U.S. Open Course Preview

[snafu]

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/images/video/2007_flash/2007-0611-open/usOpen.html


Check out the short Par 3 8th hole.. :eek:

[landlord]

Nice site. Thanks.

[Snoman]

Looks like fun. Is Oakmont exclusive like Augusta?

[GQuizzle]

Oakmont is a private club.

[Rusty]

I had occasion to visit Oakmont in 1992 when the US Women's Open was played there. My niece was playing as a 19-year old amateur.

At that time, Oakmont lived up to its name - oak trees lined the fairways and were a distinct impediment to offline shots. The bunkers were deep and furrowed by using specially weighted rakes. The course was not playing at its full length but it was plenty muscular - long irons and fairway woods into par 4's were the order of the day. The USGA setup was pretty brutal - tucked pins and hard as rock greens. Shot placement and good lag putting was the ticket to success.

I expect the same for the men - with the complication of full length and very firm and fast fairways. Some pros might try the long iron, fairway wood tee shot approach - but they better be able to hit sky high long irons to hold those greens or they will find themselves in bunkers deeper than they are tall.

How did my niece fare? Well, she did have one highlight - into red numbers on the second hole of the second round by virtue of holing out a five iron for an eagle 2. Other than that - it was the learning experience of a lifetime and she made many friends among the touring pros, including one who gave her the diamond earrings out of her ears when my niece admired them. Nice people and great golfers.

[hogannut]

It is entirely possibly the entire field will be over par.

[davevandyk]

It is entirely possibly the entire field will be over par.

Not only is it entirely possibly, but it is very very likely. What was Ogilvy last year, +5? Every player that has been asked is saying last year doesn't hold a candle to this year. I mean Butch Harmon told his players not to go to Oakmont before this week so they wouldn't pysch themselves out by its difficulty. I have yet to hear anybody say that they shot better than 71, and that was Adam Scott. When he was asked about the round, he said it was one of his better rounds that he can recall... that's still +1. Sabbatini said that if you hit every fairway and every green you will have a decent chance at keeping it under double digits over par!

[Thin2win]

Don't you think it's nice to see the golf course win for a change? Sure it's great for the fans and TV ratings to watch ridiculously low scores get posted each week, but each year the major championships should pose to be a test for the best players in the world. It's great to see PAR be a respected score. YES!?!?

[abz-pete]

Don't you think it's nice to see the golf course win for a change? Sure it's great for the fans and TV ratings to watch ridiculously low scores get posted each week, but each year the major championships should pose to be a test for the best players in the world. It's great to see PAR be a respected score. YES!?!?
NO!! With todays technology, if the best players in the world can't break par, then the golf course has to be tricked up to Mickey Mouse proportions.
I think there will be many "is it really golf?" discusions long before the winner has been decided...

[davevandyk]

Don't you think it's nice to see the golf course win for a change? Sure it's great for the fans and TV ratings to watch ridiculously low scores get posted each week, but each year the major championships should pose to be a test for the best players in the world. It's great to see PAR be a respected score. YES!?!?

i absolutely love it! I love watching these tourneys, and also love playing tough courses, the tougher the more fun it is for me.

[Pingnut]

I think majors should be tough but fair. We've seen some in recent memory that crossed over the line and allowed luck to enter the picture.

[Thin2win]

NO!! With todays technology, if the best players in the world can't break par, then the golf course has to be tricked up to Mickey Mouse proportions.
I think there will be many "is it really golf?" discusions long before the winner has been decided...

Oakmont is going to be tough.....the 04' U.S. Open at Shinicock Hills was "mickey mouse" only because the USGA lost control of the conditions of the golf course. The greens became so dry to the point that holding the greens became nearly impossibe. They won't let this happen again.

The USGA sets up each U.S. Open golf course based on the fact that EVEN par should be a great score. Is that really golf? To me it is.

But who knows, maybe Woody Austin will shoot a final round 62 to win. That would be great major championship golf...ha.

[Golfbum]

Don't you think it's nice to see the golf course win for a change? Sure it's great for the fans and TV ratings to watch ridiculously low scores get posted each week, but each year the major championships should pose to be a test for the best players in the world. It's great to see PAR be a respected score. YES!?!?

The nice thing is the course will not have to be tricked up. I read an article about the course and membership and the members love the fact that it is the toughest private course in USA.

They will not have to trick this course up in order for it to play tough.

I for one rather enjoy watching the players have to struggle and grind to make pars. Watching a tournament where half the field is -10 or better is boring IMO.

Besides the final score is irrelevant. Everyone is playing the same course, so if the winner is +6 who cares? You still have a winner at the conclusion of 72 holes, or possibly after a playoff. It all comes down to who can handle adversity and who is the toughest mentally this week.

[Grass Roots Tour]

I'd be hitting the big dog on that 280 yard par 3. Followed by a full wedge probably. :p

[Tyler18]

I'd be hitting the big dog on that 280 yard par 3. Followed by a full wedge probably. :p

I always like to say "I was laying up" when I miss a par three short. This time I wouldn't be joking.

Might as well hit two eight irons and hope for the best from the flatstick.

[Golfbum]

I'd be hitting the big dog on that 280 yard par 3. Followed by a full wedge probably. :p

I thought you were DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP ?;)

[Grass Roots Tour]

I thought you were DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP ?;)


Nope. Never have been, never will be.

I think you meant, thick. :D

[laxgolf]

IMO, par should be tough to score in a major. It definitely is a fine line though.