Merion: "3 inches of rain and counting"

The GCM blog talked to East Course super Arron McCurdy reported that as of 5:30 ET Friday Merion had received three inches of rain, nearly the normal amount of June rainfall in a typical year.

Earlier in the day, as he paid a visit to the flood-prone 11th green, McCurdy gave it little more than a glimpse. The sight of it was painful.

"I didn't even stay to watch it," McCurdy says. "It was 6 inches from flooding over the top of the green. We've ordered six emergency loads of bunker sand and will get after it in the morning."

Video: The Mood For Merion, 17th Hole Flyover

Merion's par-3 17th isn't particuarly interesting in a strategic way, but the setting and features make it a thrilling looking hole. The early photos have shown some huge grandstands surrounding the green, so it should make for a wild atmosphere as Stricker, Clark, Furyk and Spieth battle down the stretch.

Also note the back tee on No. 18 and how close it is to the bunkers and a wayward shot on a 246-yarder.

Tiger-Rory-Adam Pairing On For Merion

From USA Today via AP...

Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott will tee off at 1:14 p.m. ET on Thursday and at 7:44 a.m. on Friday at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.

Thursday they will start at No. 1 and then begin on the back 9 Friday.

More groupings to come...

Update on 2013-06-07 18:46 by Geoff

**And the rest...

All Times EDT

Thursday (June 13), hole #1 and Friday (June 14), hole #11

6:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. – Cliff Kresge, Heathrow, Fla.; Roger Tambellini, Scottsdale, Ariz.; TBD
6:56 a.m. – 12:56 p.m. – TBD; Yui Ueda, Japan; John Parry, England
7:07 a.m. – 1:07 p.m. – Nick Watney, Henderson, Nev.; Peter Hanson, Sweden; Hunter Mahan, Dallas, Texas
7:18 a.m. – 1:18 p.m. – Lucas Glover, Sea Island, Ga.; Paul Casey, England; Bill Haas, Greenville, S.C.
7:29 a.m. – 1:29 p.m. – Aaron Baddeley, Australia; Rory Sabbatini, South Africa; David Lingmerth, Sweden
7:40 a.m. – 1:40 p.m.– George Coetzee, South Africa; Martin Laird, Scotland; Marcel Siem, Germany
7:51 a.m. – 1:51 p.m .– Jerry Kelly, Madison, Wis.; Charley Hoffman, San Diego, Calif.; John Huh, Lewisville, Texas
8:02 a.m. – 2:02 p.m. – Henrik Stenson, Sweden; Ryan Moore, Las Vegas, Nev.; Robert Garrigus, Phoenix, Ariz.
8:13 a.m. – 2:13 p.m. – TBD; Simon Khan, England; Ted Potter Jr., Silver Springs, Fla.
8:24 a.m. – 2:24 p.m. – Shawn Stefani, Baytown, Texas; a-Michael Kim, Del Mar, Calif.; Nicholas Thompson, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.
8:35 a.m. – 2:35 p.m. – Chris Doak, Scotland; Andrew Svoboda, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.; Douglas LaBelle II, Mount Pleasant, Mich.
8:46 a.m. – 2:46 p.m. – Kevin Sutherland, Sacramento, Calif.; Matt Weibring, Dallas, Texas; Randall Hutchison, Traverse City, Mich.
8:57 a.m. – 2:57 p.m. – a-Cory McElyea, Santa Cruz, Calif.; Ryan Nelson, Charleston, S.C.; John Hahn, Hudson, Ohio

Thursday (June 13), hole #11 and Friday (June 14), hole #1

7 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Bubba Watson, Bagdad, Fla.; Dustin Johnson, Jupiter, Fla.; Nicolas Colsaerts, Belgium
7:11 a.m. – 12:41 p.m. – Phil Mickelson, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.; Steve Stricker, Madison, Wis.; Keegan Bradley, Woodstock, Vt.
7:22 a.m. – 12:52 p.m. – Matt Kuchar, St. Simons Island, Ga.; Justin Rose, England; Brandt Snedeker, Nashville, Tenn.
7:33 a.m. – 1:03 p.m. – Louis Oosthuizen, South Africa; Charl Schwartzel, South Africa; Tim Clark, Scottsdale, Ariz.
7:44 a.m. – 1:14 p.m. – Sergio Garcia, Spain; Stewart Cink, Duluth, Ga.; Padraig Harrington, Republic of Ireland
7:55 a.m. – 1:25 p.m. – Ian Poulter, England; Jason Dufner, Auburn, Ala.; Boo Weekley, Jay, Fla.
8:06 a.m. – 1:36 p.m. – Rickie Fowler, Jupiter, Fla.; Matteo Manassero, Italy; Jason Day, Australia
8:17 a.m. – 1:47 p.m. – Y.E. Yang, Republic of Korea; Fredrik Jacobson, Sweden; Hiroyuki Fujita, Japan
8:28 a.m. – 1:58 p.m. – Scott Stallings, Knoxville, Tenn.; John Peterson, Baton Rouge, La.; Robert Karlsson, Sweden
8:39 a.m. – 2:09 p.m. – Jay Don Blake, St. George, Utah; Brandt Jobe, Argyle, Texas; Michael Campbell, New Zealand
8:50 a.m. – 2:20 p.m. – David Hearn, Canada; TBD; Jaco Van Zyl, South Africa
9:01 a.m. – 2:31 p.m. – a-Kevin Phelan, Republic of Ireland; Wil Collins, Rapid City, S.D.; TBD
9:12 a.m. – 2:42 p.m .– a-Cheng-Tsung Pan, Chinese Taipei; Mackenzie Hughes, Canada; Geoffrey Sisk, Marshfield, Mass.

Thursday (June 13), hole #1 and Friday (June 14), hole #11

12:30 p.m. – 7 a.m. – David Toms, Shreveport, La.; Darren Clarke, Northern Ireland; Jose Maria Olazabal, Spain
12:41 p.m. – 7:11 a.m. – Geoff Ogilvy, Australia; Angel Cabrera, Argentina; Paul Lawrie, Scotland
12:52 p.m. – 7:22 a.m. – Luke Donald, England; Lee Westwood, England; Martin Kaymer, Germany
1:03 p.m. – 7:33 a.m. – Jim Furyk, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.; Graeme McDowell, Northern Ireland; Zach Johnson, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
1:14 p.m. – 7:44 a.m. – Tiger Woods, Hobe Sound, Fla.; Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland; Adam Scott, Australia
1:25 p.m. – 7:55 a.m. – Thongchai Jaidee, Thailand; Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano, Spain; Thorbjorn Olesen, Denmark
1:36 p.m. – 8:06 a.m. – Webb Simpson, Charlotte, N.C.; a-Steven Fox, Hendersonville, Tenn.; Ernie Els, South Africa
1:47 p.m. – 8:17 a.m. – TBD; Joe Ogilvie, Austin, Texas; Luke Guthrie, Quincy, Ill.

1:58 p.m. – 8:28 a.m. – Josh Teater, Lexington, Ky.; Yoshinobu Tsukada, Japan; Eddie Pepperell, England
2:09 p.m. – 8:39 a.m. – Edward Loar, Dallas, Texas; Morten Orum Madsen, Denmark; Jung-Gon Hwang, Republic of Korea
2:20 p.m. – 8:50 a.m. – a-Max Homa, Valencia, Calif.; Russell Knox, Scotland; Matt Bettencourt, Spartanburg, S.C.
2:31 p.m. – 9:01 a.m. – Adam Hadwin, Canada; John Nieporte, Boca Raton, Fla.; Jim Herman, Palm City, Fla.
2:42 p.m. – 9:12 a.m. – Brandon Brown, Shelbyville, Ky.; a-Grayson Murray, Raleigh, N.C.; Jesse Smith, Barrington, N.H.

Thursday (June 13), hole #11 and Friday (June 14), hole #1

12:45 p.m. – 6:45 a.m. – Justin Hicks, Wyandotte, Mich.; David Howell, England; Brian Stuard, Jackson, Mich.
12:56 p.m. – 6:56 a.m. – Brendan Steele, Irvine, Calif.; Estanislao Goya, Argentina; Peter Hedblom, England
1:07 p.m. – 7:07 a.m. – Marc Leishman, Australia; John Senden, Australia; Marcus Fraser, Australia
1:18 p.m. – 7:18 a.m. – Scott Langley, Manchester, Mo.; a-Chris Williams, Moscow, Idaho; Morgan Hoffmann, Jupiter, Fla.
1:29 p.m. – 7:29 a.m. – Michael Thompson, Birmingham, Ala.; a-Michael Weaver, Fresno, Calif.; Casey Wittenberg, Memphis, Tenn.
1:40 p.m. – 7:40 a.m. – K.J. Choi, Republic of Korea; Francesco Molinari, Italy; Carl Pettersson, Sweden
1:51 p.m. – 7:51 a.m. – Scott Piercy, Las Vegas, Nev.; Kevin Chappell, Fresno, Calif.; Jamie Donaldson, Wales
2:02 p.m. – 8:02 a.m. – Bo Van Pelt, Tulsa, Okla.; Kevin Streelman, Scottsdale, Ariz.; D.A. Points, Windermere, Fla.
2:13 p.m. – 8:13 a.m. – Branden Grace, South Africa; Sang-Moon Bae, Republic of Korea; Russell Henley, Macon, Ga.
2:24 p.m. – 8:24 a.m. – Hideki Matsuyama, Japan; Billy Horschel, Jacksonsville, Fla.; Jordan Spieth, Dallas, Texas
2:35 p.m. – 8:35 a.m. – Mathew Goggin, Australia; Steven Alker, New Zealand; Alistair Presnell, Australia
2:46 p.m. – 8:46 a.m. – Matt Harmon, Grand Rapids, Mich.; a-Gavin Hall, Pittsford, N.Y.; Bio Kim, Republic of Korea
2:57 p.m. – 8:57 a.m. – Zack Fischer, Wake Village, Texas; Ryan Sullivan, Winston-Salem, N.C.; Brandon Crick, McCook, Neb.

Update on 2013-06-08 00:20 by Geoff

**Sean Martin breaks down the pairings.

If You're Going To Merion, Remember You Can't Bring These Things

With the PGA Tour showing a progressive side by slowly but surely figuring out the cell phone issue, a reminder what you can't bring as a spectator to Merion next week...

No Cell Phones (including cell phones with photographic capabilities)
No PDAs, Tablets and/or other Portable Email Devices
No Noise Producing Electronic Devices (including MP3 Players)
No Cameras and/or Camcorders (other than Monday to Wednesday for personal non-commercial photographic use only and without their cases; video recording is not permitted at any time)
No Bags larger than 8”W X 8”H X 8”D in their natural state
No Cases and/or Covers (such as chair or umbrella covers)
No Signs, Posters and/or Banners

There goes my protest sign begging to return the U.S. Open to the west coast.

No Televisions and/or Radios unless provided by the USGA
No Food and/or Beverages except for medical or infant needs
No Containers and/or Coolers except for medical or infant needs
No Pets (other than service animals)
No Lawn and/or Oversized Chairs (only portable compact chairs permitted)
No Bicycles
No Ladders and/or Step-Stools or other similar items
No Metal-spiked Golf Shoes

That means you, Lee Janzen.

No Weapons (regardless of permit, including but not limited to, firearms or knives).
No other items deemed unlawful or dangerous by the USGA and/or Championship Security Personnel in their sole discretion

R&A Shoots Down Report Of '18 Open Going To Portrush

It was from The Sun, and not posted online, from The Irish Sun, but the denial from both the R&A and the club was pretty strong.

From a BBC report, the denial from the club.

And from Sky, the R&A's shootdown.

The R&A is expected to announce a 2018 Open Championship host soon. Their Amateur is being played at Royal Cinque Ports next week to ensure no one sees the best option for a future Open in Deal.

Punters: Tiger Still 4-1 Heading Into Merion

If I were a betting man there are some far more enticing prices heading into the 2013 U.S. Open.

From the AP, courtesy of Golfweek.com, so I don't know who actually came up with these...

    •    Adam Scott 22-1
    •    Matt Kuchar 25-1
    •    Graeme McDowell 28-1
    •    Jim Furyk 40-1
    •    Matteo Manassero 65-1
    •    Field (All Others) 5-1

Trevino! On Merion, Watching The '71 U.S. Open Replay And A Reminder About The Upcoming NBC Documentary

Jaime Diaz has a super Golf World column on the attention Lee Trevino is getting with the U.S. Open's return to Merion. It seems the Merry Mex watched the 1971 rebroadcast and figured out a putting problem that had him using a belly putter.

"Oh man, I didn't remember putting with that style," the familiar voice effused into the phone. "Getting all close to the ball and upright, with my eyes right over it and with my elbows in and my feet pigeon-toed? I guess that was one Wilson 8802 I didn't bend flat."

Trevino made a series of big putts on the back nine of the playoff and recently told Golf Digest that for the rest of his career he searched to regain the feel he had on the greens at Merion. So he could only laugh at how he could have strayed from a method so distinct and successful. "The day after watching it I went right out and copied myself," he said. "My yips went away! Forty years too late, but at least I got rid of the belly putter!"

In the June Golf Digest, Trevino filed a My Shot with Guy Yocom full of all sorts of great anecdotes. Trevino's comments about '71 sound especially prescient as the course gets hit by a tropical storm.

MERION IN 1971 was so penal. The setup was so hard. The rough was Merion bluegrass, a strain I hear was discovered by a superintendent there. It was thick, and because it rained early in the week, wet. It held the moisture and never did dry out completely. Then there were the bunkers, known as "the white faces of Merion." I didn't think the sand itself was that difficult to play from, but the bunkers were surrounded by long, unmanicured grass that was wild and scary looking. They triple-cut the greens twice a day, and the looks on players' faces when they hit their first few putts was something to see. The course was very intimidating. Even though it was a big field, most players had no chance. Between the visual end and the fact it played as hard as it looked, I knew I didn't have to beat as many players as usual.

Finally, big DVR Alert: Lee Trevino "An American Champion" is set to make a NETWORK debut on NBC Sunday at 5 p.m. ET, with a re-broadcast on Golf Channel Monday, June 17 at 10 p.m. ET.

Actor Andy Garcia narrates the Israel Herrara-produced and Aaron Cohen-written documentary.

Here's a preview:

Video: The Mood For Merion, 16th Hole Flyover

At 430 yards with a blind landing area, the narrowing of the 16th seems pretty surprising as the uphill second to a tough green still keeps the hole relevant even in the modern game.

The aerial does not do justice to this wonderful green and the grandeur of the quarry.

Oh, and needless to say the landing area was a lot more generous in the old days.

The flyover.

David Fay's Honorary Membership To The Country Club In Doubt

The Boston Globe's Michael Whitmer reprints David Fay's extensive explanation of The Country Club from his Merion story in the June Golf Digest.  Fay explained why the USGA picked Merion over TCC, which is celebrating the 100th anniversary this year of the historic 1913 U.S. Open.

He called the composite course “overrated” while suggesting the club had no USGA advocates internally.

The club is taking the high road:

“The Country Club has been fortunate to host many great championships and to be a part of some of the game’s most memorable moments,” said club member Sandy Tierney, who is the general chairman for the 2013 US Amateur. “We highly value the club’s place in golf history and feel that the 2013 US Amateur will be a fitting tribute to Francis Ouimet, the quintessential amateur, and the centennial anniversary of a victory that some have called the most important in American golf history."

State Of The Game Podcast 22: Merion & Jeff Silverman

Writer Jeff Silverman has been researching and writing a club history of Merion, now all that remains is the 2013 U.S. Open to finish off the book about one of America's most history-rich courses.

In advance of the U.S. Open he joins Rod Morri, Mike Clayton and myself for a chat about past events at Merion, the setup this year, who we like going in and yes, the logo.

As always, you can listen and subscribe on iTunes or check it out here:

Video: The Mood For Merion, 15th Hole Flyover

The great combo 15th tee and 16th hole bailout has been opened up in the last decade thanks to tree removal and makes for one of the great intersections (potentially) in the final round of the U.S. Open.

(Click to enlarge)As the aerial shows, the road and out-of-bounds awaits the double-crossed tee shot on this 411-yarder, though mysteriously, a bit of rough separates the fairway bunkers and fairway even though the right side is no picnic for approaching this green.

I've included the aerial from Bobby Jones' day. The white dashes show how he played the hole in the 1930 U.S. Amateur qualifying rounds.

The USGA flyover:

Another Simulator (And Plywood) Bites The Dust

This time it was Ryan Winther on Golf Channel's School of Golf though you wil have to sit through about 1:10 of Morning Drive with Ahmad Rashad, his earring, Kelly Tilghman and Mark Rolfing yammering on before you see Winther hit a 50% drive through plywood and the simulator.

"Fact, Fancy and Johnny Miller's 63 at the 1973 U.S. Open at Oakmont,"

Johnny's Oakmont 63--which we'll hear about a lot next week thanks to the 40th anniversary--is now complimented by Carnegie Mellon professors Adam Lazarus and Steve Schlossman filing a follow up to their book "Chasing Greatness: Johnny Miller, Arnold Palmer and the Miracle at Oakmont."

You can read it for free here.

This caught my eye:

The Sprinkler Malfunction: Did the oft-rumored but never fully confirmed sprinkler malfunction and soaking of Oakmont's notoriously hard and fast greens actually happen? Schlossman and Lazarus uncover evidence that it did happen prior to Friday's second round and explore what that meant for Miller's eventual win.