Best Of 2018 U.S. Open Thursday/Friday Tee Times

The most intriguing groups to my naked eye assessment. The deeper, hidden meaning behind some will surely be pondered by theorists galore. 

The opener should make things easy for Coach Fields should he be attending.

Thursday (June 14), hole #1 / Friday (June 15), hole #10

7:18 a.m. / 1:03 p.m. – Jhonattan Vegas, Venezuela; Dylan Frittelli, South Africa; (a) Doug Ghim, Arlington Heights, Ill.

7:40 a.m. / 1:25 p.m. – Bubba Watson, Bagdad, Fla.; Jason Day, Australia; Brooks Koepka, West Palm Beach, Fla.

Thursday (June 14), hole #10 / Friday (June 15), hole #1

8:02 a.m. / 1:47 p.m. – Rory McIlroy, Northern Ireland; Jordan Spieth, Dallas, Texas; Phil Mickelson, Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

8:13 a.m. / 1:58 p.m. – Hideki Matsuyama, Japan; Marc Leishman, Australia; Rickie Fowler, Murrieta, Calif.

8:24 a.m. / 2:09 p.m. – Charles Howell, Orlando, Fla.; Bill Haas, Greenville, S.C.; Charley Hoffman, San Diego, Calif.

Thursday (June 14), hole #1 / Friday (June 15), hole #10

1:14 p.m. – 7:29 a.m. – Sergio Garcia, Spain; Jon Rahm, Spain; Rafa Cabrera Bello, Spain

1:25 p.m. / 7:40 a.m. – Tommy Fleetwood, England; Francesco Molinari, Italy; Alexander Noren, Sweden

1:47 p.m. / 8:02 a.m. – Justin Thomas, Goshen, Ky.; Dustin Johnson, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Tiger Woods, Hobe Sound, Fla.

1:58 p.m. / 8:13 a.m. – Haotong Li, People's Republic of China; Si Woo Kim, Republic of Korea; Kiradech Aphibarnrat, Thailand

2:09 p.m. / 8:24 a.m. – Jason Dufner, Auburn, Ala.; (a) Braden Thornberry, Olive Branch, Miss.; Brandt Snedeker, Nashville, Tenn.

Thursday (June 14), hole #10 / Friday (June 15), hole #1

12:52 p.m. / 7:07 a.m. – Richy Werenski, West Palm Beach, Fla.; Roberto Castro, Atlanta, Ga.; Ollie Schniederjans, Alpharetta, Ga.

1:25 p.m. / 7:40 a.m. – Lucas Glover, Tequesta, Fla.; Webb Simpson, Charlotte, N.C.; Graeme McDowell, Northern Ireland

1:36 p.m. / 7:51 a.m. – Ernie Els, South Africa; Steve Stricker, Madison, Wis.; Jim Furyk, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

2:20 p.m. / 8:35 a.m. – Lucas Herbert, Australia; Brian Stuard, Jackson, Mich.; (a) Stewart Hagestad, Newport Beach, Calif.

USGA Reacts To Phil's Shinnecock Comment: Yeah We Can't Really Speak

Tim Rosaforte reports the reaction of the USGA's Jeff Hall to Phil Mickelson's recent comments on Shinnecock Hills and specifically what happens when they get ahold of the seventh hole (Rex Hoggard's GolfChannel.com item explains).

 And wisely, the events of 2004, to be recounted next week on Golf Channel and Fox, really were spectacularly bad. So as Rosaforte notes, the USGA is wisely not pushing back.

Video: Shinnecock's 8th And 9th Holes

The par-4 8th has been lengthened 41 yards and even then, the lovely strategy carved out by Toomey and Flynn is rendered meaningless by all but a gale force headwind. 

The 250-yard carry to get the best angle of attack at the green won't be an issue for most of the field at this 439 yarder that played 367 yards when the U.S. Open was played here in 1986. Eat your Wheaties kids!

The flyover of your last "flat" walk of the round before Shinnecock ramps up the walk from park-like to rolling to downright combative:

The 485-yard 9th begins a three-hole stretch of blind or obstructed-view approach shots and it's one of the better three-hole stretches in golf. Then again, Shinnecock features no average stretches of golf, but for those who appreciate the challenge of a well-designed uphill approach shot, the 9th-10th and par-3 11th are as good as it gets.

The big issue here in 1986 for PJ Boatwright? An unreachable 9th with a north wind and its 447 yard distance.

If the wind comes out of the northeast, the players might not be able to drive to the bottom of the huge swale in the fairway, in which case they would be left with an impossible long shot rom a downhill lie to the elevated green. So if we get a prediction of a northeast wind, we will move the tee-markets up.

For some, this will be the least likable hole at Shinnecock because of the severe stances and uphill approach severity. The flyover:

For full coverage of the 118th U.S. Open Championship, visit usopen.com.

U.S. Open Field Is Set: Sectionals Complete, Amateurs And Old Guys Steal The Show

Another version of golf's longest day and a tip of the cap to the caddies, rules officials, grounds crews, family and friends who put in a 36-hole day with dreams of a US Open on the line.

As for you players, well done on making it to Sectionals, well done if you finished 36-holes--too many of you didn't--and now, on to those who will be in the field for the 2018 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills.

The USGA page with links to scorecards and scores, sadly no full stores and photos this year, just a roundup page? Ok...definitely worth a look with some great quotes but...

That's why we have Golfweek! The Sectional qualifying home page with links to all stories. 

Drilling down a bit, some highlights from Monday's play:

Sulman Raza is back! Kevin Casey with the Portland qualifier roundup where the former Oregon star displayed signs of the game that helped clinch a national title.

Memphis provided the best drama, with Sam Burns going deep, Steve Stricker making it again and an 11-for-3 playoff that included recent PGA Tour winner Aaron Wise. 

Chris Naegel went birdie-eagle to force a playoff and advance from Texas.

Adam Scott got over his frustration with play at the Memorial to show up in Columbus and qualify, keeping his major streak intact.

Luis Gagne won a coin flip at Local and now he's headed to Shinnecock. Well done!

In Springfield, new pro Doc Redman missed qualifying for an event he was exempt to as U.S. Amateur champion. Dylan Meyer, however, continues his strong play and is headed to Shinnecock.

Beef is back, as is cancer-survivor Matthew Southgate! So were an incredible number of WD's at Walton Heath (27). Nice to see some things never change. 

Amateurs dominated in California, again.

If you love black and white, Ansley Golf Club's Rob Matre posted this slideshow from today's qualifier. Speaking of which...

Michael Hebert qualified in Georgia and this precious shot was captured of him filling out his media form afterwards. Also in Georgia a current NHL ref who worked the playoffs made it to the U.S. Open, writes Golfweek's Brentley Romine. He better know the rules!

Filling out your @usopengolf media bio, with your daughter by your side. 👊 @mikebear6 has successfully qualified to compete next week at Shinnecock Hills! ⛳️

A post shared by Web.com Tour (@webdotcomtour) on Jun 4, 2018 at 4:38pm PDT

Fox's Sectional Qualifying show featured this moment in USGA history....

“Sexual Qualifying” > Sectional Qualifying
Way to keep a straight face!! 😂😂@holly_sonders @shanebacon @BradFaxon @fs1 @usopengolf #RoadToShinnecock pic.twitter.com/EHxxpwekpa

— Dan Valine (@danvaline) June 5, 2018

Video: Shinnecock Hills' Par-3 7th Hole

Phil Mickelson said this week that Shinnecock's 7th is a great par-3 until the USGA gets a hold of it and while he certainly has reason to be bitter--putting off the green Saturday of the 2004 U.S. Open due to faulty setup** and hole location and intentionally having to play to a greenside bunker in Sunday's final round--the hole is mostly a victim of modern green speeds.

P.J. Boatwright on the 188-yard par-3 prior to the 1986 U.S. Open:

Our written instructions on the preparation of the course say, for this hole, "No changes required." It is a terrific par-3 hole to a putting green perched on a plateau framed by handsome bunkering work. We think it will ask for a four- or five iron from most players. The green is considerably sloped from right to left; it will be a challenge.

The same yardage will be used this year, though the club of choice figures to be more like 7 and 8-irons instead of 4's and 5's. The USGA's description:

This classic representation of the Redan hole at North Berwick in Scotland features a green that slopes from front right to back left, requiring precise distance control. The prevailing wind is typically against the player and slightly from the right. The back-left bunker will likely catch quite a few tee shots. Players who miss the green long will face a recovery shot back up the slope, and they must be wary of a ball not hit crisply enough rolling back toward them.

Architecturally, the hole is a fun, bizarre little par-3 but other than to one hole location really, shares little in common with the reason people love the original Redan's playing characteristics.

The flyover:

**Mickelson made double bogey to Saturday's hole location mess. He lost the tournament by two strokes. 

Video: Shinnecock Hills' Par-4 6th Hole

Another hole with beautifully simple strategy--hug the hazard, improve the angle of attack for the next shot--that has taken on a more natural look after some really delicate exposure of more sand in the native areas.

PJ Boatwright's description of the hole in 1986, then playing 471 yards:

Because the area between the tee and the fairway is slightly raised and covered with brush, it's a "blind" tee shot--you cannot see the fairway. Some players find that a disorienting factor, but there is nothing wrong with an occasional challenge like this. Because of its length, this is a very hard hole. Incidentally, the pond, which is the only water hazard on the course, should not be an important feature of the Open. It is beyond the drive zone and about 50 yards short of the green. The bunker at the left of the green will get a lot of play.

The modern day description notes the angles as well:

Although the tee shot is typically into the wind, it’s only a 240-yard carry across the bunker on the right side of this dogleg-right hole, which features a blind tee shot. Players who favor the left side to avoid the bunker and the natural sandy area on the right will face a longer approach shot from a less desirable angle, while also bringing the bunkers on the left into play. The approach shot is to a green that pitches from back to front.

The flyover:

Tiger And Phil Issue Their First Impressions Of Shinnecock Hills 2018

Following their reconnaissance trips to Shinnecock Hills, Tiger Woods prefaced his assessment by noting the rainy weather and extreme length of the par-70 course. But as Brentley Romine reports for Golfweek, Phil Mickelson offered a rave review of the course where he finished second in 2004.

Mickelson spent Tuesday at Shinnecock. He went around with assistant pro Matt Cahill and raved at the changes, particularly the widened fairways and shaved run-off areas around the greens.

“Phenomenal,” Mickelson said. “It’s really well done. They renovated it a little bit and some of the fairways are a little bit wider, certainly the rough is as penalizing or more so than I’ve seen it, but the fairways are fair and the greens are as healthy as I’ve seen them.”

Video: Shinnecock's Fifth Hole And Trying To Restore The Intended Landing Area

Fifth tee at the bottom, very close to the members' 18th tee.  The landing area of this double Fairway Par-5 is in the upper right center of the image.

Lengthened to 589, the first par-5 at Shinnecock Hills is a niftily designed double fairway hole with a cool decision installed by architect William Flynn. When the hole was envisioned, Flynn was thinking of risk-reward dynamics that made the lay-up easier.

Unfortunately, even with the hole 54 yards longer than it was in 1986, 1995 and 2004--despite the claimed flatlining of distance since 2003--the player's tee shot decision is muted by modern driving distances. From there, the dynamics of the second shot and green take on totally different meaning. 

This is not a big deal if you think a test is all about power and hitting from point A to point B. But if decision-making and going to great trouble to return to Shinnecock Hills to ask more sophisticated design questions is the USGA's goal, then the 5th provides a fine example of a losing battle for classic architecture.

The USGA's Mike Davis addressed the effort to get landing areas relevant again with new tees:

“We didn’t add distance just to add distance,” Davis said. “What we really did, and we did it in concert with the club itself and also with some work with Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw, that architectural firm, is we really wanted to bring the shot value back to what (William) Flynn had designed in the late 1920s. So we looked at each drive zone and said, ‘what would it take to get the drive zone back into play?’ So I think we are excited because now all of a sudden some of the cross bunkers that are in play, some of the lateral bunkers that are in play or some of the shots, I mean take the second hole, it was always meant to be a long downwind par-3 that you can bounce the ball in. We now have that again.”

Lengthened 30 yards for the U.S. Open's return in 1986, Flynn's fifth hole strategy is worth savoring even if it's not as his team envisioned. The player unwilling to take on the carry to the left fairway is forced to play right, lengthening the next shot and bringing a fairway bunker into play, possibly forcing another safe shot. While the player who lands in the alternate fairway shortens the hole, improves the second shot view and in general, is high on life.

Basic but interesting strategy, that must have been even more clever when 250 yards was a big poke but now lost. With the carry to the left fairway at 240 or so yards, only a stiff breeze into the players could make the tee shot decision relevant for a U.S. Open field. 

The flyover of Shinnecock Hills' fifth:

USGA, Shinnecock Indian Nation Said To Be Near Deal

I hate to think how an event as intricately planned as the U.S. Open returning to Shinnecock Hills still hasn't crossed this t, but Bill Pennington of the New York Times says a deal is imminent.

Not mentioned in these stories, but there is the obvious--merchandise logos featuring a Shinnecock--and the not-so-obvious fact that the tribe helped build the course and was long part of its maintenance. 

Anyway it's all a little strange but good news: more parking spaces are opening up!

U.S. Open's Two-Hole Playoff Came After Talking To Stakeholders, With Excitement In Mind

Still not a fan here of a two-hole aggregate playoff, which is in play for the first time at this week's U.S. Women's Open and in two weeks at Shinnecock Hills, especially given the success three-hole aggregate playoffs have enjoyed in other championships.

I was reading the 2018 U.S. Open media day transcript and was interested in Executive Director Mike Davis's explanation, which emphasized the desires of stakeholders (TV?) and the probability of more excitement in two holes versus three. Davis said the main premise was to finish on Sunday and proceeded from there.

We also looked at it saying, we looked back in data and really the data suggested that whether it's three holes, which is our Women's Open used to be or believe it or not our U.S. Senior Open when we first went from 18 holes we went to a four hole aggregate, and that did seem to take a little too much time and sometimes it got to the last hole and it was already over. So we thought that by having two holes, that there would be more excitement, but it wouldn't necessarily be one shot over. And frankly, think about this week. If we needed, if we have a tie after 72 holes, we're going to play the par-3, 17th. Wonderful par-3. And then that great finishing hole 18. Next year at Pebble Beach, 17 and 18. How iconic are those holes?

Certainly iconic. But starting on a par-3 following decades of hearing about the importance of deciding a championship as important as the U.S. Open with a full-round makes two holes feel incomplete.

Video: Shinnecock Hills Third And Fourth Flyovers

Lengthened for the 2018 U.S Open, the par-4 third is named Peconic and unless into the wind, should play fairly short for today's players given the turbo boast that awaits in the landing area.

Here's the 2018 description:

Similar to No. 2, the prevailing southwest wind would be favoring the player and from the left. A new tee not only adds 22 yards to the hole; it is farther to the golfer’s left, and the fairway was also tightened on the left to make the angle of the dogleg more pronounced. The fairway is still relatively generous at 33½ yards at the 300-yard mark. A bunker on the right of the drive zone is unlikely to be in play, unless the wind reverses course.

Here is what PJ Boatwright wrote for the 1986 U.S. Open:

Bordering the left side of the hole is Shinnecock's equally famous neighbor--the National Golf Links of America. This is a big, straight-away two-shot hole. The fairway in the drive zone has been narrowed to 30 yards. The key to the hole is an accurate tee shot because the green is relatively large and open in front. Shinnecock's greens are, in general, not severely contoured. This one, hower, has more than its share of ripples, and there is a demanding hole location in the back right.

The flyover:

The fourth was lengthened 30 yards to 408 in 1986 and 1995, but will play 475 this time round.

Boatwright in 1986:

We constructed a new tee that added about 30 yards on this hole. That means the fairway bunker on the right, which could have been ignored, is now very much in play. The green is slightly elevated and relatively small. It will require a well-played short iron shot. The green has been enlarged at the right front to provide a tough hole location behind a bunker.

Here is the USGA description for 2018:

The tee shot and approach shot will typically play into a hurting or right-to-left wind on this hole that has been lengthened by 40 yards. The left side has been brought in so the fairway measures 32.5 yards wide at 300 yards out, which also brings the fairway bunkers into play. The preferred angle of approach is from the right side of the fairway, with the exception of a hole location on the right side of the green. The slightly elevated green has some subtle movement.

The 4th hole flyover:

And finally, between holes 3 and 4, this is the ad appearing in the 1995 program:

Forced By PGA Tour Rule To Turn Up At Colonial Instead Of Wentworth, Justin Rose Wins

As James Corrigan detailed a few weeks ago (thanks reader Scott), Justin Rose wanted to play at Wentworth in support of the European Tour. 

But he skipped out on that tour's signature event for a Colonial to fulfill the PGA Tour once-every-four-years clause. He ruled out the Deere and Wyndham due to Scottish Open and Ryder Cup priorities, and it turns out, wisely chose to play in Fort Worth where he found the iron game that had been less than stellar in 2018.

The Golfweek recap with news and notes on the one-off Fort Worth Invitational, saved by a host of sponsors before Charles Schwab takes over next year.

David Dusek with the winner's bag.

Round four highlights:

Kevin Na posted an opening 62 and closing 61. His highlights from the 7th 61 in Colonial history:

Video: Shinnecock Hills Second Hole Flyover

At 252 yards for this year's U.S. Open, this uphill, typically downwind long par-3 is one of the more subtly artful and not-so-subtly difficult one-shotters around.

In 1986, P.J. Boatwright noted the small approach added to players land the ball short of the green, 226 yards away: 

A very strong a par-3, uphill to a green that is appropriately large. Normally, we isolate greens on par-3 holes with rough. In this case, because the hole is so long, we left a strip of fairway in front of the green so that players can bounce the ball onto the green. This is only fair because the hole is likely to play downwind.

The aerial showing the entire fairway drenched in rough!  Fairway was installed by 1995:

The flyover today:

For full coverage of the 118th U.S. Open Championship, visit usopen.com.

Video: Shinnecock Hills First Hole Flyover And Past Comments From Boatwright, Eger

It's a tradition here pre-U.S. Open: counting down the holes until Shinnecock Hills hosts a fourth modern-era U.S. Open over its magnificent William Flynn design.

Besides some excellent flyovers filmed in fall 2017 by the USGA, for added giggles I'm going to share--when helpful--the 1986 comments of P.J. Boatwright and the 1995 comments of David Eger. Both were the Senior Director of Rules prior to the U.S. Open at Shinnecock. Their comments appeared in the tournament programs.

For the 1986 U.S. Open, Boatwright said of the opening hole:

A pleasant starting hole that offers a sweeping view of the course from an elevated tee. You'll see most players get off the tee with four-woods and one-irons since it's a tight drive zone--one we narrowed from 46 yards to 28 yards. The green has been enlarged at the back left to provide a testing hole location behind the bunker at the left of the green.

Eger in 1995:

This is a great starter, as the elevated tee provides players with a sweeping view of the course. It's a slight dogleg right and the prevailing wind quarters from left to right. Many players will use a fairway wood off the tee as the fairway is only about 30 yards off the tee.

The 2018 U.S. Open website description suggests a much different possibility than 1986 and 1995. It's those foam rollers keeping them limber. And the roll of course!

This manageable opening hole plays from an elevated tee near the clubhouse. Players who hit driver will find that the fairway narrows dramatically as it nears the two fairway bunkers on the right side of the drive zone – from 47 yards wide at 275 yards, to 30 yards wide at the 300-yard mark. Under certain wind conditions, players might attempt to hit driver close to or onto the putting surface. It’s a birdie opportunity, but a player could make a quick bogey here as well.

USGA On 2004 At Shinnecock: "What basically happened then was a lack of water.”

Lush rough at Shinnecock Hills less than a month from the U.S. Open.

David Dusek reports from U.S. Open media day at Shinnecock Hills and the USGA made the first effort to put behind them the course setup boondoggle from the last Open.

Somewhere Tom Meeks and Walter Driver aren't liking these comments from current Executive Director Mike Davis, but the truth can be painful:

“It’s been 14 years, and it’s a different time, with different people,” Davis said. “When you set up a U.S. Open, it is golf’s ultimate test and is probably set up closer to the edge than any other event in golf. The difference between then and now is that we have a lot more technology and a lot more data. And frankly, what basically happened then was a lack of water.”

This probably won't bring great comfort to Phil Mickelson, who lost by two with a double at the virtually unplayable 7th hole.

“Looking back at 2004, and at parts of that magnificent day with Retief (Goosen) and Phil Mickelson coming down to the end, there are parts that we learned from,” Davis said. “I’m happy we got a mulligan this time. We probably made a bogey last time, maybe a double bogey.”