Official 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Discussion Thread

[phan52]

Originally Posted by Chilli Dipper

There actually isn't much rain in that forecast, so it won't have too much of an effect on the golf course. It will cause delays, though, and it may push the end of the second round back to Saturday morning.

Tomorrow (Thursday) definitely has a forecast for rain, but the worst part may be the winds. Could be very damaging.

[vicariouslyi]

I'm looking at the Severe Weather Alert on my phone right now and they're calling for 1-3 inches for Philadelphia and Delaware.

[Dave2512]

The forecast is a bummer.

[albatross]

Yea, it's looking brutal.  They're saying this could be one of the worst storms to hit the east coast in the last couple of years.  It will be a miracle if they get much golf in tomorrow.  Between the weather and the playoff format, you better take Monday off like I did, if you want to see the finish to this one.

[MajorSlice]

I have Sunday tickets.  What happens if play is suspended.  Do I still go on Sunday and only the people who have the 4 day pass are able to go on Monday?  Not quite sure how it woks.  If play is suspended on tomorrow (Thursday) and they go on Friday along with the rest of the people going on Friday, could you imagine how packed it will be.

It should be fun.  I have been looking forward to this for the entire year.

[colin007]

this weather is ridiculous....

[phan52]

Originally Posted by MajorSlice

I have Sunday tickets.  What happens if play is suspended.  Do I still go on Sunday and only the people who have the 4 day pass are able to go on Monday?  Not quite sure how it woks.  If play is suspended on tomorrow (Thursday) and they go on Friday along with the rest of the people going on Friday, could you imagine how packed it will be.

It should be fun.  I have been looking forward to this for the entire year.

If you have tickets for Sunday, your tickets are always good for Sunday. It has nothing to do with what round it is. If they get four hours of play in on any give day, they deem it a full day of golf as far as tickets are concerned. People with Thursday tickets should get there early if they want to see any golf because the worst of the weather is due in the afternoon and, with starting times around 7:00 AM, they should easily get four hours of play in tomorrow.

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by phan52

I am marshalling the 17th hole, 195-245 yard par 3. The 17th tee is probably the finest spot on the entire golf course. You can see approach shots on the 16th, watch them putt on 16, see the whole 17th, watch the tee shots on 18 and watch the approach shots on 18. It is kind of sad that nobody can watch the golf from there. No fans allowed near the place.

The on-site network studios are in a three story structure built right next to the 17th tee. Yesterday, I was a fly on the wall while people like Stuart Scott, Chris Berman, Tom Watson, David Duvall, Frank Nobilo, Dotty Pepper, Andy North and Steve Sands were chatting about anything from the golf course to the NBA Finals. The funny thing is that the players, particularly the young ones, treat the TV peronalities like they are the stars.

It is amazing to watch these guys hit the 245 yard shot from the back tee on 17. Very few of them chose to hit alternate shots from the forward 195 yard tee. Lots of irons. The pin was in a tight spot, back left. Some of them were actually hitting cut shots at it and getting it close. Geoff Ogilvy hit a draw with a 4 iron that almost went in the hole. He was playing with Dustin Johnson and Ricky Fowler and Johnson hit a draw with an iron while Fowler hit a fade into the middle of the green with a hybrid. Fowler's swing is short and violent; amazing amount of clubhead speed. Of course, there were errant shots as well. Harrington sniped a hook into the stands that luckily hit a railing or it would have killed somebody. There were numerous Easter egg hunts for balls that were not all that far from the green. I see numeous "others" in their future.

[phan52]

Rather than attend the Past Champions dinner, Ernie Els chose to attend an affair with SAP. Priorities.

[mjd1]

Quoting:

"If you have tickets for Sunday, your tickets are always good for Sunday. It has nothing to do with what round it is. If they get four hours of play in on any give day, they deem it a full day of golf as far as tickets are concerned. People with Thursday tickets should get there early if they want to see any golf because the worst of the weather is due in the afternoon and, with starting times around 7:00 AM, they should easily get four hours of play in tomorrow."

thanks for the tips; I'm going tomorrow - shaping up to be the Woodstock of golf I guess...  my luck, they'll blow the horn at 1:13pm

found a related article here:

http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-live-update-usopen-golf-merion-0612-20130612,0,6784629.story

[MajorSlice]

Originally Posted by mjd1

Quoting:

"If you have tickets for Sunday, your tickets are always good for Sunday. It has nothing to do with what round it is. If they get four hours of play in on any give day, they deem it a full day of golf as far as tickets are concerned. People with Thursday tickets should get there early if they want to see any golf because the worst of the weather is due in the afternoon and, with starting times around 7:00 AM, they should easily get four hours of play in tomorrow."

thanks for the tips; I'm going tomorrow - shaping up to be the Woodstock of golf I guess...  my luck, they'll blow the horn at 1:13pm

found a related article here:

http://www.mcall.com/sports/mc-live-update-usopen-golf-merion-0612-20130612,0,6784629.story

I just saw this article as well.  Hopefully you get most of your round in or none at all.

Also, what about monday.  If play is suspended on Sunday and picked up on Monday, who is allowed to go?  If I cant go, because my ticket is only for Sunday, then the 4 day pass holders shouldnt be allowed to go, because it would be day 5 right?

They need clearer rules.

[bplewis24]

Originally Posted by MajorSlice

I just saw this article as well.  Hopefully you get most of your round in or none at all.

Also, what about monday.  If play is suspended on Sunday and picked up on Monday, who is allowed to go?  If I cant go, because my ticket is only for Sunday, then the 4 day pass holders shouldnt be allowed to go, because it would be day 5 right?

They need clearer rules.

Disclaimer: I have absolutely no experience or information on this sort of thing, but...

It's possible that since the four day pass members didn't get in "4 full days with at least four hours of golf" they get the 5th day access.

Also, I'm guessing it's possible they will offer up 5th day tickets for purchase for everybody else?

[MajorSlice]

Originally Posted by bplewis24

Disclaimer: I have absolutely no experience or information on this sort of thing, but...

It's possible that since the four day pass members didn't get in "4 full days with at least four hours of golf" they get the 5th day access.

Also, I'm guessing it's possible they will offer up 5th day tickets for purchase for everybody else?

I could understand that..  However, if the 4-day pass people got in because they didnt get a full day somewhere, the days would be bumped or they would play the remainder of a round plus a full round in a day, so they could get it done one Sunday.

If they offered up a 5th day purchase ticket, people would be more than upset for not being allowed to see an event they purchased tickets for a year ago, all the while, Joe "Doesnt play or watch golf" Anderno'one, goes to the final round, probably for a discounted rate on Monday, so the USGA can make more money off of us, lol.

That one wouldnt work out too well for them.

One article I read talked about how spectators, we watched a little over 3 hours of golf and then play was suspended and they were not reimbursed, were going up to the USGA presidents car at a gas station and voicing their complaints to him there.  Could you imagine what the Philadelphia crowd would do?  I mean, we threw battery laced snowballs at Santa.............Santa!!!!!

[Spyder]

Originally Posted by MajorSlice

I could understand that..  However, if the 4-day pass people got in because they didnt get a full day somewhere, the days would be bumped or they would play the remainder of a round plus a full round in a day, so they could get it done one Sunday.

If they offered up a 5th day purchase ticket, people would be more than upset for not being allowed to see an event they purchased tickets for a year ago, all the while, Joe "Doesnt play or watch golf" Anderno'one, goes to the final round, probably for a discounted rate on Monday, so the USGA can make more money off of us, lol.

That one wouldnt work out too well for them.

One article I read talked about how spectators, we watched a little over 3 hours of golf and then play was suspended and they were not reimbursed, were going up to the USGA presidents car at a gas station and voicing their complaints to him there.  Could you imagine what the Philadelphia crowd would do?  I mean, we threw battery laced snowballs at Santa.............Santa!!!!!

Yeah, but you guys stole that move from my hometown of Cleveland. Hell, our fans were packing snowballs with D-Cells and chucking them at OUR OWN TEAM, the day before Christmas!

Just messing with you, but really... that happened.

Anyway, I really hope the weather works out in some way. I cannot stand Monday golf on TV, let alone thinking about all the people getting screwed out of watching a Sunday final in person, on top of having a Major final on Monday! Hell, for some it's a bucket list item that they have been looking forward to. Golf finals belong on Sunday, period. Hopefully it gets done.

[zipazoid]

Originally Posted by colin007

So, do you guys think that the course being soft opens up chances for winning for more players now?

I think so, yes.

For example, if it were playing dry & fast, it would lessen the chances of a player like Bubba Watson...or any of the longer, less accurate drivers. But with wet conditions, that essentially makes the fairways wider - wherever the ball lands is generally where it will end up - no run out.

Also, with less roll, it lessens the advantage of the longer drivers. I''m only guessing here, but I would think the air time of a, say, Steve Stricker drive versus a Dustin Johnson drive may be 20-30 yards, but with roll-out it could widen to 50-70 yards. Les roll-out means less of a distance advantage. So to me it brings more possible winners into the mix.

To me, it's setting up for a plodder who puts the ball in play & is having a great putting week to win - someone like a Zach Johnson comes to mind.

[Deryck Griffith]

I am giddy with excitement for this tournament to start.  This weather business is pissing me off though.

I don't think we'll see much golf tomorrow, unfortunately.....

[k14]

Only 1 sleep to go, although probably be a fairly restless night if the forecast has any credibility to it! Going to try get there by 6:30 and try watch the groups go off on the back 9. Really want to see those guys hit driver, hard to know which hole will be best bet to see that. 18 will be a given, should be good to watch there.

[bplewis24]

I have a feeling most of us are going to be upset tomorrow after getting all worked up for the start of a major tournament.