Looking back on the week, I actually thought it was quite fun to watch the action unfold, particularly on Saturday. With the exception of Sunday, when they watered down the course, they effective let the weather dictate scoring. The late/early groups clearly got the poorer luck of the wind, but such is life. And late in the day Saturday, the wind was fierce, and the course was impossible. So what? It's an absolute double-standard. If that was named The Open Championship, writers would be lining up to wax poetically about how that's the rub of the green, and the luck of the draw...and they'd be correct. Heck, look at The Open in 2015, where they stopped play because of the wind. What would have happened if, on Saturday afternoon, the USGA suspended play because of the wind? They would be crucified.
But! I have discovered why so many people are up in arms over the course set-up at the US Open. It has to do with false advertising. Listening to the lead-up to the event, and Mr. Davis' comments during the event, I must have heard the word 'fair' about thirty times. And that's where you create problems. The US Open is branding itself as the fairest test in golf, and with the players, media, sponsors and fans all bought into 'fairness', by golly, they expect a fair fight! When it isn't, and we know golf is never fair (or at least should never be fair!), then everything unravels. I'd rather the US Open market itself again as the toughest test, and act accordingly. At least then there'll be no arguments about what's fair and just. Who cares if the scoring average is 82. Try to shoot 81! And I call hogwash on the idea that when you 'lose a golf course' (which I've never seen in my life), that you start penalising good shots. Clearly it wasn't a good shot if it ended up in a bad spot! It's the same argument as those who hit a straight tee ball moaning because they went in centreline bunkers. It wasn't a good shot. Well struck maybe, but not a good shot. If players can't hold the green, why are you trying to hit the green in the first place? Be smarter. Lay-up on a par-3. Hit it intentionally in the bunker. Putt off the green so you have an easier chip up the hill. Is that not golf too?