2016 US Open Discussion Thread

[fairways4life]

Looks like the 8th hole is playing 299 today. For all the hype around the 300 yard par 3, the USGA couldn't squeeze out just 1 more yard from the hole? C'mon man! haha

[MattyO1984]

Looks like the 8th hole is playing 299 today. For all the hype around the 300 yard par 3, the USGA couldn't squeeze out just 1 more yard from the hole? C'mon man! haha

 

If driving distances were increasing then they would have done but they aren't so they can't! Haha.

[PGArox]

Shane will bring this one home, no doubt. He's a solid and steady player who will not be intimidated. I can't see Landry, Westwood or DJ running him down.

[vancouver81]

No way. A proper corn field is as close to flat as you can get. Not the case at Oakmont. You can't complain about it being built in a corn field and having too many blind shots at the same time. Also what's "weird" about it? I hate to imagine what you think of St. Andrews if you find Oakmont weird.

 

I do agree that it's shaping up to be a fun finish, and that it's been a great tournament so far.

 

Yep, looks like being a good, even great, US Open. I like the course a lot, the openness makes for great viewing. The only problem for me is that, with all the rain delays on top of the massive time difference (about 12 hours), I have had problems knowing which rounds they are on!

I wish the greens weren't so poor at chambers bay last year, as otherwise I felt that course was incredible to watch for the home viewer. Oakmont seems like an immaculate course, but save for the highway running through it I don't expect I will remember any of the specific holes once the tourney is over.

 

If you can't appreciate Oakmont's architecture then I'm not sure what to tell you. The complexity and risk/reward at this course is almost incomprehensible. They reward great shots and punish bad ones. 1 is one of the most famous holes in golf. The Church Pew on 3 & 4 are as famous a hazard as there is. The drivable 17th? The uphill 9th into the clubhouse? The green complex at the 18th has to be one of the most wild in all of major golf.

Fair point. I appreciate good routing but am not an architecture buff. I think for me being in the PNW seeing a non-links course with no trees somehow feels a bit off. A course like Sahalee where they just has the LPGA major suits my eye better. But oakmont is obviously a well-regarded, prestigious golf course for good reason, and I've enjoyed following be action this week. Looks like we could have a first time major winner so I'm hoping for a great finish. As many have mentioned the course looks immaculate.

[Sixcat]

I understand Vancouver81's point. Being from the Appalachian Mountains, it is difficult to wrap my mind around a course within this mountain range not having trees. For me, it has nothing to do with how the course plays. Purely aesthetic.

 

Sahalee looked amazing on television last week. Looking forward to my first trip to the PNW next year.

[rtran]

Lowry is lucky and lucky wins US Opens. I'm tired of seeing random joes winnings great tournaments.

[2putttom]

Shane will bring this one home, no doubt. He's a solid and steady player who will not be intimidated. I can't see Landry, Westwood or DJ running him down.

eewwWWW the games afoot :taunt:

[Choclab]

My god I love Cabrera's swing...

[PGArox]

Lowry is lucky and lucky wins US Opens. I'm tired of seeing random joes winnings great tournaments.

 

You might remember that random Joe won a World Golf Championship at famed Firestone Country Club.

[fairways4life]

Lowry is lucky and lucky wins US Opens. I'm tired of seeing random joes winnings great tournaments.

 

You might remember that random Joe won a World Golf Championship at famed Firestone Country Club.

 

And he's ranked 41st in the world. Which places him ahead of guys like Martin Kaymer, Jason Dufner, Graeme McDowell, Luke Donald and Tiger. (Ok, that last one doesn't say much lol).

[carn9698]

Shane will bring this one home, no doubt. He's a solid and steady player who will not be intimidated. I can't see Landry, Westwood or DJ running him down.

4 shots can vanish in a flash. A lot of hazardous golf terrain to cover still.

[MattyO1984]

Shane will bring this one home, no doubt. He's a solid and steady player who will not be intimidated. I can't see Landry, Westwood or DJ running him down.

 

If any of those guys need a chance then Lowry will need to come back to them. I just don't see anyone in the last few groups going out there and being able to shoot 66 or 65 in the last round.

[PGArox]

Love the church pews! Quite unique.

 

I was delighted that Matteo Manassero made the cut this week, and we just saw him on the early coverage. Hopefully, these are signs that he is on his way back to where I know he can be.

[Arpeggi]

I"ve been a Lowry fan ever since he dropped the F Bomb at The Bear Trap.

 

 

It's so cool to curse

[Sixcat]

It's easy to call someone like Lowry, who doesn't play primarily in this country, a random Joe. Doing so doesn't take into consideration, he won a European Tour event as an amateur, a WGC, and has the respect of his playing competitors.

 

It's also easy to forget Ernie Els was a "random Joe" when he won the US Open at Oakmont in 1994.

[Hawkeye77]

Lowry is lucky and lucky wins US Opens. I'm tired of seeing random joes winnings great tournaments.

 

You might remember that random Joe won a World Golf Championship at famed Firestone Country Club.

 

Pretty good am record, also.

 

Joe Lowry, LOL.

[deasy55]

Lowry and McIlroy were foursome partners back in the days of representing Ireland underage as amateurs. Would be pretty cool if both of them end up US Open champions.

 

Hopefully that partnership can be rekindled later this year at the Ryder Cup also

[Rangeballz]

My god I love Cabrera's swing...

 

Me as well. That guy gets through the ball like no one else in golf.

[jmck]

Dude also proved his cajones in the most recent Ryder Cup. Calling him a random Joe is just ignorant.

[toddnt]

They way the announcers were speaking about Arnie he must not be doing well...

[dlygrisse]

I'm enjoying the play, the course and the competitiveness, but Fox is not doing that great a job. They are not complementing or developing the story, and seem to not have any feel for what to show or when. Just plain awkward at times. We didn't need the almost comatose Brooks, Holly and whoever the heck else was in the picture standing over some 7th grade science mock up of a hole saying absolutely nothing while important action was being missed (unless it was really a volcano and they were going to light it up). Senseless.

While there are lots of do**he chills during the commentary, I was loving all the pro tracers. Easily the most I've seen in an event.

 

Thought the pro tracers were a just a little overdone and makes me wonder if it's a way to cover up a lack of investment/experience to allow good camera work, but some love pro tracer, so fans of that are getting what they want for a change. The little graphics on either side of the fairway as people are teeing off telling me how far the bunkers are out are really annoying and pretty unnecessary.

 

Back in the day when ABC had some weak coverage still enjoyed the golf, will enjoy it tomorrow.

 

Much prefer pro tracer than the old school blimp shot of the ball flying through the air. I mean it showed you nothing except for the fact a ball was flying through the air.

[larssonlegend]

Lowry is lucky and lucky wins US Opens. I'm tired of seeing random joes winnings great tournaments.

 

Lucky. Give me an example. Remember it has to be something way more than the random luck that every player enjoys now and again to call him out.

[dlygrisse]

I"ve been a Lowry fan ever since he dropped the F Bomb at The Bear Trap.

 

 

It's so cool to curse

 

I've never met an Irishman who doesn't know how to creatively use the F-word. Usually multiple times in one sentence.

[Dave230]

if anything he is unlucky. Called a penalty on himself yesterday after his ball moved on the green and cost him a stroke otherwise he'd be further ahead.

[Sixcat]

Lowry is lucky and lucky wins US Opens. I'm tired of seeing random joes winnings great tournaments.

 

Lucky. Give me an example. Remember it has to be something way more than the random luck that every player enjoys now and again to call him out.

 

I guess he was "lucky" when he won the Irish Open as an amateur.

[fairways4life]

Lowry has not made worse than bogey in this tournament. 54 holes of US Open golf with zero double bogies is impressive. Someone who's been playing that steadily will be tough to beat. If he was -7 but had a mix of doubles or triples worked in there then at least he'd be showing some vulnerability. But has just been steady as can be.

 

In order for some late drama to unfold we might need about 72 from Lowry with some under par scores from the chasers. It's hard to see Lowry totally blowing up with an 80 but who knows, we've seen it plenty of times before in these situations.

[Forged4ever]

I understand Vancouver81's point. Being from the Appalachian Mountains, it is difficult to wrap my mind around a course within this mountain range not having trees. For me, it has nothing to do with how the course plays. Purely aesthetic.

That is exactly why they started planting trees following Fownes death in 1950, they didn't really hit hyperdrive with em till the 60's. Fownes and his son wanted the greatest links course on American soil. End of discussion.

 

The members decided for aesthetics.

 

Then following the 1994 Open the USGA said "get rid of the trees and rebuild the bridge if you ever want another USGA tournament" and at first the Bois huffed and puffed and wanted a "good faith gurantee" that if they did both they would get an Open in the early 2000's and the USGA compromised by giving them(and my club, PFC, as co-host) the '03 Mens' Am.

 

And so by early 2003, roughly 20,000+ trees were removed and Stan Druckunmiller wrote the check for the bridge.

 

I've Played the course with the 20,000+ trees and without em-

 

I prefer as is-

 

If I want trees, I've got my place, lol

 

And if you want trees and ya ever get through the Burgh, call me, and I arrange for ya to Play 6900yds of em :)

 

Enjoy the finish :)

 

My Best,

RP

[PGArox]

At 12:45 Oakmont time it is 82° with 43% relative humidity and a sweet 10 mph breeze. Perfect conditions.

[larssonlegend]

There was talk of USGA shortening some more holes to make them drivable, did this happen?

[Roadking2003]

Shane will bring this one home, no doubt. He's a solid and steady player who will not be intimidated. I can't see Landry, Westwood or DJ running him down.

 

If any of those guys need a chance then Lowry will need to come back to them. I just don't see anyone in the last few groups going out there and being able to shoot 66 or 65 in the last round.

 

There were three 66s and one 65 yesterday. Why not today?