2017 U.S. Open Discussion Topic

[freshmanUTA]

I'm working security for the US Open this year. Anyone here attending?

14 hours ago, NCGolfer said:

I know.  I just get a little pissy.  Seems like the USGA has an inferiority complex and have to be faster and longer every year.  When will it end?  8000 yard courses?

It will end when the current players aren't capable of hitting par 5 greens in 2, with a wedge... We're looking at you, DJ.

[Apoc81]

19 hours ago, NCGolfer said:

I know.  I just get a little pissy.  Seems like the USGA has an inferiority complex and have to be faster and longer every year.  When will it end?  8000 yard courses?

I have no problem with course getting longer, but I don't think a Par5 should be over 600 or so. If you hit the fairway, and nail a pure 3 wood (a decent golfer, good swing speed), I dont think you should ever have more than a 100y wedge into the green. I've met very, very few amateurs who can hit a green like that two. 

[onthehunt526]

1 hour ago, Apoc81 said:

I have no problem with course getting longer, but I don't think a Par5 should be over 600 or so. If you hit the fairway, and nail a pure 3 wood (a decent golfer, good swing speed), I dont think you should ever have more than a 100y wedge into the green. I've met very, very few amateurs who can hit a green like that two. 

The 1st at least, players will probably still reach in two, with a drive and a long iron/hybrid. The four par-5 greens all have severe drop offs, not like Pinehurst, but pretty close.

[phillyk]

1 hour ago, Apoc81 said:

I have no problem with course getting longer, but I don't think a Par5 should be over 600 or so. If you hit the fairway, and nail a pure 3 wood (a decent golfer, good swing speed), I dont think you should ever have more than a 100y wedge into the green. I've met very, very few amateurs who can hit a green like that two. 

What they should do is not let the course dry out so much, at least the fairways.  Soften the fairways, let them grow a bit long (as far as pga tour events go) and then let the greens dry out.  The problem isn't really carrying the ball 300 or more, it's that they get another 60 to 70yds of roll when the whole course dries out.

 

5 hours ago, freshmanUTA said:

I'm working security for the US Open this year. Anyone here attending?

My pa is working as a volunteer somewhere in the tents.  But he's excited for it.

[Broke100Once]

On 2017-06-06 at 7:31 PM, Hardspoon said:

He has one more.

http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/tiger-woodss-us-open-exemption-could-expire-soon

 

Even if he didn't, I feel the USGA will absolutely give Tiger as many special invitations as he wants if he's able to play.  The USGA is usually pretty good about giving past champions at least one extra year, or a special invite if the Open is at that past champion's winning course.  In Tiger's case, they'll bend over backwards to get him in the field, as both a three-time champ and as golf's biggest star.

[Wally Fairway]

Tee Times/Pairings are posted

http://www.usopen.com/tee-times.html

Of interest
8:35 (10) - Spieth, Kaymer, DJ (last 3 Open champions)
1:36 (1) - Bubba, Scott, Sergio
2:09 - (1) - Day, Rose, Rory

others to comment on:
2:20 Phil, not the last tee time but pretty close to it
 

[onthehunt526]

32 minutes ago, Wally Fairway said:

Tee Times/Pairings are posted

http://www.usopen.com/tee-times.html

Of interest
8:35 (10) - Spieth, Kaymer, DJ (last 3 Open champions)
1:36 (1) - Bubba, Scott, Sergio
2:09 - (1) - Day, Rose, Rory

others to comment on:
2:20 Phil, not the last tee time but pretty close to it
 

I thought Phil wasn't playing?

[Wally Fairway]

8 minutes ago, onthehunt526 said:

I thought Phil wasn't playing?

No - he said he intends to withdraw, but he hasn't withdrawn yet. So he gets paired and tee times.
I think that, based on reports, the only way he plays is that if Thursdays round is delayed such that his group doesn't start their round until Friday. Then he can fly to Wisconsin make his start time.

Right now that doesn't look very likely, at all

[Zekez]

On 6/6/2017 at 1:18 AM, onthehunt526 said:

I watched a little video on Facebook about the four holes that could decide the U.S. Open. Though there are 4 par-5s only one was on the list. #7. There are bunkers on this course the late Seve Ballesteros would have trouble with. (He was one of the golfers I hoped to actually meet one day). 

Some of the bunkering on the course is a little ridiculous. You could see pros taking 3 or 4 to get out of. They are penal to say the least. There will be some triple bogeys or worse, because of the bunkering. 

But with the USGA basically throwing the field a proverbial bone with a par-72, under par will win. My gut tells me 284 will win. You may even see the second ever birdie on the 72nd hole to win by 1.

GOOD!  I am so tired of seeing the pros hit shots out of fairway bunkers to within 10-15 feet of the pin with regularity.  A bunker SHOULD be penal and cause a loss of a stroke or two. 

On 6/6/2017 at 8:16 AM, NCGolfer said:

7741.  Good grief.  I know it will play a lot shorter since it will be firm and fast but that's crazy.  I remember when they made a big deal of a 600 yard par 5 when I was going up...now all but one is 600 yards and the only other one is 18 feet from them ALL being 600+.

As a side note, I was thrilled to see Scott Harvey qualify yesterday.  Local guy here who has been a top amateur for a while now.  He won the mid-am a couple years ago and lost last year to Hagestad in the finals.  Finally qualified for the US Open.

Since the pros seem to hit 170 yard 9-irons, so what if it is that long?  

[onthehunt526]

10 minutes ago, Zekez said:

GOOD!  I am so tired of seeing the pros hit shots out of fairway bunkers to within 10-15 feet of the pin with regularity.  A bunker SHOULD be penal and cause a loss of a stroke or two. 

Since the pros seem to hit 170 yard 9-irons, so what if it is that long?  

The 135 yard 9th might be the shortest "par-five" in U.S. Open history. Sources say it used to be the bye-hole before the course's redesign. The bunkering on 9 is ridiculous, you may see a leader make a 6 here. 4 par-threes at number 9 may be the formula for who ever emerges victorious. 

Another key hole at Erin Hills is the 594-yard, par-five, 14th. Not just because it's a par-5. The left edge of the green is 6 to 7 feet higher than the right edge. A right pin on 14 won't be impossible, but a left pin, will just be ridiculous... With a left pin on 14, you could see guys who hit their 2nd and 3rd shots right of the pin, either pitching the ball, or have putts finish further from where they started.

Erik, seems to think with the Mike Davis regime we get a driveable par-four. We may get two. The 338-yard, 2nd could potentially be driven, but the one I think Erik means is, the 357-yard, 15th. As I've stated in previous posts, they have a tee at 290 or so yards ready to go (same as the amateur).

The final key hole I will touch on is the 637-yard, 18th. In the Amateur in 2011, the 18th had a 675-yard posted yardage. The tips will not be used. However the USGA had Erin Hills build a 570 ish tee on 18. The way Mike works, I think he wants to bring the fairway bunkers and brush more into play, but reward a player who hits a great tee shot, with a chance to get home in two. There is a fairway bunker in the lay-up area about 120 yards from the green that you might as well take a coffin down with you. 

I'm going to try to find a flyover video of Erin Hills and post it here.

Here is the 9th hole.

 

[Broke100Once]

Do we know who the alternates are?  One is already in the field, whomever replaced Ryan Moore.  Is alternate #2 (or later, if more people drop out) just waiting with his clubs at the tee, hoping for clear weather and no delays so Phil can't make a miraculous return?

[Hardspoon]

5 hours ago, Broke100Once said:

Do we know who the alternates are?  One is already in the field, whomever replaced Ryan Moore.  Is alternate #2 (or later, if more people drop out) just waiting with his clubs at the tee, hoping for clear weather and no delays so Phil can't make a miraculous return?

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/youre-a-us-open-alternate-how-likely-is-it-then-that-youre-going-to-play-at-erin-hills

[nevets88]

The Making of Erin Hills, Part 1

http://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/golf/2017-us-open/2017/05/05/making-erin-hills-part-1-most-perfect-site/100024980/

[shortstop20]

On 6/7/2017 at 11:35 AM, freshmanUTA said:

I'm working security for the US Open this year. Anyone here attending?

It will end when the current players aren't capable of hitting par 5 greens in 2, with a wedge... We're looking at you, DJ.

I'll be there on Thursday. Really looking forward to walking the course. 

[Jay G]

Pretty excited for the upcoming week.  I am heading to watch the US Open on Thursday, then play 36 on Friday with a bunch of old friends from HS.  Living the dream, lol!

[ChrisP]

Noticed in the tee times that they are doing away with the traditional pairing of the US Open Champ/Open Champ and US Amateur champ. This is the first time in my recollection when the US Open champ and British Open champ are both entered that they didn't pair them together. I know the US Am. champ doesn't always participate because they need to stay Amateur in order to play.

[Buckeyebowman]

On 6/7/2017 at 5:11 PM, Apoc81 said:

I have no problem with course getting longer, but I don't think a Par5 should be over 600 or so. If you hit the fairway, and nail a pure 3 wood (a decent golfer, good swing speed), I dont think you should ever have more than a 100y wedge into the green. I've met very, very few amateurs who can hit a green like that two. 

And you probably never will! That's why there are multiple tees on every golf course you play. Just pick the set of tees that matches your game.

The guys who go to play some famous course and insist on playing from the tips because "they want to see the whole course" make me laugh. The idea of slugging my brains out all day has zero attraction for me! Give me a challenging course from 6,200 to 6,400 yards and I'm a happy camper!

I'm interested in getting a look at this place. From the aerial photo on the home page it looks like level lies on some holes will be pretty scarce!

And I give the USGA kudos for being a bit more adventurous. Some of the complainers probably griped about them holding the Open at Bethpage!

[JetFan1983]

For as long as this course is, I've read in a few places that:

Fairways look kinda wide to me, but at the same time, it doesn't look like you want to miss them ever haha:

Old post but might as well since it's relevant:

Should be fun watching the best in world pull their hair out and resist the urge to punch Mike Davis in the face all week.