O'Hair on WF vs. Oakmont, channeling Sweeney & Ward

[Jay Flemma]

While I was interviewing Sean, he starting waxing quite intelligently on how much he really loved Winged Foot.  Hde went on and on about the difference between WF and Oakmont.

I dont know what the heck happened because I really hate this question.  I guess Mike Sweeney must have made a voodoo doll of me or something...I really don't know what came over me but I asked him

"well look if you could split up 10 rounds between WF and Oakmont how would you divide them?

He said 10-0 Winged Foot

[Jim Nugent]

Jay, did he say why?  What does he like so much about WFW?  What doesn't he like about Oakmont?  

[Jay Flemma]

he said he DID like Oakmont...but he abslutely LOVED WFW.  He loves the greens, the...as he put it...classic parkland feel...and the loved the greens.

[George Pazin]

I think WF looks more conventionally difficult, which would better suit someone who is as good a ball striker as O'Hair.

Or maybe he just doesn't like Iron City.

[JohnV]

It is well known that the folks from the Philadelphia area relate more closely with New Yorkers and the east coast than they do with their fellow Pennsylvanians out here in the western part of the state and I guess that goes for their preference in golf courses also.

[Dan Kelly]

Or maybe he just doesn't like Iron City.

I thought he was an Olde Frothingslosh man.

Now THERE's a name for a beer. Or a golf course!

[Matt_Ward]

Jay:

Both are supreme tests of golf -- clearly what the USGA wants to determine a national champion.

In my mind, Oakmont gets the better of the two -- I'd weigh in likely with a 7-3 split in favor of the Western Pennsy layout. Keep in mind I would personally place Oakmont among my top five courses in all of the USA.

Better overall terrain, more unique routing, greater diversity of holes and the slightest of edges on the dimensions and demands of the putting surfaces. As good as the opening and closing holes are at WF / West -- Oakmont has the advantage there as well.