US open and "corrective watering"

[Phil McDade]

The USGA executive director says the tournament set-up folks undertook "corrective watering" overnight to keep the course from "getting away" from them. It seems like the ghost of Shinnecock '04 is hanging over this Open.

First-day glance seems to look like the USGA and Mike Davis have gotten it nearly ideal -- fast and firm on a seaside course, fairly set-up, but close to the edge.

Thoughts? I hope they don't overdo the watering -- I for one like to see train wrecks. But today has been fun to watch.

[PThomas]

i would like our supers to answer...but cant doing that penalize the group/groups who play just before the watering and help the group/groups who immediately follow?

[Adam Clayman]

Paul. The waterinhg was overnight. These guys always wimp out at the last second. Especially with tee placements.

[PThomas]

Paul. The waterinhg was overnight. These guys always wimp out at the last second. Especially with tee placements.

as Emily Litella used to say:"never mind"

[Tim Martin]

Phil- The thought of the 04 Open to Mike Davis and David Fay is like kryptonite to Superman. I don`t think that scenario will play out at Pebble as it is clear that the USGA is hedging on the side of caution. The golf course seems to be set up perfectly and this seems to be echoed by the players. It has been extremely fun to watch and I have not seen anything yet that seems unfair in the set up. The amount of wind projected will determine how much of the corrective watering is required. I agree that they have it on the edge at this point without being over the top. It is fun to watch the players torment when scoring irons are running out on a number of holes.

[Phil McDade]

Tim:

I also know the USGA got lots of grief in the '92 Open at Pebble when the weather really dried it out in the final round. They seem today to be very conscious of just how severe Pebble can get.