This week the US Open returns to the historic Pinehurst Resort No. 2 course.
This will be the fourth time in Pinehurst’s prestigious history of hosting the US Open. The first of which was captured by the late Payne Stewart in 1999. Payne’s famous celebration in response to draining the longest winning putt on the final hole of US Open history, is an image etched long into the memory of many a golf fan around the world who watched on as Payne pipped Phil Mickelson to victory by a single stroke. If you have visited my indoor TrackMan studio, you may have noticed Payne’s iconic win commemorated in a portrait displayed above one of my custom fitting options, custom built Wishon Golf Clubs, which is a nod to the noteworthy fact that the last set of clubs ever used by Payne in a competition before his tragic passing in ‘99 due to the disastrous plane crash, was a set designed by Wishon Golf’s founder, Tom Wishon.
The other two winners that a Pinehurst US Open set-up has churned out over the years has been Michael Campbell in 2005 as he fended off the chasing pack which included a certain Tiger Woods who finished in runner up, along with Martin Kaymer who strode to an eight shot victory in back in 2014.
The course this week will have two main defence mechanisms against low runaway scores, as all involved look to once again produce a US Open spectacle that lives up to it’s well-earned reputation of being the toughest test of golf for the best players in the world:
1. Challenging green complexes. Throughout the practice days as players and caddies look to get their bearings with the place, the greens have been touted as Augusta-esque! The creativity and deft touch around the greens required this week has already been on display in videos surfacing online showing some very interesting club selection around the greens, including Morikawa chipping with a fairway wood and Tiger hitting bump and runs with a 4iron into greens running at a lightning pace of 13 on the stimp meter.
2. The wirey native areas. The word from inside the ropes is that the course will play potentially tougher if you fail to find the fairway this time around as compared to Pinehursts hosting in 2014, with many players during the practice rounds saying it was easier to get lucky with your balls lie off the fairway a decade ago. These comments are speaking to the numerous different plants that have since been let grow in to fill some of the barren sand areas to toughen up approach shots for players. In the lead up to this event, the USGA did say they wanted to give the best players in the world a 300yard anxious walk if they miss a fairway, as they nervously walk up to either find their ball sitting in a great opportunity to spin an approach shot into the green from the firm sandy lies or unfortunately be met with dread as they realise they are forced to hack out and simply advance the ball sideways as far as they can back into play.
All in all, if I had to give a prediction of this weeks winner outside of the bookies favourite Scottie Scheffler, I really think our very own Shane Lowry could be a player that this style of course which demands so much creativity, suits down to the ground. With one of the best short games on Tour, a very underrated iron play to his name and the fact that his putting was incredible in the years second major at the PGA which put him in the hunt at Valhalla, things could very well fall his way come Sunday evening. And we all know by now, when Shane does win, he tends to do it on the biggest of stages!
With all that being said, I hope you all manage to clear your diary as much as you can over these next four days to fully immerse yourself into what is sure to be a super spectacle of golf.
If the excitement of another Major Championship has sparked your eagerness to get your own game in shape, I am only an email (seanmarksgolf@gmail.com) or phone call (085 856 5496) away from arranging a coaching session and helping you remove the confusion and frustration from your golf. Father’s Day coaching gift vouchers are also still available with both online payment and online delivery of vouchers as an option to maximise your conveniency ahead of the big day on Sunday.
Are you thinking seriously about improving your game? Do you wish to receive as close to instant feedback on your practice sessions as possible to accelerate your development process? Contact Seán.
In-Person coaching is provided at The SMG Studio (Kilcock), The Halpenny Golf Driving Range (beside Dublin airport) and Online Coaching via Skillest as per links below:
Seán Marks PGA Professional
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