"A third of each green has died"

[Mark Chaplin]

Does Phil Mickelson understand what a dry seaside green looks like?

[Jud_T]

He was just pissed about 3-jacking 18 after a realistic look at birdie.  As if no event has ever jacked up green speeds to protect par...

[John Kavanaugh]

I would put a spoiler alert in the title, but honestly, who thought that they would live to see the day where the greens at The Open are faster than at the US Senior Open.  Like twice as fast in a real world way.

[Dean Stokes]

Zach was also " shocked" by some of the pins. These guys will bitch about anything. Where was McElroys interview-that would have been fun to hear! Time to give the Nike clubs back and the 200MM, go back to Chubby and stop watching tennis every week while your peers are playing tournaments!

[BHoover]

Zach was also " shocked" by some of the pins. These guys will bitch about anything.

Seriously, these guys are ridiculous. Zach Johnson complained about the setup at Merion and it appears he's doing the same at Muirfield. I have no sympathy for these guys. That's why I hope the wind starts blowing. I want to see them suffer!

[Jud_T]

Poulter just tweeted about pin placements; "8th hole is a joke. 18th needs a windmill & clown face."

[BHoover]

Poulter just tweeted about pin placements; "8th hole is a joke. 18th needs a windmill & clown face."

    

[John Kavanaugh]

Here we go again, the blessed intellectuals of this site spend years bitching about modern American green speeds.  Suddenly "we" love them at The Open.

[Mark Chaplin]

JK the R&A aim for 10.5 they may sneak a little quicker but certainly no 12 or 13 greens on the stimpmeter.

[John Kavanaugh]

JK the R&A aim for 10.5 they may sneak a little quicker but certainly no 12 or 13 greens on the stimpmeter.

There are no accidents on the morning of day one.

[BHoover]

Here we go again, the blessed intellectuals of this site spend years bitching about modern American green speeds.  Suddenly "we" love them at The Open.

I have no problem with modern green speeds.

[John Kavanaugh]

Here we go again, the blessed intellectuals of this site spend years bitching about modern American green speeds.  Suddenly "we" love them at The Open.

I have no problem with modern green speeds.

That is an indefensible bold statement.  I'm with ya but people think I'm just faking it to be a troll.

For the record, I do not love modern green speeds to the extent that they require big green side fans to be kept alive. Slower greens fewer fans would be my preference.

[Dean Stokes]

I bet you don't hear any of the amateurs bitch about the green speeds or pin positions.

[BHoover]

Here we go again, the blessed intellectuals of this site spend years bitching about modern American green speeds.  Suddenly "we" love them at The Open.

I have no problem with modern green speeds.

That is an indefensible bold statement.  I'm with ya but people think I'm just faking it to be a troll.

For the record, I do not love modern green speeds to the extent that they require big green side fans to be kept alive. Slower greens fewer fans would be my preference.

I don't see how my statement is indefensible. I like fast greens. I do agree, however, that I don't like fast greens at the expense of needing fans or too much water to keep them alive.

[Pete Blaisdell]

    Love it!! 'Bout damn time.

    R & A will need to pay  close attention to every green and to viable weather sources.

    As someone who considers course set up as an " art". I would give my right arm to set up that track for just one round.

    Don't you just love that little puff of a dust cloud on a well struck iron??

  We are going to separate the " players" from the contestants this week. Cajones will be in short supply in East Lothian.

[Josh Tarble]

I like golf courses...fast greens, slow greens.  Who cares, they're all playing the same course.  Those guys will find anything to bitch about.


What I found interesting in that interview was Phil talking about playing angles and roll-out, how you had to attack the course very strategically.

[Jud_T]

It's fascinating that these guys are still playing too aggressively to these back pins.  Seems like at this point in the proceedings running the ball into the middle of the green and walking away with par and maybe dropping the occasional putt is the play but they are ingrained to think they can get it tight and are ending up in horrible spots over the green.

[Jim Franklin]

JK -

Those fans are nice on a hot day lugging my clubs. They are just as much for me as the greens.

[Greg Clark]

In fairness to Zach Johnson he was not bitching about the set up at all.  The person conducting the interview tried to use Mickelson's comments to bait Johnson into being critical.  While he initially used the word shocked to the loaded question, he quickly stated that there was nothing out of the usual in the set up.  His comments were balanced, and not critical.  He's leading the tournament, and was certainly not in the mood to be critical.  The guy conducting the interview sure wanted him to be however.

[Greg Clark]

In fairness to Zach Johnson he was not bitching about the set up at all.  The person conducting the interview tried to use Mickelson's comments to bait Johnson into being critical.  While he initially used the word shocked to the loaded question, he quickly stated that there was nothing out of the usual in the set up.  His comments were balanced, and not critical.  He's leading the tournament, and was certainly not in the mood to bitch.  The guy conducting the interview sure wanted him to however.

[John Kavanaugh]

JK -

Those fans are nice on a hot day lugging my clubs. They are just as much for me as the greens.

Yes, Victoria just purchased some trolleys which I allow my wife to push for me as I play alone.  She doesn't have a clue on where to go so I just grab a club and point to the nearest fan where she is more than happy to wait.  She also thought they were a wonderful addition to the game.

[Dean Stokes]

In fairness to Zach Johnson he was not bitching about the set up at all.  The person conducting the interview tried to use Mickelson's comments to bait Johnson into being critical.  While he initially used the word shocked to the loaded question, he quickly stated that there was nothing out of the usual in the set up.  His comments were balanced, and not critical.  He's leading the tournament, and was certainly not in the mood to be critical.  The guy conducting the interview sure wanted him to be however.

i agree. The sad part now is that the commentators are buying into the players moaning! Once again the course conditions and set up are becoming the focal point of the event rather than the golf-this is every major now and as much as I like GCA it is getting old to me.

[David_Tepper]

"Muirfield already on edge, players predicting afternoon chaos"

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2013/7/18/muirfield-already-on-edge-players-predicting-afternoon-chaos.html

P.S. Zach Johnson was right. Merion was manipulated.

[Robert Mercer Deruntz]

Having watched the tournament for several hours, I think a few pins pushed the envelope too far.  Phil and Angel hit trickling speed putts on 18th that had no chance to drop.  And the 8th seems to be cut into a funny side of the slope.  Unlike the US Open, the ground game is paramount, and there needs to be some reasonable space to accommodate where the odd roll might send the ball

[William_G]

it's awesome to see the ball roll and bounce   

you need to golf your ball at this Open, no doubt!