course.  Not a great course for a US Open.  Obviously I'm not turning down invites to play there.  Just wasn't all that impressed.  As far as courses in the state of Maryland go, I'd rank it behind Bulle Rock, BCC East, and possibly Caves Valley.

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by Wansteadimp

I'm not buying the Tiger love, the fairways at Memorial were wide and he didn't have to pull driver too much, not sure Olympic is going to be the same. Having said that if he finds a way to get the ball in the fairway he'll torch the field.

Earlier in the year when Tiger was playing well, he was #1 in total driving.  If he can/has regained that form, he should be fine.

Brandon