Site: Pebble Beach Golf Links
Location: Pebble Beach, CA
Champion: Graeme McDowell
Score: Level Par
Pebble Beach, you never disappoint...well not entirely. It actually wasn't the course that moderately disappointed me. It was the big names that lacked luster. I was hoping for a Watson, a Nicklaus, or a Kite like performance from the big boys. Instead I got to watch Dustin Johnson be put on suicide watch after 4 holes.
The USGA tried to set the course up for some dramatics. Tees up. Holes cut in "go" positions. Even the announcers were chirping about how the course was being "tricked up" for scoring. Au contraire mon frere. I believe the USGA (as always..well maybe not always) was in complete control of the set up, but they did try to make it fun. The fact of the matter is that you could probably push the tees up to the fronts on every hole during a U.S. Open and players would still fail to go low.
The USGA may have made an interesting discovery this year at Pebble. Yardage is overrated. Torrey played 30,572 in 2008 and the winning score was 1 under par. Compare that to Pebble's 28,260 yards (actually a few less then that with the set up) and level par champion. That's 2,312 yards shorter and a shot harder.
I hope, nay, PRAY that the USGA recognized this and begins to consider bringing back some of the classic courses back into the rotation. I think it's nice that they are into public golf courses but they must be careful not to ignore history. The most enjoyable thing about watching the U.S. Open this year was the fact that it was at Pebble. I like to watch tournaments at the venues that I know. Guilty. Why do you think we love to watch the Masters every year? I know Augusta better then most of the courses I've played a dozen times.
No offense, but who can tell me where Erin Hills is (site of the 2017 U.S. Open)?!? I guess eventually I'm going to wander there and tee it up, but I'm not really excited about it. I am excited about one day playing Chicago Golf Club which will more than likely NEVER host another U.S. Open. Which is a bit sad. The USGA must be careful not to water down its list of venues.
Speaking of U.S. Open venues...how about those Pebble Beach Golf Links!? The course looked ridiculous (in a good way). After watching the Open, I didn't just want to go play there again, I want to move there. I'll caddy, shag balls, build the little fires in the fireplaces at The Lodge. ANYTHING!
Pebble Beach looked ruggedly perfect. The play however, was mostly just rugged. Good players were missing shots in places that they shouldn't even know were part of the golf course. And it baffles me that players hit their ball in that big lateral hazard on the west side of the course. I avoided it so I would assume they should be able to do the same.
But alas I was not playing in a national championship. Not that I wouldn't have loved to play. I did try to qualify for this years championship throwing my hard earned money into the worlds largest pot for the first time. It was actually looking good for me at my local qualifier as I was 2 under through 2. But a short birdie put on the 4th that burned the lip, a poor wedge shot on the 6th, and a wayward 4 iron on the 7th hole proved to be my undoing (may that 4 iron rest in peace). Next year. Next year.
So to close the book (or at least my blog) on this years U.S. Open I say congratulations to Mr. McDowell, but more so to Pebble Beach for another fine showing. See you in 2019 (hopefully sooner!).
Fairways & Greens,
Joe
The USGA may have made an interesting discovery this year at Pebble. Yardage is overrated. Torrey played 30,572 in 2008 and the winning score was 1 under par. Compare that to Pebble's 28,260 yards (actually a few less then that with the set up) and level par champion. That's 2,312 yards shorter and a shot harder.
I hope, nay, PRAY that the USGA recognized this and begins to consider bringing back some of the classic courses back into the rotation. I think it's nice that they are into public golf courses but they must be careful not to ignore history. The most enjoyable thing about watching the U.S. Open this year was the fact that it was at Pebble. I like to watch tournaments at the venues that I know. Guilty. Why do you think we love to watch the Masters every year? I know Augusta better then most of the courses I've played a dozen times.
No offense, but who can tell me where Erin Hills is (site of the 2017 U.S. Open)?!? I guess eventually I'm going to wander there and tee it up, but I'm not really excited about it. I am excited about one day playing Chicago Golf Club which will more than likely NEVER host another U.S. Open. Which is a bit sad. The USGA must be careful not to water down its list of venues.
Speaking of U.S. Open venues...how about those Pebble Beach Golf Links!? The course looked ridiculous (in a good way). After watching the Open, I didn't just want to go play there again, I want to move there. I'll caddy, shag balls, build the little fires in the fireplaces at The Lodge. ANYTHING!
Pebble Beach looked ruggedly perfect. The play however, was mostly just rugged. Good players were missing shots in places that they shouldn't even know were part of the golf course. And it baffles me that players hit their ball in that big lateral hazard on the west side of the course. I avoided it so I would assume they should be able to do the same.
But alas I was not playing in a national championship. Not that I wouldn't have loved to play. I did try to qualify for this years championship throwing my hard earned money into the worlds largest pot for the first time. It was actually looking good for me at my local qualifier as I was 2 under through 2. But a short birdie put on the 4th that burned the lip, a poor wedge shot on the 6th, and a wayward 4 iron on the 7th hole proved to be my undoing (may that 4 iron rest in peace). Next year. Next year.
So to close the book (or at least my blog) on this years U.S. Open I say congratulations to Mr. McDowell, but more so to Pebble Beach for another fine showing. See you in 2019 (hopefully sooner!).
Fairways & Greens,
Joe
