For Your U.S. Open Consideration: Conventional Grip McIlroy

/

If you were looking for a reason to back Rory at Oakmont, he certainly gave punters all they needed to see on some of the tour's toughest greens.

From Bob Harig's Memorial report on Rory McIlroy's play (-13, T4) just a little over a week before the U.S. Open at Oakmont:

But perhaps more important was McIlroy's putting. Typically a sore spot and the aspect of his game that holds him back, McIlroy was second for the week in strokes gained putting and never took more than 29 putts in a round. (He had more than 30 in each round two weeks ago in Ireland.)

"Off the tee I was really good this week, and I feel like my putting improved a lot,'' he said. "If you look at the stats from my putting, I feel like it's been really good. So all things considered, it's been a decent week. Time to get ready for Oakmont.''

And this from Golf Channel's Justin Ray:

 

 

I think most fascinating about the putter grip change from left hand low to conventional is just how much less he "pops" a putt instead of a stroke. Popping is not a good thing on greens running 14. IMHO.

Tim Warsinskey notes that McIlroy has been preparing by watching the USGA's flyovers.

Apparently he's jumping on the Oregon bandwagon en route to Oakmont...

 

 

Video: Oakmont's 7th & 8th, The Tough Begins

/

Not that there has been an easy moment so far, but Oakmont only gets tougher from the 7th tee on. Even more exposed than it was nine years ago, this is one of the more sloped greens and a nice contrast to the flat eighth.



I'm not sure releasing a paper outlining the lack of distance gains and then lengthening the longest par-3 in U.S. Open history twelve or so yards does much to make your argument stronger. Especially when the hole saw only 27% of the field hit the green in regulation last time the U.S. Open was played here.

Nonetheless, the least interesting looking and playing hole at Oakmont is still interesting, a credit to its design.

Video: Oakmont 5th & 6th Holes, Two Of The Best

/

It's been a while since I've been to Oakmont but the flyovers and green contour lines in these USGA flyovers remind what a great pair of holes these are.

It'll be interesting to see if that directional post behind the fifth green survives...

Nice to see the 6th green enlarged, as I vaguely recall it played a little too small during the 2007 U.S. Open.

Video: Oakmont 1st And 2nd Holes

/

We're off and running to Oakmont Country Club for the U.S. Open and the USGA is again posting flyovers on YouTube. So two holes at a time, here is one of America's great courses, this time as seen from a drone giving us some nice tee perspective to start off, followed by a hole flyover.

I'm not sure there is a tougher starter and certainly no green as difficult to start on as this one:


One of the few birdie opportunities at Oakmont, assuming you hit the fairway and keep it below the hole, the par-4 2nd:

Membership Closes In Annual World Top 50 Club

/

There's something increasingly absurd about the year-end World Top 50 Club. Not that it's the fault of the Official World Golf Ranking. Or even the precious algorithm guiding year-end standings that carry entirely too much meaning by qualifying people into majors and other events.

It's always seemed strange to be handing out passes for major championship field spots for the previous year's top 50. They also secure $300,000-or-so in guaranteed appearance money for the coming year, all because the calendar switched to a new year January 1st.

Yes, people need to plan schedules and make travel plans at some point, but I don't get why this New Year's Eve mythical milestone of world top 50 status is still used by events such as the Masters. The idea of rewarding folks in such a substantial way while restricting others, all for finishing the year one one side of the top 50 line, just seems like an outdated notion.

Nick Menta reports on those who slipped in and those no longer with access to the club. And then there's Tiger down at 416th.