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2013 US Open Guide

By: Nick Bonfield | Mon 10 Jun 2013


After an eventful first six months of the 2013 season, the second major of the year has finally rolled round. This Thursday, the US Open heads to Merion Country Club in Pennsylvania, a revered venue but, intriguingly, one that most of those in the field haven’t played in competition. The game of golf is finely poised heading into the tournament, and it’ll be fascinating to see how some of the sub plots will play out. Can an Englishman finally claim a major? Can Woods break his five-year major duck? Will Woods and Garcia cross paths? Is McIlroy ready? Only time will tell, but the second major of 2013 should provide answers to some of this year’s most engrossing questions.

Course

Merion Golf Club has staged 18 official USGA events – more than any other venue in America. The East Course – the championship layout – was designed by a Scotsman, Hugh Wilson, who spent eight months in the UK and Ireland gathering ideas prior to designing the course. As such, it has an inland links feel to it, with the fairways bunkers – dubbed ‘the white faces of Merion – as severe as you’ll find on any US Open course.

The East Course will present a stern challenge, with out of bounds a common feature and trouble often lurking on both sides of the fairway from the tee. The green complexes are extremely challenging and many swales and run-off areas only serve to add to the all-round challenge. The players will really need to make their score over the first 13 holes, as the last five are viewed as one of the toughest closing stretches in America. That said, Merion could offer up some birdies if the rain falls and the course softens. At less than 7,000 yards, it’s the shortest major track that’s been used for the best part of ten years.

Skills

As with any US Open, every facet of your game must be working if you want to stage a challenge. Mike David, the USGA’s Executive Director, always ensures that the rough is penal, the fairways are narrow, firm and bouncy and the greens and run-off areas are lightning fast. Given Merion’s length, there could also be some extra effort to ensure it’s as challenging as humanly possible.

Much will depend on the weather, but if it’s sunny and hot for all four days, the winning score could well fall above par. This week, putting the ball in play off the tee will be hugely important. Many of the holes are slight doglegs and lined on one side with out of bounds, meaning players will have to hit different shaped shots off the tee. Distance control on approaches will also be in important component at Merion. If players manage to find the fairways, many short irons will remain to the greens. Hitting it pin high, controlling your golf ball and simply finding greens will be invaluable in a tournament where pars mean more than birdies.

As always, too, the eventual winner will have to rely on a razor-sharp short game and an exemplary performance on the greens. Simply put, with the fairways and greens set up as firmly as they are, you aren’t going to hit every putting surface in regulation. Being able to play a different variety of green-side shots and holing the vast majority of putts from inside eight feet will be hugely important. You can be assured the eventual winner will rank very high on the scrambling and strokes gained – putting statistics.   

Too Hard?

Invariably, some will claim the USGA has gone too far, and that the course, and indeed the tournament, is too difficult. It cannot be denied the US Open presents the hardest and most complete test of golfing aptitude (perhaps excepting an Open Championship in torrid conditions), but I have issues with people claiming it’s too hard. Firstly, how can it be too tough when it’s the same for everyone in a tournament where performance is ranked relative to everyone else?

Secondly, I think the exacting test is what makes the US Open so special. Sometimes, it’s refreshing to see the world’s best player toil and really earn their money. Every week, you turn on the television to see golfers firing at pins, making countless birdies are recording double-figure under-par scores.

It is a genuine, all-encompassing test, and the majority of players welcome that. They recognise it is refreshing to play a course where par is an excellent score; a course that simply cannot be overpowered or bullied into submission.

 Yes, it is isn't as fluid to watch, but the US Open takes place once a year, and it should present a different challenge. If you win the US Open, no one can say you got lucky, or didn't deserve the title - the way a major should be. Who exactly is complaining it’s too tough? Not real golf fans, that’s for sure. 

Contenders

The tournament is absolutely wide open, and at least fifty players in the field this week will believe they’ve got a genuine chance of victory. Woods and McIlroy aside, here are three players to keep an eye on.

Matt Kuchar

Matt Kuchar is unquestionably the form player in world golf. He finished second at the Crowne Plaza Invitational and followed that up with victory last week at the Memorial Tournament. No one in the world game will be higher on confidence and his unflappable demeanour and strong all-round game will stand him in excellent stead. Merion, a course that demands accuracy and precision over length off the tee, should also suit him down to the ground.

Graeme McDowell

Graeme McDowell’s game is a perfect fit for the US Open. He’s consistently one of the straightest hitters on tour and his putting stroke is superior to the vast majority of players in the field. He comes into the tournament in great form, having won two tournaments – the RBC Heritage and the Volvo World Matchplay – in the last two months, and his past record in the US Open is exemplary. Indeed, he won at Pebble Beach in 2010, finished inside the top 15 in 2011 and claimed outright second at the Olympic Club last year.

Kevin Chappell

Little-known Kevin Chappell might seem a strange inclusion in this list, but he’s a US Open expert. He finished in a tie for third in 2011 and notched another top 10 last year, displaying a brilliant temperament and an excellent short game. Those traits were also evident at the Memorial Tournament, where he returned a bogey-free final round to finish alone in second. Chappell plays well around tough golf courses, and they don’t come much harder than US Open host venues.

US Open Stats

Ahead of the 113th edition, here are some eye-catching US Open statistics:

  • There have been four four-time winners of the US Open – Willie Anderson, Bobby Jones, Jack Nicklaus and Ben Hogan
  • Hale Irwin is the oldest winner of the US Open at 45 years and 15 days old
  • Johnny McDermot is the youngest winner of the US Open at 19 years, 10 months and 14 days old
  • With five, Phil Mickleson has the most US Open runner-up finishes
  • With 18, Jack Nicklaus has the most top-ten finishes
  • Sam Snead made the cut in 1973, aged 61 – the oldest player to do so
  • Lowest 72-hole score: Rory McIlroy, 286 (65-66-68-69) 2011
  • Lowest 18-hole score: Johnny Miller, 63 (eight under), 1973
  • Biggest final-round comeback: Arnold Palmer, seven strokes (1960)
  • Highest first-round score by eventual winner: Horace Rawlins, 91 (1895)
  • Most consecutive US Opens started: Jack Nicklaus, 44
  • Most US Open sub-par scores: Jack Nicklaus, 37

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