Tweaking Torrey

Thomas Bonk details some of the pre-U.S. Open changes to Torrey Pines and they may surprise you. Or, you may not care.

No. 4, 488-yard par four: The hole that runs along the ocean, the fairways have been widened out to the right, up near the green.

No. 5, 453-yard par four: The fairway has been widened in the drive zone, which should bring bunkers into play.

No. 13, 614-yard par five: If the shortest teeing area is used at 5390 yards, the fairway to the left, up against the canyon, is widened.

No. 18, 573-yard par five: A risk-reward hole, the fairway is widened out near the pond and wraps left around the pond.

Of course, the USGA did narrow a couple of fairways, the 612-yard 9th where three yards were taken off the left of the fairway in the third shot area and the 435-yard 14th where the fairway was narrowed up beyond the drive zone.

The Open is still seven weeks away, and that's plenty of time to start getting ready for the chatter about the brutal, 614-yard par five - if it's played from the farthest tee, which would require a 250-yard carry over a canyon.

Comments

[Bill V]

Torrey doesn't need tweaking, it needs CPR.

Or maybe not.

[Paul]

/\ I'd vote that it be taken off life-support so that it can gracefully pass into our memories.

Such a poor US Open Venue. Very Poor

[Jack Sprat]

No lean rounds will be played. 6 hours is mandated.