We know Oakmont is going to be difficult. The videos of the rough from last weekend showed that clearly enough. What we didn't know is how receptive players would be to the difficulty. Are they still shooting for under par? Trying to get it right at even? Just trying to survive?
Last year's U.S. Open champ Jordan Spieth discussed this on Monday.
"I played a full round yesterday, and I played nine holes today," said Spieth. "It's in just immaculate condition. I thought with the wind yesterday, I would have signed probably for somewhere around 75, 76 and shaken everyone's hand and said, 'I'm going to go back and have a beer after that round.'"
So if you're thinking 281 or 282 is going to win it, think again (par is 280). This echoes what Oakmont creator H.C. Fownes wanted when he started the club in the early 1900s. "He wasn't trying to create a monument to himself ..." reads the Oakmont website ... "He was just looking for a fight."
"If it's like it is right now, I think if you're under par, you certainly win," said Spieth. "I don't think it takes under par to win. There's a few different passing storms coming through Thursday from the morning on, and it really could significantly change it. If the fairways are softer, it's going to be a lot easier to hold them, which makes a huge difference because of how much pitch is in these fairways."
He also talked about the greens which, according to Rickie Fowler's Snapchat from Sunday, look like they are not going to be much fun to deal with.
"How do I compare them to Augusta?" asked Spieth. "Pretty similar. You have a lot of similar putts from mid-range to short range where you've got to use a lot of feel, and it's very much speed based and really just have to be careful. You can't let your mind slip on these greens for one moment, or else you're going to be left with possibly a 10- to 15-footer on the next putt, if not worse. So really have to be cautious of it."
Spieth is one of the handful of stars built with the demeanor to win one of these. I was actually surprised when he won the Masters before he won a U.S. Open because I always thought this was going to be his major. The one he won the most.
"Winning a U.S. Open is a different experience than winning at any other venue," said Spieth. "You learn that literally anything can happen, especially out here where the way the course is set up right now.
"If you don't hit fairways on the last five holes, you could lose a four- or five-shot lead like that. Just not even doing anything wrong. You can hit decent shots that just barely miss the fairway. And all of a sudden, you have to do well to have ten feet for par."
This whole thing is going to be a beautiful disaster, isn't it? Bring on the Open, man. Bring on the Open.
