US Open

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

--------------------

GE,
Actually the need for more golf balls arises for two main reasons:

- the covers tend to split after my drives.
- use as giveways to the TV galleries, after a Sharpie signing.

yes.... the tongue, here too...

1. The guy at the square thought he retired too.
2. And that there may have been pressure from the new LSL Golf store merchant. We went there - but $$$ were high (wonder if they will be in business 6 mos from now).
3. Like to use Callaway SuperSoft - but retail new...yikes. Prefer the slightly used for 1/3 price. And the gallery fans never know...

Who's looking forward to the US Open? What a tough course. I would need 5 dozen balls for a round there with those hayfield roughs...:sing:

I am thinking that this will be a disappointing US Open. You give these guys wide fairways and flat greens and they will shoot low scores. For players of US Open caliber to hit it in that tall fescue it would have to be a horrendous shot. I don't expect to see many balls in there.

The fairways are averaging 40 yards wide with some as wide as 60 yards. The there is another 6-8 yards of medium rough alongside the fairways. If a player can't keep the ball in those areas, he shouldn't be playing in our national championship.

If the greens were extremely fast and extremely undulating, it might make things more interesting, but from what I understand, they are failry flat and running at medium speed for the tour.

I expect to see 15-20 under win this event. I think that the USGA screwed up.

Just my opinion of course and we'll see what happens in three more days.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Well, round one is over and Rickie Fowler shot -7 to tie the lowest first round score in US Open history. There are 44 players under par, the most by a wide margin.

This is beginning to look like a regular tour event which will be very disappointing if it doesn't change. I think that the only thing that could make it interesting now is the weather. If the wind blows real hard and the fairways and greens get real hard and fast it could turn it into a real US Open.

I really wish the USGA would stop tinkering with success. The US Open is known for firm narrow fairways, long, thick penalizing rough and slick hard greens. The winner is usually within a few shots of even par. That is what makes the US Open so interesting and my favorite event of the year.

The only time I was excited to see a low score win was in 2000 when Tiger shot 12 under and won by fifteen shots. The fact that the second place finisher was at +3 just shows what an incredible performance this was by Tiger. That was a level of golf never before achieved and probably never will be achieved again.

[rjn5656]

I think they will toughen it up today to lower the scores.

[Taltarzac725]

2017 U.S. Open - Erin Hills (https://erinhills.com/2017-us-open/)

Had not heard of Erin Hills before the USGA sent me that request for joining them with an offer of a baseball cap with their logo showing Erin Hills. Erin Hills - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erin_Hills)

[ColdNoMore]

Due to shrinking viewer audiences, the USGA has stated that they've made a conscious effort to try and add a little excitement to the U.S. Open.

Watching the best players in the world, constantly hack it out sideways back to the fairway, from 6 inch rough, because of being 5 yards offline with their drives...is really boring.

The low scores on the first day, were due primarily to absolutely perfect scoring conditions (lack of wind/moist greens)...and I doubt will be reflective of the final winning score.

If the winning score is around 15 under...I'm personally fine with that. :shrug:

[retiredguy123]

My complaint with the US Open is the 18 hole playoff when there is a tie. Why not have a sudden death playoff like other tournaments? Stupid.

[Polar Bear]

I'm with Doc. The US Open needs to be tough. I like seeing the pros struggle...not boring at all to me. You can watch them breeze through courses the rest of the year.

[dbussone]

I'm with Doc. The US Open needs to be tough. I like seeing the pros struggle...not boring at all to me. You can watch them breeze through courses the rest of the year.



On several shots they actually looked like me - terrible.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

[DonH57]

On several shots they actually looked like me - terrible.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro

I know what you mean. People can not spend a dime and watch me struggle like I did on Orange Blossom this morning!:1rotfl:

[Rollie]

I find it very interesting that the 3 top golfers are out and there are several amateurs on the leaderboard. What a beautiful course. The only downer for me is the Fox telecast.

Rollie

[ColdNoMore]

I find it very interesting that the 3 top golfers are out and there are several amateurs on the leaderboard. What a beautiful course. The only downer for me is the Fox telecast.

Rollie

:agree:


It's such an easy course, 8 of the top 12 in the world...decided it wasn't even worth hanging around for the weekend. :D

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

My complaint with the US Open is the 18 hole playoff when there is a tie. Why not have a sudden death playoff like other tournaments? Stupid.

I'd rather see 18 or 36 hole playoffs for all of the majors. Sudden death allows for the prospect of one lucky shot to win the tournament. I think that these tournaments are too important for that.

The reason that the other's have gone shorter playoffs has to do with television and the players' schedules. In my opinion, if a player is in a playoff for a major, he should be happy to hand around for another day or two or whatever it takes.
And I think that most of them would have no problem with doing that.

The big problem is getting a television audience on Monday. And that's too bad. These events are national championships and will affect a players legacy for eternity. Having a player hole out a shot on one of the first few holes is a sad way for someone to lose that.

Back in the day, the playoff of the US Open was 36 holes in one day. In fact, they played 18 on Thursday, 18 on Friday and 36 on Saturday. If there was a tie, they held a 36 hole playoff on Monday. They evidently felt that it was that important. It's a shame that it change because of external factors relating to money.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

:agree:


It's such an easy course, 8 of the top 12 in the world...decided it wasn't even worth hanging around for the weekend. :D

Sometimes there are external factors that cause players to play poorly. Dustin Johnson just became a father for the second time. He might not have put in the time that usually would for a major.

Jason Day's mother is dying of cancer. He withdrew from one tournament and didn't make the cut in the Masters. I'm sure that his mind is not on his golf.

Bubba has been playing poorly all year. Adam Scott has been inconsistent at best. Rory is just coming back from an injury and is going through an equipment change.

The OWGR does not, IMHO, account enough for recent play. Players don't play for months and retain their position.

Even the greats don't play their best every week.

What I like to see in the majors is the cream rising to the top. What this course is liable to produce is another one hit wonder.

I like to see the best players in the world have to hit it on the fairway in order to make par. I also like to see them have to hit crisp irons to firm greens and have to putt on difficult surfaces in order to win a national championship.

Watching this is not much different than watching any other weekly PGA Tour tournament.

[retiredguy123]

I'd rather see 18 or 36 hole playoffs for all of the majors. Sudden death allows for the prospect of one lucky shot to win the tournament. I think that these tournaments are too important for that.

The reason that the other's have gone shorter playoffs has to do with television and the players' schedules. In my opinion, if a player is in a playoff for a major, he should be happy to hand around for another day or two or whatever it takes.
And I think that most of them would have no problem with doing that.

The big problem is getting a television audience on Monday. And that's too bad. These events are national championships and will affect a players legacy for eternity. Having a player hole out a shot on one of the first few holes is a sad way for someone to lose that.

Back in the day, the playoff of the US Open was 36 holes in one day. In fact, they played 18 on Thursday, 18 on Friday and 36 on Saturday. If there was a tie, they held a 36 hole playoff on Monday. They evidently felt that it was that important. It's a shame that it change because of external factors relating to money.
I guess your logic escapes me because you can win a major by one lucky stroke on the 72nd hole. So, why then, if two players are tied, they need to come back the next day and play another 18 holes?

[Polar Bear]

I guess your logic escapes me because you can win a major by one lucky stroke on the 72nd hole. So, why then, if two players are tied, they need to come back the next day and play another 18 holes?
I agree. Sudden death is the way to go.

[Polar Bear]

...Watching this is not much different than watching any other weekly PGA Tour tournament.
I don't feel that way at all. I like the course, and with some cooperation from the weather, the weekend should be very challenging and interesting.

I love the open and still have high hopes for this one...even without some of the top players. :)

[ColdNoMore]

Sometimes there are external factors that cause players to play poorly. Dustin Johnson just became a father for the second time. He might not have put in the time that usually would for a major.

Jason Day's mother is dying of cancer. He withdrew from one tournament and didn't make the cut in the Masters. I'm sure that his mind is not on his golf.

Bubba has been playing poorly all year. Adam Scott has been inconsistent at best. Rory is just coming back from an injury and is going through an equipment change.

The OWGR does not, IMHO, account enough for recent play. Players don't play for months and retain their position.

Even the greats don't play their best every week.

What I like to see in the majors is the cream rising to the top. What this course is liable to produce is another one hit wonder.

I like to see the best players in the world have to hit it on the fairway in order to make par. I also like to see them have to hit crisp irons to firm greens and have to putt on difficult surfaces in order to win a national championship.

Watching this is not much different than watching any other weekly PGA Tour tournament.

You're entitled to your opinion, which is obviously not shared by everyone.

Even the greatest players in history, were only "one hit wonders" when they won their first major...and until they won their second. Their 'greatness' has to start somewhere.

As far as this being 'any other PGA Tour event'...we must be watching different tournaments.

This is the US Open, one of only four majors a year and where the mental side of the game...becomes as big a component as the course on which they play.

I'm enjoying the heck out of golfers manufacture shots when in trouble and not just watching them constantly hacking out of thick, wet rough...just to get back to the fairway. :thumbup:

[ColdNoMore]

I guess your logic escapes me because you can win a major by one lucky stroke on the 72nd hole. So, why then, if two players are tied, they need to come back the next day and play another 18 holes?

I believe The Open has the best playoff format, of using a four-hole aggregate to determine the winner...in case of ties after 72 holes.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I guess your logic escapes me because you can win a major by one lucky stroke on the 72nd hole. So, why then, if two players are tied, they need to come back the next day and play another 18 holes?

A player that makes one shot on the 72 hole has played 71 holes before that.

If two players are tied after 72 holes, they worked hard to get there. I don't see it right that one of them should lose based on one hole.

But back to the original subject matter. Forty -two players under par after 54 holes. The most ever for a US Open. The lowest score ever shot in a UIS Open. A lot of no names in the mix. The USGA blew it with Erin Hills.

I hope they get back to traditional US Open courses and conditions in the future.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

In 120 of US Opens, 5 players have ever gotten to 10 under par at any point in the tournament. Six players are currently at 10 under or better.

Forty-two players are under par. The most ever by a long shot.

Yes, it rained and the course is soft, but it's rained and the courses still held up. I went to the Open in 1974. It rained on Saturday and Sunday the course was still brutal on Sunday. Hale Irwin won at 9 over.

It rained on Saturday at Oakmont in 1973. Yes, Johnny Miller shot 63 and Lanny Wadkins shot 65. The best score after that, however, was 68. And Miller shot eight under to win the tournament at five-under. The leaders after the third round were at four under.

Wide fairways and flat greens result in low scores on the PGA tour.

They also can't make these course long enough today. I agree with Jack Nicklaus that something has to be done about the ball in order to rein in the distance these guys hit it. 7,800 yards and four par fours over 500 yards and some of these players never hit more than a seven iron all day.

When Hogan, Palmer, and Nicklaus were winning opens they had to hit driver 2 iron to some holes. In fact, I was there when Hale Irwin hit Driver, two iron to the eighteenth at Winged Foot in 1974. That and Nicklaus' one iron to the 17th at Pebble Beach are two of the greatest shots I've ever witnessed.

Today, it's drive wedge, driver wedge driver eight iron. Yes, the players are bigger and stronger.Yes, the clubs are longer. But the biggest factor is the ball. Unless they are going to start making courses over 8,500 yards, they're going to have to do something about the ball if they want to bring all the clubs in the bag into play.

[ColdNoMore]

Much like Augusta, what makes this course special is the opportunity on the finishing holes for players to make the risk/reward decision...and see big swings in their scores.

It's been a great US Open and I can't wait to watch...what happens on the back 9 today. :thumbup:

Those who aren't interested in watching, can always go play one of the extremely daunting executive courses...that we have here in TV. :shrug:

[Polar Bear]

I agree they should use equipment to rein in distance . I've thought this for a long time. Courses are huge and expensive. They should be able to maintain their difficulty without the need for constant modifications, especially lengthening.

[ColdNoMore]

Well...Koepka it is! :BigApplause:


He certainly proved to be the best golfer this week and it wouldn't surprise me, to see him feed off of this and get into the top 5...in the very near future.


Hats off to one heck of a display of power AND touch. :ho:


On my next trip to Milwaukee, I will definitely be bringing my sticks and playing what is to me...an awesome looking course. :thumbup:

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Much like Augusta, what makes this course special is the opportunity on the finishing holes for players to make the risk/reward decision...and see big swings in their scores.

It's been a great US Open and I can't wait to watch...what happens on the back 9 today. :thumbup:

Those who aren't interested in watching, can always go play one of the extremely daunting executive courses...that we have here in TV. :shrug:

Actually, the final three holes were the easiest, second easiest and fourth easiest on the course today. They did not require a lot of risk reward decisions. The fifteenth did, but after that, it was pretty straight forward. And we didn't see a lot of big swings in their scores. Koepke kept making birdies while Harman didn't. Matsuyama had a low round but he was too far behind. Thomas and Fowler just shot themselves out of it early. Rickie didn't look confident at all. He seemed to have a worried look on his face all afternoon. It would have been a shock and a disappointment to see Tommy Fleetwood win, but he made a good showing.

I like Brooks Koepke as the winner. I think we'll see great things from him in the future. It would have been disappointing to see some of the other's win our national championship. We don't need more Jack Flecks or Lucas Glovers winning the US Open.

Hopefully, next year they'll put some teeth in Shinnecock.

As far as the executive courses you really should try to play Amberwood, Oakleigh, Belmont, Pelican, Yankee Clipper Truman and Roosevelt from the back tees if you think that they all that easy.

I'm a decent player and I had to hit several long irons into a lot of holes on those courses. And some of them have some very undulating greens. I played Palmer today from the blue tees and I'd say that those executives that I list are more challenging than Palmer.

[ColdNoMore]

Yeah....OK. :1rotfl:

[Fredman]

Actually, the final three holes were the easiest, second easiest and fourth easiest on the course today. They did not require a lot of risk reward decisions. The fifteenth did, but after that, it was pretty straight forward. And we didn't see a lot of big swings in their scores. Koepke kept making birdies while Harman didn't. Matsuyama had a low round but he was too far behind. Thomas and Fowler just shot themselves out of it early. Rickie didn't look confident at all. He seemed to have a worried look on his face all afternoon. It would have been a shock and a disappointment to see Tommy Fleetwood win, but he made a good showing.

I like Brooks Koepke as the winner. I think we'll see great things from him in the future. It would have been disappointing to see some of the other's win our national championship. We don't need more Jack Flecks or Lucas Glovers winning the US Open.

Hopefully, next year they'll put some teeth in Shinnecock.

As far as the executive courses you really should try to play Amberwood, Oakleigh, Belmont, Pelican, Yankee Clipper Truman and Roosevelt from the back tees if you think that they all that easy.

I'm a decent player and I had to hit several long irons into a lot of holes on those courses. And some of them have some very undulating greens. I played Palmer today from the blue tees and I'd say that those executives that I list are more challenging than Palmer.

What did u shoot on palmer?

[ColdNoMore]

What did u shoot on palmer?

I'm also curious as to the OP's HI. :shrug:

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

What did u shoot on palmer?

I putted very poorly. The yips have reared their ugly head once again. I was two over on the nine with two three putts. I started out pretty good on the back nine and was even after four holes with yet another three putt and then my legs gave out and I made three bogies and a double.

I don't usually play eighteen holes and I don't usually play championships. I have some physical issues involving my back, lower body and foot where they sort of stop working after too much stress.

When I have played eighteen on the championships in the past, the same thing usually happens. I crap out on about the fourteenth hole.

I played OBH a few weeks ago and the same thing happened. I was even through fourteen and made bogies and doubles coming in.

The reason that I made the comment about some of the execs being more difficult is that on the ones I listed there are several holes that I have to hit a 3 or 4 hybrid. I believe that I hit one five iron and maybe one four hybrid at Pamer. All the rest were between eight iron and sand wedge.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I'm also curious as to the OP's HI. :shrug:


I've never had one. I'm a retired PGA professional. I was never a great player, but competed in state opens and section PGA events usually coming in the middle of the pack. I also played on the Space Coast Tour back in the late seventies and got my butt whipped playing against people like Skip Kendall and Scott Dunlap.

I was forced to retire about nine years ago when I sustained a serious injury to my left foot. I was told at that time that the prospects of my playing golf again was unlikely.

I went trough all of the PT and tried to hit balls, but had a very difficult time and was in a lot of pain. That added to the fact that I had undergone three back surgeries, a shoulder operation and a knee operation, I decided to give the game up.

I didn't play for seven years. I hit a few balls here and there to see what it felt like. After living in TV for four years I was feeling pretty good and decided to see if I could play nine holes on the execs. I reasoned that maybe I could make nine or ten swings without being in too much pain. So I started doing that again. I've been back playing for about a year now. I hit balls a few times a week ad I play the execs three or four times.

I go through periods of the putting and chipping yips which has been going on for thirty years or so. I have days where I putt OK and days where I am terrible. I never know what's going to happen when I chip or pitch. Sometimes I hit great shots but I'll often stick the club in the ground behind the ball or skull it over the green.

Ball striking also comes and goes. I hit it a lot shorter than I did ten years ago and I am nowhere as consistent. I've shot as low as three-under on some of the easier execs and as high as five over when I go bad.

This is me.

Jim Fraser, PGA in Lady Lake, FL | PGA Professional | PGA.com (http://www.pga.com/professionals/jim-fraser-pga?atrack=search%3Anone&seapos=result%3A1%3AJames%20C.%20Fraser%2C%20PGA&page=1)

[dewilson58]

Great Open.

Really enjoyed the Tourney and the course.

:gc:

[Polar Bear]

Glad you're back playing, Doc. I think the inconsistency and the difficulties with short game come with our 'phase of life'. ;)

How I miss those days when I'd just step up to any chip or easy pitch and knock in close without even thinking!! :)

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Great Open.

Really enjoyed the Tourney and the course.

:gc:

As it turned out, it was a pretty exciting finish with several people in the mix until the last four or five hole.

But it was still not a typical US Open in that the course was playing too easy.

I like to see players tested, especially coming down the stretch and this course really didn't provide that.

The US Open is usually played on courses with narrow fairways, long, thick rough and firm undulating greens. The USGA intends to test every aspect of the player's games. This course did not do that. It was a bomber's course and it had relatively flat greens. Of course, the rain didn't help by softening it up. As long as it was, some players said that they never hit more than a seven iron into any par four. I don't consider that testing all aspects of the game. I'd like to see players have to hit some long irons or even fairway woods to par fours. The ball and equipment have a lot to do with that but recognizing that the USGA should set up some holes that force a layup off the tee. Or holes where a player can choose to hit a driver but pay a severe penalty if they miss the fairway.

I have always felt that a well-designed golf hole should get narrower as it gets closer to the green. That way a player has the option of laying back in the wide part of the fairway and hitting a longer club or taking a risk of big trouble of the reward of hitting a shorter club into the green. This course didn't have that. The longer hitters had the same width fairway is did the shorter hitters. It was pretty much just bombs away and hit a wedge to a soft flat green.

The most surprising thing about this event was that Brian Harman was able to keep up at all.

The US Open is my favorite tournament to watch and I really look forward to it every year. I believe that it is the most difficult to win and the most difficult test of a golfer's game. And it usually tests all aspects of a player's game. This year it didn't.

All four of the majors has a different feel and the USGA is changing the feel of the US Open. It's becoming more like the PGA Championship or in this case, a lot like the Masters without the difficult greens. It's losing its uniqueness among the majors. I'd like to see them get back to what I always loved about the US Open.

[dewilson58]

As it turned out, it was a pretty exciting finish with several people in the mix until the last four or five hole.

But it was still not a typical US Open in that the course was playing too easy.

I like to see players tested, especially coming down the stretch and this course really didn't provide that.

The US Open is usually played on courses with narrow fairways, long, thick rough and firm undulating greens. The USGA intends to test every aspect of the player's games. This course did not do that. It was a bomber's course and it had relatively flat greens. Of course, the rain didn't help by softening it up. As long as it was, some players said that they never hit more than a seven iron into any par four. I don't consider that testing all aspects of the game. I'd like to see players have to hit some long irons or even fairway woods to par fours. The ball and equipment have a lot to do with that but recognizing that the USGA should set up some holes that force a layup off the tee. Or holes where a player can choose to hit a driver but pay a severe penalty if they miss the fairway.

I have always felt that a well-designed golf hole should get narrower as it gets closer to the green. That way a player has the option of laying back in the wide part of the fairway and hitting a longer club or taking a risk of big trouble of the reward of hitting a shorter club into the green. This course didn't have that. The longer hitters had the same width fairway is did the shorter hitters. It was pretty much just bombs away and hit a wedge to a soft flat green.

The most surprising thing about this event was that Brian Harman was able to keep up at all.

The US Open is my favorite tournament to watch and I really look forward to it every year. I believe that it is the most difficult to win and the most difficult test of a golfer's game. And it usually tests all aspects of a player's game. This year it didn't.

All four of the majors has a different feel and the USGA is changing the feel of the US Open. It's becoming more like the PGA Championship or in this case, a lot like the Masters without the difficult greens. It's losing its uniqueness among the majors. I'd like to see them get back to what I always loved about the US Open.

I agree.....like to see the Big Boys having to grind it out. But do you think most fans like to see birdies like they do with touchdowns, goals, 30 foot nothing-but-nets and perfect 10's???

:thumbup:

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I agree.....like to see the Big Boys having to grind it out. But do you think most fans like to see birdies like they do with touchdowns, goals, 30 foot nothing-but-nets and perfect 10's???

:thumbup:

Maybe some do, but we see that every week. We sometimes see it in the Masters, British Open and PGA Championship.

The US Open is supposed to be different. The stats this week were about the same as most of the regular week to week tour events. I think that our national championship should be a more difficult test.

If the people want to see these guys making birdies and eagles, let them play 6,200-yard courses with slow soft greens and no rough. Maybe it would be nice to watch that once a year, but I don't think a steady diet of it would keep anyone interested.

[bagboy]

As it turned out, it was a pretty exciting finish with several people in the mix until the last four or five hole.

But it was still not a typical US Open in that the course was playing too easy.

I like to see players tested, especially coming down the stretch and this course really didn't provide that.

The US Open is usually played on courses with narrow fairways, long, thick rough and firm undulating greens. The USGA intends to test every aspect of the player's games. This course did not do that. It was a bomber's course and it had relatively flat greens. Of course, the rain didn't help by softening it up. As long as it was, some players said that they never hit more than a seven iron into any par four. I don't consider that testing all aspects of the game. I'd like to see players have to hit some long irons or even fairway woods to par fours. The ball and equipment have a lot to do with that but recognizing that the USGA should set up some holes that force a layup off the tee. Or holes where a player can choose to hit a driver but pay a severe penalty if they miss the fairway.

I have always felt that a well-designed golf hole should get narrower as it gets closer to the green. That way a player has the option of laying back in the wide part of the fairway and hitting a longer club or taking a risk of big trouble of the reward of hitting a shorter club into the green. This course didn't have that. The longer hitters had the same width fairway is did the shorter hitters. It was pretty much just bombs away and hit a wedge to a soft flat green.

The most surprising thing about this event was that Brian Harman was able to keep up at all.

The US Open is my favorite tournament to watch and I really look forward to it every year. I believe that it is the most difficult to win and the most difficult test of a golfer's game. And it usually tests all aspects of a player's game. This year it didn't.

All four of the majors has a different feel and the USGA is changing the feel of the US Open. It's becoming more like the PGA Championship or in this case, a lot like the Masters without the difficult greens. It's losing its uniqueness among the majors. I'd like to see them get back to what I always loved about the US Open.

You can look up future US Open venues and I think you will be satisfied with the direction they are going.