Oakmont, scene of maybe the best round of golf ever played in a Major....Johnny Miller's 63. This course will be hard on those who can't hit fairways and greens.
Unlike most pro tournaments which are lost on the greens, the Open is usually lost on the tee. Assuming that the USGA has once again grown punishing rough, the key will be to stay in the fairway. Jason Day can just kill a 2 iron. The rest of his game is so strong that if he can manage the tee he's got a real good shot.
Seems like US Open rough has been toned down in recent years. Heck Pinehurst #2 with it's redesign was still tough but it wasn't deep rough that made it hard and last year in Seattle that was just a different course. Oakmont though is more traditional and I'll be the rough will be up quite a bit, they used to always raise it enough to get the players dander up even before they tee'd off.
I have no doubt that there are a lot of great rounds to compete with Millers 63. Probably safest to call it "one" of the greatest rounds in US Open History.
Spent a few moments on the Open site. Went over the flyover views of the holes. Oakmont has 2 par 5 both over 600 yds. They have a par three that's 288 yds and a par four that's 315. I'm really looking forward to this weekend.
I watched Golf Channel and they were going over the history of Oakmont. It was pretty interesting. The guy who designed it and got the investors together to build it thought all the local clubs were too easy and he wanted to build a really difficult course. Which he did. I also had forgotten the treecide that happened in the early 90's. The original Oakmont had very few tree's, but the guy who ran the place in the late 30's loved what Bobby Jones had at Augusta and planted thousands of trees. But the '90's they decided they wanted to go back to the original design, which some liked and some were aghast that they were going to cut down trees'. They had to do it at night little by little to avoid a big confrontation. Phil Mickelson said after a practice round yesterday that this will be the hardest course they play. Expectations that Angel Caberra's +5 in 2007 will not be reached.
Drama going on now at the Open. Lowry and DJ at -4 with a few holes to play...but DJ has a possible BS penalty hanging over his head.
So Dustin Johnson is on the 16th. Who is leading? The USGA can't answer that question. I am a golf traditionalist but I think this is the stupidest decision I have ever seen. Either it's a penalty or it's not. :x
just par 18 and he can give the USGA the big finger and tell them he doesn't want to watch no stinkin' replay, he was there.
yes he did, Gipper, but he also let them off of the hook. The USGA mishandled this incident and it could have affected the outcome of a major and now everyone will forget it. Hopefully they will learn something here but when a player asks for a ruling, gets it, and plays on based on that ruling, why would they then tell the player that they were going to wait until the round was over to override that ruling on the course. :evil:
Not to mention the guy who gave him that ruling was a high ranking USGA offical. Glad he made it a moot point. Not to mention we were treated to some great views of Paulina Johnsons ass!!
Man, TV has changed golf way more than square grooves, long putters or graphite drivers. Stupid ruling. lf I was the official that made the initial ruling, I would call the Wall Street Journal and announce that I was quitting because obviously some official in front of a TV somewhere was really making the rulings.....after the round. :roll:
Can you imagine during the Super Bowl a team scores and the officials throw a flag. You're then told that after the game they're going to discuss the play and then they'll let you know if the touchdown stands? Just stupid.