Doc50
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This year's U.S. Open is being hosted at the youngest venue ever, for the first time in the northwest, for the first time on fescue, and with 4 of the 5 longest par 4's ever. This stunning layout has been highly anticipated for creating epic drama befitting the supreme test that is the U.S. Open.
Surprisingly, this seaside course on Puget Sound outside of Tacoma has more elevation changes than Augusta.
That's due to the fact that it is not a traditional links course (meaning 9 out and 9 back, all essentially parallel to the beach). This course has 4 or 5 seaside holes, but most are carved out of an old gravel quarry. The look is certainly consistent with links golf, though, with only 1 tree and lots of natural dune-looking hazards, weeds, and knobs.
Four kinds of fescue (which don't grow well in the U.S.) will make it play more like a British links course, with lots of crazy bounces and roll-outs. The greens are only slightly firmer and faster than the fairways, but no one will be able to fire at the pins. A premium will be placed on creativity around the greens, which are heavily contoured. The course is also the longest (relative to par), but we may see some drives over 400 yds with the firm fairways.
Another first - Fox will be covering it for the first time, and they've been preparing for 2 years. Greg Norman will bring his considerable character in commentary, and we'll see innovative on-screen graphics with yardages and contour shading; this should help the viewer feel more involved in shot making and green reading.
As usual, the field is pumped, though challenged by the difficulty and lack of familiarity. Phil has said that the complexity, shot-making requirements, and links terrain reminds him of the Old Course at St Andrews, where the Open will be next month. Several of the Brits would have to be favored to do well in familiar course conditions, but nobody will be comfortable with this layout for a while.
We went 40 years without a foreign winner, then only one of the last 5 has been an American. I'm feeling good about the chances of our young guns this year, as well as a couple of old muskets. Jordan, Ricky, Dustin, and Bubba have the game to contend here, as do great ball strikers like Furyk and Zach Johnson.
But the guy who's due, one of the most creative shot-makers in history, with a record 6 second place finishes, and new-found confidence - the sentimental favorite - is Mickelson.
Would be great to see that, but it'll be golf at its best regardless, even if Rory or Rose steals it.
Gotta go set the DVR.
Surprisingly, this seaside course on Puget Sound outside of Tacoma has more elevation changes than Augusta.
That's due to the fact that it is not a traditional links course (meaning 9 out and 9 back, all essentially parallel to the beach). This course has 4 or 5 seaside holes, but most are carved out of an old gravel quarry. The look is certainly consistent with links golf, though, with only 1 tree and lots of natural dune-looking hazards, weeds, and knobs.
Four kinds of fescue (which don't grow well in the U.S.) will make it play more like a British links course, with lots of crazy bounces and roll-outs. The greens are only slightly firmer and faster than the fairways, but no one will be able to fire at the pins. A premium will be placed on creativity around the greens, which are heavily contoured. The course is also the longest (relative to par), but we may see some drives over 400 yds with the firm fairways.
Another first - Fox will be covering it for the first time, and they've been preparing for 2 years. Greg Norman will bring his considerable character in commentary, and we'll see innovative on-screen graphics with yardages and contour shading; this should help the viewer feel more involved in shot making and green reading.
As usual, the field is pumped, though challenged by the difficulty and lack of familiarity. Phil has said that the complexity, shot-making requirements, and links terrain reminds him of the Old Course at St Andrews, where the Open will be next month. Several of the Brits would have to be favored to do well in familiar course conditions, but nobody will be comfortable with this layout for a while.
We went 40 years without a foreign winner, then only one of the last 5 has been an American. I'm feeling good about the chances of our young guns this year, as well as a couple of old muskets. Jordan, Ricky, Dustin, and Bubba have the game to contend here, as do great ball strikers like Furyk and Zach Johnson.
But the guy who's due, one of the most creative shot-makers in history, with a record 6 second place finishes, and new-found confidence - the sentimental favorite - is Mickelson.
Would be great to see that, but it'll be golf at its best regardless, even if Rory or Rose steals it.
Gotta go set the DVR.
