[peter_p]

Watching Nick O'Hern play a shot I was struck at home much he looked at home at Pinehurst. It has a look and strategy similar to RM. Granted the bunkering looks different but they are strategically similar.

[Brent Hutto]

I saw Nick playing on the Golf Channel some time a few months ago and remember thinking that he looked like he'd do well at Pinehurst. Did he play a tournament at Royal Melbourne recently? That may have been the occasion.

[Steve Okula]

Peter,

 Could you please elaborate on the similarities you see? The bunkering doesn't just look different, the two styles are completely unrelated. The deep, high faced bunkers of RM and the flatter, rounder look of Pinehurst.

I don't remember the RM green complexes as being akin to Pinehurst either, the RM greens aren't all convex like that.

It seems to me that Pinehurst fairways are flatter, narrower, and straighter.

What in the strategies do you see as alike?

[peter_p]

Both sets of greenside bunkers are gatherers. Since my forte is missing greens, both courses have large areas you want to avoid for up/down situations.  

[Chris Kane]

O'Hern lost a playoff to Craig Parry at the Heineken earlier this year.

The Pinehurst green complexes remind me more of Woodlands.

[Mike_Clayton]

Chris

Steve Allan said  playing Pinehurst was like hitting three irons onto the 4th at Woodlands.

I'ts hard to imagine how bad Royal Melbourne would look with all that long rough grown over it.
One big difference is all the fairway bunkers at Pinehurst are in the rough - at RM they are in the fairway so the ball runs into them.

[Andrew Summerell]

I can't see the similarities strategically as Pinehurst (set up for the US Open) doesn't offer the options Royal Melbourne does.

[David_Elvins]

I don't think there are many similarities between Royal Melbourne and Pinehurst.  
There aren't many courses in Australia with thick rough around the green so I would say that most Australians would have a better chance of winning at Pinehurst than any other US Open course setup since they grew up playing chip shots around the greens.

[Mark_Guiniven]

Clayts,
What's the word on Cambo this weekend? Vijay's hitting the greens but Michael's making the most birdies (9). He sure has a habit of doing nothing for months and then suddenly winning on the good courses. That said, his form hasn't been too bad this year. He fades all his approach shots and enjoys the spotlight if anything.

[Mike_Clayton]

Mark.

Cambo is a mystery to me.
With a swing like that he should be there almost every week -something he has been capable of for periods of his career. But,then he just goes missing for months.
When he is playing well though, he is a dangerous player.

If only we could get those Paraparaumu greens something like Pinehurst!!

[Brian Phillips]

Mike,

Would you think that Cambo is a good outside bet for The Open this year especially after how he has played there in the past?

Hope all is well.

Brian

[T_MacWood]

I'm a big fan of #2, but I must say the course is not coming through too well on TV.

I've never seen the course look more monochromatic and boring. The bunkers look rounder than they did in the past...much cleaner and more manicured as well. I don't recall Royal Melbourne ever coming across as visually boring on TV.

[Mike_Clayton]

Brian

You never know which Cambo is going to turn up - and it's the first cut he has made at The Open since 2000
He has a chance now although 4 shots is a lot to give Goosen especially after the way he played after the double at 13.

I assume those Scandinavians are excited about Hedblom - a fantastic bloke and great fun - for a Swede!


All is well ! - hopefully the same with you.

[Steve Lapper]

I'm a big fan of #2, but I must say the course is not coming through too well on TV.

I've never seen the course look more monochromatic and boring. The bunkers look rounder than they did in the past...much cleaner and more manicured as well. I don't recall Royal Melbourne ever coming across as visually boring on TV.

Tom,

   Good point!! I was thinking the same thing. Even this past Heineken (earlier this year), with RM looking drier and browner than normal, the place simply shined compared to #2.( and I love the course) There is nothing monochromatic about RM and fortunately, it's bunkers will likely never be changed!

[Tags:]

Tags:

[Tags:]

Tags:

Call to undefined function theme_linktree()