Video: The Mood For Merion, 5th Hole Flyover

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I giggled watching this U.S. Open flyover as it does not do justice to one of the greatest greens in golf. But the ground before the putting surface is pretty sensational too, making this one of the very best par-4s on the planet and likely a spot I'll try to set up shop during U.S. Open week.

To try and describe the green would be unfair other than to say it's a masterpiece of lay-of-the-land architecture with numerous "pockets" for hole locations. Anywhere on this green in two means you've hit two outstanding shots and a par-4 will have come after two fine putts.

Video: The Mood For Merion, 4th Hole Flyover

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Lengthened to 628 yards, Merion's 4th should be a true three-shotter unless Merion dries out in the days leading up to the 2013 U.S. Open. The fairway contour is much better looking here and fits this amazing hole pretty nicely considering the template of going so narrow to offset the improved diets of today's players.

The green and its distinctive pit bunkering has gone unchanged decades. This is also the last par-3 the players will see at par-70 Merion.

Jeff Overton To Rules Staff: Please Coddle Me A Little More!

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From Stephen Hawkins' AP story on Jeff Overton, who was DQ'd for using a putting alignment aid mid-round after an official told him he could putt while a 10th tee backup worked its way out.

Soon after coming off the course, Overton tweeted "3 group back up at the turn. Rules official tells me we can practice chipping and putting. Disqualified for using my practice putting aid!"

Overton immediately followed that with another tweet, "Why do rules officials initiate that conversation to begin with. I wouldn't even have gone up there if I had know that. What a joke!"

Going to a designated practice area is permissible during a round, but use of artificial or instructional devices isn't. The penalty is disqualification.

"If ur gonna inform someone on a rule of something a person can do, make sure u remind them of the small things they can't do," Overton added on (at)JeffOvertonPGA.

How could that darned official not know that Overton uses a putting aid? Why, it's what all the kids do these days!

Or, Jeff could go to Rules School? Or, use your brain to wonder if you should ask before pulling out the aid? Or, I don't know, maybe have a caddy who would wonder if that's a good idea? It's got to be anybody by the players' fault!

The Overton Tweets for posterity: 

Golf Central's report starts at the 13 minute mark.

Randall Mells's explanation of the decision and rule 14-3/10.3.

And a flashback story on Juli Inkster's DQ for the same reason, only hers was at the hand of a TV viewer.

Video: The Mood For Merion, 3rd Hole Flyover

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After a pretty easy pair to start, Merion kicks into high gear with the difficult 256-yard par-3 third that will alternate as a 219-yarder. There's zero room for error but it's a beatiful hole that sits in the landscape quite nicely.

This should also be the first real bottleneck considering the third's difficulty and the reachable nature of the second hole.

Video: The Mood For Merion, 2nd Hole Flyover

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The 556-yard par-5 second features easily the most Tom Meeksian fairway contour of the Mike Davis era. For those that don't recall, Meeks often used straight lines and disregarded bunkering in a quest to force U.S. Open players to hit uncomfortable shots even if the architecture said otherwise. And sadly, this one has all the Meeks markings.
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ESPN Layoffs, U.S. Open Rights

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Tony Manfred looks at ESPN's layoffs and the likelihood that overpaying rights fees may portend strength from its competitors, though as the first link notes, it's also about bringing in younger, cheapter labor.

Still, if Manfred's case is to be believed, this is of note considering that NBC's USGA contract expires in 2014 and the two networks are expected to bid on the next contract.

In the last 24 months, ESPN has agreed to huge rights deals with a bunch of leagues and events. Some of the highlights:

    •    $15.2 billion over 10 years for Monday Night football (73% higher annually than the previous deal).

    •    $7.3 billion over 12 years for the new college football playoff (480% higher annually than what it was previously paying for BCS bowls).

    •    $5.6 billion over 8 years for MLB (100% higher annually than the previous deal).

    •    $825 million over 11 years US Open tennis (400% higher annually than the previous deal).

That doesn't include smaller deals with specific college sports conferences, golf tournaments, and NASCAR.