Brandel vs the USGA setup

[Ken Moum]

I think it is wrong for the television broadcast to start putting a camera eight feet away from the winning player as he makes his way around the final couple of holes.  That seems like a very unnatural experience to have somebody mirroring you as you try to make the biggest shots of your life.  The priorities in the world have become corrupted.

Congratulations to Wyndham Clark.  He played a nice round of golf today.

For $3.6 million I'd let them shove a camera...oh, wait, I've actually paid people to do that several times.


Never mind.

[George Pazin]

For all the Thursday/Friday complaints, the leaders mostly played par golf over the weekend. I enjoyed the event and the course. I was rooting for Rickie and Rory, but Clark is a worthy champion.


Looking forward to The Open…

[Niall C]

I think it is wrong for the television broadcast to start putting a camera eight feet away from the winning player as he makes his way around the final couple of holes.  That seems like a very unnatural experience to have somebody mirroring you as you try to make the biggest shots of your life.  The priorities in the world have become corrupted.

Funnily enough, I was thinking the same thing. IMO it would make for far better television if they weren't anything like as obtrusive. A shot of the group (players and caddies) moving from green to tee acting in a more natural fashion, tells you more about their mind-set than a close-up of a player acting self-consciously because he has a camera in his face.


Definitely a case of just because they can, doesn't mean they should.


Niall

[Philip Caccamise]

Alpine ski racing has seen tremendous equipment changes, especially in the more technical disciplines. 


And the equipment is highly regulated.

This is a good one, probably the best besides tennis.


In about 1996 the K2 Four came out and changed the sport of alpine skiing forever- a 16 meter turn radius ski when the average was ~50 meters. GS skiers started running gates in them and obliterating their fields (Bode Miller at the US Juniors was the first), despite the skis not being optimized for race conditions. On a one minute GS the average skier improved by 4-6 seconds. The entire sport changed basically overnight, including the physics, biomechanics, and coaching behind turning a ski.


Now there are specific rules set by FIS for length and turn radius of the ski in each discipline (and level, when including juniors.)

[Pat Burke]

It is not surprising that a few of the players—Fitzpatrick and Koepka most prominently—do not like the number of blind tee shots at LACC. I know that blind shots are a divisive topic (I like them), but is it a valid critique of a course hosting a Major? I would think that it is a good way to test great players (mental imagery and commitment to your line) who also have the benefit of caddies and so much information about the course.


Ira

You know, it’s funny.  As a former guy that played a little and has coached for quite awhile, I’m amazed that “blind “ tee shots can be such an issue for some.
The information, even without tee shot photos at the us open, is so detailed that any player should be able to have a target in the horizon and a highly accurate yardage to carry (or max out) on that line after a couple practice rounds.


I wish I knew LACC better to comment more.  But what I believe is that us open agronomy robs so much from the courses.
Fairways so fast that balls end up in same zones is a big one to me. Rough that combines with front bunkers to often eliminate recovery
Shots.
Crazy fast greens that limit hole locations.


I thought we had a pretty intriguing US Open but I’d love to be around LACC who after years of being the course they wanted but couldn’t get, has probably not had as positive thoughts as expected.

[Tommy Naccarato]

For what it’s worth, the greens were stimping at 13’-11” every day, losing about a foot for about the last groups.  They were firm as well with exception to Wednesday night’s precipitation (if you can call it that) which softened the greens.  They still were running 13’-11” each day.  Just softer on Thursday.  Add in a couple of not wrong, but just not as challenging tee locations, that’s why the scores went lower for two players, two groups apart on Thursday.


There is little doubt in my mind that LACC is one of the US Open Championship’s great venues! (And yes, I’m biased and partial, just as I’m biased and partial for Merion, Winged Foot, Shinnecock, Oakmont and other classic course venues.  It isn’t a regional bias, it’s a Great Golf Bias!



I think many here don’t understand the concept of how these guys play today: Driver & Wedge.  As I learned from former tour player Pat Burke, these guys hitting golf balls with little spin require deft touch at making the ball spin with an armada of wedges.  Where they suffer is distance control which will make them or break them.  When they put it on, with a putter in hand, they are dead on balls accurate from 8-10’ out.  They make everything!  Honestly, I’d drive myself nuts having to play like that because I love failing & succeeding too much! Mysteries of the Game!


When it comes to defined strategies, these guys only think one thing: Driver & Wedge (of some kind). I’m convinced the type of game they play is for one thing: $$$,$$$ $$$.$$


How did we get here? Thank the equipment companies who place profit over stability.  They pulled the wool over the eyes of the gentleman’s game.  I think if Capt. Thomas, William P. Bell, Dr. MacKenzie, Max Behr, A.W. Tillinghast, Donald Ross, H.S. Colt, High “Puffy” Wilson, C.B. McDonald, Seth Raynor, Walter Travis, Dev Emmett and et. al. would be appalled to see how we’ve abused the most beautiful game of golf.


My opinion…