Brennans Blog -The US Open

 I cannot imagine a better setting for a U.S. Open than on the West Coast next to the ocean where we are this week.  There is something about the beauty of the ocean that makes courses like Torrey Pines, and 2010 U.S. Open site Pebble Beach very special.  The course this week is probably the best set up Open I have been to in my 9 years of caddying.  A few years ago Mike Davis took over as golf course selector with the USGA and he has done a fantastic job.  I know it is very difficult to get the course challenging, yet not too difficult where it is unplayable.  Over the past few years the courses have been very fair yet demanding and I think the USGA deserves a lot of credit for what they have done.  They tend to get a lot of criticism by weeks end that the courses are unfair but that hasn't been the case lately and won't be this week.  This is going to be a great Open Championship.
 
Torrey Pines is only the second public course to host an Open; BethPage Black being the other.  The course is in great shape and with the cloud cover we have had so far this week it really isn't as firm as they would like it but as the week goes on I am sure it will get more difficult.  This time of year in San Diego they call it the June Gloom as the low clouds and mist just hang over the area off the ocean and prevent the sun from breaking through all that much.  Without the sun it makes it tough to get the course firm and fast like they want it. 

The biggest change over the past few years has been the graduated rough or different levels of rough.  If you miss a fairway they have a shorter first cut of rough that is very playable and guys are able to advance the ball to the green.  The first cut is about 5 yards wide, while the second cut is more difficult but players are still able to advance the ball up the fairway.  Once you get to the third cut or the thick stuff which is about 10 yards off the fairway you are in trouble and that is the way it should be.  Bad shots ought to be penalized!  I am a big fan of this type of set up because if you hit a good drive and it trickles into the rough you shouldn't be penalized the same as some guy who blows it way offline.
 
The rest of the golf course really hasn't changed much from the way it normally plays. There have been a few new tees added, one on number 13 which makes a reachable par 5 into a monster 600 yard hole that forces everyone to layup.  There have also been tees added on number 3 which is a downhill par 3, and number 16 the other par 3.  Although it makes the holes shorter, it provides a different angle to the green which create potentially complex pin placement. The most significant change is the 6 hole which is normally a reachable par 5 and is going to play as a par 4.  This is going to be a very difficult hole as it plays over 500 yards and has the difficult green to be hitting a long iron into.  The course is long enough so there was no reason to make it that much longer.  It is a great layout and going to be a great challenge.
 
The best stretch of holes has to be number 3 thru 7 on the front nine.  Number 3 is tricky par 3 that plays straight downhill with a large bunker guarding the front of the green and a hazard over the green.  It wouldn't be that tough except for the fact that it plays so downhill that with any wind it can become a nearly impossible green to hit.  Number 4 may be the toughest par 4 on the course with hazards down the left, forcing the drives up the right side where there are two traps.  It is a very difficult fairway to hit and when you do it's a long iron in to a tricky green.  Number 5 and 7 are also two very long par 4s where you will see guys hitting woods and long irons to the greens.  These long holes will make it very difficult to have many birdie putts so I think if you can get your pars on these then you can take advantage of the shorter holes.  The entire course is very challenging and like all majors will be a great test for everyone. 
 
The only surprise to me this week is that I thought the first cut of rough might be a little more difficult.  I know it's early in the week but I expected the ball to sit down a little bit more and make it more difficult to advance.  I think if the weather stays like it is with a bit of moisture there could be some pretty good scores, better than you would expect at a U.S. Open.  As mentioned I think the set up is great and I truly believe you will be rewarded for good play more so than at other Opens where luck plays a larger factor.
 
On Tuesday we got to play 18 holes with fellow Canadians Jon Mills and David Hearn.  I am glad to see that there are so many Canadians in the field this week and really feel good that we are starting to produce some better players.  I have thought for the past few years that some of the guys were going to step up and be competitive on the PGA Tour but it hasn't happened.  I feel more confident now that we are going to see more and more guys get their cards out here.  The experience that everyone has gained from the Canadian Tour and the Nationwide Tour is paying off and we are starting to see our guys play really well on the bigger stages.
 
I really like what the Open committee has done pairing the top 3 players in the world rankings together.  It's not often that you get to see Phil and Tiger play together so it will be a great group for lots of people to watch.  I realize that for TV they like to spread out certain players but this should make for some fun viewing.  I'm not sure who really wants to deal with those crowds but great for TV.
 
San Diego is one of my favorite places in the country and with the US Open, the Del Mar fair, and everything else that goes on here it should be a great week.  Mike has really stepped his game up over the past few weeks and I look forward to some good things this week.  I know he is gaining more and more confidence each week, and what better time to cap a good run then to win one here and get another major championship.
 
This past week one of the Team Weir members and my great friend Dan Keogh lost his mother.  Please join us in keeping he and his family in your prayers.

Thanks for reading and tune in to support Mike this weekend at the US Open.