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Scottie Scheffler (USA) is bidding for the 2024 Memorial Tournament title.
photo: Photo sports
Tournament organizers insist this week’s U.S. Open course will be “tough but fair” amid concerns among players that greens are “close” to being out of control.
The 124th edition of golf’s second-oldest major championship was held at Pinehurst No. 2, a golf course known for its difficulty.
In the three previous U.S. Opens at the North Carolina track, only four players finished under par.
Defending champion Wyndham Clark said Monday the speed of the undulating greens was “close” to too fast, while three-time champion Tiger Woods said Tuesday that he and other players “have pushed the ball out of the greens” and he expects a “war of attrition” this week.
John Bodenhamer of the United States Golf Association (USGA) defended it, saying, “We’re going to be the USGA. It’s going to be the U.S. Open.”
“We’re going to be tough, but we’re going to be fair. The players know that. I think they want that, too. I think they want to win something special.”
“We’re tough, but we’re fair because when you win, it means Bob Jones, Ben Hogan and Tiger Woods all won. It means more.”
“It’s not about scoring, it’s about getting every club in a player’s bag dirty, including the one between their ears.”
“We don’t want to be everyone’s best friend, but we want to earn their respect.”
Germany’s Martin Kaymer won at nine under, eight shots ahead of his opponent, the last time the U.S. Open was held at Pinewood in 2014. Payne Stewart won at one under in 1999, and even-par was enough for New Zealander Michael Campbell to beat Woods by two shots in 2005.
World number one Scottie Scheffler is the favorite to take the top spot. The American has played eight tournaments since March and won five, including the Masters.
Ryan Fox is the only New Zealander competing this year.
– BBC/RNZ
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