#2

« **on:** June 18, 2005, 09:26:15 PM »

At one point in the telecast, I forget who said it (I think Miller), and I forget what holes it was in reference to (Maybe the 15-16-17-18 tee sequence), but he called the layout "almost claustrophobic" as if this was a negative...have we gotten so far away from the idea that courses should be walker-friendly that something with tees and greens in close proximity is considered a negative?

Normally, I'd just chalk it up to referencing a negative for major tournament play (gallery cheers, etc) but it seems an interesting word choice...especially in an era where many courses boast "18 completely secluded holes" and "no parallel fairways"

Would the course still be claustrophobic in Miller's book if there werent throngs of fans hooting and hollering?

« **Reply #1 on:** June 18, 2005, 10:05:39 PM »

Ryan,

I think he was refering to fairway widths which in some or many cases are 23 yards wide.

Pinehurst # 2 has wide playing corridors between the pines.

« **Reply #2 on:** June 18, 2005, 10:17:43 PM »

Actually, I think Miller made the remark after Tiger stepped away from his tee shot on #17, after the fans around the #16 green reacted to an incoming shot. #16 green and #17 tee are very close, as are many of the green to tee walks. Maybe a little distracting for the pros, but terrific for us regular guys.

« **Reply #3 on:** June 19, 2005, 04:44:16 AM »

John Kirk is right. It was the 17th, when Tiger stopped at the top of the swing. It seemed to me that the tee was a good 20 yards away from the green. The thing that was claustrophobic (wheres the spell checker when you need it) was the grandstand behind the 16th green, and to the left of the 17th tee.

That said, congratulations to the USGA for keeping the public back in the tree line and away from the rough. Its been good for us TV viewers, hope its been OK for the fans that turn up. There has been a definite reduction in the numer of shots played from trodden-down rough this year. I'm similarly looking forward to the Open at St Andrews, when the fans are out-of-bounds, aren't they?

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