Quote:
Originally Posted by BarryRX
So far Pinehurst is a bit of a paper tiger. Not only is the course playing soft because of some rain, but how they've redone the rough since the last time the open was there is not working out. I'm used to seeing a US Open where if you don't drive it in the fairway, you're not going to make the green on your second shot. The turtle backed greens are still just as tough to hit and hold as before. It's still early, but nobody is making a run at Martin Klaymer and he is playing brilliantly. I can't remember ever seeing two players taking two stroke penalties for playing each others balls instead of their own. It will be an interesting weekend if the course dries out.
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I agree - it seems like they turned the US Open into a regular tournament. Yesterday I saw Phil Mickelson miss the fairway by a lot on one hole but he had a good lie in the "dirt" that Pinehurst has now instead of thick rough. His second shot easily made the green. Under classic US Open courses Mickelson would have been in much more trouble, probably having to chip out to the fairway with a 3rd shot to the green.
I was watching ESPN's pretourney special and Andy North was saying when you miss the fairway at Pinehurst its a matter of luck on how good your lie will be - it could be quite good (like Mickelson's on that one hole). Under classic US Open courses if you miss the fairway you are going to be in deep, thick rough.
I prefer the thick rough US Open courses, like when Hale Irwin won with a 7 over par score at Winged Foot in 1974. Pinehurst still has its challenges, like lightning fast greens, but it just doesn't seem like a US Open to me.