PGA Tour: US Open at the new-look Pinehurst No.2: Notes from the Ballwasher

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1).No idea what to expect this week with the US Open to be held for the third time in 15 years (almost unprecedented repeat visits) at Donald Ross's masterpiece, Pinehurst No.2. Since we last saw it, Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore have laid waste to the whole place, and even the most nerdy architecturally gurus don't quite seem to know what to make of it. A Beauty or a Beast? Or possibly both.
 
2).Previous form may or may not have to be thrown out the window, we just don't know, but a summary of the accumulated wisdom of media punditry suggests length is imperative, a high ball-flight preferable and a delicate touch around the greens a necessity. If only these things were that easy. Let's look first of all at what little previous course form there is.
 
3).1999 US Open:
Mickelson famously beaten into second place by a 15 - 20 foot par putt on the last from William Payne Stewart. Other four-round finishes from guys golfing it this week include:
5th: Stricker
7th: Maggert
10th: Darren Clarke
15th: Leonard
17th: Furyk
23rd: Jimenez
32nd: Cink
46th: Allenby
 
4).2005 US Open:
Michael Campbell wins and goes on to have a wonderful year, only to disappear as mysteriously as a Malaysian 777. A second star-crossed champion to be sure; Cambo has an exemption in to this week's tournament but, amid stories of a broken marriage, he's sitting this one out. The tournament was Goosen's to win anyway, bidding to become the only golfer since Strange to win consecutive US Opens he played in Sunday's final group only to balloom to an 81. Which was better than partner Jason Gore's 84. Other Top 40 finishers in this week's effort:
T3: Garcia
T3: Tim Clark
11th: Goose
15th: Els
23rd: Kenny Perry
T28: Ogilvy
T28: Scott
T28: Matt Every (top amateur)
T33: Cabrera
T33: Westwood
Others making the cut included Poulter, Donald, Ryan Moore, McDowell. Barlow.
 
5).2008: US Amateur:
New Zealand's Danny Lee won but only after he beat Patrick Top Five Reed in the semi-final.
Others who progressed to Match Play included:
3rd Round: Fowler
2nd Round: Horschel
1st Round: Scott Langley
 
6).Not much to go on then. In addition to the above, Phil spent a week there at a golf camp as a 13-year-old and certainly seems to have an affinity for the place. He's also logged the most number of US Open appearances in the field, as this will be his 24th, with his (in?)famous six runner-up finishes. The leading five veterans are, including 2014:
24: Phil
22: Ernie
20: Furyk
19: Cink
19: Stricker
 
7).There's been a lot of attention in the US media this month about Payne Stewart:
Blow-by-blow accounts of his win with equal billing to Mrs Phil's imminent childbirth.
Hour-by-hour accounts of the tragic plane crash and untimely death.
A compelling, but ultimately unsatisfying bio/documentary on the Golf Channel which pretty much made his Aussie wife Tracey the real star - and perhaps deservedly so by many accounts given the brat (you've got a long way to go Top Five) the young Payne came across as.
And out-of-this-world hyperbole from Sports Illustrated, who should know better:
"In the post-Nicklaus era no (golfing) figure was more compelling than Payne Stewart."
In Missouri, maybe. Dear oh dear.
 
But what a beautiful golfswing he had; he took his game around the world, won in Japan and Holland, and ultimately had a decent Ryder Cup record together with three (squeaky?) Major wins. One always feels the best of Payne Stewart, the man at least, was still to come.
 
8).Who's going to win then?
It's been roasting this week, 97F today and will be broiling all week long, probably with storms. A course that plays firm and fast will bring the "navigators" in to play, but with a yardage from the tips of close to 7,600 yards, length will matter, all the more so if storms bring flooding rains.
I would think the two obvious favourites would be Mickelson and Bubba, though whether either can focus fully for 72 scorching holes must be questionable. But: You gotta like their length and improvisational skills. And there'll be lots of long putts on the crowned Donald Ross greens, and no-one avoids the 3-putt like Bubba.
 
9).I'd say three fancied players and three outsiders worth considering might be:
Watson at 18/1, Jason Day at 28/1, Kaymer at 40/1.
Webb Simpson at 45/1, Poulter at 66/1, Horschel at 80's.
For various reasons I'd love to see Phil or Rory or Sergio prove me wrong, but they're all three like unpredictable treats in Forrest Gump's box of chocolates the way their form currently is.
 
10).Once again the USGA sits around a table sniggering at each other as they concoct amusing groupings and this year is no exception, especially the fatboys threesome of De Jonge, Stadler and Shane Lowry. I'd be royally p1ssed off if I was one of them, but I suppose they had it coming.
Then there's the curious case of one-time winners Spieth, Matsuyama and Fowler.
 
Just think, not so long ago a US Amateur Champ turned pro and made the John Deere Classic the first win (as Jordan Spieth would do a dozen years later) of what would surely be a glittering career. Perhaps a featured US Open tee-time.
But it didn't work out quite like that for David Gossett, and my favourite story so far this week is of his seemingly miraculous (considering last year's web.com earnings were $10K) qualification for this week inspired by the very same 45-year veteran caddie (Johnny Miller, Lehman, you name it), Andy Martinez, who carried Gossett's bag to victory fifteen years ago in the "Amateur" at Pebble Beach.
Not saying that Spieth or Hideki or one-trickie Rickie will turn out like David Gossett. But his story is what "Opens" are made of, for the first two days anyway.

Dame Laura!
About time.

Sir Tony Jacklin even more way overdue.

Are there any practical advantages of receiving an honour? Or is it just a cling on to the old British Empire?

Dunno lorus, perhaps you should ask sirbenson.

Regardless, there's only any point in them if they're distributed fairly and to whom they are deserved. Glad Laura Davies was so homoured.

Should be a gorgeous summer's day in Pinehurst; will we see the course start to play as tough as it apparently played in practice?

Seems the US media is breathlessly awaiting a Kaymer collapse. Would they say that if, say, E.T.Woods was in a six-shot lead?

Interesting stat on pgatour.com:
Darren Clarke has played 44 rounds at the US Open, and scored under par just once.

I hope he scores 2 more 65s and blows the field away. Back to back European wins will do nicely.

Agreed lorus, and that would be four US Open wins in the last five years.

Who knows what will happen but, if Kaymer is to win, hope he continues to do it in grand style - sense he was hanging on at The Players after the delay and a Rory-like win would be a nice statement.

(It would also clinch his Ryder Cup place and this week's results so far push guys like Westwood further and further adrift - not a good past month from lw1.)

I like Kaymer but sorry I hope he comes back to the field and makes it interesting!

kwinigolfer wrote:Interesting stat on pgatour.com:
Darren Clarke has played 44 rounds at the US Open, and scored under par just once.

Surprising...I know the last 5/6 years maybe not as much of a surprise but still!

Stadler starts with a quad.....got a funny feeling the USGA is seeking revenge today haha!

Just amazing golf from Kaymer thus far. And, I do not see him falling back. His tenure at Whisper Rock, playing in the heat and dry conditions, should also serve him well given what this course should be like this weekend.

Americans have won the last 3 majors, but that will almost certainly end this weekend.

I see the Smallrus just opened with a quadruple bogey 8. Sure that must have made for a fun walk to the second tee.


Sr,
The Ghost of Gil Morgan still hangs over the US Open until Kaymer brings it home! That was a very sad sight and one I don't care to see again!!

Do you think he has this sewn up Kwini?

Hi sirb,
Not at all!
If he can shoot 65's, so can someone else - others are notching the same number of birds, just making too many bogeys and worse.
But: Hope he wins comfortably.

kwinigolfer wrote:Hi sirb,
Not at all!
If he can shoot 65's, so can someone else - others are notching the same number of birds, just making too many bogeys and worse.
But: Hope he wins comfortably.

Doesn't look like they have set it up for many 65's today though haha!

This morning's play going just as the USGA would like - no rounds in progress under par.
Sergio even par for nine holes, and that's the best on the course so far.

Taniguchi struggling to break 90 here

Customary dismal showing by Team Japan, Matsuyama excepted.
They used to call DC "Guinness" because he didn't travel well.
What to they call the Jap Chaps?

Does anyone else think Ricke Fowler looks like an ugly version of Miley Cyrus?

Kaymer looks very nervy to me.

Five stroke lead going in to Sunday - he couldn't have asked for much better than that. Another 72 would almost certainly do the trick.
Would think Stenson is the biggest threat.

For Rory to win a major in tricky conditions he needs a new caddie?

I am not sure he has the course management skills for conditions like this week and his current caddie does not have them either. If his caddie can read a course like pinehurst then Rory is not listening to him and that might be grounds for change in itself.

If the course wasn't dried out Saturday, it certainly will be for Sunday afternoon with high temps expected to reach 90, wall-to-wall sunshine and less humidity.

American media still circling like vultures over Kaymer's lead; if Woods was in this position it would all be about how much he can extend his lead by, rather than grasping at straws to see who might overhaul Kaymer.

Henrik Stenson has hit four more greens in regulation than any other golfer - no problems here with a Kaymer, Stenson one, two finish.

I look for Kaymer to finish this off in style.

Good to see some of the major less Americans near the top. A changing of the guard.

Sr,
The "guard" keeps on "changing" with the exception of Furyk, Mickelson and Woods.

Some tasty twosomes out there today. I think I'll let the full-figures of Stadler & Weekley waddle on by and follow Matty Fitz and King Louis.
Then:
Twin attractions of Simpson & Top Five, followed by Els & Billy Ho.
Badds & Stricker
Scott & McIlroy
Dustin & Sneds
See Poulter is paired with his best buddy Matsuyama yet again.
Lots of entertainment if the USGA doesn't go "Shinnecock" on them.

Kwin - "American Media" also includes this nice piece from the NYT ... http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/sports/golf/despite-five-bogeys-kaymer-calmly-holds-on-to-a-five-shot-lead.html?hpw&rref=sports

Really seems as if Kaymer is in a very good place mentally and I think the rest of the field playing for first loser spot.

Some find this event domination by one player boring. Not me. To trounce a field of this magnitude -- as Rory did not long ago at Congressional -- is an amazing accomplishment IMO.

You're right Sr.
NY Times about the only publication capable of proper writing these days, and balanced coverage.
Gawd help us when Fox gets the US Open - fox in the henhouse if "fair and balanced" reporting is what you're after.

Not clear how the course is playing yet, but good to see a couple of under par scores from Matt & Louis.

kwinigolfer wrote:Lots of entertainment if the USGA doesn't go "Shinnecock" on them.

Kwini, if you go to the US Open website, there is a video by Mike Davis saying that the course will be easier than yesterday. Two par fives reachable, and two par fours also reachable - if you want to chance it. They have watered the course last night and this morning. Payne Stewart Sunday pin position on 18.

Thanks Inw.
And Good!

Taniguchi really dragging his last-place arse around Pinehurst; 2 1/2 hours and only 12 holes played and the Calalry waiting upon his every shot.
If the USGA is ever serious about slow play, which of course they're not, they should do everyone a favour and penalize him.

That birdie on the last for Kaymer for me, may just have clinched it. I think he plays a good round today and cruises to his second major

The pattern of Ryder Cup wannabes doing nothing to enhance their qualification chances continues with Americans like English, Zach Johnson, Mickelson, Simpson and Todd etc joining Dufner & Mahan in missing big-time (because it's double points-time) Ryder Cup points chances.

Hopefully McDowell and Poulter will grasp the opportunity that Donald and Donaldson, Jimenez and Westwood, Gallacher and Blixt so haplessly spurned.

Phew, Taniguchi finally completed his version of the Burma Road. Other back-markers queueing up (impatiently?) behind him just waiting to leave the premises.
Oosthuizen and Fitzpatrick both playing really well thru 16. Both proving there are birdies to be had.

Blimey,
Daniel Berger to -3 after 16 holes. I remember his Dad, Jay Berger, who apparently now works for the USTA and reached the ATP top ten a few years ago.
Jay Berger used to have the most unusual service action, started with the racket seemingly above his head; perhaps his lad starts with the golf club perched in mid-air?
Regardless, great round going.

Nice hole-in-one for Zach. He needed it.

Shotrock wrote:Kwin - "American Media" also includes this nice piece from the NYT ... http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/15/sports/golf/despite-five-bogeys-kaymer-calmly-holds-on-to-a-five-shot-lead.html?hpw&rref=sports

Really seems as if Kaymer is in a very good place mentally and I think the rest of the field playing for first loser spot.

Some find this event domination by one player boring. Not me. To trounce a field of this magnitude -- as Rory did not long ago at Congressional -- is an amazing accomplishment IMO.

Good balanced read that... until referring to Fowler as one of the most celebrated players without a major, eh?!

Fowler's swing changes seem to be proving worthwhile considering the first two majors!

kwinigolfer wrote:Hopefully McDowell and Poulter will grasp the opportunity that Donald and Donaldson, Jimenez and Westwood, Gallacher and Blixt so haplessly spurned.

Don't want to put the mockers on him but Poulter is -2 after 7

A good round from Poults and he could sneak a top 5 here.

A big week for Poulter this, I reckon. Not sure of his schedule after this, he usually plays Hartford, but not this week, and don't see him in the fields in Ireland or Germany.

Poulter letting it slip on the back nine. Rory not making anything happen.

Typical Poulter tbh

Delighted to see the ghastly Fowler fall away and Stenson creep up.

And typical Fowler, The only think he's "celebrated" for is running up a big number every tournament he plays. Double!

I think he's probably the most over-rated and over hyped player on tour.

Compton gets a birdie at 8 as Kaymer loses a shot at 7. Four shots between them now.

Kaymer showing pure class.

Compton leading the charge from behind? That's the best from the field?

Fowler looking at a top 5 ... where are the "celebrated" others?

Johnny Miller had Martin Kaymer just "hanging on" after the ignominious bogey at #10.
Not any more Johnny. Your boys are beating a hasty retreat.
(Unfortunately, ours are too.)
Hoping Erik Compton hangs in there for a top 4 and an invite from B.Payne.

Great tournament for Martin Kaymer. To be 10 under and eight in front at a course where only three other players are under par is phenomenal.

Kaymer showing why I said a few years back that he will be more successful than Mcilroy! It remains to be seen

Sport - True that! A beat down on the field.

Kwin - "Your" boys -- even a hastier retreat my friend!

Brilliant from Koepka, winning me some €€€€ haha!!!