Is the Pinehurst No.2 Too Ruthless? Early Visuals Reveal USGA’s Harsh Plans For Golfers

The USGA is infamous for increasing difficulty on the greens. From the infamous overnight plantation of the Hinkle Tree to their rapid transformation of the winged foot in 1974 to avoid a low-scoring output from the field, the USGA aims for the title of the most difficult golf tournament of all. After the USGA’s US Women’s Open, where several renowned female golfers, including Nelly Korda, Allisen Corpuz, and Rose Zhang were not able to make a cut or maintain their usual low scores, the golf community is excited to see what new surprise will USGA have at Pinehurst No. 2  for the 124th US Open?

Ben Hogan has earlier called the greens of Pinehurst No. 2 a ‘Golf Mecca’. This is also Donald Ross’s ‘best of best’ golf course for a reason. Although the greens appear to be rather big visually, when one hits a ball, one might truly witness the shortness of the course. The golf’s official website has also declared it ‘playable’ but questioned whether it is low-scoring at all.

They also broke down some of the most challenging aspects of the greens: No. 3, par 4; No. 5, par 5; No. 14, par 4; and No. 15, par 3. Although all other points are playable if they meet the right conditions, the restoration architect, Bill Coore, stated No. 5, par. 5, “I’ve never seen anything like this green, which is crowned so severely that you can only place the pin in the middle.” He further stated, “I can’t imagine that any more than a third or even a fourth of the green is pinnable. It’s pure Pinehurst.”

It has also been noticed that there are two closely mown mounds just below the ledge of the first hole, on the right side of the green. It will create as much difficulty for the players as they will with some other components of Pinehurst No. 2. Along with a more links-style setup than is noticed in other greens, the runoffs at the edges of the greens are much more complex and raise the difficulty bar. Moreover, the bunkers and the greenside chipping areas designed by Donald Ross make it a tricky short game.

The fans have also understood the elevated difficulty level that has been imposed at Pinehurst No. 2 this season. One of the fans said, “This US Open is kicking their a**. How many scores will there be in the 80s? I say at least 10.” They can already assume that a great many players will easily go over par given the greens of Pinehurst. Previously, in 2002, at Bethpage State Park, the USGA proved the difficulty of scoring low when it was only Tiger Woods who was under par and then won the tournament.

Jason Sobel, a golf writer at the Action Network and Golf Channel shared an update about the ongoing first round. He wrote, “Four groups have finished one hole so far. There’s already been a triple and three doubles.” Speculating the tough play from the very beginning, Sobel has pointed out how severe the Pinehurst has been from the get-go, where several triples and doubles are already piling up in the scorecards.

Although there are some troublesome holes at Pinehurst and not all of them are “gettable” but “the 5th is certainly one of them so far,” reported the US Open’s official X handle as they shared the news of the third eagle for the day that Correy Conners made at par 5. However, compared to this major event, the second major of the year, the PGA Championship was a different tale altogether, where golfers had quite a pleasant experience.

Was Valhalla easier to score low than it might be at Pinehurst No. 2?

Xander Schauffele won with a 21-under-par score at Valhalla this year. It is the lowest winning score in the history of golf’s major championship. In his opening round, he scored only 62. Astonishing as it was, Schauffele was not the only one to score in the 20s under at Valhalla this season. Runner-up Bryson DeChambeau also scored an astonishing 20-under in the tournament. As per Justin Ray’s statistical findings, this year’s 214 was the lowest combined score to par by field in PGA Championship history.

Shane Lowry, too, shot 62 in the first round at this year’s PGA Championship. Earlier in the 2018 PGA Championship, Brooks Koepka had won with a 16-under finishing score that was held at Bellerive Country Club in Town and Country, Missouri. That year’s score to par was vastly different, at 59-over.

Golf Monthly stated, “In terms of comparisons to recent majors, the action at Valhalla was more akin to the opening round of last year’s US Open at Los Angeles Country Club. Normally, the tournament can be relied on to make conditions brutal for players, but on the Thursday, Schauffele again made it look easy with another 62, along with the same score from Rickie Fowler.” Both Fowler and Schauffele scored 62 at LACC last year during the US Open.

Do you think Pinehurst is going to be too brutal with so many difficulties being discussed this early on? Let us know in the comments below.