US Open: Erin Hills

[SadTrombone]

SadTrombone: I've been having this argument with my buddies. It's like 51 weeks out of the year, USGA's agenda is: here's how to speed up play - tee it forward - make golf more accessible - golf is fun for everyone.

 

And then comes the US Open and that all goes out the window, with course setups that actively go against the narrative for the rest of the year.

 

My friends' argument: It's a major, it can be hard. Which would be fine if it weren't so directly contradictory to everything else USGA try to push.

 

It would be a major if they played it at 6,700 yards, with greens running 9-10, and enforced a 4+30 pace. It's not a major because the greens are tricked up and the course is stretched out.

[snizzle]

These are supposedly the best golfers in the world. If they can't keep their ball it in that wide fairway they should take an unplayable and move on. Some of these guys just come across as pampered whiners. Frankly I believe the PGA in general needs to grow out the grass a bit and not worry so much about the stimps on their greens.... but that's just me.

[kg92lefty]

Waaaaaaaa bunch of babies. One week a year you play firm greens, long rough and a golf course at its limit. One damn week. Suck it up.

[Dayton]

They are cutting the rough because of the complaints. Plain and simple. USGA and Mike Davis have been screwing up their championships so badly lately, they are in desperate need of a good event. Hence the reaction to the players complaints. USGA is so lost right now they don't know what to do, so they overreact.

[thegrayman]

I love how Rory just piles into the debate. Wonder how accepting he'll be when he's in it given he's prone to a wild drive or three per round.

 

He was doing his presser and someone asked him about the grounds crew cutting the rough. At first he didn't even know what they were talking about. Hardly piling on.

[Guest]

They are cutting the rough because of the complaints. Plain and simple. USGA and Mike Davis have been screwing up their championships so badly lately, they are in desperate need of a good event. Hence the reaction to the players complaints. USGA is so lost right now they don't know what to do, so they overreact.

 

They said they did it because of the weather forecast and that it was the plan if it rained etc but who knows...

 

I dont understand what they are whining about though. The fairways are very wide and are tour pros suddenly not aloud to have a lost ball if they hit a horrible shot? I mean ive played alot of mini tours around Europe and ive never heard anyone complain about losing their ball if they hit it wide on a course with alot of threes or high rough/fescue. The tour pros are whining about everything, the bunkers are horrible if there is a 5% chance of the ball beeing plugged etc... Its just stupid, they are the best players in the world but complain about every little "hazard"/hazard on the course that they dont want to be a hazard. Its golf, you should be punished if you hit a bad shot or miss in the wrong spots etc... Why didnt they complain about Troon? Tons of players lost balls and made high numbers, specially on the back 9. Its golf and even if its not The Open Championship, courses are allowed and should have "hazard" in terms of bunkers, rough, fescue etc.

[Roadking2003]

These are supposedly the best golfers in the world. If they can't keep their ball it in that wide fairway they should take an unplayable and move on.

 

In many cases an unplayable will not get you out of the deep crap so you have to go back to the tee.

[Roadking2003]

They are cutting the rough because of the complaints. Plain and simple. USGA and Mike Davis have been screwing up their championships so badly lately, they are in desperate need of a good event. Hence the reaction to the players complaints. USGA is so lost right now they don't know what to do, so they overreact.

 

Ridiculously tough courses don't make for a better tournament.

[Guest]

SadTrombone: I've been having this argument with my buddies. It's like 51 weeks out of the year, USGA's agenda is: here's how to speed up play - tee it forward - make golf more accessible - golf is fun for everyone.

 

And then comes the US Open and that all goes out the window, with course setups that actively go against the narrative for the rest of the year.

 

My friends' argument: It's a major, it can be hard. Which would be fine if it weren't so directly contradictory to everything else USGA try to push.

 

It would be a major if they played it at 6,700 yards, with greens running 9-10, and enforced a 4+30 pace. It's not a major because the greens are tricked up and the course is stretched out.

Im all for faster pace for amateurs and pros but lets be real here. Pros use more time because they actually benefit from getting all the numbers, reading the greens, having a preshot rutine etc. Ive played tons of minitours and played with players that play in this years US Open and i fully understand if they use a good amount of time. Btw i hate playing with slow players because im a fast player but pros use time because they actually need to get numbers etc. Difference between that and Kevin Na/JB Holmes slow though which is a problem. Problem for alot of amateurs is that they are so ineffective... Alot of amateur follow each other to their ball, wait there and watch them hit instead of walking to their own ball and beeing ready for their shot right after the people they play with have played.

[Guest]

These are supposedly the best golfers in the world. If they can't keep their ball it in that wide fairway they should take an unplayable and move on.

 

In many cases an unplayable will not get you out of the deep crap so you have to go back to the tee.

 

Not true on a course like Erin Hills. Unplayable and drop in the "flagline".

[Guest]

They are cutting the rough because of the complaints. Plain and simple. USGA and Mike Davis have been screwing up their championships so badly lately, they are in desperate need of a good event. Hence the reaction to the players complaints. USGA is so lost right now they don't know what to do, so they overreact.

 

Ridiculously tough courses don't make for a better tournament.

 

Says who? Whats a ridiculous tough course in your opinion? Highly doubt Erin Hills will be ridiculously tough unless its alot of wind and rain. I personally love watching tournaments where they win at par. Im confident the winning score will be lower than -5 unless its alot of wind and rain.

[QMany]

Rory just said it best when told they were cutting back the rough in the media room: "I just don't get it... We have 60 yards. If you can't hit it in that avenue, you might as well go home."

 

Coincidentally, #10 fairway at Augusta is also 60 yards wide. And Rory was 70 yards left of that in someone's backyard. He didn't go home, he just limped in.

[Hankshank]

This cutting seems like pretty important to the tournament. But does that make headlines on usopen.com? No.

[bscinstnct]

Rory just said it best when told they were cutting back the rough in the media room: "I just don't get it... We have 60 yards. If you can't hit it in that avenue, you might as well go home."

 

Coincidentally, #10 fairway at Augusta is also 60 yards wide. And Rory was 70 yards left of that in someone's backyard. He didn't go home, he just limped in.

 

 

Yeah, he should keep his trap shut.

 

[bb822]

Rory just said it best when told they were cutting back the rough in the media room: "I just don't get it... We have 60 yards. If you can't hit it in that avenue, you might as well go home."

 

Coincidentally, #10 fairway at Augusta is also 60 yards wide. And Rory was 70 yards left of that in someone's backyard. He didn't go home, he just limped in.

 

 

Yeah, he should keep his trap shut.

 

Rory is (refreshingly) open and honest in pretty much every media interaction, much to the glee of the trolls on WRX :rolleyes:

[MountainGoat]

They may have cut it back, but it's plenty long. It's a issue of finding balls and keeping rounds under 6 hours.

[thegrayman]

Rory just said it best when told they were cutting back the rough in the media room: "I just don't get it... We have 60 yards. If you can't hit it in that avenue, you might as well go home."

 

Coincidentally, #10 fairway at Augusta is also 60 yards wide. And Rory was 70 yards left of that in someone's backyard. He didn't go home, he just limped in.

 

And then set the scoring record in the U.S. Open...

[ethanshapiro]

I hope the USGA get the set up right. They ruined a masterpiece when they went to Pinehurst. Chambers Bay should never have been used and last year's rules fiasco means they are struggling for credibility.

 

How did they "ruin" the masterpiece with Pinehurst?

I hope the USGA get the set up right. They ruined a masterpiece when they went to Pinehurst. Chambers Bay should never have been used and last year's rules fiasco means they are struggling for credibility.

 

How did they "ruin" the masterpiece with Pinehurst?

 

Pinehurst 2 is horrible. There is nothing attractive to the course with the redesign. Core/Crenshaw redesigned a course and made it very unattractive.

sounds like somebody shot 130 trying to show off from the U.S. Open tees

[bscinstnct]

Rory just said it best when told they were cutting back the rough in the media room: "I just don't get it... We have 60 yards. If you can't hit it in that avenue, you might as well go home."

 

Coincidentally, #10 fairway at Augusta is also 60 yards wide. And Rory was 70 yards left of that in someone's backyard. He didn't go home, he just limped in.

 

 

Yeah, he should keep his trap shut.

 

Rory is (refreshingly) open and honest in pretty much every media interaction, much to the glee of the trolls on WRX :rolleyes:

 

Rooting for him most.

 

But he should shut up and play. Thats a sound bite to haunt him if he replays that Augusta meltdown.

 

Just go play.

[ethanshapiro]

They are cutting the rough because of the complaints. Plain and simple. USGA and Mike Davis have been screwing up their championships so badly lately, they are in desperate need of a good event. Hence the reaction to the players complaints. USGA is so lost right now they don't know what to do, so they overreact.

 

Ridiculously tough courses don't make for a better tournament.

 

Says who? Whats a ridiculous tough course in your opinion? Highly doubt Erin Hills will be ridiculously tough unless its alot of wind and rain. I personally love watching tournaments where they win at par. Im confident the winning score will be lower than -5 unless its alot of wind and rain.

I'm sure you thought Merion was going to play over par and Congressional would be the place where the U.S. Open scoring record was broken. Also it's 8,000 yards with 5 inch tall rough and 3 foot tall fescue

[gvogel]

SadTrombone: I've been having this argument with my buddies. It's like 51 weeks out of the year, USGA's agenda is: here's how to speed up play - tee it forward - make golf more accessible - golf is fun for everyone.

 

And then comes the US Open and that all goes out the window, with course setups that actively go against the narrative for the rest of the year.

 

My friends' argument: It's a major, it can be hard. Which would be fine if it weren't so directly contradictory to everything else USGA try to push.

 

It would be a major if they played it at 6,700 yards, with greens running 9-10, and enforced a 4+30 pace. It's not a major because the greens are tricked up and the course is stretched out.

 

Mh opinion: this could be a great major at 7800 yards, greens running at 10 - 11, and no ultra punitive rough. Let's see who can hit the ball long enough, straight enough, and make some putts. Winning score could be 10 under, which would be just fine.

 

I am afraid that the winning score here might be 8 over. That would be a huge fail for the USGA, because the modern game for expert golfers is an under par game.

[gvogel]

Rory just said it best when told they were cutting back the rough in the media room: "I just don't get it... We have 60 yards. If you can't hit it in that avenue, you might as well go home."

 

Coincidentally, #10 fairway at Augusta is also 60 yards wide. And Rory was 70 yards left of that in someone's backyard. He didn't go home, he just limped in.

 

 

Yeah, he should keep his trap shut.

 

Rory is (refreshingly) open and honest in pretty much every media interaction, much to the glee of the trolls on WRX :rolleyes:

 

I like that. Sometimes his comments come back to bite him - but the great thing about him is that he can deal with that. Seems like a pretty happy guy.

[KrazyTrain18]

I'm the last person to support "easier" conditions, however I think the USGA made the right decision to cut given the forecast. If they left it and it rained hard, pace of play could be a disaster.

[Colonel_Steelhead]

They are cutting the rough because of the complaints. Plain and simple. USGA and Mike Davis have been screwing up their championships so badly lately, they are in desperate need of a good event. Hence the reaction to the players complaints. USGA is so lost right now they don't know what to do, so they overreact.

 

Ridiculously tough courses don't make for a better tournament.

 

Neither do courses where guys go driver wedge into par 5's.

[mallrat]

Lets all just hope and pray that they never go back to chambers bay. At least until the people in charge can learn to grow non-crappy greens.

 

But they will. Criticism doesn't appear to matter to the USGA.

 

Once again, that was on the USGA. They made they tear out and replant the greens with fescue even after it showed it wouldn't work.

[ebrasmus21]

So back in the 60's when it was Jack and Arnie and that guy from S. Africa don't you guys think they'd sit in the locker room or the players lounge with a bottle of bourbon and complain about courses, complain about tournament directors and such? Don't you think those guys would vent when they didn't like something or were frustrated by a course or frustrated by a set-up?

 

There's more media now then back in the day. Information is consumed in real-time in this day and age. I don't think people complaining is a new phenomena as much as baby-boomers like to pretend it is (yes that's a shot at you baby-boomers). It's just easier now to see and hear people complain.

[SadTrombone]

So back in the 60's when it was Jack and Arnie and that guy from S. Africa don't you guys think they'd sit in the locker room or the players lounge with a bottle of bourbon and complain about courses, complain about tournament directors and such? Don't you think those guys would vent when they didn't like something or were frustrated by a course or frustrated by a set-up?

Jack and Arnie would have the bourbon. The other guy would be doing situps.

[widow-maker]

So back in the 60's when it was Jack and Arnie and that guy from S. Africa don't you guys think they'd sit in the locker room or the players lounge with a bottle of bourbon and complain about courses, complain about tournament directors and such? Don't you think those guys would vent when they didn't like something or were frustrated by a course or frustrated by a set-up?

 

There's more media now then back in the day. Information is consumed in real-time in this day and age. I don't think people complaining is a new phenomena as much as baby-boomers like to pretend it is (yes that's a shot at you baby-boomers). It's just easier now to see and hear people complain.

Reminds me of a quote from Dave Hill in the 1970 US Open at Hazeltine....“What it lacks is 80 acres of corn and a few cows.” Hazeltine obviously made a lot of improvements to the course after that.

[ebrasmus21]

So back in the 60's when it was Jack and Arnie and that guy from S. Africa don't you guys think they'd sit in the locker room or the players lounge with a bottle of bourbon and complain about courses, complain about tournament directors and such? Don't you think those guys would vent when they didn't like something or were frustrated by a course or frustrated by a set-up?

Jack and Arnie would have the bourbon. The other guy would be doing situps.

 

I think that's factually accurate so I'd have to agree with you there

 

So back in the 60's when it was Jack and Arnie and that guy from S. Africa don't you guys think they'd sit in the locker room or the players lounge with a bottle of bourbon and complain about courses, complain about tournament directors and such? Don't you think those guys would vent when they didn't like something or were frustrated by a course or frustrated by a set-up?

 

There's more media now then back in the day. Information is consumed in real-time in this day and age. I don't think people complaining is a new phenomena as much as baby-boomers like to pretend it is (yes that's a shot at you baby-boomers). It's just easier now to see and hear people complain.

Reminds me of a quote from Dave Hill in the 1970 US Open at Hazeltine....“What it lacks is 80 acres of corn and a few cows.” Hazeltine obviously made a lot of improvements to the course after that.

 

That's a great quote, thanks for sharing. Gotta a laugh out of that one. Imagine if Kevin Na said the same...

[mukster]

Rory shoots 73 on Thursday.