OT: 2022 US Open (Golf)

[Chin Diesel]

Never played there, but walked it in '99 during a Ryder Cup practice round (which was also a job interview!). It's known for small, canted greens. It should be hard to go low, the course record is 64, There's an early blind par three (#2), some blind fairways, and #9 has a pond that cuts way into the fairway at about 320 from the tee, so bombers likely won't be bombing that one. Scoring will likely be on the back 9 as the front is only a par 34. A few of the holes on the back look like they should be pretty easy, but the small greens make it deceptively harder than it looks.

Yes on #9. Go beyond the top of the hill on it and everything rolls the ball down and towards the pond. Expect plenty of long iron off the tee and 7-9 iron approaches.

 

[LIuconn]

Hole 11 is 130 yards. Very rare to see a short 3 in the us open. Guessing the green itself & surrounds are wicked

 

[Chin Diesel]

Hole 11 is 130 yards. Very rare to see a short 3 in the us open. Guessing the green itself & surrounds are wicked

A couple of weeks ago at the Memorial they were talking with Jack on air about the course at Muirfield. He said he loves designing short par 3's because you can do almost anything you want with it since the hole is receiving a high, lofted shot off the tee box. He said short par 3's just give the architect so many more options than a 250 yard par 3 where you almost have to have a run up, landing area and bail out area due to the length of the hole. You can really shape the green, put undulation on it, place bunkers where ever you want. Almost equivalence of an open book exam in college. Sounds great until you realize everything in the book is testable.

 

[HitDog]

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[Edward Sargent]

Absolutely no feel for this.

Very few players have played this course. It's not a very technical course. It's a US Open so fairways and greens are never bad.

Zalatoris finally win or does he become the next Fowler or Schauffele?? Bridesmaid for life.

Gimme JT, Zalatoris, Burns and Homa.

Went to a practice round Monday and we walked the entire course and I am not sure what you mean by not technical.

 

[Edward Sargent]

They changed the layout some. #8 is now a par 5. 2022 U.S. Open: Inside the The Country Club's championship layout

I sat on 8 green for a bunch of foursomes and everyone was trying to figure out the chip up on the green. Lots of balls rolling off the front

 

[M.S.G.]

Hoping for a big weekend for Max Homa! My sleeper pick is Finau

 

[Chin Diesel]

Went to a practice round Monday and we walked the entire course and I am not sure what you mean by not technical.

From what I read it's more of a target golf type course. Which isn't a criticism. There just isn't much on the creative side of the thinking. If you don't like the term "not technical" that's fine by me.

Doesn't necessarily favor a fade or a draw. Long distance isn't as important as correct distance off the tee. You won't see risk/reward tee shots where the players will bomb it and hack out of the rough up to the green. This won't be Bryson at Winged Foot. Around the greens it's more a traditional US Open course with taller rough. There isn't much decision making as to pitch, chip, bump and run or putt. You have to flop that ball over the tall stuff.

 

[storrsroars]

From what I read it's more of a target golf type course. Which isn't a criticism. There just isn't much on the creative side of the thinking. If you don't like the term "not technical" that's fine by me.

Doesn't necessarily favor a fade or a draw. Long distance isn't as important as correct distance off the tee. You won't see risk/reward tee shots where the players will bomb it and hack out of the rough up to the green. This won't be Bryson at Winged Foot. Around the greens it's more a traditional US Open course with taller rough. There isn't much decision making as to pitch, chip, bump and run or putt. You have to flop that ball over the tall stuff.

Interesting take. I see it as allowing a lot more creativity on how to attack most holes. The small greens do put a premium on positioning, but on most holes a competent scrambler can par, especially one with solid bunker play. You'll still see bombers bombing away on about a third of the holes, imho.

 

[Chin Diesel]

Interesting take. I see it as allowing a lot more creativity on how to attack most holes. The small greens do put a premium on positioning, but on most holes a competent scrambler can par, especially one with solid bunker play. You'll still see bombers bombing away on about a third of the holes, imho.

Some of the front of the greens are shaved but left and right is pretty thick stuff
What I meant was due to small greens there isn't the choice of coming in low and hop and a skip up to the hole. Ball needs to come in high and soft and plop in to place.
Controlling spin will be crucial. Most of the iron shots in to the greens require one specific type of golf shot and either you hit it or you are in bad shape

 

[Greathusky]

I have a GolfNow VIP membership and was suddenly rewarded with 12 free months of Peacock.

Watching the featureds in the morning.

 

[storrsroars]

Some of the front of the greens are shaved but left and right is pretty thick stuff
What I meant was due to small greens there isn't the choice of coming in low and hop and a skip up to the hole. Ball needs to come in high and soft and plop in to place.
Controlling spin will be crucial. Most of the iron shots in to the greens require one specific type of golf shot and either you hit it or you are in bad shape

When I think of 'target golf', I think of Widow's Walk in MA, some of the Fazio layouts, and more specifically Ko'olau in Oahu (now closed, a pity since it was like playing in Jurassic Park). Positioning off the tee is crucial, lots of "designated" landing spots (as opposed to "preferred" for your type of game). Difficult water or hazard carries forcing layups, etc.

 

[storrsroars]

Dang, Ancer withdrew due to illness. Patton Kizzire took his place.

Fowler must've been rooting for Speith to drop out as Rickie was next man up.

 

[QDOG5]

I'm pulling for my mechanic in Texas - Austin Greaser

 

[husky8273]

Just don't try to fly in or out of Logan. What a catastrophe. Can't believe they closed a tunnel while hosting the U.S. Open and NBA finals.

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[Chin Diesel]

I'm pulling for my mechanic in Texas - Austin Greaser

Great name for a male adult performer.

 

[storrsroars]

So the consensus picks in this thread are:
3 votes: Rory, Homa, Zalatoris, JT
2 votes: Fitzpatrick, Xander
1 vote each: Scheffler, Burns, Greaser, Sung-jae, Conners, Lowry, Varner, Hovland, LFinau, List, Smith, Ancer (WD), Davis (DNQ)

By typical BY golf prediction standards, this is amazing.

 

[storrsroars]

So the consensus picks in this thread are:
3 votes: Rory, Homa, Zalatoris, JT
2 votes: Fitzpatrick, Xander
1 vote each: Scheffler, Burns, Greaser, Sung-jae, Conners, Lowry, Varner, Hovland, LFinau, List, Smith, Ancer (WD), Davis (DNQ)

By typical BY golf prediction standards, this is amazing.

Well, a little less amazing that I originally stated. Sungjae, Conners, Lowry and Varner all dropped below the cut line with the leaders going to -5. But all the multiple vote getters are safely in and contending.

Four amateurs made the field of 64, including Greaser.

 

[NJHusky]

Do they set tougher pins tomorrow? 23 guys under par is a lot for this tournament

 

[jleves]

Nice tightly bunched leaderboard with a lot of big names and a sprinkle of surprises. Should make for a great weekend.

 

[storrsroars]

Do they set tougher pins tomorrow? 23 guys under par is a lot for this tournament

But not totally uncommon in past decade or so. Pebble Beach, Congressional, Pinehurst, and Erin Hills all has similar #s of players under par (or more) at this point.

 

[NJHusky]

But not totally uncommon in past decade or so. Pebble Beach, Congressional, Pinehurst, and Erin Hills all has similar #s of players under par (or more) at this point.

Thx. My memory not that good

 

[jleves]

Do they set tougher pins tomorrow? 23 guys under par is a lot for this tournament

Actually, quite similar to the last few years after two rounds:
2021 -5 lead, 13 players under par, cut was also +4.
2020 -4 lead, 11 players under par, cut was +6
2019 was significantly lower, -9 lead, cut +2
2018 was the last US Open that was really tough - winner was +1.
2017 winner was -16

I think the days of fighting for par in the US Open may be a thing of the past. These guys are just too long and good.

 

[NJHusky]

Actually, quite similar to the last few years after two rounds:
2021 -5 lead, 13 players under par, cut was also +4.
2020 -4 lead, 11 players under par, cut was +6
2019 was significantly lower, -9 lead, cut +2
2018 was the last US Open that was really tough - winner was +1.
2017 winner was -16

I think the days of fighting for par in the US Open may be a thing of the past. These guys are just too long and good.

Not to be a jerk but 13 and 11 players under par is nearly 2x and more than 2x compared to 23

 

[jleves]

Not to be a jerk but 13 and 11 players under par is nearly 2x and more than 2x compared to 23

No doubt. I was just surprised that the low score and cuts have been similar. I do like that there are a lot more players packed in contention for sure. I'd much rather have 30 guys within 5 shots than 15 or so.

The weekends for the last two have been tougher - scores not going down much.

Hopefully a good challenge for the weekend.

I think your original thought is what I like: Make it a challenge to shoot par golf. If the weekend shapes up that way, I'll be happy.