Player reactions part 2: D. Johnson and the three S’s

We stayed out by the 18th hole and caught up with Dustin Johnson, Brandt Snedeker, Steve Stricker and Henrik Stenson. Here’s what they had to say about the Straits course Tuesday afternoon.

Dustin Johnson and Golfdom’s Seth Jones get into course conditions at Whistling Straits.

Dustin Johnson:

The course is playing well but it’s soft. I know the course was firmer when we were out here in 2010 but I think the rough is a little bit healthier this time.

The golf course is in fantastic shape and the conditions are perfect but it’s a little soft. If we have nice weather like today the next few days I think it will firm up considerably.

I like playing this course but you got to golf your ball around though. You can’t fake it, you have to hit good shots with every club you got.

Brandt Snedeker

It’s a little soft right now but it looks like conditions will firm up over the next couple days. The bunkers here are tough, really fluffy sand and a different kind of sand than we are used to. There are a bunch of them out there and they’re tough to get out of.

I like this course, I think it is a great test and it’s done a great job identifying to two great champions the last two times we were out here. You have to play well for 72 holes and this will be a difficult test especially if it dries out a little bit and the wind starts to blow.

Steve Stricker:

The course is in great shape. It’s still a little soft but it’s really in nice shape. The fairways are very lush and the greens are pure. It’s playing long because we aren’t getting a lot of roll on the fairway.

If it stays dry the rest of the week the course shouldn’t change too much the first two days. I think we’re looking at temperatures around 88 on the weekend so it could dry out more by then. They might have to put some water on them at that time but I know I could use a little extra roll on the fairway.

Henrik Stenson talks with Golfdom’s Grant B. Gannon on course conditions.

Henrik Stenson:

It’s a course that looks a little Irish-y links style but it’s not playing anywhere near it. Got all the of the contours but it’s playing very soft. Balls are plugging almost on parts of the fairway.

I was in a few of the bunkers and they are very tricky. They are so small and shallow, some of them have little pieces of grass in them. They are to be avoided and so is the rough. The guys that are going to do well this week will be hitting a good tee ball and solid iron shots.

I like the course and it suits my game well when it is playing soft. Off the tee it isn’t one of my favorites courses because I like to be able to see a lot of the fairway and you don’t see that much here.

Photos: Golfdom