The United States Open: Golf’s Toughest Test
Austin Evans tells the tale of the most physically demanding four days on the golf calendar. He also picks out possible winners for this year’s edition of the US Open.
Played since 1895, it may not be golf’s most prestigious championship,
but it is certainly it’s most difficult and gruelling test.
As the 2017 US Open approaches, there has been much speculation and prognostication about how Erin Hills will play. Players and fans alike tend to be apprehensive about new venues for a championship that has made its name on old-style parkland courses. In the wake of the controversial greens at Chambers Bay in 2015 and the DJ ruling at Oakmont in 2016, the USGA has run out of goodwill with its spectators and competitors.
That’s assuming they even had goodwill with them in the first place.
The issues are not a product of new courses, but rather the USGA and the tournament committee themselves. There have been several traditional venues that have had their fair share of problematic Opens. Congressional in 2011 gave up record scores due to the lack of rough and soft conditions. This shouldn’t take away from Rory Mcilroy’s eight-shot runaway, but the conditions created scoring records that will likely never be challenged. Shinnecock Hills in 2004 had problems controlling the firmness and moisture of the greens, peaking with mid-hole watering on the 7th green during the final round. Winged Foot in 2006 and 1974 had extremely high winning scores of 5-over and 7-over respectively. This unsurprisingly led to player complaints. These courses are supposed to be designed and set up to identify the best golfer that week, but sometimes it brings high level players to their most vulnerable state.
It is evident that even traditional venues do not always please players who are routinely weathered for double digit under par tournament scores.
When omitting the recency bias of Chambers Bay and Erin Hills, there is an argument to be made that new venues have provided wildly successful US Opens. Torrey Pines provided the stage for possibly the greatest tournament in golf history, and almost inarguably the greatest athletic performance in the history of sports. I am of course referring to Tiger Woods 91-hole marathon win over Rocco Mediate. This tournament was the turning point in golf becoming relevant in the internet age, as it was the first US Open to be broadcast online. It also helped that it has several Tiger signature moments.
Bethpage Black, the first public course to host the US Open, has hosted two wildly successful Opens in 2002 and 2009. It helped that the premier players (T-Dubs and FIGJAM) both rose to the top. Even though Chambers Bay had issues with its greens, it still brought Spieth, DJ, Day, and McIlroy into the top 10 by Sunday, and was further validated by Spieth on his way to one of the best seasons ever.
Bottom line: eventually new courses need to be introduced into the US Open rotation with the old courses. Oakmont and Winged Foot were new courses in the rotation in the late 1920’s, and I think they’ve done okay.
Depending on a player’s background, some may value the Masters or The Open Championship as the most prestigious tournament, but the US Open is the most physically and mentally taxing contest in golf (paging Ken Venturi’s salt tablets).
Winning a US Open is possibly the most validating win to a great player’s career. Critics said Tiger’s erratic driving would prevent him from winning the US Open. He won three of them, including one by 15 shots that left a chalk outline of the rest of the field on the greens at Pebble Beach. Arnold Palmer birdied 6 of the first 7 holes on Sunday to win in 1960. Nicklaus (his first professional win), Hogan (three in four years after his car accident), and Jones (all before the age of 30) each won 4 US Opens to tie Willie Anderson’s all time record. It is the biggest hole in Sam Snead and Phil Mickelson’s resume, keeping them from the career Grand Slam. It is the crowning achievement of two-time winners Ernie Els, Lee Trevino, Billy Casper and Curtis Strange. It is a tournament that requires mental fortitude to overcome bad breaks and difficult shots that are not often seen in other tour events. It is a tournament that has so many iconic moments (see Watson’s chip-in in 1982), so much heartbreak (Dustin Johnson in 2015), and redemption stories (Dustin Johnson in 2016). No matter where the venue is, it should provide the sternest test in golf (except 2011 at Congressional).
As for my picks for the US Open, it has to be Jason Day or DJ. With both in form in the last few months, and both driving it well enough, whoever is able to get their putter working will likely be holding the trophy on Sunday.
Austin is TheOcho.ca’s golf contributor. He also writes about basketball and hosts The Ocho Top Ten podcast with TheOcho.ca EIC Riley Evans. Follow Austin on Twitter at @austevans24.
