MajorsBrian KeoghUS OpenComment

Back to Black - your guide to Bethpage

MajorsBrian KeoghUS OpenComment

New York writer Jay Flemma has produced a detailed hole-by-hole guide to the fearsome Black Course at Bethpage State Park that will host the US Open in two weeks' time.

Bethpage comes with a health warning.Green speeds will be so fast that the USGA's Mike Davis is already having nightmares about the 15th.

Flemma reports: “The 15th green has a lot of slope on it," Davis explained candidly. “In fact, I’ve woken up a couple of times in a cold sweat at night thinking about the 15th green, and I suspect it won’t be the last time I wake up in a cold sweat.” The players will be sweating too. I know for amateurs and public players, this tends to be the toughest four on the course.

The reason Davis is having nightmares is this:

"In terms of the specifics of the golf course setup, the putting greens as I mentioned, we will have them very fast for this U.S. Open. They will be somewhere in the range of 13. 5 and 14.5 on the Stimpmeter." 

Flemma has also written an excellent prelim on the US Open inspired by Led Zeppelin - The Song Remains the Same.

MajorsBrian KeoghGraeme McDowell, Tiger Woods, US OpenComment

In tune McDowell ready to take down Tiger

Graeme McDowell has turned off the TV so he can take out Tiger Woods.

The Ulsterman reckons that it will take a non-American to stop the world No 1 romping to his 15th major victory at Bethpage Black this week.

And he’s decided that he will have a better chance of pulling it off if he doesn’t watch or listen to the Tiger talk on US TV.

McDowell said: “They build him up to be unbeatable over here and that's why no-one does beat him over here. That's why historically, it has only been international players who have beaten him - the Padraig Harringtons, the Darren Clarkes of the world.

“No disrespect to the Golf Channel. I watch it a lot but I don't watch it on major weeks because A, they will tell you how you can't get around this golf course and B, they will tell you how unbeatable Tiger is. So there’s no real point in watching it.
MajorsBrian KeoghGraeme McDowell, Tiger Woods, US OpenComment
MajorsBrian KeoghBethpage State Park, US OpenComment

Bethpage greens a speed bump

Graeme McDowell went completely off his greens in the final round of the US Open at Bethpage Black - and he wasn't the only one.

Poor drainage at the Long Island course meant that the greens dried out at different rates, leading to varying speeds.

The Ulsterman did not want to criticise the maintenance staff in any way and praised them to the heavens for getting the course ready for play after days of heavy rain.

But it is clear that the pace of the putting surfaces was a major issue for him and others.

"I don’t want to criticise the set up of the golf course but I struggled on the greens the last two or three days," said McDowell who finished tied 18th after taking 35 putts in the final round. "The green speeds were very indifferent. You get on one green and it is absolutely flying and you get on the next green and it is slow.

MajorsBrian KeoghBethpage State Park, US OpenComment
MajorsBrian KeoghJack Nicklaus, Matt Kuchar, Merion, Steve Stricker, Tiger Woods, US Open

Wide Open at Merion?

Tiger Woods plays from a bunker on the 17th hole during a practice round at the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa. on Wednesday, June 12, 2013. (Copyright USGA/Joel Kowsky) So what’s it going to be? A thoroughbred major winner with  killer course management and length to spare? A major virgin with a hot putter and an even hotter wedge? How about a straight-hitting gut-player with a laser-like long game and a brain?
MajorsBrian KeoghJack Nicklaus, Matt Kuchar, Merion, Steve Stricker, Tiger Woods, US Open