PGA Tour: US Open, Into the Unknown: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

OK, This is one of those weeks where we don't know what we don't know.
We don't know anything about the Chambers Bay course, except that it's visually breathtaking. But so is Bryce Canyon. We know it's been very dry and there are reports about greens being "on the edge", but whether that's by accident or design, who knows?
We know there might be Par-5's morphing into Par-4's and vice versa, but no word yet as to whether Mike Davis might create a Par-2 or a Par-6. We DO know promised transportation infrastructure ain't happening, and that "patrons" are advised to view from grandstands rather than follow specific groups - use your own sporting analogy, but that sounds bl00dy stupid to moi.
And we do know that this course is not pro-tournament proven; the only significant event staged there so far is the 2010 US Amateur.

So let's not try and pre-judge what we don't know, or forecast based on subjective snippets about the place, and offer a few notes based upon what we do know about the PGA Tour season:

1).For the second straight week an Englishman was beaten into second place by a first-time "foreign" winner, David Lingmerth beating Justin Rose at the Memorial, Fabian Gomez outplaying Greg Owen, and everyone else, in Memphis.
Greg Owen played out of his skin, his customary excellent ball-striking giving him a chance, and putting with a calm stroke seldom seen from him. Although he looked a bit jittery on his back nine, his usually questionable composure only betrayed him following a 3-wood wide-right into the water on #12 and subsequent demolition of said club. Good job he didn't really need it after that.
The man from Mansfield earned his richest golfing pay-day and gives himself an even chance of keeping his Tour card for another year, via the Top 125 in earnings if not the Top 125 in FedEx points.

2).And, after a 3-month string of tournaments being won by high echelon players, we now have three in a row won by unheralded non-Americans, with Bowditch having won in Dallas. Imagine that trend may screech to a halt this week.

3).Russell Knox continued his run of good form and extended his lead in bogey-free rounds on Tour these past two seasons. $300K in Knox's pocket in the last three weeks without threatening to contend for a title. Apart from being no better than Tour average around the greens, Knox has scarcely a weakness in his game:
Eighth in greens in regulation.
Second in "proximity to the hole".
But does he have that "extra gear" needed to win tournaments? He has a week off and hopefully the rest will helpful as he goes to Hartford next week to play a course which suits him down to the ground.

4).Luke Donald showed glimpses of a return to form in Memphis, but McDool missed the cut. Both are in real danger of failing to earn their way into the FedEx Play-Offs; at least Luke shows signs of adjusting his schedule accordingly - he'll visit Hartford for the first time and, if he fails to qualify for St.Andrews, may add another US event. Meanwhile, Brian Davis started out like a house on fire in Memphis, but the early flashes of form became extinguished as he struggled the rest of the way. Odds against him retaining his card without a visit to the WTF series.

5).And so to Chambers Bay, in the great Pacific North-West, just outside Seattle. No idea what to expect from the course and the USGA set-up. And no idea what to expect from Fox TV as they broadcast their first Pro tournament. Just hoping for the best on both counts.

Camilo opening the Round 4 batting, taking guard at 7.55 a.m.. Imagine he'll scoot round a bit quicker than yesterday's opener who took about 3 3/4 hours.
Forecast is good, winds "light and variable" with just a smidgeon of a chance of a brief early morning shower.

I see the cruciferous nature of the greens has caused Stenson's analogy to "putting on broccoli" to be critiqued as more like "cauliflower".

Morning Shotrock,
No, only really thought Rose from Team GB had a chance, but very happy to see Lowry playing so well.

Hope Day doesn't do himself any damage; imagine he'll be an early withdrawal from Hartford.

DJ hit all 14 fairways yesterday; if he repeats that he'll be tough to beat. Sentimental choice: King Louis, after having done so much to overcome the handicap of his Thursday/Friday grouping!


I'm not a big fan of what we've seen of CB, but not sure whether that view is partly influenced by Fox's dire coverage; they seem incapable of showing the full perspective of any of the holes - bad choice to start their TV contract with Chambers Bay.

When asked if he liked the poana/fescue mix of Chambers Bay, Dustin Johnson replied: 'Haven't tried it yet. How much is 1 gram?'

Playing those greens I'm sure having vertigo could be an advantage.

"Fox" coverage sleep inducing.

The one moment of levity was when Joe Buck was discussing the "golfer's" team of swing coach, caddy, psychologist, wife, girlfriend ... Buck said "the last two should never meet".

Shotrock wrote:"Fox" coverage sleep inducing.

Imagine watching it at 1 a.m.

Lowry showing respect for the lives lost in the Berkeley tragedy by wearing black on all 4 days

Really hard to see anyone other than one of the -4's winning - fancy the winning score to be -3...................

That's a great gesture from Shane Lowry - wondered why he was golfing in black every day.
He has a real chance if he can post some birdies early. Teeing off with JB Holmes half an hour before the final pair; no reason for either not to attack the course where possible - get thru the seventh hole at even for the day and then go all out. Good luck to him.

Shotrock,
Joe Buck is one of a number of American commentators who seem to think it's all about them, the Brian Williams school of broadcasting, though Howard Cosell probably paved the way.
Where is Jack Buck, or Jack Whitaker, or even Dan Hicks when we need them

Apparently 18 will play as a par 5 again and 1 as a par 4

Ah, Hadn't seen that sirb,
Wonder if Spieth's criticism has anything to do with it, and his assertion that he planned to play the hole from the first fairway.

A big about-turn from Mike Davis, which is good! Sure he'll exact retribution somewhere but it should means there are plenty of birdie opportunities in the last three or four holes.

pedro wrote:

Shotrock wrote:"Fox" coverage sleep inducing.

Imagine watching it at 1 a.m.

Or even 3am!

Chris Kirk with an impressive start on the 1st......yikes! What is an 11 called on a par 4?

EDIT It has been corrected to a 10 on the first hole!

Kwini, Bryson DeChambeau played with Nick Hardy as a non competitive marker.

Pretty sure if Hardy was playing by himself, he would finished better than 3 hrs 45 min.

Hadn't seen that GPB, that's the trouble with same-length clubs . . . . . .

Two hours since Camilo teed off, and only five birdies so far among all the subsequent starters.

EDIT: Camilo's dawdling just as slowly as Hardy; Ben Crane must be his "marker".

Would a Jason Day win considering the circumstances rank alongside the likes of Tiger Woods with a broken leg? Playing the last 36 holes with vertigo and to win would be amazing!

They have made the 16th drivable! So two drivable par 4's and a par 5 in the last 7 holes...scoring chances.

Mixed feelings about too many drivable par-4's - golf or long-drive contest?
#16 was drivable for some yesterday; best results seemed to come from 3-woods just short and a tricky chip.

It'll be interesting to see how Billy Ho plays his second nine. Momentum from the front nine and not afraid to go low.

Villegas's misery is over, punctuated with a bogey 6 on #18. Mike Davis smugly (inevitably) satisfied.

Ben Martin improved his Round 3 score by 16 strokes. If anyone else does that they'll win!

sirbenson wrote:Lowry showing respect for the lives lost in the Berkeley tragedy by wearing black on all 4 days

When you think about it, that's a bit weird isn't it? I assume you mean that balcony collapse, but did he know any of them? Family? Relatives? Friends? May as well wear black for the church shooting in Carolina the other day if he didn't. Does he wear black when anyone dies young/unexpectedly? Nice gesture though I guess and hope he plays well in round 4.

Did you miss the fact they were from Ireland Navy. Oh and Lowry is from Ireland. It's a gesture is all, and good on him for making it.

The dullest Majors leaderboard in living memory ? Got to think so.

Phil follows Mike Davis's advice and checked out the course well in advance and gets his hands on the U.S. Open trophy. Wait, he didn't win?

What's wrong with the leaderboard Ed?


Phil must wonder where it all went wrong. The careless abandon that used to be such a breath of phresh air seems to have deserted him. Double-bogey phinish sums up his week.

3 players tie for the lead in the Top 10 doesn't make a dull leaderboard IMO.  Maybe it is the lack of Brits on the leaderboard.

Spieth will close the Gap on Rory to about 1.6 avg pts should he win.  Or about 80 net points.

Day and Johnson will be #3 should either win.

Grace can get as high as #14 should he win.

Should Lowry have the Round of his life, he could get as high as #15

King Louis to #11
Holmes to #3
Cameron Smith to #21

Think Coetzee should have handed that driver back and said that one's broken too.

Seems odd to me that if someone (Spieth) wins his second major of the year, after a pretty good last 18 months, he still is relatively far behind McIlroy

I know no ranking system can be perfect but it seems a little wrong. Yes I know McIlroy also won two almost 12 months ago but the weighting of the system seems a little out of kilter

I'd say Spieth is the best golfer in the world at this moment in time, whether he wins tonight or not.

Just a big IF ... but if he converts tonight, then goes on to win at TOC, does he finally get to no 1?

Davie wrote:
Just a big IF ... but if he converts tonight, then goes on to win at TOC, does he finally get to no 1?

Possibly, but not necessarily.  A Spieth win this week and at St Andrews would put him ahead of Rory if Rory finishes out of the 5 or 6.  


Is Rory playing another tournament in the next 3 weeks? Scottish Open possibly?

I suspect Spieth is playing John Deere the week before TOC.

Davie,
Remember that Rory has won twice, two high-points earning events, since Spieth last won.
And, yes, Rory is committed for Gullane.

I'm not ruling out a Fat Shane win tonight. Right in the hunt. Which would put me in with a weeks worth of gushing praise again.

I'd agree with Davie, Spieth is the genuine number one on current form. I'd prefer a 12 month rolling points system where you defend what you've won from the year before, this natural wastage seems a load of nonsense in golf. 9C and Harrington enjoyed false rankings for a very long time on this system.

Tennis rankings seems to be pretty accurate in that regard, they reflect consistency better over say a 3 month period.

Rory would still be leading, super. He'd have the same number of Majors, plus two WGC's in his bag, plus Quail Hollow.

kwinigolfer wrote:Rory would still be leading, super. He'd have the same number of Majors, plus two WGC's in his bag, plus Quail Hollow.

Fair enough, it does appear though that Pubehead is in need of an injection of inspiration. I'd have thought the threat of Spieth in his rear view might spur him into some sort of form.

A Spieth/McIlroy shootout at St.Andrews could be the only thing which makes it an interesting competition this year (should no one shoot 254 of course). TOC though is actually looking good right now with all the stands up, some of them are huge.

More lower scores today - only six rounds in the 60's all Round 3. Already five 60-somethings in the house with Billy Ho coming down the straight with another one.
Decent rounds out there. But will any trouble the leaders?

One good thing about the US Open is that there is always a holocaust score out there. The 4 might be a few shots ahead, but really anyone within 6 shots is in there, unfortunately that includes Fat

GPB wrote:3 players tie for the lead in the Top 10 doesn't make a dull leaderboard IMO.

4 tied for the lead no?

Even if speiths wins then surely rory has still had a better 12 months. You can't base best in the world on short term form. I'd like grace to win this.

MustPuttBetter wrote:

GPB wrote:3 players tie for the lead in the Top 10 doesn't make a dull leaderboard IMO.

4 tied for the lead no?

Think he means the owgr top 10 (Dj, Day, Spieth)

puligny wrote:Did you miss the fact they were from Ireland Navy. Oh and Lowry is from Ireland. It's a gesture is all, and good on him for making it.

Err, no. Of course I didn't miss that. But they could have been from Mars for all he had any link to them. I'll get my coat....

pedro wrote:

MustPuttBetter wrote:

GPB wrote:3 players tie for the lead in the Top 10 doesn't make a dull leaderboard IMO.

4 tied for the lead no?

Think he means the owgr top 10 (Dj, Day, Spieth)

Ah got it, fair enough, ta!

Something to play for even if a golfer doesn't win:
Top 10 get a ticket for Oakmont next year.
Top 4 get an invite from Billy Payne.

62 watch??????????????????????

Aaargh he should have holed that 9-footer

MustPuttBetter wrote:

GPB wrote:3 players tie for the lead in the Top 10 doesn't make a dull leaderboard IMO.

4 tied for the lead no?

Yes, 4 were tied for the lead, but Grace was not in the Top 10 of the OWGR.


Edit:  Just saw Pedro's post.

Looking good for DJ. Think he'll be smoking the poana tonight.
I'm off to bed.

DJ looking imperious here....has just played one bad shot for the front 9, a miss club on 6

30 minutes later he's not in the lead. Still wide open; what chance a Monday playoff?

What did Snedeker's putt hit on #14? Never seen anything like it.

Current top ten:
2 Americans
3 Saffers
3 Aussies
Rory
Shane.

Somebody yelled "pass the sugar Rory" after one shot. Where the heck did that come from?

Oh boy for Grace. Reminiscent of DJ and Langer at St Georges.

Holy moly! WTF, does anyone want to win this?