Will The USGA Ever Get The U.S. Open Course Set Up Right?
- Updated: June 17, 2018
14 years after the USGA botched the course set up at Shinnecock Hills at the 2004 U.S. Open, they came back strong and finally figured it out this week. After all, it is our national championship and…
…we’re just kidding. Of course, they didn’t!
Here’s a quick recap of what we saw from the “T.I.S. Command Center” aka on TV from our couch:
Thursday
It rained on Wednesday and Thursday featured unusual 20-30mph non-prevailing winds which were out of their control … but the bumpy greens kind of were, so scores ballooned off the bat with only 4 guys finishing under par on Thursday and put some big names – Rory, Tiger, Jordan – well off the pace.
— Two Inches Short (@TwoInchesShort) June 14, 2018
Friday
Friday was a little fairer thanks to a little rain that came through and saved the day. Scores were about 2 shots better than Thursday. Then Saturday happened.
Saturday
Bottom line, the course got away from them. The wind was up again and it wasn’t fair. We know the U.S. Open is supposed to be tough, but good shots still need to hold the green. They didn’t. Holes were cut too close to edges which made it borderline unfair according to some players. While we are all for the carnage at golf’s toughest test, this wasn’t even fun.
The USGA failed to water Faxon’s suit, and now they’ve completely lost it. pic.twitter.com/kBSLQxWkWr
— Brian Phillips (@BPhillips_SB) June 17, 2018
One of the issues was that they set the course up so it was perfect at 8am but for some reason failed to remember it changes throughout the day. That’s Groundskeeping 101. By 6pm est it was close to silly. There was nothing good about.
Daniel Berger and Tony Finau started the day in 45th place. They both shot 66 and by sunset, they were tied for the lead and in the final group on Sunday. What? And then Phil hit a moving ball so it didn’t roll down a hill….
The US Open doesn’t start until Mike Davis and the USGA try to defend themselves about rules and course set up
— Two Inches Short (@TwoInchesShort) June 16, 2018
Sunday
Naturally, the USGA overreacted and watered the crap out of the course and moved pins closer to the middle of the green on Sunday.
Tommy Fleetwood went out and fired the 6th 63 in U.S. Open history to post +2 early which was good enough for a runner-up at the end of the day. Rickie Fowler shot 84 on Saturday … then fired a 65 on Sunday … a difference of 19 shots. That’s 3 more than the widest difference between the 3rd & 4th round of the U.S. Open in its 118-year history. Something wasn’t quite adding up.
USGA statement on today’s course conditions: pic.twitter.com/QGPTpXaEAk
— Two Inches Short (@TwoInchesShort) June 17, 2018
Thankfully, the golf course wasn’t the story during the final round and they let the golfers decided the outcome. Unfortunately, the damage was already done.
Maybe it’s time we have an intervention with the USGA? Talk to the R&A for advice since they’ve been doing it longer? Something needs to happen because this is not a good look and it has to stop.
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