I have not played Pinehurst No2, venue of this week’s US Open, but it is such an iconic golf course that I do feel I know a lot about it.
Apart from Augusta National, which is the permanent home of the Masters, very few golf courses in the world can boast of hosting three majors in the space of 15 years. I think the only other example that comes to my mind is the Old Course at St Andrews, where the Open Championship returns every fifth year. That shows just how highly this Donald Ross design is regarded by the players and the powers to be at the USGA.
Of course, one of the most distinguishing features of Pinehurst No2 is its upturned-saucer greens. To give the readers in the Middle East an idea of what that means, it resembles some of the greens that you may see at The Els Club in Dubai Sports City. I am told Pinehurst was the inspiration of Ernie when he designed the golf course there.
When you have greens like that, your approach shots become extremely important. You’d ideally want the ball to remain on the green, but in case it does roll off, you want to be on the right side of the green so that you have an easier chip shot next.
A combination of such greens, and the brutal course set-up that US Opens are known for, would have made for almost impossible playing conditions. But this year, the USGA has decided not to grow the almost ankle-deep rough that they seem to have every year.
Is that a relief? Not really. While you can be a lot more aggressive off the tee at Pinehurst knowing that if you miss the fairway, you are not going to have to wedge it out from the rough, you have still got to be very careful of what lies beyond the fairways. The course wears a rustic look, and there are enough sandy waste areas and clumps of local vegetation that puts back the premium on being accurate off the tee.
A lot is being talked about the length of the golf course. It is slightly over 7,500 yards — making it the second-longest US Open course in the 114 year history of the tournament — and plays to par-70. It also has two of the longest par-fours ever in US Opens (both above 525 yards), but honestly, I don’t think that length is any intimidation for players at this level.
The last two US Opens at Pinehurst No2 were won with scores of one-under par and even par, so it already was a massive test before the USGA decided to renovate the golf course and add almost 300 yards to the layout on which Michael Campbell won in 2005. I don’t see scores getting any lower than that. If you finish with at even-par 280 on Sunday, chances are very good that you will be called the new US Open champion.
Obviously, the spotlight is on Phil Mickelson as he goes out yet again in the quest of one major title that has eluded him all these years. Six runners-up places at the US Open is a mind-boggling achievement, but it would be a travesty of justice if he doesn’t win one, and I think a course like Pinehurst gives him a very realistic chance of completing his grand slam.
It’s also good to see both Adam Scott and Rory McIlroy winning tournaments in the run-up to the US Open, so they are also in good form. Bubba Watson is also in red-hot form, and like Mickelson, he can be extremely creative with his shot-making.
I know the Fifa World Cup is starting on the same day, but do keep switching between the channels because it is going to be one heck of a week for golf.
— Jeev Milkha Singh is a four-time champion on the European Tour
