The 109th U.S. Open Championship

[trifectarich]

Usually not much news generated on a Monday. Word out of Bethpage is that in 2014, the USGA is going to play the Open at Pinehurst No. 2 and then play the Women's Open on the very same golf course the next week.

Interesting idea, but I see more downside than up.

 

[playthrough]

Not that the men are going to tear the place up like a bunch of 25 handicappers, but will the place be as perfect the second week for the women as it will be for the men?

The USGA said they won't take down any grandstands immediately after the men are done, which is the right thing to do for congestion's sake, but it will look strange to have all those seats for maybe 50 percent of the crowd (though TV will surely keep the cameras tight during the Women's Open). Same can be said for the media center.

 

[Captain_Kirk]

Sounds like a lousy idea. I think the local citizenry may have gotten their fill just about the time the women hit town. Ladies could easily get lost in the shuffle being the back end of a two week golf fest, and fighting for attention with the men.

Much better to have a city be totally focused on one of these championships, be it men or women, rather than trying to divide attention between both.

If they want to do this, they need to schedule the women's tournament first.

 

[JackReacher]

According to Wilbon, Big Ben shot 81 at Bethpage Black. Jordan shot 86 and Timberlake shot 88. I'm guessing this was recently.

Is this course easier or are Big Ben, Jordan and JT Money that good?

 

[trifectarich]

Not that the men are going to tear the place up like a bunch of 25 handicappers, but will the place be as perfect the second week for the women as it will be for the men?

The USGA said they won't take down any grandstands immediately after the men are done, which is the right thing to do for congestion's sake, but it will look strange to have all those seats for maybe 50 percent of the crowd (though TV will surely keep the cameras tight during the Women's Open). Same can be said for the media center.

These are exactly the two areas that came to mind. Ever see some of the fairways after the pros are there for a week? Looks like someone used the area for grenade practice.

And if they don't take down half the grandstands, it'll look awful on television.

I can't wait to hear the bitching if there's a playoff on Monday and the women don't have access to the course.

 

[playthrough]

Or if there's enough rain to completely kill a day of men's play, perhaps pushing the schedule back.

The women played at Pine Needles two years ago; I wonder if the USGA thought about using that course for the women again instead of this same-site doubleheader.

 

[Rockbottom]

Cue trumpets! Majestic flyovers! Hicks: "NBC, and the United States Golf Association, are proud to present a national championship" ... Miller, in curmudgeonly tone: "I could have shot 63 here all four days!" ... Maltbie, on internal loop: "A case of Pall Malls to 4 tee, stat."

RB

 

[93Devil]

According to Wilbon, Big Ben shot 81 at Bethpage Black. Jordan shot 86 and Timberlake shot 88. I'm guessing this was recently.

Is this course easier or are Big Ben, Jordan and JT Money that good?

I'm guessing good with easy pin placements.

 

[JackReacher]

According to Wilbon, Big Ben shot 81 at Bethpage Black. Jordan shot 86 and Timberlake shot 88. I'm guessing this was recently.

Is this course easier or are Big Ben, Jordan and JT Money that good?

I'm guessing good with easy pin placements.

But isn't BB the longest course in history or something like that? Shooting in the 80s is damn impressive for those three fellas. Based on that, you'd think Tiger should shoot 65 all four days.

 

[Small Town Guy]

According to Wilbon, Big Ben shot 81 at Bethpage Black. Jordan shot 86 and Timberlake shot 88. I'm guessing this was recently.

Is this course easier or are Big Ben, Jordan and JT Money that good?

I'm guessing good with easy pin placements.

But isn't BB the longest course in history or something like that? Shooting in the 80s is damn impressive for those three fellas. Based on that, you'd think Tiger should shoot 65 all four days.

I didn't see the stories. Did they play from the same tees, and I'm sure the USGA has grown the rough even more the last couple of weeks. At my former paper, our columnist played hazeltine like a week before the PGA was held there, and he shot like a 72. he was a scratch golfer, but he still framed the scorecard.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Gerry Dulac of the P-G covered the match. I think the story said they were playing the same set up.
81 is pretty damn impressive!
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09164/977150-66.stm

Win two Super Bowls AND beat Michael Jordan's ass! ;D

 

[playthrough]

Times have changed:

In 2002 I got picked in the USGA lottery for four weeklong Bethpage tickets. Took my Dad and paid for nearly the entire trip with the profits off the other two tickets, which I sold on ebay.

For this year I got picked in the lottery again, but couldn't go. Had to bust my tail to salvage about 75 cents on the dollar for all the tickets. The USGA put a bunch on sale at the course last weekend, as so many corporations returned piles of tickets.

I'm sure it will be called a "sellout" on NBC all week, but this is a far cry from the first go-round at the Black in terms of fans.

 

[trifectarich]

Gerry Dulac of the P-G covered the match. I think the story said they were playing the same set up.
81 is pretty damn impressive!
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09164/977150-66.stm

Win two Super Bowls AND beat Michael Jordan's ass! ;D

6 hours and 20 minutes? Please tell me that's a typo.

 

[DanOregon]

With Brian Gay winning his way into the field Sunday, does that bump somebody or do they just add him to the field?

 

[expendable]

According to Wilbon, Big Ben shot 81 at Bethpage Black. Jordan shot 86 and Timberlake shot 88. I'm guessing this was recently.

Is this course easier or are Big Ben, Jordan and JT Money that good?

I'm guessing good with easy pin placements.

But isn't BB the longest course in history or something like that? Shooting in the 80s is damn impressive for those three fellas. Based on that, you'd think Tiger should shoot 65 all four days.

I don't care if the other three shot 120 apiece, Tiger could still shoot 65 all four days.

 

[trifectarich]

With Brian Gay winning his way into the field Sunday, does that bump somebody or do they just add him to the field?

Just add him to the field. When the USGA announced its Open pairings, it had a spot open for either a new exempt player or an alternate from sectional qualifying.

 

[playthrough]

Gerry Dulac of the P-G covered the match. I think the story said they were playing the same set up.
81 is pretty damn impressive!
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09164/977150-66.stm

Win two Super Bowls AND beat Michael Jordan's ass! ;D

6 hours and 20 minutes? Please tell me that's a typo.

With three guys in the 80s and the other shooting 101. That's an embarrassment.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

Don't forget, the whole round was shot for an NBC special. So there were likely more than a few TV mandated delays for interviews with MJ, spitballing ideas with the stars for wacky on-the-green banter, etc.

 

[Kid Presentable]

Bethpage Black was the best 108 I ever shot

 

[playthrough]

Don't forget, the whole round was shot for an NBC special. So there were likely more than a few TV mandated delays for interviews with MJ, spitballing ideas with the stars for wacky on-the-green banter, etc.

Sure. But I've covered some of those televised yukfests and I know I wasn't out there for six and a half hours.