It is good to be back at my desk after a couple of difficult weeks to say the least, however there is much to get to as the World Cup kicks off in Brazil tomorrow, the Jays are winning and of course the eyes of the golf world are already on Pinehurst #2 down in North Carolina and I must admit I have extra interest this year because this Donald Ross masterpiece with it's famous turtleback greens has been restored by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore and it is basically now a links golf course in amongst trees !!
My pal and colleague Pat Marsden used to know how to get my goat every year when the Open Championship would roll around and he's say "Mumbles, it's just a cow pasture" in reference to the hallowed links at St Andrews or Troon or Turnberry, whatever the venue because the grass was brown and the rough unkempt, and get ready to hear lot's of that this week from the viewers on this side of the pond, used to the lush green pristine courses on the PGA Tour..
Coore and Crenshaw have restored the original, rustic look of No. 2. That means rough has been replaced by sandy areas dotted with small wiregrass bushes and covered in natural vegetation. It required the removal of 35 acres of sod, and only 450 sprinkler heads remain.
The winning scores at Pinehurst No. 2 have been 1-under 279 (Payne Stewart in 1999) and even-par 280 (Michael Campbell in 2005). The last two U.S. Opens were won with a score over par and I expect more of the same this year. By the way the USGA is making history by staging the U.S. Open and the U.S. Women’s Open in consecutive weeks on the same golf course. Pinehurst will play at 7,562 yards (par 70) for the men, and 6,649 yards (par 70) for the women
While it is plenty long, some par 4's are 480 yards, the players have been stressing all week it is a second shot course, mainly because the domed greens repel approaches that are not hit precisely, putting an emphasis on the players short game.
Bubba Watson just fell short of saying they are unfair in his presser yesterday, but did say he hit 4 iron off the first followed by a 185yd 8 iron into the middle of the green and it just bounced off leaving him to scramble for par..
Rory says he will lay back on the par 5's this week off the tee so he will be left with a third shot wedge, in the hopes of being able to keep it on the green to make birdie that way.
Players are going to find all kinds of funky lies in the waste areas after what appear to be great drives, but hell folks that's what links golf is all about isn't it!
Watch for shots along the ground, bump and runs, putts and chips rolling either off the green or back down to the players feet on all those elevated greens. Remember John Daly here in 1999 when his approach putt did just that and he just whacked it as it rolled back towards him and walked off the course saying it was a joke.
It is the US Open and should be that country's sternest test of golf, not just in shot making, but as important mentally.
So we are looking for a straight driver who is a great iron player with patience, a reliable short game and of course a hot putter..
Sounds like many of these guys, including the defending champion Justin Rose, but I'll say here, remember the best ball striker in the field is our own Graham DeLaet, so I won't be surprised to see him in contention.. (1.36pm off #10 with bombers Gary Woodland and JB Holmes)
Tiger is out, Mickelson has been 2nd 6 times, including to the late Payne Stewart here in '99 and to Rose last year at Merion.
Mickelson will be the lead story for many, but I don't think he will win, I'll tell you later who I like and why, but will say now, I believe the golf course will be the winner when all is said and done,.
For tee times and preview click here (pgatour.com)
http://www.pgatour.com/news/2014/06/06/us-open-pairings-justin-rose-phil-mickelson.html
Bryan Angus
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