Are we witnessing another Shinnecock?

[Phil McDade]

Doug:

I actually think they were fastest on Friday, and a few goofy things (like Sluman's pitch to the 3rd from in front of the green, which rolled moderately slow to the hole, took a look at it, then rolled all the way off the back end) led to -- I'm guessing here, but I think one of the GChannel commentators alluded to it -- some overnight watering of the greens for Saturday play. I think what's hard to tell on TV is how fast and difficult some of these greens are to putt relative to pin positions; it's pretty apparent Oakmont has the kind of greens that, with diabolical pin placements, would lead to near-certain three-putts for everyone. I think one of the players -- Tiger? -- said the pin positions were perhaps toughest on Thursday, when the course played its softest.

Jim:

I'm only going on what Tiger said afterwards, and his reactions to his putts Saturday. Tiger, more than anyone out there, gets the big picture, and the big picture is that at a US Open at Oakmont, two-putting for par will get you pretty far. Agree about Baddeley; his putting relative to the field is superior.

[JohnV]

Phil,

Some of the players and caddies I spoke with on Thursday thought that the hole locations were pretty easy that day.  I also thought they weren't too tough, with a few exceptions.

As for Sluman's chip shot, I looked at the area yesterday after seeing it on TV the night before.  There is a definite downslope about 30 feet short of that hole location that causes the ball to pickup speed.  Sluman might have made the wrong choice by playing the ball in low.  Regardless, it definitely isn't an easy shot for anyone who left their second shot short of the green.  Yesterday's hole on the front of the green was probably harder.  Both Lee Westwood and his caddie Dave commented (not harshly) on it to me as we got to the 4th tee.  Lee said he was sending his shrink's bills to the USGA.

Three has had tough hole locations all three days, perhaps todays will be a little easier or maybe there just aren't any easy ones out there.