Pinehurst No. 2: A True Test at the U.S. Open for Golfers
Category
🥇
SportsTranscript
00:00What's the plan for these golfers trying to attack Pinehurst number two, because as we
00:07understand the U.S. Open, it's not built to say, let's go 10, 15, 20 under par.
00:12It's a true test of golf.
00:14What are the expectations this week for the golf course itself here, Keith?
00:17Well, Pinehurst number two is one of those just classic design golf course.
00:21There's no one signature hole.
00:23It's a test from start to finish.
00:25I mean, we have one water hazard on the whole property and it doesn't even come into play.
00:29This is just sand and grass and dirt, and it is going to test these guys mentally and
00:34physically.
00:35And I'm going to start with the mental side for the skills that I think you need this
00:38week.
00:39And this is why Scheffler is such a favorite is that he is the best guy when it comes to
00:42cerebral golf.
00:44That's why he has such an advantage at Augusta National and why he has such an advantage
00:47here or a place like the players.
00:50These golf courses that really, really test your patience and your ability to just kind
00:55of fire at the center of the green and take scoring when it comes.
00:58These guys are so good.
01:00They can't help but act aggressively.
01:01And when they do act aggressively, you need somebody with great total driving.
01:05The only change in the golf course since 10 years ago for the 2014 U.S. Open here, they
01:11didn't add length.
01:12They didn't add any extra new tee boxes.
01:14They planted more wire grass, which is, you know, the bingo card word of the week you're
01:19going to hear in coverage.
01:20And they put it more in these sandy, barren areas to ensure that it becomes more of a
01:24penalty should you miss the fairway.
01:26The second thing is that about 60 percent of your approach shots are coming in from
01:30over 175 yards.
01:32Very similar to the test last week at Memorial.
01:34Very similar to the test at Valhalla, although that played soft.
01:38And this is already firm and fast on a Monday.
01:40And we expect a lot of high sun, high heat down here, and no rain.
01:44So this place is going to get really even more firm and fast.
01:48And the third thing is, is that everyone's going to notice these turtleback greens.
01:52They reject approach shots.
01:54And when that happens, you're going to have very, very tight lies and all sorts of bunker
01:59lies and sandy situations around these greens.
02:02You have got to be a master with the wedge.
02:04You've got to be a great around the green player in order to save par or even score
02:09on some of these par from close range.
02:11Those are my three keys for this week.