2015 US Open at Chambers Bay
My friend Derek found us some tickets for the US Open on Friday. It was great to get a day away from responsibilities and get out to the US Open.
Some thoughts to share on the experience… I’ll start with the bad and end with the good.
These were the worst tournament greens (professional or amateur) I have ever seen in person. It reflected that on tv, but in person it was really shocking how bad they looked. It looked like Hueston Woods near Miami University at the end of the summer in a drought where they weren’t allowed to water.
Chambers Bay was a terrible course to walk as a spectator. They have large mounds that would be a perfect amphitheater for holes, but they don’t use them (fear of lawsuits after US Am?). So as a walking spectator you are 20 yards from the green, 20–30 yards from the fairway, and many times with a hill in your way. There is no way to follow groups hole to hole. The walks are in sand. Walking up #14 felt like we were Walter Payton training for the NFL season. Up a 200' hill in sand. There are only a few spots where you can get up close on a tee box. You really had to find a couple spots and sit there. Or sit in the designated bleachers.
Friday was still a very enjoyable day. We left the house at about 8:10 a.m. and arrived home about 11 pm. It was a great day on the links and we saw everyone: Spieth, Day, Rose, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Kuchar, Sergio, DJ… you name the player, we saw them.
Main takeaway: these players today are incredible. I think they are 4 shots better per round than players were 20 years ago. Whether that’s tech, fitness, etc, I don’t know. But the top players rarely miss a shot. And the bottom half of the stack is far better. I went to the Western Open almost every year growing up between 1990 and 2000 and the players then did not consistently hit the shots I saw Friday. On the 540 yard par 4, downhill, 14th hole, they had the pin tucked over a bunker between two ridges on FRIDAY. We sat there for 2.5 hours sipping lemonade. 70% of the players hit their drive down the hill and were left with short irons. And 70% of them landed it on that spot with a 15' radius. It was so firm, required 2 perfect shots.
The 4th hole (proximal to the 14th) is an uphill 495 yard par 4. The fairway is wide, but if you land on the right side it kicks down the slope into or near the bunker/fescue. Most of these guys just rip it down the left side 300+ yards up the hill. That approach is 2+ clubs uphill, very steep. Friday the pin was tucked in the right corner, over a bunker with a ridge 10 feet behind it. Unreal the number of balls that land in a 15' radius near the pin.
Cabrera, Bubba and Phil group… never seen 3 players hit the ball this far. Phil was by far the shortest. Cabrera hit a driver on uphill 508 yard par 4 #7 that was so deep and so accurate. Not sure of the distance, it was on a line that was ridiculously right, and ended up carrying everything. Bubba stepped up and hit his drive within 10 feet of Cabrera. Phil swung and one hand fell off the club on his follow through… he was 20 yards behind them but in the fairway.
Lastly, besides Phil, Cabrera, Fowler, and Spieth to some extent… saw very few players interact with the crowd in any way. They are so focused, but in some ways it comes off as aloof. But what a difference it makes as a fan when Phil walks by you, seemingly looks you in the eye and nods his head and/or smiles. Or Fowler walks by, scans the crowd and tips his hat. These guys are throwbacks to Watson back in the 80's 90's who would do the same thing. Classy display as a competitor, and they do the little things that make a connection with the crowd. It’s no wonder, besides their play, why they last as fan favorites.
We are in for some great viewing at the British ..and the years ahead.
