Video: Oakmont's 15th, 16th, 17th & 18th

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I wanted to wait to see the closing holes again to comment on them.

The 15th is the longest par-4 at Oakmont and plays to a tilted landing area, but the fairway looked fairly ample to me. This gave up the fewest birdies of back nine hole in 2007.

This beautiful par-3 has some Redan elements and if played conservatively, can be parred quite a bit over four days. But, as temptation is at the heart of the Redan, this one seems to lure players into more aggressive plays at times, rarely with great results.

I forgot just how uphill this hole plays and how quietly the green tilts from front/center right to left. Devilish in all ways, the misses long are in big trouble.

The finishing hole is a classic straightaway two-shotter that plays downhill off the tee and uphill on the approach. Downwind it can play very short, but the green is so cruelly contoured that this one is tough to hit any approach close. Or, at all, given that the GIR rate in 2007 was 33%. I paced 26 yards for the width between fairway bunkers.

Manual Scoreboards...They're Back At The U.S. Open!

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It may be a one-off because someone figured out digital scoreboards would not have really fit the Oakmont aesthetic. Or maybe they just realized after last year's sometimes-working digital video boards debuted and didn't really have the same cachet at Chambers Bay, that a return trip at such a venerable place was not the right call. Either way...welcome back manual, timeless scoreboard!

Also noticeably absent is the grandstand with white USGA branding in the seating. In fact, there is a noticeable reduction in USGA branding in signage, merchandise and on the course. And the sun will continue to rise in the east.

This won't be missed when a player wants to know where they stand...


Jason Day Says Oakmont Could Set Up For Runaway Victor

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Gerry Dulac caught up with Jason Day after the World No. 1's first time around Oakmont and the Aussie is a fan. Day was accompanied by fellow Double Eagle Golf Club member John Kasich, former Ohio governor and presidential candidate.

After talking about how much he likes the course, Day offered this assessment.

Oakmont’s fairways are still receptive from a heavy rain Monday, and Day said that will be a key when the U.S. Open starts — keeping the ball out of the rough and away from the deep fairway bunkers. But, then, he offered a surprisingly different opinion on what could happen.

“If they have it set up like in the past with good [weather] conditions, it will be pretty tough,” Day said. “But you never know. This is the kind of course, there may be a chance where one person can run away with it. You get a guy hot with their longer stuff and hitting a lot of fairways and hitting the right spots on the greens and you give yourself an opportunity and got everything firing, they can kind of run away with it. I’m not saying that’s me but there could be an opportunity for someone to do that.”

The 2016 U.S. Open Still Is Not A Sell Out...

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I'm not sure if this is news or not, since the USGA could announce tomorrow it's sold out and we would not know either way.

Still, considering they were nearing a sell out back in March and you can still get tickets for Monday to Friday play, it begs the question: cost, experience, venue or some combination of all the above?

Oakmont is not quite a boutique venue, but they galleries were to be limited to 30,000 a day, which isn't Pinehurst scale.

Hanging the sold out sign has occurred alarmingly close to the event in recent years.

All but Thursday and a few practice round days were sold out by February, 2010 for Pebble Beach.

All but the first round had sold out at Congressional in May, 2011.

Olympic didn’t sell out until tournament week in 2012.

Merion sold out entirely by June 10th

Chambers Bay sold out except for practice rounds by February, 2015.

Pinehurst kept the streak intact for 28 years, but just barely (June 13).

I know in past threads some of you had noted the experience. I'm curious what you think is the most likely reason?

What is reason #1 the U.S. Open has not sold out?
 
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Golf's Heismen: Hossler, Law Take Top College Honors

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I'm a little late on this but nice to see the recognition for Haskins winner Beau Hossler and Annika winner Bronte Law.

Hossler seems to be handling his shoulder injury well given that he is now delaying his pro debut. Ryan Lavner with the report on NCAA golf's two best players for 2015-16 and Hossler's health update shared with Steve Burkowski.