OAKLAND HILLS NO LONGER THE MONSTER SUTTON REMEMBERS
from the Associated Press
Los Angeles — Ben Hogan called Oakland Hills "this Monster" when he shot 67 in the final round of the 1951 U.S. Open.
Ryder Cup captain Hal Sutton sees the venerable course a little differently these days.
He has played Oakland Hills numerous times in advance of the Sept. 17-19 matches, including 27 holes on Sunday. He says it requires restraint off the tee, and it will favour players who can manage their game.
"I'm not making it sound like a 94-pound weakling," Sutton said Tuesday. "What I'm saying is it's going to take management to play this golf course. It's not the monster that it used to be."
The last major event at Oakland Hills, located in the Detroit suburbs, was the 1996 U.S. Open, where assistant Ryder Cup captain Steve Jones won at 2-under 278. Sutton had not played there since the 1985 U.S. Open, where he tied for 23rd.
"It's not what I remember it being," Sutton said. "But the greens are everything I remember them being. It will take a good iron player. You can't be a great putter if you putt from the wrong spot of the greens at Oakland Hills."
The one place power might be a factor is at No. 6, the shortest par 4 on the course.
Sutton said the PGA of America has built a new tee that has been moved up 25 yards and will allow big hitters to try to reach the green. He said it will play about 310 yards up a slight hill.