Eye On Design: The U.S. Open On Modern Links Courses

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Enthusiasm for this U.S. Open isn’t exactly off the charts and I’m guilty of having shared that sensibility given a new venue and a major championship return to this market in less than two years. However, on Sunday (we hope…) the U.S. Open Trophy will be awarded along with the Jack Nicklaus Gold Medal and the history books will not remember this was played at 13-year-old inland, Irish-inspired, treeless, 350-acre course.

For all of the fun holes, beautiful bunkering and other cool features, Erin Hills has much going against it due in large part to just how browned out and bizarre Chambers Bay looked in 2015. That’s it's Tacoma, Washington counterpart in what was, at one time, the USGA’s effort to introduce new (public) venues into their unofficial rota.

I’ve heard much consternation about these non-traditional U.S. Open venues and the awarding of this championship to such relatively untested layouts for a variety of reasons. They all have some merit but also ignore the need to work in new venues too. Whether it’s their lack of history, architectural scale or minimalist brand name cache, the concern is understandable. But as we know, so many venues that once hosted U.S. Open's can no longer do so because today's players are linebackers, tri-athletes and overall mega-jocks armed with equipment that the USGA and R&A say hasn't done a thing for them over the last decade!

I digress.

There is also the legitimate concern that within the Grand Slam scheme of things, an Erin Hills or Chambers Bay skews things toward the creative links-lover and away from the U.S. Open’s test as one of supreme patience and precision. 

So before I get a post up with some images and things to look for this week, consider this Eye On Design where I bat around these issues in the grand scheme of things with the U.S.G.A. bringing America’s national championship 35 miles northwest of Milwaukee. Hopefully I offer a few thoughts for your inevitable 19th Hole debates this week. (PS - here is the list of future U.S. Open venues noted in the piece.)

 

Video: Erin Hills Eighteenth Hole Flyover

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At 637 yards with 25 bunkers this one won't be listed anytime soon as an example of sustainable golf, but it sure will make for a fascinating finishing hole to the 2017 U.S. Open.

Both the USGA flyover and the Erin Hills version give a sense of just how exposed this green appears, but with massive grandstands around the green, will that make depth perception a little easier? Or will the whole thing become incredibly imposing.

Either way, after what I saw today in my first walk around here in a decade, I'm not sure if this hole will be very tempting if played from a forward tee, assuming things are firm and fast. The fall off behind the green is so severe that players would be wise not to fire too directly here with a fairway wood if given the opportunity. We shall see!

 

Davis Love III To Loop For Dru Love In 2017 U.S. Open

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Davis Love is going from a successful cart driving stint to luggage handler this week for son Dru, reports Doug Ferguson.

''I'm excited for him,'' Love said Sunday afternoon as he watched from some 300 yards away as his son, who goes by ''Dru,'' teed off during a practice round with Ryder Cup captain Jim Furyk. ''I've played with a bunch of 19- and 20-year-olds. But it makes me feel old that he's playing.''

Before you say the Loves have a case of the presumptuous, Ferguson says the opportunity only arises after publication of the Official World Golf Ranking on Monday where only one player is expected to move into the top 60 and therefore this week's U.S. Open at Erin Hills. This will leave five spots for Sectional Qualifying alternates and Ferguson says Dru Love's qualifier is fifth on the priority list.

2017 U.S. Open App Ready & Ideally Suited For Long Bus Rides

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(Assuming you get any reception.)

In my limited tapping and swiping around the 2017 U.S. Open app seems quick and easy to find things, with less focus placed on color and more emphasis on clean, simple and smart elements. It'll be fun to see if some of the on-site features detailed below work, or if the remote location of Erin Hills means less coverage for all. Because everyone's going to need something to do while shuttling to and from Erin.

Either way, time to update or download!

For Immediate Release...

USGA To Elevate Digital Fan Experience At 117th U.S. Open

Enhanced Mobile App, Exclusive Live Streaming Coverage and Virtual U.S. Open Championship Among 2017 Offerings

FAR HILLS, N.J. (June 8, 2017) – The USGA today released a comprehensive suite of digital offerings designed to enhance the fan experience for the  117th U.S. Open Championship, which will be contested June 15-18 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.

The USGA is providing fans with a variety of touchpoints to experience the championship and all it has to offer, whether they are on the go, watching at home or enjoying the action live at Erin Hills.

App

The official U.S. Open mobile app, released today, features real-time scoring, live streaming coverage and player highlights, as well as news, photos, videos and social media updates straight from the action at Erin Hills.

The 2017 app will allow fans to personalize their experience with features such as local time-adjusted listings for tee times, TV broadcasts and live streams.

“The USGA is committed to bringing a fully immersive digital experience to our global fan base,” said Navin Singh, USGA head of global content and media distribution. “Whether at the golf course or 10,000 miles around the world, every fan will enjoy an exemplary digital experience befitting golf’s ultimate test.”

On-Site App Features

General championship and player alerts will be available through the app, along with on-site fan alerts, which will further enhance the experience at Erin Hills. Complimentary Wi-Fi will be available in Fan Central, the practice areas and to the player’s right of the first and 18th holes.

Fans on-site can also use the official U.S. Open app for detailed scoring, including shot-by-shot data, and inside-the-ropes live action. It can also help them to plan their day by locating their favorite players and seeing which groups are upcoming on certain holes through the improved on-site mapping component.

Digital Live Coverage on usopen.com

Last year’s U.S. Open received more than 6 million live streams on usopen.com and the U.S. Open app, a manifestation of the growing demand for live content.

Fans will once again have access to three channels with more than 40 hours of live streaming coverage. Two channels will be dedicated to both morning and afternoon featured groups, while the third will focus on action from holes 13, 14 and 15. Exclusive viewing windows starting at approximately 8:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday, June 15 and Friday, June 16 will provide fans with insider coverage before the Fox television broadcast begins at 11 a.m. EDT each day. Live feeds will continue over the weekend, beginning at 11 a.m. Fans will also be able to tune in via social media throughout the championship for behind-the-scenes live content, such as player interviews, press conferences and practice-round action on Facebook Live, Periscope and Snapchat.

Rounding out the digital fan experience, the USGA and World Golf Tour are once again providing users with the opportunity to test their skills and play Erin Hills in the Virtual U.S. Open Championship, which is available now through June 30 via the WGT app and WGT.com.

Phil On The U.S. Open: "I can still make it"

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Yes it's a longshot, but two important hurdles were cleared for Phil Mickelson to make a last-ditch effort to play this year's U.S. Open at Erin Hills and do so controversy-free.

The first is reported by Tim Rosaforte at Golf World, who lays out Mickelson's plan should any weather delay impact tee times. The forecast current suggests bad weather Wednesday, but not Thursday.

However, if there was a delay, Mickelson could conceivably land at a private airport in Hartford, Wis., just 15 minutes by car from the Open venue.

“I’m looking forward to seeing Amanda graduation and watching her make her speech,” Mickelson said. “But I can still make it. You never know. I think it’s possible.”

A second hurdle is more nuanced but equally important: the USGA has relented on alternates playing practice rounds.

In the past, had Phil remained in the field until Thursday, his possible replacement would have been forbidden from playing a practice round. But as Doug Ferguson reports, the USGA has studied their data and determined it's ok for alternates to bring their sticks and play the course.

Jeff Hall, the USGA's managing director of rules and open championships, said recent history at the U.S. Open has shown that with most players practicing in the morning, there would be room to accommodate first alternates in the afternoon.

The U.S. Open starts June 15, the first one held in Wisconsin.

''We haven't been overly public with it,'' Hall said. ''But we've been communicating to the alternates that they will be entitled to play.''

Ferguson this would apply to teh 12 first alternates from Sectionals. A nice perk too should they make the journey but not get in.

Video: Erin Hills Fourteenth Hole Flyover

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The USGA's flyover and description highlights the strategy of the 594-yard 14th. And indeed, in the right conditions, this is a classic risk-reward par-5 with a dangerous green complex. Depending on the speed, the potential for finding hole locations here could prove interesting.

Here is the 14th from the Erin Hills flyover and in the early light it's mesmerizing.

2017 U.S. Open Pairings Released...

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After an awkward false start with Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless only revealing one time despite promotion that promised otherwise (Alex Myers documents the agony here), The Herd invited Paul Azinger on to talk groupings.

Gone are the days of any themes to the groups other than stars versus qualifiers. At least as far as I can tell. Bummer!

Here is the full round one list at USOpen.com.

These caught my eye:

1
7:29 AM
Stewart Hagestad (a)
Chez Reavie
Gene Sauers

10
8:35 AM*
Martin Kaymer
Jordan Spieth
Dustin Johnson

10
1:14 PM*
Brad Dalke (a)
Wesley Bryan
Brendan Steele

1
2:09 PM
Jason Day
Justin Rose
Rory McIlroy

1
2:20 PM
Steve Stricker
Stewart Cink
Phil Mickelson

Video: Erin Hills Thirteenth Hole Flyover

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I realize in posting these we take some of this information for granted, but after speaking to a few qualifiers Monday in Newport Beach, these flyovers provide an important scouting tool. Part of their usefulness is thanks to the unknown venue, and some relates to just getting a sense of what lies ahead.

Anyway, players educting themselves is another fascinating element of this year's U.S. Open, which features a 193-yard, par-3 13th playing over a wetland. The hole features a large bunker left and crowned green edge on the right. A prominent swale should make things fun and for those pitching up to the large green or just trying to land and hold shots.

You can get a good look at the green complex in the USGA's flyover.

The Erin Hills flyover:

 

 

Video: Erin Hills Twelfth Hole Flyover

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If you've listened to the latest ShackHouse you know that Mike Davis cited this hole as one that could be adversely effected by a wind different than the one forecast.

The flyover makes it pretty evident why: the tee shot carry, narrowness and crowned landing area that is great fun to play to when the 464-yard hole is playing close to its scorecard yardage. This is one of the most memorable holes on the course but as I recall from my visit there, feels like one of those holes that is almost great but lacks a little charm. Or, maybe it's the giant catch basin in the approach.

Anyway, here is the USGA flyover.

The Erin Hills flyover is here.

U.S. Open: This Year It's Good To Be (An) Alternate

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In the aftermath of another successful U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying that produced the usual array of stories, many have been asking where the first alternate comes from. Surely Phil Mickelson's likely WD is fueling some of this intrigue, but as Doug Ferguson writes in his AP notes column, this year is a particularly good one for alternates given a few factors.

But where that first alternate comes from, remains a mystery.

Ferguson explains here why it's good to be an alternate with the USGA holding back six spots from the qualifier for possible last minute OWGR top 60 status players to move into the field.

Chris Wood is at No. 60 in the world, and he would stay there provided Scott Piercy doesn't finish among the top 20 at the FedEx St. Jude Classic. So that's one spot, maybe. But with Soren Kjeldsen withdrawing from the St. Jude Classic, only one other person has a mathematical chance to get into the top 60 in the world, and he would have to win the St. Jude Classic. That applies to only about five players, such as Ian Poulter and Hudson Swafford.

So at least four spots will be going to alternates, and that doesn't even include Phil Mickelson, who plans to withdraw because of his daughter's high school graduation.

But as for which venues produced alternates first, Ferguson writes that is a secret. Though he does say this:

The priority is based on a formula that includes how many spots each section was allocated, and the strength of field determined by the world ranking (pro and amateur).

Roundup: 2017 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying

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Golf's Longest Day produced its traditional array of expected and unexpected qualifying stories. Elite players were grinding across the land and merely based on the scene in Newport Beach, the day remains the ultimate dreamland for aspiring players.

Seeing five of six amateurs make it from the SoCal qualifier, and finding out just how little thought they'd given the host venue, spoke to the wild ride they're about to take.

Finally, congrats to all players, caddies, volunteers, state and regional golf associations, and others for surviving (and making it) a great day.

Here is Golfweek's roundup page.

Here is the USGA's roundup page.

My roundup from the Newport Beach qualifier hosted by the SCGA, where five of the six were amateurs and all are going to be first-time U.S. Open contestants. J.D. Cuban’s images from the qualifier.

Brentley Romine’s notes from the Tequesta, Florida qualifier where Jack Maguire medaled. Lisa Mickey filed this story from on site as well. Scott Miller’s photos from there.

Kevin Casey’s Memphis wrap, where Steve Stricker qualified for his 20th U.S. Open and the first in his home state. John Gress's images from Memphis.

Jeff Babineau on the Columbus qualifier where Stewart Cink was the qualifying headliner. Also making it were J.T. Poston, Jason Kokrak; Bud Cauley; Martin Laird; Keegan Bradley; Jamie Lovemark; Bryson DeChambeau; C.T. Pan; David Lingmerth; and Ted Potter Jr.  The delay added some fun to Fred Vuich’s image gallery from Columbus.

Tuesday morning at Lakes Golf & Country Club, four players will face off for three available spots: The group consists of Peter Uihlein, Talor Gooch, Michael Putnam, and amateur Scottie Scheffler.

Mark Button’s roundup from Dallas, where Roman Robledo, Nick Flanagan and Walker Lee qualified.  Here’s a link to Darren Carroll’s image gallery from Dallas.

Kevin Casey with the Springfield roundup where Corey Connors was medalist, with Brian Stuard, Brice Garnett and Ryan Brehm made it to Erin Hills. And here is a gallery of Matt Sullivan’s images.

Tom Cade reports from Lakewood, Washington where Derek Barron medaled and was joined by Jordan Niebrugge, Max Greyserman and Daniel Miernicki.  Here are Steve Diapola’s images from Tacoma Country Club.

David Dusek says Canoe Brook qualifier Daniel Chopra is no longer playing as a blonde but he is headed to Erin Hills.  Michael Cohen’s images from Canoe Brook.

Garrett Johnston reports from Woodmont in Maryland where Sam Ryder was medalist.  Joel Kowsky's images from there.

Stephan Jaeger and Alex Smalley were the qualifiers in Georgia, but no stories have been posted as of post time.

A Few U.S. Open Sectional Links And Notes

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Things are off to a tough start in Columbus with a weather delay where Steve Stricker is one of the hopefuls, writes Jeff Babineau, but not as rough as the plight of PGA Tour LatinoAmerica member Michael Buttacavoli, who had to WD from the Tequesta, Florida qualifier because his clubs were lost by the airline. Will Gray reports.

Otherwise action is underway across the country and the USGA has a scoring central link here to follow.

These are the storylines most worth following, but everyone in action is chasing a grand dream and surely has a story or two to share!

Full coverage at Golfweek.com, as well.

Fox Sports 1 will feature a one-hour roundup show at midnight, ET.