Scoring after 54: 1999, 2005, 2014...

[Howard Riefs]

Golfers under par thru 36 holes at Pinehurst:

1999 + 2005: 12
2014: 13

Surprised? What you expected?

Does the trend continue this weekend?

[Jonathan Mallard]

Mildly surprised. Not what I expected.

But, considering the rational argument that they expect to hold a national championship at the same course next week, it makes perfect sense with 20/20 hindsight as good as these guys are.

[Greg Holland]

I don't think it is surprising -- in prior opens the only real issues were overly penal rough and the greens.  If they didn't hit the fairway, they had to wedge out and try to save par.  With the new setup, they can actually hit recovery shots.  I was there today and saw some amazing shots from the waste areas, and some total clankers.  Some would get nice lies, and some had to take unplayable lies, then hit up.  It was much more fun to watch than in the last two opens at No. 2.  Moreover, there are only a handful of folks under par, and other than Kaymer's record setting performance -- which was spectacular, none of the others are much under par.  Todd playded great today, and said Kaymer's bad shots were his good shots today.  I loved it - and I know they got rain last night but it did not look as brown today as it did on tv yesterday.  TV filters may amplify the colors?  I loved it.  Can't wait to play there soon. 

Also, with the tee up on three, it was really cool watching them trying to drive green.  Daryl Boe and I watched there for a while, and only saw Cabrera and Kirk hit and hold the green.  Mickelson and others hit 3 wood to within 30 yards or so.  Yet, Langley and Toms layed up on 3, and hit full wedges to a few feet.  Options, options, options.  What a course. 

[Charlie_Bell]

No and no.

1) No, I'm not surprised that the course has played a little softer than expected because they can't keep it at peak firm/fast/brown this week and have it in good shape for next week. 

2) No, i'm not surprised because other than CyberKaymer everyone is playing as expected, given #1.

[Bryan Icenhower]

I saw a stat from Golf central about fairways hit in 1st round:
- Players hit 71% of the fairways yesterday (6 players hit all of them), up 22% from the opening round of the ’05

I was wondering how that was going to correlate to scores.

I would guess most people would be surprised. 

[Jim Nugent]

Bryan, I just looked up fairways hit so far on the PGA tour this year.  The leader is averaging 73.21%.  Only five players are averaging above 70%. 

That number gave for the 1st round is really remarkable. 

Question: in 2005, did players hit 49% of fairways, or was it closer to 60%? 

[Bryan Icenhower]

Bryan, I just looked up fairways hit so far on the PGA tour this year.  The leader is averaging 73.21%.  Only five players are averaging above 70%. 

That number gave for the 1st round is really remarkable. 

Question: in 2005, did players hit 49% of fairways, or was it closer to 60%? 

Good question, clearly could be either. Can an argument be made that width = strategy using these stats.   There are many average golf fans who would think the more fairways hit the lower the score.

[Howard Riefs]

Golfers under par thru 54 holes at Pinehurst:

1999: 1
2005: 1
2014: 6

[Pete_Pittock]

   
1999:   1   2     3     4    5    6     7    8     9             10   11  12    13   14  15   16  17   18
Yards 404 447 335 566 482 222 358 485 179 3,518 610 453 447 383 436 202 489 191 446 3,657 7,175
Par      4    4     4     5    4    3     4     4    3      35    5    4     4    4     4    3     4    3     4     35     70
2005:
Yards 401 469 336 565 472 220 404 467 175 3,509 607 476 449 378 468 203 492 190 442 3,705 7,214
Par      4    4     4     5    4    3     4    4      3     35    5    4     4    4     4     3    4     3    4     35     70
2014:
Yards 402 507 387 529 576 219 424 502 191 3,737 617 483 484 382 473 202 528 205 451 3,825 7,562
Par      4    4     4    4     5    3     4    4     3       35   5    4      4    4    4     3    4    3    4      35    70

[Jim Nugent]

Pete, do you know what the course actually played those various years?  e.g. the 3rd lists as 387 this year, but played barely over 300 in an earlier (the 2nd?) round. 

[Pete_Pittock]

no, nor do I remember the weather . I doubt they moved tees off the same box. Just more stats.