Video: Phil To Mike Davis On 274-Yard 3rd: "Terrible"

Thanks to GolfChannel.com's Jay Coffin for Tweeting this video where NBC's crack audio team picking up a frank conversation between Phil Mickelson and USGA Executive Director Mike Davis after the 3rd hole, which played 274 yards into the wind.

The transcript:

"274?  That's terrible. Can't even reach it."

The hole was playing straight into the wind as forecasted.

Update on Monday, June 17, 2013 at 07:18 AM by Geoff

**Mike Davis's response after the round:

Q.  Phil expressed his displeasure about the third hole setup.  How do you feel with the way the wind was coming and did you feel like you got that one right?

MIKE DAVIS:  Well, let me start out by Phil is a class act.  He was nothing but complimentary week from the standpoint of he embraced this golf course, which is great.  He saw all the architecture when he played the third hole today.

We set the golf course up today for a south wind.  So you saw us move tee markers up.  For instance, if you're playing the 18th hole, you're dead into what would be a south wind.  So that's how we set it up.  That's why we didn't go to the back tees.

When we got to the third hole, we were really getting a westerly even a northwesterly wind.  So it played long.  It played longer than we would have ‑‑ but having said that, it was a back hole location that was the most receptive on the green, we felt that it could handle 3‑wood shots, if need be.  So anyway, I mean, he mentioned that he thought it was too long.  That's fine.  We wouldn't have put the tee markers back where we did had we known we were going to get that wind.

But he was terrific and to be a six‑time runner‑up in the National Open Championship is ‑‑ well, it's not only a record, but it's a ‑‑ he's a very classy about it.

Video: Stefani's Amazing Merion Ace!

This is just tremendous, both the shot by Shawn Stefani and the reaction in the final round at Merion:

After the round he talked about the shot:

Q.  Obviously the shot you hit, are you expecting that shot where it was going to where it would go in the hole?

SHAWN STEFANI:  Not at all.  I was just ‑‑ I was actually trying to hit the left side of the green and cut it.  And then I kind of pulled it.  I pulled it about five yards.  And the wind was kind of down off the left and it really didn't help at all.  It didn't move it to the right.

And honestly I think I've seen a bunch of balls that week kind of not kick to the right and I was really surprised to see the ball kick to the right.  And then once it did kick, it kept rolling and I was like, well this could be good.  And the fans stood up and then it kept getting closer and closer and then when it went in, I was just super excited because it's the first hole‑in‑one I've ever had in a tournament.

Q.  You've had others, but not in a tournament?

SHAWN STEFANI:  Just one other.

Q.  Which is?

SHAWN STEFANI:  I was 13 years old.  Goose Creek Country Club where I grew up playing golf on No. 16.

2013 U.S. Open Final Round Open Comment Thread

The big finale is here--well we think--and an exciting group of combatants is aligned to push third round leader Phil Mickelson.

If the weather holds and a few of the more accessible hole locations prove accessible, it should be a grand finish to a special week.

Your leaderboard and starting times.

Course setup notes and hole locations to follow after the USGA feels television partners Golf Channel/ESPN has gotten enough of an exclusive head start sharing this apparently sacred information.

Update on Sunday, June 16, 2013 at 11:15 AM by Geoff

**Better late than never. In light of Shawn Stefani's ace, note the 17th hole commentary:

COURSE SETUP: ROUND 4 OF THE 2013 U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

The following are details on the course setup for Round 4 of the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club, from Mike Davis, USGA Executive Director.

Green Speeds – The final round’s green speeds are in the 13- to 13½-foot range on the USGA Stimpmeter.   
.   
Fairway and Rough Grass – All fairways were mowed this morning. The rough’s first cut (18 feet in width of drive zones; 9 feet in width around greens) was mowed immediately after play last (Saturday) night.  

Total Course Yardage for Sunday (tee marker settings to flagstick) = 3,646 yards out; 3,207 yards in = 6,853 total yards

Hole-by-Hole Information:

Hole 1 – 360 yards; the hole location is in the back-left portion of the green. 
 
Hole 2 – 525 yards; tee markers have been moved forward to the penultimate teeing ground, which will give players a better opportunity to reach the green in two shots; the hole location is in the front-left portion of the green.  
 
Hole 3 – 266 yards; tee markers are placed on the back tee; the hole location is two-thirds of the way back on the right; properly played tee shots should “feed” into this area.
 
Hole 4 – 571 yards; tee markers have been placed forward on the penultimate teeing ground; the hole location is in the front-center portion of the green.  
 
Hole 5 – 495 yards; the hole location is in the front-center portion of the green.
 
Hole 6 – 490 yards; the hole location is in the back-right portion of the green.
 
Hole 7 – 340 yards; the hole location is on the front (first) left plateau.
 
Hole 8 – 353 yards; the hole location is in the back-right portion of the green.
 
Hole 9 – 246 yards; the hole location is in the back-left quadrant of this kidney-shaped green.
 
Hole 10 – 290 yards; tee markers are placed on the penultimate teeing ground, giving an opportunity to drive the green; the hole location is in the left portion of the green.
 
Hole 11 – 356 yards; the hole location is in the front-right portion, hugging the edge of the water hazard.
 
Hole 12 – 419 yards; the hole location is in the far back-right portion of the green.
 
Hole 13 – 121 yards; tee markers are placed on the back-right side of the lower teeing ground; the hole location is in the center, to the far right of the green. 
 
Hole 14 – 452 yards; tee markers have been placed on the back teeing ground; the hole location is in the front-center of the green; putts played from beyond the hole are very fast.
 
Hole 15 – 422 yards; tee markers have again been moved slightly forward, giving a few more options off the tee; the hole location is back right, tucked behind the bunker that fronts the right side of the putting green.  
 
Hole 16 – 423 yards; the hole location is in the front-left portion of the green, just above the front right “bowl.”
 
Hole 17 – 229 yards; the tee markers have been moved forward to the penultimate teeing ground; the hole location is in the back-right portion of the green in an area where balls will “feed” if the proper shot is played; birdies are a much better possibility in the final round.
 
Hole 18 – 511 yards; given the southerly headwind prediction, the tee markers are moved forward to the penultimate teeing ground; the hole is in the back left “bowl” in the traditional final-day championship location; balls should “feed” to this area.  

Sunday Scenarios And Finishing While We're Young

The good news: Sunday's U.S. Open finale (maybe) reverts to traditional twosomes, which should cut an hour off the round.

The bad news: Merion is still tough and we're likely to see rounds over 4 hours with a dodgy forecast that gets worse as the day goes, making the leaders' television-friendly 3:20 start time a concern. The slightest hiccup today with weather or pace and we are coming back Monday.

Either way, there is still considerable buzz about Saturday's awful pace of play which rendered even this compelling golf rather stale because there was so much standing around and so little ready golf by folks like Ian Poulter and Henrik Stenson (yes, I watched them for six holes and they are disgraces to considerate play. Playing partner Mathew Goggin deserves a prize for putting up with these two snails.)

John Huggan pens a must read item on how the USGA, which has raised fairway heights this week to send an important message about maintenance, also did damage to the newly launched pace-of-play campaign by presenting a setup that prevents any chance of a reasonable pace.

To all of which there is only one conclusion: at least in terms of encouraging a reasonable pace of play, something is wrong with the way Merion has been set up and, by extension, the USGA's warped view of how golf should be played. The message emanating from Far Hills, New Jersey is not "While We're Young," but "Do as we say, not do as we do."
 
OK, time out. We all know that slow play has been with us for years. Only this week AP golf writer Doug Ferguson cited a notice given to competitors in the 1950 US Open at Merion: "Be observant, reach your decision quickly and execute your shots with promptness and dispatch."
 
Clearly, no one has been listening.

Instant Poll: Who Will Win The 2013 U.S. Open

For reasons both obvious (he's striking the ball so well) and sentimental (it's time), I voted for Phil. You?

Who do you think will win the 2013 US Open?
	Phil Mickelson
	Hunter Mahan
	Charl Schwartzel
	Steve Stricker
	Justin Rose
	Luke Donald
	Billy Horschel
	Someone else
pollcode.com free polls

Phil Leads With One More Day To Go At Magical Merion...

I've just returned from the course after a long, slow, but compelling day of spectating at what is quickly becoming maybe my favorite championship venue west of St. Andrews. While the hole locations have been too unrelenting (more on that later) and rough is hiding too many important strategic landing areas, those setup quibbles should not overshadow what a marvelous design this is and how masterfully it's been presented from a maintenance perspective.

The ambiance and cross-property views are amazing, the leaderboard is finally starting to separate and Sunday figures to be a dandy at magical Merion.

I'd love to hear how it's coming off on television or as a spectating experience, but in discussions today with volunteers and spectators the overall operation appears to be a massive success, with only minor gripes about some shuttle and viewing issues. Philadelphia's SEPTA is getting high marks for train service as well.

Your thoughts heading into Sunday with this leaderboard:

1 MICKELSON, P. -1

T2 MAHAN, H. E

T2 SCHWARTZEL, C.  E

T2  STRICKER, S.  E

T5  ROSE, J.  +1

T5 DONALD, L. +1

T5 HORSCHEL, B. +1

2013 U.S. Open Third Round Open Comment Thread

It's going to be a doozy!

(Click to enlarge Saturday's 3rd round hole locations)Dry winds are baking the course out this morning, the players will be going off of split tees starting at 12:15 and the world's best will have to once again negotiate a brilliant Merion design that has driven them batty so far.

But according to the USGA's Mike Davis, who appeared on Golf Channel Friday night, the Saturday setup will be kinder and maybe gentler.

We'll be having a 1 pm live chat/roundtable/Twitter question session at GolfDigest.com between Jaime Diaz, Dan Jenkins, Guy Yocom and yours truly. Come pose your best questions!

NBC sign on is currently scheduled for coverage to begin at noon ET.

Course setup notes and hole locations to follow...

Update on Saturday, June 15, 2013 at 10:46 AM by Geoff

**Saturday's USGA course setup notes:

Hole-by-Hole Information:

Hole 1 – 342 yards; the hole location is a third of the way back, hugging the right bunker. 

Hole 2 – 556 yards; the hole location is in the center-right portion of the green.  

Hole 3 – 245 yards; tee markers are placed on the forward portion of the back tee; the hole location is placed on the relatively difficult upper-left shelf.

Hole 4 – 604 yards; tee markers have been moved to the forward teeing ground, which will allow players to drive closer to the fairway cross bunker and possibly attempt to hit the green in two shots; the hole location is three-quarters of the way back on the left; most putts will be uphill.  

Hole 5 – 510 yards; the hole location is in the center-back portion of the green.

Hole 6 – 477 yards; the hole location is in the front-left portion of the green, several paces over the false front.

Hole 7 – 363 yards; the hole location is placed in the center-right portion of the green, hugging the right bunker.

Hole 8 – 351 yards; the hole location is in the front-right portion of the green, just over the deep bunker that fronts the green; with relatively soft greens, players should be able to impart enough spin to make this a reasonable birdie opportunity.

Hole 9 – 231 yards; the hole location is in the center-left plateau.

Hole 10 – 280 yards; tee markers have been moved forward to the penultimate teeing ground, giving an opportunity to drive the green; the hole location is in the front-left portion of the green just past the front bunker and the false front; putts played from the middle of the green are very fast.

Hole 11 – 370 yards; the hole location is placed in the back-left corner of this kidney-shaped green.

Hole 12 – 403 yards; the hole location is placed in the center-right portion, just above the front-right bunker; there is a subtle false front between the hole location and the bunker; putts from the center of the green are very fast.

Hole 13 – 98 yards; tee markers are placed on the front left side of the upper teeing ground; the hole location is in the front-left portion of this “bowl” green.

Hole 14 – 476 yards; tee markers have been moved to the back teeing ground; the hole location is placed in the back-center portion just left of the “trough” which runs through the center of the green.

Hole 15 – 397 yards; tee markers have been moved slightly forward, giving a few more options off the tee; the hole location is placed on the front-left plateau of the green; putts played from the center of the green must be played very high to negotiate the severe right-to-left break.

Hole 16 – 446 yards; the hole location is placed in the back-right portion of the green; the flagstick/wicker is semi-blind to blind from the right side of the fairway due to the ridge at the front of the quarry.

Hole 17 – 254 yards; the tee markers are placed on the back teeing ground; the hole location is in the center of the green just right of a center ridge/undulation that runs front to back.

Hole 18 – 530 yards; given the good weather prediction, the tee markers are placed on the back teeing ground; the relatively light westerly winds will be out of the right on this tee shot; the hole location is in the back-center portion of the green; putts tend to “feed” to this hole location.

Where Does Billy Horschel's 18 Greens In Regulation Rank?

Considering Billy Horschel's 18-greens in regulation 67 Friday at Merion was played under brutal conditions with hole locations on high spots. It has to rank as one of the great performances in Merion and maybe U.S. Open history.

Bill Fields with the story of the amazing 67 and Billy Horschel's rise in 2013, and some post round comments of note.

"I think some of the pins you can take on, and there are some pins if you do take on and you miss, you miss badly. You pay the price for it," Horschel said. "I was pretty happy if I hit [it] 20, 25 feet. If I made the putt, I was happy with it. And there's some other pins you can go more aggressive and get it a little closer."

And...

Horschel didn't know he had hit every green until he completed the round. He noted that he had achieved the feat "plenty of times in my career," but 15 greens is his best performance in 2013, a season in which he won his first PGA Tour event -- the Zurich Classic in New Orleans in late April.

So, is this on par with David Graham's almost 18 greens?

Zach: “I would describe the whole golf course as manipulated."

Harsh words from Zach Johnson about the USGA setup of Merion through two rounds.

Randall Mell reports:

“It just enhances my disdain for the USGA and how it manipulates golf courses,” Johnson said.

And he also mentioned the element of luck, which amazingly was not even as prevalent as it might have been had the fairways been running fast.

“Not when luck is required,” Johnson said. “I think Merion is a great golf course, if you let Merion be, but that is not the agenda.”

Video: Rogue Ball Attacks Carl Pettersson's Ball!

From an unbylined Sky report on day two of the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion.

When asked about the freak incident on the fifth, Pettersson admitted he "had no clue" as to who hit the rogue shot, which was likely to have come from the adjoining second hole.

"I was getting ready to go and pulled the club back and a ball bounced and hit my ball, so I managed to stop," he said. "I've never seen that or experienced that before.

The video:

"If somebody is going to wreck your grass, who else would you want fixing it than the USGA?"

It's day five for me at Merion and I'm still wrapping my head around entering the property through someone's backyard, and that's one of the least bizarre things about this U.S. Open.

Rick Reilly with a vintage column on the surreal scene players have mentioned at the registration and locker room site down at the West Course.

"I'm sitting there eating breakfast this morning with some guy's kid," says Mike Weir. "He was sitting on the couch, eating, oblivious to us even being there. Their dogs are running around. The guy's wife is coming in and out. We're watching "SportsCenter" and the kid changes over to the Golf Channel. I start to say, 'Hey wait a minute, kid … ' and then I realized, oh, yeah, this is his house.

The Gravinas' backyard? It houses the giant tent that is serving as the Player Locker Room. Why can't they just use Merion's actual locker room? Because it's the size of a U-Store-It (Reason No. 117).

2013 U.S. Open Second Round Comment Thread

We're starting the day much cooler and guess what, rainy! I'm heading out to watch some golf, so enjoy the coverage.

(Click to enlarge)ESPN is on from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m.

NBC covers the 3-5 p.m. slot.

The scoring is here.

Tee times here, which are all pushed back three hours.

Update on Friday, June 14, 2013 at 10:57 AM by Geoff

**The USGA course setup notes:

COURSE SETUP: ROUND 2 OF THE 2013 U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

The following are details on the course setup for Round 2 of the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club, from Mike Davis, USGA Executive Director.

Weather Forecast for Friday (provided by Jake Swick of Thor Guard Weather) – About a tenth of an inch of rain fell overnight and with the on-again, off-again showers and sprinkles this morning, we could see up to another tenth of an inch of rain at the most. The other main story to start this morning is the cool northerly winds gusting over 20 mph at times that will keep temperatures below normal today. Winds will decrease throughout the day and as the sun comes out more this afternoon, we will have to watch out for a shower or even a storm, especially around 5 p.m. The clouds should clear out quickly this evening and we are still looking at nearly perfect weather on Saturday under lots of sunshine. Then the next storm system quickly races into Pa. on Sunday bringing back the chance of a shower or storm.

Winds in the morning could reach 10–20 mph out of the north, then will soften as the day goes on.

Green Speeds – Today’s green speeds are roughly one-half foot slower than yesterday due to overnight rain (1/10th inch) and our caution with predicted winds of upwards of 30 mph.  The speeds will range 12½ to 13 feet on the USGA Stimpmeter during the day.   

Fairway and Rough Grass – Most fairways were cut this morning, but only four were rolled due to standing casual water. Roughs were not cut during yesterday’s p.m. maintenance due to rain.  
Total Course Yardage for Thursday (tee marker settings to flagstick) = 3,689 yards out; 3,212 yards in = 6,901 total yards

Hole-by-Hole Information:

Hole 1 – 356 yards; the hole location is three-quarters of the way back hugging the right side. 
Hole 2 – 557 yards; the hole location is in the center left portion of the green.  
Hole 3 – 203 yards; tee markers are on the forward teeing ground with the hole location placed 7 paces past the front edge of the green; tee shots should be played downwind.  
Hole 4 – 628 yards; the hole location is on the front left “ledge” of the green.
Hole 5 – 504 yards; the hole location is in the center of the green; the hole should have a helping wind out of the right.
Hole 6 – 491 yards; the hole location is in the center of the green; this hole will also have a helping wind out of the right.
Hole 7 – 368 yards; the hole location is placed in the center left portion of the green just short of the back left “bowl.”
Hole 8 – 363 yards; the hole location is in the back left portion of the green; most putts on the green will be uphill to the hole.
Hole 9 – 219 yards; the hole location is in the front portion (6 paces on) of this kidney-shaped green; shots played from past the hole will be fast coming back down the hill.
Hole 10 – 313 yards; tee markers are on the back teeing ground; the hole location is in the back left portion of the green.
Hole 11 – 363 yards; the hole location is in the center right portion of the green.
Hole 12 – 405 yards; the hole location is in the center left portion, just left of the “spine” that runs front to back through the green.
Hole 13 – 123 yards; tee markers are placed on the left side (upper) of the teeing ground; the hole location is center back of this “bowl” green; tee shots played with less spin will be advantageous.
Hole 14 – 453 yards; tee markers were kept on the forward teeing ground for round 2 because of the headwind on tee shots; the hole location is placed back left, bringing the closely mown mound left of the green into play.
Hole 15 – 414 yards; the hole location is tucked behind the bunker that fronts the right portion of the green.
Hole 16 – 434 yards; the hole location is placed five or so paces above the front right bowl.
Hole 17 – 206 yards; the tee markers are placed on the forward teeing ground; the hole location is in the front right portion of the green just above the false front; the tee shots are into the north wind.
Hole 18 – 501 yards; the tee markers are again placed on the penultimate teeing ground even with the northerly downwind tee shot; the hole location is on the front left portion of the green; the hole should play downwind.

How Did Merion Hold Up So Well?

Merion was soft and yet scores weren't low.

The theories range from playing long, to greens remaining firm, to hole locations in the back of greens, to local knowledge, to the difficulty of the weather and even the shaggier fairways. Or maybe all of the above?

Rickie Fowler after his opening 70:

There's some nasty rough out there. It is short on the card, and it was playing soft today, which makes it play longer.  I actually think this course plays more like a 7400 or 7500 yard golf course just because of you have the stretch from 7 through 13, besides the fact that No. 9 being a long par‑3.

Other than that, some very short holes. Which if you made those regular length, it's going to add up the scorecard closer to 7400 or 7500 yards.

Jerry Kelly explains the hole location issue:

Q.  There was soft conditions today, a little‑to‑no breeze at times, how surprising is it that 9‑under is leading right now and guys aren't going low?

    JERRY KELLY:  You saw where they put the pins, didn't you?  Every single one of them was in the back.  You can't get to them on soft greens.  So you can hit pitching wedges and irons from 80 yards, but you're not going to do that.  You're just going to knock it up there and if it spins back, it spins back.

    So it was a little deceiving thinking, oh, we had easy pins in the back back there.  No.  Those are very hard when the course is playing a little shorter.

And Ron Sirak sums up the variety of elements that made Merion so tough on day one, including the bizarre flow to the rounds for players before they were delayed for several hours.

And then there are the mechanics required to stage the Open at this golf course. Not only was there the three-and-a-half hour delay on Thursday, but the locker room and practice range are on the West Course, about a mile from the tournament East Course.

Rory's Ryder Cup Cop Lands New Gig

Thanks to reader Barry for this story on Lombard Police Deputy Chief Pat Rollins, he of Ryder Cup rescuer fame, landing the job as Sugar Grove Police chief.

Think he put Rory down as a reference?

Phil's Merion Opener: "The most unusual workday of anyone's golf career."

Luke Donald has the lead at -4 but Phil Mickelson has the clubhouse lead and not surprising with his red-eye arrival, grabbed the Thursday U.S. Open headlines.

The Golf Central video highlights of Phil's round.

Doug Ferguson's clever lede:

Even for Phil Mickelson, his path to the top of the leaderboard Thursday in the U.S. Open was unconventional.

He traveled about 2,400 miles in the air and 7,000 yards on the ground. He took a short nap on his private jet from San Diego and another one during a rain delay when he found a secluded corner of the library room in the Merion clubhouse. He carried five wedges but no driver.

Dave Kindred called the pre-6 am arrival after an all-night flight "the most unusual workday of anyone's golf career, excepting, perhaps, one of those Walter Hagen mornings after a long, liquid night when the bon vivant Haig arrived by limousine and changed into his golf shoes while disembarking at the first tee."

Scott Michaux featured high praise from Phil's playing partner.

“I was as interested as anybody to see what he’d do,” said Steve Stricker, who himself has proved that being a part-time golfer can elevate your game on the big stages. “When he three-putted the first hole, I thought, ‘Here we go.’

“He’s such a competitor. He thinks he can do anything,” Stricker added. “The biggest thing with anybody out here is if you’re comfortable and confident in your decision – and he felt good about it – you can live with it. I think he expected to play well.”

John Strege with the ESPN coverage of Phil's day, including Andy North's reporting that Phil took a nap during the storm that halted first round play.

And Jason Sobel compares Phil to Allan Iverson. Yes, he does, and calling them "kindred spirits" kind of works.

Tiger And Evening Golf At Masterful Merion

During the 2013 U.S. Open's late evening restart, Tiger Woods made it clear that he's experiencing serious pain in his left wrist. Yet given the chance after the round, he said all was "fine."

I walked with the all-star pairing of Woods-Rory McIlroy-Adam Scott in the storm cloud-filtered light as they tackled their final three holes and Woods’ favoring of the wrist overshadowed a rejuvenated-looking McIlroy and an intense Scott (who had a wonderfully spirited exchange with caddie Stevie Williams about the 10th tee strategy).

On Tiger's second shot into 10, the tee shot on 11, the approach on 11 and even the wedge shot that set up his four foot par putt that will kick off his Friday restart, Woods visibly shook his wrist after the shots in obvious pain. He even gave the 10th tee portable toilet a nice whap, obviously frustrated by pain he would not acknowledge after the round, giving his "fine" assessment to a USGA media official.

However, it's the same left wrist Woods sprained in the 1995 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.

On Golf Channel’s Live From coverage, Brandel Chamblee questioned whether Woods’ shortened swing and bowed wrist has take on too much stress.

“One of the most shocking things I have seen in the last couple of weeks is just how short Tiger Woods’ golf swing has gotten," Chamblee said. "When you combine that with a little bit of a bow in the left wrist and the quick change in direction, he is setting himself up for stress with that left wrist.”

Since Woods won’t say, we can only guess how it happened but he certainly wanted everyone to know he was hurting.

2013 U.S. Open First Round Open Comment Thread

A little late but now that we have hole locations and setup notes, oh, and golf, the U.S. Open at Merion is under way!

ESPN is scheduled to sign off at 7 ET, but that may change.

First Round setup notes:

(Click to enlarge)COURSE SETUP: ROUND ONE OF THE 2013 U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

The following are details on the course setup for Round 1 of the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club, from Mike Davis, USGA Executive Director.

Green Speeds – Today’s green speeds before the rain were in the 13- to 13½-foot range on the USGA Stimpmeter. They will likely settle out in the mid-to-high 12s when play resumes.

Rough Grass – In anticipation of today’s weather event, the closer-in (roughly 18 feet in width) rough grass in the drive zones, as well as the closer-in (9 feet in width) greenside rough on some of the holes, was mowed last night.  

Weather Affecting Course Setup Decisions – Hole locations for Round 1 were chosen based on the forecast for heavy rains. Further, teeing grounds and hole locations that have more slope were chosen based on the forecast for winds predominantly out of the south for Thursday. However, winds will switch to predominantly from the north on Friday (when we will likely still be playing Round 1). The intent is to provide fair conditions with the knowledge that there will likely be wind in opposite directions for Round 1.  

Total Course Yardage for Thursday (tee marker settings to flagstick) = 3,760 yards out; 3,206 yards in = 6,966 total yards

Hole-by-Hole Information:

Hole 1 – 340 yards; the hole location is front left, which presents very fast putts coming down the hill from the center of the green. 

Hole 2 – 567 yards; the hole location is in the right-back portion of the green.  

Hole 3 – 246 yards; anticipating southerly winds on Thursday, tee markers are placed on the front of the back teeing ground with the hole location in the center, right lower section, hugging the right bunker.

Hole 4 – 640 yards; hole location is on the right side; putts coming from the center of the green are very fast.

Hole 5 – 499 yards;  the hole location is front left; putts coming from beyond or to the right of the hole are extremely fast.

Hole 6 – 489 yards; the hole location is in the center-left portion of the green, hugging the left bunker.

Hole 7 – 382 yards; the hole location is in the center-rear portion of the green.

Hole 8 – 360 yards; the hole location is in the front-left portion of the green.

Hole 9 – 237 yards; the hole location is two-thirds of the way back on the left portion of the green over the front-left bunker.

Hole 10 – 301 yards; tee markers are on the back teeing ground; from this tee, the players are able to see the flagstick; the hole location is front right just over the subtle false front, up against the back bunker.

Hole 11 – 375 yards; the hole location is in the back center; the putts in this area are very flat.

Hole 12 – 386 yards; tee markers are placed in the very front of the back teeing ground anticipating northerly winds on Friday; the hole location is in the front left portion of the green; putts from the center of the green are very fast coming down the hill.

Hole 13 – 102 yards; tee markers are placed on the very front portion of the right (lower) teeing ground; the hole location is just over the front bunker; this hole location should produce a fair number of birdies and perhaps even an ace.

Hole 14 – 446 yards; the hole location is in the right portion of the green; putts coming from the center of the green are very fast.

Hole 15 – 413 yards; the hole location is in the back “trough” on the left side of the green; this area has a pronounced pitch from back to front.

Hole 16 – 440 yards; the hole location is in the back left portion of the green.

Hole 17 – 243 yards; the tee markers are placed on the back teeing ground; the hole location is on the left portion of the green.

Hole 18 – 500 yards; anticipating a southerly wind for Thursday, the tee markers are placed on the front portion of the penultimate teeing ground; the hole location is in the right portion of the putting green, which is difficult to access but rather easy to putt up to.

R.I.P. Miller Barber

Richard Goldstein with the NY Times remembrance of a fantastic player and character.

Barber didn’t seem a prime candidate for pro golf success. He was pudgy, he had hay fever, and his form was ungainly at best.

His right elbow flew outward on his backswing as he raised the club to the outside, bringing it high over his head, the shaft almost perpendicular to the ground. (In a classic backswing, the right elbow remains close to the body and the shaft ends up almost parallel to the ground.) After that he looped the club head inside and produced an orthodox downswing.

Fellow players likened Barber’s contortions to an octopus falling from a tree or a man trying to open an umbrella on a windy day. But he usually got the club face square to the ball, producing long drives and superb iron shots.

A PGA Tour video celebrating Barber.



Instructor Carl Welty captured this video of Barber at La Costa.

2013 U.S. Open At Merion: Thursday Is Derecho Day?

I'm already tired of hearing about this storm that's going to take a course draining well and making a mess of Merion, if forecasts are to be believed.

Jay Coffin explains the meaning of a derecho, which is expected to halt play sometime after lunch and begin a property evacuation of sorts at the 2013 U.S. Open.

Golf Channel's Golf Central story previewing the weather and day one. (I had it embedded but it's another of the automatic video players that threatens to get you in trouble in the office.)

Genuinely Retro: Merion's Half-Inch Fairway Cut

Lost in the lengthy USGA press conference Wednesday was this buried lede for maintenance and design wonks: Merion's fairway mowing height is decidedly retro and meant to start a more sustainable theme for the future.

Executive Director Mike Davis:

Fairways this week are predominantly bentgrass fairways.  There are a few other grasses in there.  One of the things that almost nobody in the room would notice, but I think it's worth noting is that, when I started at the USGA, we were mowing fairways right around a half an inch.  And then over the years it's almost like an arms race, it's just gone down.  And now we've gotten down closer to a quarter of an inch.

One of the things that we're talking about with sustainability of the game, pace of play and making the game more enjoyable, we are not doing any golfers any favor, recreational players, by seeing golf fairways cut down so tight.  It's harder for golfers to get the ball up.  It's harder to hit pitch shots ‑‑ don't say anything, Tom, I know what you're thinking ‑‑ we decided to go a little bit of a throwback this week, so fairways are almost half an inch in height again.  There's just more cushion under the ball.  And I think that's something that we really want to start to message to the recreational game, that this should not be ann arms race.  You are doing recreational golf no favors when you're mowing fairways that low.  We're doing it ourself to show that even the world's best players don't need to play off quarter inch fairways in height.

That's some locker room bulletin board material!

Now, about the lack of width...

Update on Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 07:27 AM by Geoff

**Former USGA Championship agronomist Tim Moraghan isn't buying the sustainability argument.

USGA lowering fairway HoC for "sustainability". Sorry its to lengthen golf course and reduce spin ratio on ball for shots to hard greens.

— Timothy Moraghan (@TimMoraghan) June 13, 2013