7th at Pebble Beach

[John Moore II]

10 people made birdie yesterday, John. (57 pars, 16 bogeys)

So a 99 yard hole played 6 over par...hmmm. Do they have a average putt length for people hitting the green in regulation? Take out the outlier that is Dustin Johnson, and I'd bet that the average is 25+ feet. I can promise that with all the shots I saw yesterday, with the lone exception of Johnson, no one was on the front third of the green.

But as a technicality, I had asked Jordan to name 10 golfers other that DJ who hit their tee shot within 10 feet, not how many birdies there were.  



OK, let me add something to this. The commentator on 7 said that players were "just trying to get this shot on the green today." How is that a decent hole really? Padraig Harrington just hit a near perfect shot and couldn't get it to stay within 20 feet. 

[Mac Plumart]

John...

 the hole is 100 yards (or so)...the holes defense centers on how difficult it is to get close to the hole.  A miracle chip and/or putt is what the golfer is asked to pull off.

That is the entire deal.

You can't have a 100 yard hole that is easy to get close to the hole.  Then you are giving the players a free birdie.  Wouldn't that be a much worse hole?

[James Boon]

The thing I found interesting with the Nicklaus quote in my original post, is that he could have walked past that piece of land and not seen a golf hole there. How many other courses has Nicklaus designed where he missed some stunning little par 3s because there didn't look to be enough room? Does he only see 200 yard par 3s?

I've not played this hole, but everything I've seen in photos and on TV I really like it. What I really like is that it can generate a reaction like it did from Poulter yesterday, but I also like that Poulter can respond to his own outburst as he did on Twitter.

Interesting how the greens at Pebble are so small that two of the shots we remember most are the Watson and Kite chip ins on 17 and 7 respectivly.

Cheers,

James

[John Moore II]

John...

 the hole is 100 yards (or so)...the holes defense centers on how difficult it is to get close to the hole.  A miracle chip and/or putt is what the golfer is asked to pull off.

That is the entire deal.

You can't have a 100 yard hole that is easy to get close to the hole.  Then you are giving the players a free birdie.  Wouldn't that be a much worse hole?

It doesn't have to be easy, but this is near impossible. And actually, no, I think a par 2 1/2 hole would be a great thing. Make the hole an easy birdie, shrink the green, etc., do whatever. But take the 17th at Tobacco Road, that hole, to me, is a 2 1/2 par hole. And I think its great. I have nothing against a hole like that. But #7 as currently presented borders on silly. I mean, come on, the goal from 100 yards aught not be to simply get the ball on the green somewhere.

[TEPaul]

We had a US Open fact question out there about the shortest US Open hole. That day #7 was playing at 99 yards which I believe tied it as the shortest in the US Open with Inwood's #10 in 1923. Today's #7 pin is at 92 yards making it the shortest.

[Andy Troeger]

James

I love the setting and distance combined with the elevation change. It's a priceless combination for mine.

OK, sure, its a great combination, but how great a hole is it really? I mean, guys can't get a lob wedge to hold the green? Thats as bad as having to hit a 3 wood into that kitchen table size area on the back of 17.

John,
This is more of a setup issue than the design of the hole. Its a great hole, but I do think the green is a bit too firm.

[John Moore II]

James

I love the setting and distance combined with the elevation change. It's a priceless combination for mine.

OK, sure, its a great combination, but how great a hole is it really? I mean, guys can't get a lob wedge to hold the green? Thats as bad as having to hit a 3 wood into that kitchen table size area on the back of 17.

And wouldn't a slightly softer green do the exact same thing to 17 as well? In all reality, are these greens as a whole perhaps slightly too firm, making it difficult for even well struck, or near perfectly struck shots to hold the proper places in the greens?
John,
This is more of a setup issue than the design of the hole. Its a great hole, but I do think the green is a bit too firm.

[Andy Troeger]

John,
I think the greens are a smidge too firm given their size, but this is the US Open and that is the way of the USGA. I just don't think its fair to hold that against the golf course. I do think its fun to watch the best players in the world have to tackle the course at its hardest--some holes and pin placements are accessible and others require them to take their medicine and play cautiously. I don't see anything wrong with that ideal for this championship.

[John Moore II]

John,
I think the greens are a smidge too firm given their size, but this is the US Open and that is the way of the USGA. I just don't think its fair to hold that against the golf course. I do think its fun to watch the best players in the world have to tackle the course at its hardest--some holes and pin placements are accessible and others require them to take their medicine and play cautiously. I don't see anything wrong with that ideal for this championship.

But they are really pushing the edge, really close. I don't think we'll see any of the holes turn into something like the par 3 (7th??) at Shinnecock Hills in 2004, but 14 has potential to turn into something ridiculous. I'd like to see the greens slightly softer, but only slightly.