US Open...

[Larry Gude]

...OK, now that the dust has settled, is the USGA out of their minds? Or should the US Open be so EXTREME?

I watched the last round with buddies (12 of us play on fathers day every year then cookout) and someone asked me what I thought we'd shoot, there, in those conditions.

I said we'd never finish.

My opinion is that everyone plays the same course BUT if you hit basically the same good shot as someone else and get a dramatically different result due to luck then it is NOT fair.

Last years British and this years US were not, to me fair. They became tests of how much you could deal with good shots yielding poor results.

I do like the change of pace from week in and week out but when you have shot after shot that there is no good play to be made, you in essence reward a mediocre shot the same as a great one in many cases because they'll both end up in the same place.

 

[Otter]

US Open should be extreme(as in very difficult). The only thing I would have changed at Shinnecock would have been to slow down the greens. A barely moving putt that misses the hole should not roll off the green. Its doesn't seem fair to have hump-backed greens cut to where its next to impossible to stop a ball.

I always enjoy the US Open when its played on a tough course, does my heart good to see the pros playing shots from places I'm more familiar with (rough, sand).

 

[rraley]

I would have to echo otter's sentiment. The US Open ought to be played on a very tough course that tests not only the players' golfing abilities but their ability to deal with other factors such as having a great shot not turn out as they wanted. The US Open is a test of grit as well as skill.

As for the British Open...it's my favorite golf tournament. I love watching it when the winning score could very well be above par. It makes it seem more connected to my terrible golf game.