Now that we're in the weekday lull before the next round of games, hopefully we can get some more opinions like those offered by Alex and Jeff.
What results have irritated, surprised, perplexed you most? Matchups that have been most exciting or least interesting?
I'm a bit underwhelmed not necessarily by the seedings, but how the regional matchups organized. For instance, Ohoopee as a 10 seed might've had a better chance against 7 seeds Shoreacres or Garden City compared to the deservedly loved Cal Club. The unfortunate double Doak in the Round of 64 has already been mentioned, but I also think Pacific Dunes would've had better odds of making the Sweet 16 as a 5 seed if it went up against any other 4 (Winged Foot W, Friars, Riviera) other than Chicago which holds significant aura on these parts. Of the Sweet 16, only 2 are modern, and both Coore and Crenshaw. With a slightly different allocation of seeds a Doak and possibly a Hanse could've been in this group.
I also would've preferred Pebble and Augusta not squaring off in the Sweet 16 because I can imagine this being the time in the tournament when either could've been upset, but one will be making the Elite Eight regardless.
Of courses I've played, the Oakland Hills v Friars Head matchup was an enjoyable quandary. Oakland's set of greens are in the top most tier from what I've seen so far, and as more people see the restored version I think it'll be in the conversation of the finest parkland championship layouts. But where would I rather spend a day, or play more rounds in a 10 round split, or be a member, or take a shower?
The Sweet 16 wades more into the hypothetical for me with only two matches where I've played both courses, 3 matches where I've played one, and 3 matches where I've played neither. I like jumping on Google maps and doing satellite hole-by-hole tours as I pencil out a match. Obviously undulation and contour cannot be noticed or appreciated, but it serves as a decent enough way to approximate the routings and preference for one hole over another.
The two matchups that intrigue me most in the Sweet 16 are 3. LACC v 2. Sand Hills and 2. Oakmont v 3. Fishers Island. Such different settings. Urban championship pedigrees against some of the finest summer getaway clubs. Based on images of how LACC looked before the Gil and Geoff restoration, it's stunning how quickly LACC has vaulted up rankings to where it can now rightfully contend among the country's best courses.