126th U.S. Open thread

[MileHigh]

Back at Shinnecock Hills on eastern Long Island for the sixth time and first since 2018. Only course to hold a U.S. Open in three different centuries.

Course got away from the USGA big time the last two times (2018, 2004) that turned it into debacles. Phil hitting a moving ball on the green in the third round in 2018. And they're already putting water on the greens.

Scottie goes for the career Grand Slam.

 

[Pickleballgolds]

My favorite golf course in America. I have only two must-watch events on my annual golf calendar and this is one.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Has the USGA finally learned how not to trick up courses?

Last time it was at Shinnecock, about the only thing missing on the greens – besides water – were clown's mouths and windmills. Just stupid.

Do better, USGA.

 

[MileHigh]

Meh, it's there for the New York market. And a founding USGA club.

If the F it up -- again -- they need to take it away in 2036 and put it in 2061 since the USGA likes giving away U.S. Open sites decades in advance. Or go to Pinehurst since they for some reason love going there nearly as often as the R&A goes to St. Andrews.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Meh, it's there for the New York market. And a founding USGA club.

If the F it up -- again -- they need to take it away in 2036 and put it in 2061 since the USGA likes giving away U.S. Open sites decades in advance. Or go to Pinehurst since they for some reason love going there nearly as often as the R&A goes to St. Andrews.

Like most of eastern Mass. and RI, Hamptons have been in a drought. They're gonna have to use water on the greens more than the USGA likes. Especially since wind is Shinnecock's primary defense. It sends those scores up (which USGA really likes), but also is what turns the greens unplayable.
I really don't know how Shinnecock fits in the New York market except for those rich enough to helicopter to the Hamptons. It's not Bethpage Black. It's far away. As the crow flies, it's closer to Providence than Manhattan.

 

[hondo]

There's supposed to be just a little rain overnight on Thursday. The course will be as dry and diabolical as the USGA wants it on the weekend.

 

[Cosmo]

The USGA can only do so much as course setup goes. It can ask for the rough to be grown up. It can move tees around. It can pick diabolical (but still technically fair) hole locations. The rest is in the hands of the weather gods, see 2011 at Congressional and 2017 at Erin Hills. Shinnecock just happens to be one of those places where weather (specifically wind) can overwhelm the course. That's what makes a U.S. Open test fun, though.

 

[qtlaw]

Nice article about the brilliance of the course design, design based on "triangles" to address the overriding factor, wind.

Why is Shinnecock Hills the gnarliest U.S. Open test? It starts with triangles

That type of routing is something I've never thought of.

 

[MileHigh]

Nice article about the brilliance of the course design, design based on "triangles" to address the overriding factor, wind.

Why is Shinnecock Hills the gnarliest U.S. Open test? It starts with triangles

That type of routing is something I've never thought of.

Read that this morning. Great story and insight.

 

[Pickleballgolds]

It’s obvious Rickie Fowler got dressed in the dark this morning.

 

[MileHigh]

Or the fog.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

It’s obvious Rickie Fowler got dressed in the dark this morning.

The photos being accessed just show white except for the pink footwear.

Thing is, he's had that lucrative contract with Puma for a long time. For what they're paying, Fowler probably isn't arguing.

And - if that sartorial choice today is accurate - it's tame compared to some of the stuff Puma puts on him.

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

As someone who has four pairs of Puma golf shoes, they're low key some of the best golf apparel out there. I've taken a pair of their shoes out of the box, walked 18 and not had any pinch or discomfort. The issue with Puma is they are getting to be as expensive as the premium brands, but you can usually catch a good deal on clearance.

 

[Pickleballgolds]

Ho-hum 70 for Keith Mitchell — 41 on his first nine, 29 on his second.

 

[TigerVols]

Is it just me or have the crowds been rather sparse all day? At the parade maybe?

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Is it just me or have the crowds been rather sparse all day? At the parade maybe?

Shinnecock is hard to get to unless you also live in the Hamptons. I'm sure they'll be bigger on the weekend, but it's not a day trip for anybody in NYC on a Thursday.

 

[playthrough]

What Michael said, and consequently I think they sold fewer tickets than most Opens.

 

[qtlaw]

I don't see any big hospitality tents or merchandise tents.

 

[Jake from State Farm]

Bringing us back to the days when ABC carried the Open. Wah Wah Watson played that terrific guitar

 

[BitterYoungMatador2]

What Michael said, and consequently I think they sold fewer tickets than most Opens.

I was stunned a couple of weeks ago when I saw practice round tickets on Stubhub for $17.