Passov On Travis

Joe Passov looks at Walter Travis and Westchester Country Club.

Good Thoughts For Judy Rankin

Ron Sirak writes about Judy Rankin's battle with breast cancer.

Winged Foot With Tilly: No. 10 Vol. 1

1929 and 2005 view of No. 10 at Winged Foot. The photo angles are slightly different, but you can see how the front of the green has changed (I believe raised at some point to stop balls from rolling off). In its original look, the shaping has a settled, rumpled feel. A true work of art. Today, things are a bit more linear and clean, but still pretty awesome, especially with the recent green enlargement.

 

 

Winged Foot's Greytok

Golfdom's Thomas Skernivitiz profiles Winged Foot superintendent Eric Greytok.

Here's some of the restoration work he carried out on the 10th green (you can see the old putting surface boundaries in dark green).

(click to enlarge image of No. 10 green) 

Winged Foot With Tilly: No. 6

(click to enlarge image)One of the best short par-4s in golf will struggle to display its charm when the USGA hides it in non-tiered rough and in general, tries to prevent those pesky birdies.

This is one of the three holes where there will be no tiered rough, so tall stuff surrounds the left side fairway bunker 241 off the tee. Ben Crenshaw insists there should be fairway up to and around the bunker. This would encourage leftside lay-ups to obtain better approach angles. And as you'll read in the 1929 National Greenkeeper excerpt, that's how Tilly intended it.

But with 22 yards or so of fairway, and no real reason to lay-up on a side of the hole to get a preferred angle at right hole locations, look for some guys to try driving the green.
(click to enlarge image of No. 6 tee view)

There's a killer back left hole location that the USGA will hopefully use to bring the steep fall off into play (and if the fairway was wide enough, such a hole location would have rewarded right side lay-ups).  

Retro Skills Challenge

Thanks to reader Marty for this Michael Vega story from the Boston Globe on a retro skills challenge at the Concord Champions event, where a few guys played 1950s and 60s clubs.

Certainly, in the field of 79 who will tee it up Friday for the 54-hole Bank of America Championship, there are some whose careers were rejuvenated by those advancements.

``Oh, absolutely," said Baiocchi, 59, of South Africa, who will be paired with David Edwards and Mike Sullivan in the first round. ``I played a lot of European Tour golf, so I didn't play a lot of regular [PGA] Tour golf with a lot of the guys out here. But talking to the guys, they all seem to be driving the ball further now than they did in their heyday, in their prime. Again, that's because of the equipment.

``It's basically made the game a lot easier and more enjoyable to play. Now, instead of driving the thing 220 with Hoganesque-type clubs, now we can drive the thing 270 and 280, which makes a big difference even for us."

And this from Andy Bean...

After hitting a 50-yard shot into the 18th with a throwback wedge, Bean said, ``I looked at that wedge and went, `Did we really play these?' But we did play clubs like that."

No matter the size and shape of your swing, the sweet spot is now much easier to hit with perimeter-weighted irons, fairway woods, and drivers of all makes and launch angles. And that's without even addressing the matter of the golf ball, and its myriad technological advancements.

``For the average player, the give is good," said Bean, 53. ``I think it takes away from the scoring on the professional side, because it puts more technology in the game and we can take a little more advantage of technology than the average player."

Bean figured the advancements have ``let 50 percent more players compete to win.

``A lot of the guys who normally wouldn't be hitting the fairways, now they're hitting the fairways with more regularity, and they're hitting it longer, which means they're going to have shorter clubs into the greens and it's just easier for them to compete. The long players, the strong players in any sport, they're still going to be strong and the fast ones are still going to be fast.

``But you still have to have the feel, and you still have to have the touch, and you still have to have the dedication -- no matter what sport you're in -- to go out and win.

``With golf, though, the good part about it -- the big-headed drivers, fairway woods, and technology with the perimeter-weighted irons -- it allows the amateurs to score better and that's what it's all about."

Hawkins On Furyk Injury

John Hawkins has more on Jim Furyk's tooth brushing injury, which turns out was more of a gargling mouthwash injury.

Golfdom U.S. Open Podcast

The first ever Golfdom podcast is now available for listening. Editor Larry Aylward chat with yours truly about Winged Foot. Disregard the talk about concerns about the fairways getting too fast for the widths, as this was recorded before the recent downpours! Just click on the small play button, it's only 9 minutes or so. And if God forbid you want to listen to this on an ipod, go to you itunes podcast page, click advance and open Subscribe to Podcast, then paste this link: http://www.gabcast.com/casts/1063/rss/rss.xml

U.S. Open #1

2nd Annual Can You Spot The $%#@& Pairing

It's that time of year again when David Fay sits down and consults with Dick Ebersol Tommy Roy Mike Davis and makes the pairings. And as per tradition, Fay may have embedded a group of not-so-favorite players better known as the $%#@& pairing, though I don't see it. Plenty of other interesting groups though.

Anyway, place your bets and other pairings quirks in the comments section.  

Thursday (June 15), hole #1; Friday (June 16), hole #10
             7:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. - Andrew Svoboda, Larchmont, N.Y.; Chris Nallen, Tucson, Ariz.; J.J. Henry, Fairfield, Conn.
            7:11 a.m. – 12:41 p.m. - John Rollins, Irving, Texas; Mathew Goggin, Australia; Steve Lowery, Birmingham, Ala.
            7:22 a.m. – 12:52 p.m. - Nick Dougherty, England; D.J. Trahan, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.; Graeme McDowell, England
            7:33 a.m. – 1:03 p.m. - Vijay Singh, Fiji; Shingo Katayama, Japan; David Toms, Shreveport, La.
            7:44 a.m. – 1:14 p.m. - Jim Furyk, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; Adam Scott, Australia; Chad Campbell, Lewisville, Texas
            7:55 a.m. – 1:25 p.m. - Robert Allenby, Australia; Rocco Mediate, Naples, Fla.; Angel Cabrera, Argentina
            8:06 a.m. – 1:36 p.m. - Fred Couples, La Quinta, Calif.; Jose Maria Olazabal, Spain; Mike Weir, Canada
            8:17 a.m. – 1:47 p.m. - Davis Love III, Sea Island, Ga.; Justin Leonard, Dallas, Texas; Nick Price, Hobe Sound, Fla.
            8:28 a.m. – 1:58 p.m. - David Duval, Denver, Colo.; Colin Montgomerie, Scotland; John Cook, Windermere, Fla.
            8:39 a.m. – 2:09 p.m. - Jeff Sluman, Hinsdale, Ill.; Rod Pampling, Australia; Henrik Stenson, Sweden
            8:50 a.m. – 2:20 p.m. - A-Jonathan Moore, Vancouver, Wash.; Phil Tataurangi, New Zealand; Craig Barlow, Henderson, Nev.
            9:01 a.m. – 2:31 p.m. - Rob Johnson, Terre Haute, Ind.; Madalitso Muthiya, Zambia; David Berganio Jr., Sylmar, Calif.
            9:12 a.m. – 2:42 p.m. - John Koskinen, Baraga, Mich.; A-Tadd Fujikawa, Honolulu, Hawaii; Stephen Woodard, Charlotte, N.C.

  Thursday (June 15), hole #10; Friday (June 16), hole #1
            7:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. - Kent Jones, Albuquerque, N.M.; Phillip Archer, England; Nicholas Thompson, Coral Springs, Fla.
            7:11 a.m. – 12:41 p.m. - Shaun Micheel, Germantown, Tenn.; Kenneth Ferrie, England; Ted Purdy, Phoenix, Ariz.
            7:22 a.m. – 12:52 p.m. - Brandt Jobe, Westlake, Texas; Keiichiro Fukabori, Japan; Richard Green, Australia
            7:33 a.m. – 1:03 p.m. - Billy Mayfair, Scottsdale, Ariz.; A-Dillon Dougherty, Woodland, Calif.; Nick O'Hern, Australia
            7:44 a.m. – 1:14 p.m. - Scott Verplank, Edmond, Okla.; Ian Poulter, England; Lucas Glover, Simpsonville, S.C.
           7:55 a.m. – 1:25 p.m. - Phil Mickelson, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; Tim Clark, South Africa; Thomas Bjorn, Denmark
            8:06 a.m. – 1:36p.m. - Rory Sabbatini, South Africa; Paul McGinley, Ireland; Rich Beem, Austin, Texas
            8:17 a.m. – 1:47 p.m. - Luke Donald, England; Trevor Immelman, South Africa; Zach Johnson, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
            8:28 a.m. – 1:58 p.m. - Retief Goosen, South Africa; Stewart Cink, Duluth, Ga.; Padraig Harrington, Ireland
            8:39 a.m. – 2:09 p.m. - Arron Oberholser, Scottsdale, Ariz.; Peter Hedblom, Sweden; Dean Wilson, Kaneohe, Hawaii
            8:50 a.m. – 2:20 p.m. - Michael Harris, Troy, Mich.; Andrew Morse, Chestnut Hill, Mass.; A-Patrick Nagle, Pacifica, Calif.
            9:01 a.m. – 2:31 p.m. - Jason Dufner, Auburn, Ala.; Jyoti Randhawa, India; Charley Hoffman, Las Vegas, Nev.
            9:12 a.m. – 2:42 p.m. - A-Alex Coe, La Quinta, Calif.; Brad Fritsch, Canada; Benjamin Hayes, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Thursday (June 15), hole #1; Friday (June 16), hole #10
            12:30 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. - Steve Stricker, Madison, Wis.; Oliver Wilson, England; Tommy Armour III, Las Colinas, Texas
            12:41 p.m. – 7:11 a.m. - Duffy Waldorf, Northridge, Calif.; Maarten Lafeber, Netherlands; Tom Pernice Jr., Murrieta, Calif.
            12:52 p.m. – 7:22 a.m. - Ben Crane, Beaverton, Ore.; Mark Calcavecchia, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Mark Brooks, Fort Worth, Texas
            1:03 p.m. – 7:33 a.m. - Jay Haas, Greer, S.C.; Joey Sindelar, Horseheads, N.Y.; Tom Lehman, Scottsdale, Ariz.
            1:14 p.m. – 7:44 a.m. - Toru Taniguchi, Japan; Ben Curtis, Stow, Ohio; Niclas Fasth, Sweden
            1:25 p.m. – 7:55 a.m. - Tiger Woods, Windermere, Fla.; A-Edoardo Molinari, Italy; Michael Campbell, New Zealand
            1:36 p.m. – 8:06 a.m. - Sean O'Hair, West Chester, Pa.; Mark Hensby, Australia; Olin Browne, Hobe Sound, Fla.
            1:47 p.m. – 8:17 a.m. - Darren Clarke, Northern Ireland; Peter Jacobsen, Bonita Springs, Fla.; Stephen Ames, Canada
            1:58 p.m. – 8:28 a.m. - Tim Herron, Deephaven, Minn.; Carl Pettersson, Sweden; Kevin Stadler, Englewood, Colo.
            2:09 p.m. – 8:39 a.m. - Geoff Ogilvy, Australia; David Howell, England; Bo Van Pelt, Bixby, Okla.
            2:20 p.m. – 8:50 a.m. - Travis Hurst, Erie, Kan.; George McNeill, Ft. Myers, Fla.; Taylor Wood, Laguna Niguel, Calif.
            2:31 p.m. – 9:01 a.m. - Tag Ridings, Southlake, Texas; Nathan Green, Australia; Greg Kraft, Belleair, Fla.
            2:42 p.m. – 9:12 a.m. - John Mallinger, Long Beach, Calif.; A-Billy Horschel, Grant, Fla.; Michael Derminio, Scottsdale, Ariz.

Thursday (June 15), hole #10; Friday (June 16), hole #1 
            12:30 p.m. – 7:00 a.m. - Woody Austin, Derby, Kan.; Jeev Singh, India; Jay Delsing, St. Louis, Mo.
            12:41 p.m. – 7:11 a.m. - Brett Quigley, Barrington, R.I.; Tadahiro Takayama, Japan; Bob Estes, Austin, Texas
            12:52 p.m. – 7:22 a.m. - Paul Casey, England; Matt Kuchar, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; Graeme Storm, England
            1:03 p.m. – 7:33 a.m. - Corey Pavin, Plano, Texas; Fred Funk, Ponte Vedra, Fla.; Allen Doyle, La Grange, Ga.
            1:14 p.m. – 7:44 a.m. - J.B. Holmes, Campbellsville, Ky.; Camilo Villegas, Colombia; Scott Hend, Australia
            1:25 p.m. – 7:55 a.m. - Lee Janzen, Orlando, Fla.; Todd Hamilton, Westlake, Texas; Steve Jones, Chandler, Ariz.
            1:36 p.m. – 8:06 a.m. - Sergio Garcia, Spain; Charles Howell, Augusta, Ga.; Stuart Appleby, Australia
            1:47 p.m. – 8:17 a.m. - Ernie Els, South Africa; Chris DiMarco, Heathrow, Fla.; K.J. Choi, Korea
            1:58 p.m. – 8:28 a.m. - Kenny Perry, Franklin, Ky.; Miguel Angel Jimenez, Spain; Bart Bryant, Ocoee, Fla.
            2:09 p.m. – 8:39 a.m. - Skip Kendall, Windermere, Fla.; Charl Schwartzel, South Africa; Ryuji Imada, Japan
            2:20 p.m. – 8:50 a.m. - A-Ryan Posey, Dallas, Texas; Stephen Gangluff, Marysville, Ohio; Jason Allred, Scottsdale, Ariz.
            2:31 p.m. – 9:01 a.m. - Chad Collins, Cloverdale, Ind.; David Oh, Cerritos, Calif.; Lee Williams, Alexander City, Ala.
            2:42 p.m. – 9:12 a.m. - Andy Bare, Jacksonville, Fla.; Dustin White, Pueblo West, Colo.; A-Ryan Baca, Richmond, Texas

Wet At Winged Foot

Ernie Palladino reports on how it's all good over at Winged Foot even though it's really drenched. And unfortunately, it appears Tim Moraghan isn't allowed to talk to the media about agronomic matters, which leaves the task up to Marty Parkes.

Winged Foot doesn't drain well because the course is built on a rock ledge base as opposed to, say, the sandy underpinnings of Pinehurst, last year's Open venue.The various bleachers, TV booths, and other Open-related buildings could block the water's few escape routes.

That means a lot of liquid will be hanging around the fairways, rough, bunkers and greens, making it difficult for the bigger machines to get in there.

No problem, though, Parkes said. Can't use a big, honkin' ride-about? There are always hand-mowers.

"It'll be slower to do the maintenance," Parkes said. "The bigger machinery might not be able to get through because it'll create ruts and tear up the turf. For the short-term gains, the repairs won't be worth it. You have to use lighter, smaller equipment, and that will take longer."

Some might assume in reading this that the dreaded walk mowers may return to mow fairways. Surely that won't be the case?

The rough was scheduled for a final cut Sunday, anyway. But the USGA, accused in the past of making its championship courses beyond challenging, has already decided that the deepest rough will be cut at 5 inches instead of the originally planned 8 because the season's precipitation has caused the grass to grow in thicker than anticipated.

That won't make mowing any less of a task.

"When rough gets wet, it's hard to cut it to the length you want it," Parkes said. "We can hand-mow it. You won't see much of a difference."

Hand mow rough. Supers out there, any thoughts on how that would work?

Mowing may be the biggest job just because of the vast area involved, but tending to the bunkers may present as large a challenge. The rain could pack the sand into a harder surface.

Good for the golfer. They'll love it.

Bad for the USGA.

"It doesn't create the penalty we'd like for getting in there," Parkes said.

[Mike] Davis sounded a little more optimistic about the bunker situation, however.

"The ones at Winged Foot are built as well as any could be built," Davis said. "Starting in 2004, they rebuilt them more along the lines of what they originally were, and they've got all new drainage."

The greens may receive the least attention, aside from a little squeegying and normal cutting. Parkes said Moraghan and Greytock probably won't spray the putting surfaces at all. Even at that, Mother Nature may not dry them out enough to obtain the desired Stimpmeter reading of 11 or 12 — a moderate speed.

A group of exempt players taking a practice round Monday found the greens at a relatively slow 10.

"We won't touch the greens right now," Parkes said. "It's a bit early to speculate on what would be done Sunday. But there's some mowing patterns and rolling we can do early in the week to help them out."

And...

Assuming the rains stop by Sunday, Parkes saw no chance of any practice-round cancellations Monday. At worst, they might ask players to steer clear of certain wet areas. But that's only if another deluge hits after Saturday night.

"Put it this way," Parkes said. "In '96, we had a heck of a thunderstorm in Oakland Hills on Wednesday, and we started on time Thursday. The course wasn't in the greatest condition, but it was in U.S. Open condition."

The course wasn't in the greatest condition, but it was in U.S. Open condition. Sort of Meeks-esque, don't you think?

It Never Ends...

...this picking on the golf ball. Add Mark Brooks and Tom Lehman to the list of anti-golf ball technology types, but as Sam Weinman writes in The Journal News, they believe it flies too straight. (Of course, we know it's really the grooves):

"The direct result of the ball going too far and too straight has been to back the tees up, and to me, that's not the answer," said Mark Brooks, the 1996 PGA champion and a veteran of two decades on the PGA Tour. "The difference with doglegs is guys either have to learn how to shape the ball or fit it in the fairway. It's a huge difference in how people play."

Though Westchester will certainly play easier than Winged Foot, especially if it continues to be softened by rain, this week's site presents players with the challenge of needing to shape the ball in either direction. There was a time when that was standard practice. But if there's one area in which technology has been a detriment, it's that today's low-spin balls fly straight even when players don't want them to.

"My eye always wants to see the ball draw," Tom Lehman said. "That's my shot, right to left. So the starting spot is almost the same today as it was 15 or 20 years ago. It starts to the right, but now it doesn't hook. It starts to the right and stays there."

It might sound absurd, complaining about a ball that doesn't slice or hook. Most golfers would love to have that problem. And yet at Westchester and Winged Foot, it's a problem nonetheless.

Furyk Injures Back Brushing Teeth

Could I make that up? No.

With Today's Equipment...

Reader Chris correctly surmised that I do not subscribe to Tiger Woods's email newsletter, and shared this little nugget from the current edition:

And no, I won't carry two drivers. I can shape my driver both ways, so I don't need to carry two, although I can understand where Phil Mickelson is coming from. With today's equipment, the ball goes straighter and it's hard to move it from right to left...

Merion Here We Come...Next Week

Joe Logan makes sure to point out that the Daily News got it wrong and that Merion will get its Open next week when Walter Driver and David Fay greet the media Wednesday. Logan also has details on how some of the site constraints will play out in terms of corporate tent placement (I know you were losing sleep over this.)

Thanks to reader John for the heads up on this one. 

Golf World U.S. Open Preview

The latest Golf World previewing next week's U.S. Open offers a juicy set of stories, including Tim Rosaforte's look back at Winged Foot's shaky '84 Open, Ryan Herrington's profile of Mike Davis (the poor lad who has to fend off Walter Driver), E. Michael Johnson's analysis of what makes Winged Foot a special club, reviews of past Winged Foot majors by John Antonini, Bill Fields's feature on Claude Harmon and John Hawkins's analysis of Phil Mickelson's resurgence.

Unfortunately missing so far is Brett Avery's Winged Foot map, which features a fun life-size look at the different rough heights on the back.

Of course, if it never stops raining in Mamaroneck, those heights may be changing.