My how times have changed U.S. Senior Open

[mark174ace]

The U.S. Senior Open is at the Salem C.C. in Peabody, MA this week, Well I was stunned to see what the scores were today in the first round compared to when they hosted in 2001. For those that do not know Salem CC has a unique place in the history of the Senior Open. The 2001Open was the last time the USGA set up the Senior Open in a really really savage way just like the U.S. Open.

 

In 2001 I went to two practice rounds and the first round. At both of the practice rounds I watched players storm off the golf course after nine holes in a blinding rage they were so upset. The lesser guys on tour knew they had absolutely no chance of making the cut and I saw a lot of caddies getting unfairly yelled at in the practice rounds!!! haha.

 

I took my Dad to the first round and we followed Hale Irwin around as he was both our favorite player on the senior tour. After Hale was done we sat over at the par 4 (converted par 5) second hole. We watched five groups come through and all fifteen players did not make par. The 17th hole (I think) was a 470 yard par 4 that many players could not reach in two because the green was elevated. We were just stunned at what we were seeing.

 

It kind of makes me laugh when I saw today's scores and brought back a good memory of a day at the U.S. Senior Open with my Dad. Kind of fitting that I am flying home to New England tomorrow for a 17 day visit and looking forward to playing a lot of golf with him. We will have a good laugh together about the 2001 scores and the enraged players wtth veins coming out of their heads.

[Darth Putter]

What's next? No carnage at the Mid-Am?

 

[MountainGoat]

Maybe the USGA is finally figuring out that if you got a product to promote, there's no point in making the old guys look bad.

[Hawkeye77]

If it was set up "savage" Stricker would win in a walkover, 20 shot lead by Saturday, nobody would watch. USGA knows these things.

 

 

[HackerD]

Generally speaking more viewers want to see birdies and eagles than someone grinding a par from deep rough. Not to imply that TV has a major influence on how they set up the course.

[BrianL99]

There's virtually no rough at the Sr. Open in Salem this week, I was there on Wednesday.

 

The Greens are treacherous, but these guys can putt.

 

They're playing at 6800 yards, but there are a lot of downhill holes.

 

Just the same, 62 is a damn score, no matter where it's shot.

 

I think the winning score will likely be 16 or more under, given the weather conditions we're expecting; thunderstorms most every day, which will make the course even more playable.

 

Then again, the USGA may step in and change pin placements and make the Greens even more treacherous.

[MountainGoat]

TV coverage was interesting. They started out hyping the Watson, Faldo and Calcavecchia as "probably the last time you'll see these guys together". But, when they served up mediocre play, Fox turned off the legends in favor of Kirk Triplett, Olin Browne and Doug Garwood. I'll bet that thrilled the USGA.

 

Nice to see they toned down Holly. She's out of the full-length hottie-wear and back into a golf shirt, sitting in a chair.

 

Did you hear Azinger admit that every time he was paired with Vijay, they had some sort of side bet going? I didn't know that players gambled during tournament rounds.