US Open scoreboard http://espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
So the most anticipated day in golf for some time has come and gone with Henrik Stenson and Dustin Johnson sharing the lead at -5 65.. here are my impressions..
* Chambers Bay was very gettable on opening day yet only 30 guys broke par. Some tees were up, some pins were in spots where the contours of the green were helpful and most importantly there was little or no wind. St Andrews or any of the great British links are defenceless without the wind and we have often seen 63, 64, 65 during the Open Championship...this course is only going to get tougher as the week goes on.
* The greens are a combination of fescue and poa annua which I can only described as putting over a bunch of tightly packed broccoli heads. They grow quickly and as a result the "greens" get bumpier as the day goes on..Rory shot 72 and needed 34 putts, missed a hat full of 8 footers and less.
There has been a lot of criticism, Ernie said they reminded him of "temporary winter greens back home in South Africa"
* par on the course is not 72, only 70 which obviously reduces the margin for error even more
* the average American spectator is not fit enough to walk Chambers Bay and follow their favourite guy for 7.5 miles of hilly terrain, in fact during the 2010 US Amateur 3 broke their ankles. So while there are some great vantage points from the highest spots on the property, a lot of spectators haven't made that hike. That in part answers the questions "where are the fans, and where are the roars?"
* Tiger shot 80 including a beauty of a topped 3 wood on the 18th and I simply feel sorry for him these days from a golfing stand point. The Golf Channel had the pro tracer on him all through his warm up and had Chris Dimarco and John Cook spend ages analyzing his swing, do you think that will ever change? Whether you like or hate the guy, his play, 8 bogey's including a triple is the only thing that will eventually convince golf TV producers to take the focus off him.
By the way his playing partner Rickie Fowler shot 81, as Tiger said "at least I kicked Rickie's butt" ! They both play early today.
* speaking of TV it was Fox Sports debut broadcasting the US Open and get used to it folks they have a long term deal in place with pro golf, much like the Rogers 12 year 5 billion dollar hockey deal. They outbid NBC for the TV rights to the US Open, the US Senior Open and the US Women's Open for the next 12 years.
New hosts Joe Buck and Curt Menefee were under whelming to be polite, Corey Pavin was a tenacious little golfer in his prime but a nervous sounding analyst, while Greg Norman needs to give more analysis of what the player is doing with the shots he is covering.
Speaking of covering the producers must do a much better job of one basic.. who is the player, what hole is he on, which shot is he playing, and get better with their camera coverage.. Poor start to say the least.
* Two Canadians are in the field, Brad Fritsch shot 70 T26, while David Hearn managed +2 72.
* Dustin Johnson really seems to have gotten his act together after taking 6 months off to grow up, Now a dad, with Wayne Gretzky for a father in law, he looks to have his priorities in order. He is as fit and powerful as ever and his game is as effortless as ever, but now his head is on right and that has made all the difference. He looks to be the winner here this week to me.
* 70 players including Tiger and Rory will be going home tonight, so I am looking forward to their comments on the course as they fly out of Puget Sound, on the other hand with only -5 the lead the list of contenders will be mighty deep come the weekend.
Bryan
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