Talking conditions at 2017 US Open Pt. 1
We’ve been busy at the U.S. Open, with not much to show for it on the blog yet. Mostly we’ve been tweeting while also stashing photos and stories in anticipation of our enewsletter that deploys tomorrow (sign up for that newsletter here.)
But while I’m at the computer and off the course here, let me post a couple soundbites from two US Open competitors who I chatted with Tuesday afternoon…
“Condition are excellent, the greens are some of the best I’ve seen. Not too much grain to get used to. A lot of different tees, it depends on the set-up, they could make it as difficult as they want. With it being a little bit softer, it’s very playable right now.
I saw a bit (of the rough being cut down on No. 4 and No. 14) I mean… it’s a bad drive to get into the deep rough there. It’s inevitable over the four days you’re going to be in there at some time, you’ve just got to take your meds and hopefully you can carry out without damage to your joints. Get back in play and take your medicine…
I was reading the initial plan for the course, was to make it hard and a bit more bouncy, but the weather doesn’t seem to allow that. From a European point of view… I’d like to see it a bit softer (laughs).”
“It was really soft, it was definitely playable. I think scores will go lower if it stays this way… it looked like they were shaving down some of the fescue on the sides… it might make it a bit more playable, even if it gets firm, which is nice.
The greens were actually rolling great. I think the maintenance crew did a great job out here, even with all that rain. I was actually quite surprised to get out here and see how good it was. They did a great job.
I played the front (nine) yesterday, just finished the back. The front wasn’t too tough, the back nine makes you think a lot more. It’s a very challenging course but it’s definitely getable.”
Photos: BASF