PGA Tour: US Open at Pebble Beach, Again: Notes from the Ballwasher

First topic message reminder :

1).A terrific win last week in Ontario for Rory McIlroy, a dominating Sunday performance going in to US Open play at Pebble Beach.
But does it really mean anything when considering who might play well this week?
One slightly quirk is that this will be the second of three straight events where the course will measure under 7,000 yards; wonder when that happened last? Length matters, but perhaps not quite so much as usual.

2).US Opens at Pebble Beach are anomalous in that the course is familiar to almost any Pro, whether by watching the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in February, playing in the Pro-Am or even from past US Opens, when of course June conditions can be vastly different from those in winter.

3).With all that in mind, it surely still doesn't hurt to have some course experience, preferably successful, and this is how I would run down the chances of leading players:

4).Four Californians against the field:
Mickelson, Woods, both of whom obviously have multiple wins here and played well behind McDowell in 2010. Phil is in terrible form recently, and Tiger hasn't played much, but you wouldn't put it past them.
Plus Patrick Cantlay who's playing as well as anyone right now, knows Pebble Beach and has finished T15 or better in every tournament he's finished this season. Only caveat with Cantlay is his driving accuracy, but the pros won't need driver on all but half a dozen holes anyway.
And Xander Schauffele who seemingly comes to play at every big event, has 4 x Top Tens (and 6 x Top 25's) in just 9 Majors played. (Plus a WGC and a runner up at The Players.)

5).Four who have great February records at Pebble Beach:
Spieth: But I can't see him winning again yet; in his current run it seems there's always something . . . . . .
Jason Day: Well, he DOES have Stevie Williams caddying . . . . . very consistent in February.
Snedeker: Played well last week and seems to love poa annua greens and traditional courses.
Dustin: Two wins, two runner ups, and could've, would've, should've in 2010. Last year's Open Championship is the only tournament where he's missed the cut since Erin Hills in 2017, second in both Majors so far this year and can't see any reason not to believe he can go one better this week. He'll be 35 within the fortnight and one Major ain't enough.

6).Five stars who I just can't see bringing it home:
Rory: He'll have to play his best two weeks running, and this set-up will be firm and demanding of his short game, good enough last week but Pebble's greens will be unforgiving.
Koepka: Length won't be a huge advantage here, and I'm guessing that'll cool his jets. He's just too damn good to rule out completely though.
Justin Thomas: Just coming back to form after a few weeks out with wrist problems. Not this week, but one to watch this summer.
Rose: Not much magic recently, not hitting it particularly straight off the tee and missing too many greens.
DeChambeau: No magic for months and is Pebble the right course for his golf-by-numbers theories?

7).Four Europeans:
Chico: Why not? No competitive rounds at Pebble since missing the 2010 cut won't help. No form, and not much play, since The Masters. Is the year-long purple patch fading?
Rahm: Two good tournaments at Pebble Beach but missed his last two cuts. Can't see the "W" but wouldn't be surprised to see him play well.
Garcia: Missed his last SEVEN Major cuts. Nope.
Stenson: Like Molinari, has only played Pebble at the 2010 US Open where he was 29th. Played well in Rory's wake but any magic in his putter seems to be fading.

8).Five Internationals:
Scott: Wants it so badly but needs to putt consistently and he doesn't do that often enough.
Oosthuizen: Raises his game for Majors but is walking wounded this spring.
Leishman: Maybe, just doesn't win often enough to inspire confidence. Top ten and could be anything.
Matsuyama: Never played Pebble competitively, just not quite at his form of a couple of years ago.
Grace: Like Louis, seems to raise his game for Majors but in terrible form.

9).The best of the rest of GB&I:
Casey: Not in great form right now but likes Pebble, runner-up behind Phil in February, and 8th last year. 12 years since his last US Open top ten.
Tommy: Hopefully rested after looking over-golfed. So consistent and not missed a cut since Open De France a year ago - and we know he made up for that.
Shane: Seems to love the place, in great form; each way chance?
McDowell: What a story that would be. By his own admission was putting the best of his life in the summer of 2010, but he's playing well. Another e.w. shot? Or looking past this week??

10).After all that drivel, I still like one of the young Californians, Cantlay & Xander, and DJ, and can't wait to see how Lowry does. Let's just hope the USGA get it right for once.

https://www.golfchannel.com/news/jordan-spieth-calls-out-caddie-after-costly-shots-pebbles-8th-hole-2019-us-open


Not exactly a ringing endorsement of Jordan Spieth's choirboy image. Would think something has to give there.

Conditions for Round 2 should be pretty much the same as on Thursday, and through the weekend too. Hopefully with a little more breeze.

The picturesque nature of a course really does matter. Pebble Beach is lovely on tv. While Bethpage was a bit meh.

Suppose a course that is where it is, will de depending on the weather. If the usga accept that then it could make for a low scoring event. Thats not a bad thing, but I do admit to enjoying it when the players moan and complain if the course gets tricky.

Kwini

I suspect Spieth and his caddie are at the point where they are friends that are so close that they can rip into each other a bit and move on OK. The sort of needle between caddie and player that I think Rory needs.

Re: Greller and Spieth

Given a choice of

a. getting chewed out and having his guy thinking that he hit perfect shots,

b. or not getting chewed out and his man losing confidence of his golf swing

I think a good caddie would take the arse chewing.

Snowman for Poulter probably takes him to a weekend off

Arse chewed caddies sounds like a youporn search

beninho wrote:Arse chewed caddies sounds like a youporn search

That'll be Mac's area of expertise.


The majority of "qualifiers" seem to be heading home.

I wonder if it's time for USGA (as well as R&A) to revisit their "Sectional" qualification rules, and reach somewhat further down the owgr foodchain?
I'd scrap the overseas qualies for instance and take, say, the top 75 from the owgr, maybe more from the money lists of overseas Tours. Perhaps add PGA Tour winners.

No-one making a run at Justin Rose, but he needs to finish his round off - looks like he's stumbling a bit.

Plenty of low scores yesterday but not so much in Round 2 with only veterans Furyk, Simpson, Scott, Kuchar & Koepka beating 70 as the Rose group comes down their last.
The USGA website projection reckons that the +2's will play the weekend - touch and go I would think.

Here we go; the +2's (Kinhult, Rafa, Cantlay, Snedeker etc) look as if they'll get paid.


Only Rory and Louis making a run at Rosey Justin.

A few minutes ago, 3 out of the top 4 players on the US Open were South African

Rosy, Oosty and Aaron Wise.

https://twitter.com/Golfweek_Dusek/status/1139671904095100933

At least the English swear well.
B0ll0cks to the rest of 'em.

Still not sure the +2's are good.

Super field, top level anyway, for The Travelers.
Plus the college guys milking their sponsors' invites. Looking forward to seeing one or two of them.

Rhys Enoch could have the round of the day: Prince Of Whales (as Fox and their friend would have it).

Never understood why anyone would care if someone else swore. Does it impact you?

McLaren wrote:Never understood why anyone would care if someone else swore.  Does it impact you?

Not sure what you mean by "impact"?
It can certainly offend me.


Has Gary Woodland suddenly learned how to putt?
Not my idea of a US Open champion, but if he continues to hole snakes like those on #8 & #9, who knows?

Super leaderboard, you'd almost think anyone who makes the cut has a chance.
Continued cool and, hopefully, something stronger than a "mere zephyr" (as Ben Wright used to say - and maybe still does?).

kwinigolfer wrote:Rhys Enoch could have the round of the day: Prince Of Whales (as Fox and their friend would have it).

Off and running at Pebble Beach. Good news and bad news for Rhys Enoch - great Round 2 (66), but your reward is 18 holes with Patrick Reed, who finished his round with his wedge in two pieces.

Forecast for today is a high of 57 (53 right now according to the Weather Channel) and 10 - 15 mph breezes. Pretty much the same on Sunday.

For anyone interested in Cantlays story. Hadn't realised how serious his back injury was.

https://www.golfdigest.com/story/patrick-cantlay-a-comeback-from-nowhere?mbid=social_twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=twitter&utm_brand=gd

Wonder which commentators you get in GB&I?

We get Fox's Joe Buck, who ruins every sport he covers, a bit like David Coleman back in the dark ages. Just awful.

And Fox are terrible at telling the story, pretty much Tiger & Phil TV for the past two hours. Drumpf must be lovin' it.

Kwin

From checking live scoring the scores seem low? Also saw the pin sheet and they looked generous. Who do you think this suits?

Mac,
The first seven holes are always "gettable"; the #8 thru #14 are severe tests.
So low scores for more recent starters are something of a mirage. As in Fowler, Matsuyama & Willett.

Round of the day so far: Danny Willett - 67. Woo Hoo!

If Kuchs snatches round of the day and wins tomorrow.

Time for Gary Woodland to morph into Gil Morgan.

Smoke and mirrors from Justin.

But Koepka's relentless.

Always thought that a no mark Yank would probably win this.

I hate the time difference!!

Can Woodland keep up with the get out of jail cards! Or will Brookes get this in a play off.

Yeah the time difference is a killer. After making to the end on Friday night / Saturday morning I was shattered last night and only managed the leaders first handful of holes before quitting. I’m currently watching the highlights but it’s not the same when you know the scores.

Kwini regarding commentators we’ve got Sky’s A team, Euan Murray, Rich Beam, Rob Lee, & Paul McGinley. I’m not McGinley’s biggest fan but he’s much better than Montgomery who he replaced.

Beemer is very good, I think.

Caught up with the highlights, bit of a shame I missed that Woodland - Rose head to head. It looked pretty exciting.

Kwini, Beemer is very good, yeah. I’m a bit surprised that one of the US networks haven’t tried to poach him. Although maybe they have and he’s staying loyal to Sky

wiretapper wrote:Caught up with the highlights, bit of a shame I missed that Woodland - Rose head to head. It looked pretty exciting.

Kwini, Beemer is very good, yeah. I’m a bit surprised that one of the US networks haven’t tried to poach him. Although maybe they have and he’s staying loyal to Sky

Rose played better Saturday than he did on Friday, but still not as sharp as you'd like to see him - but his short game was very tidy (except one delicate little shank in a bunker on the 5th). Made tons of 5 - 8 footers, but no real snakes, which both Koepka & Woodland did to keep their rounds going. Rory still not quite at his best and seemed to make unforced errors.


Beem did some work for Golf Channel and occasionally CBS, but haven't heard him for a couple of years.
Both seem infatuated with the Immelmans as their first reserve. Trevor is good but Mark is OTT.

Fox's commentators are OK, but Joe Buck as anchor makes it all about him and hyperbole. And the directors hop-scotch all over the place, have some putts about 15 minutes after they actually happened. No continuity except for featured "stars".

Pebble Beach has been presented very nicely this week. One issue I do have is the hole locations on Hole #8 and Hole #11. They have barely changed

Hole Location for Rounds 1,2,3 for Hole # 8 and #11

Hole #8

Rd1 ... 14 yds deep, 7 yds from left
Rd2 ... 15 yds deep, 11 yds from left
Rd3 ,,, 13 yds deep, 7 yds from left

Hole #11

Rd1 ... 13 yds deep, 5 yds from left
Rd2 ... 14 yds deep, 6 yds from left
Rd3 ,,, 12 yds deep, 6 yds from left

kwinigolfer wrote:

wiretapper wrote:Caught up with the highlights, bit of a shame I missed that Woodland - Rose head to head. It looked pretty exciting.

Kwini, Beemer is very good, yeah. I’m a bit surprised that one of the US networks haven’t tried to poach him. Although maybe they have and he’s staying loyal to Sky

Rose played better Saturday than he did on Friday, but still not as sharp as you'd like to see him - but his short game was very tidy (except one delicate little shank in a bunker on the 5th). Made tons of 5 - 8 footers, but no real snakes, which both Koepka & Woodland did to keep their rounds going. Rory still not quite at his best and seemed to make unforced errors.


Beem did some work for Golf Channel and occasionally CBS, but haven't heard him for a couple of years.
Both seem infatuated with the Immelmans as their first reserve. Trevor is good but Mark is OTT.

Fox's commentators are OK, but Joe Buck as anchor makes it all about him and hyperbole. And the directors hop-scotch all over the place, have some putts about 15 minutes after they actually happened. No continuity except for featured "stars".

Yes Beemer is great, he and Ewan Murray compliment each other very well, great banter between the two.

The Immelmans are terrible, especially Mark. Talks absolute drivel.

Masters winner Marcus Kinhult with the best Round 4 in progress - great looking swing, let's hope he finishes the job today.

Tommy Fleetwood's lack lustre performance must be one of the big disappointments of the week?

Saw this video of Woodland playing the 16th at TPC Scottsdale with a fan, sadly what the video doesn't show is Kuchar calling for a two shot penalty on her for non conforming grooves.

https://twitter.com/GolfDigest/status/1140289600306311168

McLaren wrote:Saw this video of Woodland playing the 16th at TPC Scottsdale with a fan, sadly what the video doesn't show is Kuchar calling a for a two shot penalty on her for non conforming grooves.

https://twitter.com/GolfDigest/status/1140289600306311168

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CdVTCDdEwI

Yes and yes Kwini, Kinhult looks solid. I also expected more from Tommy this week, perhaps he saw that I'd picked him in Sporty's game

Chez Reavie's 18th hole yesterday

207.5 yd drive:

Going out before many of the big guns not doing any good for Tiger as we get to see every shot of him hacking round the front 9...

The way TDub is moving and playing, I'm kinda surprised he teed it up today, looks terrible, playing worse. So far anyway.

Sweden / Austria with the two best rounds so far. Best in progress on the course? Norway. Just as we expected . . . . . . . . 'course we did.

Robo did a search, and he thinks that Hovland is the first Norwegian to play a US Open.

Henrik Bjornstad never played one.

As they make the turn, it looks like Rose, Koepka and Woodland will slug this out. Rose and Koepka masterclass and Woodland certainly playing like he belongs. Anyone's National Open.

(BTW, did anyone see Peabrain's inane interview after his first round. What a tool.)

Peabrain = Sergio?

I heard that he kicked down a fence after the round.

Yes, Sergio indeed.

Wouldn't have picked Woodland if I'd've had 50 picks, but what a well deserved win. Congrats to him.

Woodland manned up big time. Great playing down the stretch.

There was definitely some choking going on. I don't know how Rose hung on as long as did, as bad as he was hitting the golf ball.

GMac gets an exemption for the Open Championship by finishing 10th in Canada

Reavie finishes T3 in the US Open, and he is on the outside looking in. (but probably will get in eventually)

GPB wrote:

GMac gets an exemption for the Open Championship by finishing 10th in Canada

Reavie finishes T3 in the US Open, and he is on the outside looking in.  (but probably will get in eventually)

8th actually for McDowell, but still agree about Reavie, plus not sure what his passage is into Portrush. Could say the same about finger-snapper Hadley. Idiotic system.

At the end of Week 25, the Top 5 of the FEX Standings, not otherwise exempt gets to play Portrush.

Reavie is projected 35th after this week, and I think he might be in the Top 5 not otherwise exempt.

edit: Connors, Piercy, Howell are 3 players ahead, not yet exempt.

Didn't Woodland look like he was going to be good about 5 or so years ago and then nothing really materialised for him, until now of course. I remember an OK showing in a WGC matchplay.

Really poor from Rose, I know the narrative is that he was striking poorly and saving that with his putting but once a player gets in the final group they would expect to do better. Although hopefully there is no way a guy as good as him finishes his career with only one major.

Mac - I agree. Rose will almost certainly win more majors. Just too much talent there. It was really Woodland's week. Some unlikely par saving putts (and a chip in) kept him on top. Really kept his composure on the final few holes as well.

Shotrock wrote:Mac - I agree. Rose will almost certainly win more majors. Just too much talent there. It was really Woodland's week. Some unlikely par saving putts (and a chip in) kept him on top. Really kept his composure on the final few holes as well.

Agree too!
And, although Rose made a lot of 3 - 10 footers which kept him in the game, both on Saturday & Sunday, he never made the snakes that Koepka and Woodland made (as Sr says). And then Rose started to miss a few that he'd been making.
I'd say disappointing from Rose, rather than "poor", and whichever way you look at it Woodland played better than anyone else and thoroughly deserved the "W".

Encouraging to see good performances from "B" List Europeans such as Fitzpatrick, Wallace, Willett, Hatton, Lowry, Kinhult, even Hovland & Straka, etc. But only Americans Reavie & Hadley scored the top ten finish that earns them a ticket to Winged Foot (apart from those who'll be exempt for other reasons).