The US Open 2013

golfugh · « **on:** 13 Jun 2013, 08:44 pm »

Looks like this could be an interesting US Open. Scores predicted to be low, yet only 4 rounds under par in the first wave.

Here's hoping for good weather through the weekend. Merion looks like a wonderful short course test (even in wet conditions).

My own personal pick - Phil Mickelson, he needs a US Open after 5 runners-up.

Mark

golfugh · « **Reply #1 on:** 13 Jun 2013, 11:50 pm »

Afternoon wave playing a little better, no wind and the greens are even softer.

SoCalWJS · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 Jun 2013, 02:02 am »

Going to be interesting to see how the course changes with the weather.
Tiger is all over the place and needs to be reminded: While you can't win a tournament on Thursday, you can definitely lose it. No feel on many shots around the green.

I'd love to see Phil finally win a US Open - if he leaves driver out of the bag, it could happen.

Hope the weather allows for a Sunday finish.

ArthurDent · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 Jun 2013, 02:22 am »

Leave the driver out !

Heck doesn't he carry 2, one for fade & one for draw.

I love it, NBC says it's going to have 'wall to wall' coverage in an ad last week, which translates to 2 hrs of network today & tomorrow. Oh well, should be interesting by the weekend. Accuracy will obviously be at it's usual Open premium, that rough looks more like pasture than a course.

Looking forward to seeing who separates themselves from the pack. A couple of the Amatuers looked pretty good today. Rock on guys, hit 'em straight.

SoCalWJS · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 Jun 2013, 02:33 am »

Quote from: ArthurDent on 14 Jun 2013, 02:22 am

Leave the driver out ! Heck doesn't he carry 2, one for fade & one for draw. I love it, NBC says it's going to have 'wall to wall' coverage in an ad last week, which translates to 2 hrs of network today & tomorrow. Oh well, should be interesting by the weekend. Accuracy will obviously be at it's usual Open premium, that rough looks more like pasture than a course.

Looking forward to seeing who separates themselves from the pack. A couple of the Amatuers looked pretty good today. Rock on guys, hit 'em straight.

This time no driver - might prevent him from uncorking one into the trees while one up and two holes to go.

ESPN coverage before and after the NBC coverage from Dawn until the final shot. Bonus/special coverage on DirecTV and the internet. You can absolutely OD on the coverage of the US Open.

rodge827 · « **Reply #5 on:** 15 Jun 2013, 01:06 am »

So, with no driver in his bag and the sun going down, Phil drops in a birdie on 18 to come in tied at 1 under.

Looks like little Merion is flexing some big muscles on these guy's.

Should be fun to watch tomorrow when things will get dry and fast.

Chris

ArthurDent · « **Reply #6 on:** 15 Jun 2013, 02:22 am »

Between the rough and the subtle greens, it's going to be a battle. Lots of folks in contention. As usual the announcing on NBC leaves something to be desired (not a Johnny Miller fan). On the 1st tee they say Phil only has 1 wood in his bag, a 2 wood. Then on the 2nd tee he's teeing off with a 3 wood ? While I like Jake, it'd be more fun with McCord & Feherty.

Too many good players at the top to pick a winner yet. Definitely don't see anyone running away with it at the moment. Time will tell.

rodge827 · « **Reply #7 on:** 15 Jun 2013, 03:22 am »

Quote from: ArthurDent on 15 Jun 2013, 02:22 am

it'd be more fun with McCord & Feherty.

+1

SoCalWJS · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 Jun 2013, 03:40 am »

Yeah, I prefer the CBS coverage and crew as well. Ah well....

As the greens dry out and get even faster (

), and the rough gets even thicker from all the rain leading up to and through the first day of the tournament, I can see the winning score being over par.

I think the best strategy right now is to drive it down the middle of the fairway, even if it's not real far, then hit the middle of the green in regulation (maybe adjust a bit for front/middle/back, but still centerline of the green) and hope to drop a couple of medium length putts.

If you try to hit it too far and it misses, or if you try to cut too much of an angle to shorten the approach shot, this rough brings bogey (or worse) into play very quickly.

This is going to be remembered as a classic US Open where the rough will be talked about for years afterwards.

JLM · « **Reply #9 on:** 15 Jun 2013, 09:28 am »

Love courses like Merion that reward thinking over brute force.

Too many professionals get in trouble by "getting fancy" with trying to shape shots when it's simply not needed.

But as always, and especially in the majors, the real game is played in the 6 inches between the ears. Can't help to wonder how these guys would do under the same course conditions if it was purely for recreation.

Letitroll98 · « **Reply #10 on:** 15 Jun 2013, 10:21 pm »

Isn't Merion just one of the best courses as a US Open venue? Ranks right up there with Oakmont and Pebble Beach as American classics. The course just fits your eye as a proper test on every hole, but each unique and individual in it's perils. I only wish the great, unused Queen of courses, Pine Valley, would open up as a venue for an Open. I live virtually next door and we can get on once a year for a moderately stiff contribution to the charity event hosted in September. The waiting list has been too long for a while now though. That would make two classic courses in the Philly area hosting Opens, but the logistics for Pine Valley would be monumentally harder than even Merion.

Right now looks like about 7 or 8 guys are in the mix for Sunday.

ArthurDent · « **Reply #11 on:** 16 Jun 2013, 05:13 pm »

I'm sure someone here tweets & facebooks. Tell NBC to shut up and show the golf ! No wonder it's such a lame network, over an hour of 'coverage' so far and what, 1 shot shown.

rodge827 · « **Reply #12 on:** 16 Jun 2013, 06:23 pm »

Quote from: ArthurDent on 16 Jun 2013, 05:13 pm

I'm sure someone here tweets & facebooks. Tell NBC to shut up and show the golf ! No wonder it's such a lame network, over an hour of 'coverage' so far and what, 1 shot shown.

Hey Jimmy Roberts,

NO ONE CARES!

golfugh · « **Reply #13 on:** 16 Jun 2013, 06:24 pm »

Worst coverage I've ever seen!

mcgsxr · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 Jun 2013, 11:38 pm »

Congrats to Justin.

So sad again for Phil, I was pulling for him!

golfugh · « **Reply #15 on:** 17 Jun 2013, 12:32 am »

This is the most depressed I've been following a US Open!! I believe Phil is done and will retire shortly, this one killed him.

rodge827 · « **Reply #16 on:** 17 Jun 2013, 01:59 am »

Yes it was a tough loss for Phil, but Justin Rose deserves all the credit!

A great win on a course that knocked the crap out of so many very skilled players!
Merion and the USGA deserve a lot of credit for hosting and putting together a true test of golf.

Phil has another Major in him and will keep playing (until his sponsor contracts' run out) unless his arthritis becomes too problematic.
He'll go home to Amy and the kids, mellow out , and be ready to tee it up again in a couple of weeks.

Congrats again to Justin Rose 113th US Open Champion!

geezer · « **Reply #17 on:** 17 Jun 2013, 01:28 pm »

Apart from the fact that my favorite didn't win, I enjoyed this Open more than any other that I can recall. I'm tired of the venues that favor the long hitters who drive 350 yards then hit nine iron (or shorter) to the tee, and who suffer virtually not at all when landing in the "rough." I loved Merion where thinking and accuracy counts more than muscle.

jsaliga · « **Reply #18 on:** 17 Jun 2013, 02:14 pm »

I don't think it is so much the venues chosen for the U.S. Open as it is the way the USGA sets the golf course up. They could probably bring the U.S. Open to any decent municipal course, give it the USGA treatment, and the pros would have a hard time with it. So I don't know that I agree that the USGA setup identifies the best golfer any better than the other majors, but it does consistently produce high scores.

That said, I enjoyed the final round and for a while thought that maybe this would Jason Day's turn to win. He sure has been in the thick of it in most majors the past couple of years and he has the talent to win. I thought the reason that Justin Rose won yesterday is because he was hitting most of his second shots from the fairway, and Mickelson, Mahan, and Day were hitting too many second shots from the rough. Rose hit irons from some of those tees on that crazy difficult stretch on the back nine. The pars he made on 15 and 18 were huge and probably decided the outcome. Phil had a number of bad breaks on a lot of very close putts. I thought that Phil was done after two doubles but then he holed out for an eagle from the rough on 10 and shot to the lead. Jason Dufner almost snuck in there until he got to 15, hit is tee shot OB, and carded a 7.

It was a pretty exiting finale with so many players in the hunt.

--Jerome

rollo · « **Reply #19 on:** 17 Jun 2013, 04:08 pm »

Quote from: jsaliga on 17 Jun 2013, 02:14 pm

I don't think it is so much the venues chosen for the U.S. Open as it is the way the USGA sets the golf course up. They could probably bring the U.S. Open to any decent municipal course, give it the USGA treatment, and the pros would have a hard time with it. So I don't know that I agree that the USGA setup identifies the best golfer any better than the other majors, but it does consistently produce high scores.

That said, I enjoyed the final round and for a while thought that maybe this would Jason Day's turn to win. He sure has been in the thick of it in most majors the past couple of years and he has the talent to win. I thought the reason that Justin Rose won yesterday is because he was hitting most of his second shots from the fairway, and Mickelson, Mahan, and Day were hitting too many second shots from the rough. Rose hit irons from some of those tees on that crazy difficult stretch on the back nine. The pars he made on 15 and 18 were huge and probably decided the outcome. Phil had a number of bad breaks on a lot of very close putts. I thought that Phil was done after two doubles but then he holed out for an eagle from the rough on 10 and shot to the lead. Jason Dufner almost snuck in there until he got to 15, hit is tee shot OB, and carded a 7.

It was a pretty exiting finale with so many players in the hunt.

--Jerome

Very well said Jerome. So when are we going to tee it up ?? I think it is time for an AC outing, any takers in NY, NJ, Conn areas ??

charles