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Too hard or too easy
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The lowest number of strokes will win the US Open regardless of what par the USGA assign to any particular hole. |
Some other links on Tigers trip:
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_504098.html http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pitt.../s_504224.html |
I have played there twice---first time in the summer of 1973, about 6 weeks after Johnny Miller's US Open win, and about 8 yeras ago. If I remember correctly the par 3 8th hole does play slightly downhill. If you go to the 2 pictures posted on the "venue from above" thread, check out the picture on the right. The 8th green is just below the 2 bridges that cross over the PA Turnpike. Look back towards the right and you will see the tee sitting in the middle of some dormant grass. I played it at about 200+ yards way back when. Wish I could hit a high draw 3 wood to the center of a 288 yard green!
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In some respects, what is the difference if there is a 400 yard par 3? All the players that complained about Carnoustie were basically out of the tournament before it started. If your mind is too weak to handle the challenge then don't enter. It's the FREAKING US OPEN, I think it should reward the most mentally tough player. If you look at some of the most difficult US Open venues you find some of the most mentally tough players in history, as it should be!
Great shots should be rewarded and mediocre shots punished. |
288 yards
Might not be an issue at all.
I am pretty sure there are a few sub-300 yards par 4's on tour. Does not matter much if they start saying that all those are par 3's. ZJ won the Masters by lay up on all par 5's. A layup of 200 yards on a 288 yard par 3 sounds like a pretty good idea. I haven't seen how the hole is designed... If it required a 270 yards carry over water it'll be a huge factor, but if it is more of the opposite I do not think it'll be a factor at all. Will look out for it. |
There are a couple short holes on this course, also. #2 is 340 yards and #17 is 313 yards - very short by today's standards. I expect we'll see several players try to drive those greens.
Here's the design of the 8th http://www.oakmont-countryclub.org/d...ID=1042&hole=8 |
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Seriously,I bet it is played from the blue tees if there is any doubt the short guys can't make it. Maybe the logic is that the short par 4's will "balance "the scores.:confused1 :pumpkin: Thanks for the pics Ben |
#2 and #17 are "short", but both are uphill. Back in 1994 several of the pros drove #17.
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As the green is said to be not very undulated: If the pin or wind is not too severe I expect to see a few birdies, 25% bogeys, a majority of pars, but not many double bogeys or "other". I need a link to a bookie who has the odds. :) |
what percentage of the field ( about 140 players??) will hit the green in regulation? Most pros are in the 60-70% range for GIR... they are hitting maybe 5-sw on average maybe?
So GIR for this 288 yard hole is going to be about 50% if played near full length... so if half the field hit the green and 2 putt then about half ( 65) will get par....maybe 5 birdies per round from those who hit the green... the half that miss the green ... about 50%( 35 players ) will end in sand...50 % ( 35 players ) in rough /fringe... if the green is relatively flat...the "sand saves" and "scrambling" stats might be a bit better eg. 55% and 60-65% respectively...being generous!! so those 35 in sand .... maybe 20 get up and down for par...15 make bogey +... and those 35 in rough/fringe maybe 23 make par and 12 make bogey +..... so of 140 players... 100-110 pars 5 birdies 20-30 bogeys double or worse 5-10 score average = about 3.3... hmm... i reckon nearer 3.4 +... as you have guessed i am not a bookie or statistitian.... probably bent stats law to my own way of thinking.... but this is my prediction!! |
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