He's back!!!

[John Kavanaugh]

Mike Davis that is...What is the deal with the 3rd hole at Pinehurst?  I've seen the ladies hit and they could have had a ball from where the men played.  Is there any value in moving the tee up even further for the women?  Is this some kind of con?

[Matthew Rose]

I saw 227 yards on the TV graphic and thought it was a misprint. Then I heard one of the commentators say it.

Then I saw where they were hitting it from. It looks like somebody picked out a flat spot in the fairway and dropped a couple of markers down. It looked like the "junior tees" you see on muni courses.

The course in general seems unnecessarily short today. They've got #9 playing 124 yards and #15 playing 139.

[Brent Hutto]

So far the course is playing 9/10 of a stroke easier today than yesterday.

Hole #3 alone is playing 7/10 of a stroke easier today than yesterday.

So basically by moving that tee up 100 yards they've shaved a stroke off par. In effect.

[Garland Bayley]

According to the score cards there is only a 5 yard difference between the set up yesterday, and the set up today.

If it is 9/10 of a stroke easier today, why is everyone, but one person, seeming to go down the leaderboard?

[Paul Gray]

May well be off the mark but I have a suspicion that defending par isn't a concern this week. This week, it seems to me, is all about showing the average golfer (not that these ladies are in any way average) that proper golf isn't actually too tricky.

[Peter Pallotta]

Reminds me of Sandy Tatum's famous phrase: "We’re not trying to embarrass Par 4s, we’re just trying to confuse them a little bit."

Peter

[John Kavanaugh]

I saw 227 yards on the TV graphic and thought it was a misprint. Then I heard one of the commentators say it.

Then I saw where they were hitting it from. It looks like somebody picked out a flat spot in the fairway and dropped a couple of markers down. It looked like the "junior tees" you see on muni courses.

The course in general seems unnecessarily short today. They've got #9 playing 124 yards and #15 playing 139.

I did not include the yardages in my original post because I couldn't believe what I was seeing.  Playing Colorado Golf Cub last year proved to me just how far the elite ladies drive the ball. There is a legit 300+ par four that was easily reachable for many in the field. I couldn't get there myself, but that is part of the joy of being a golfer.  You learn and observe what you can not do. Little did I know that it's not me, it's the tee.

The USGA only cares about protecting their power base. Sadly Mike Davis has decided to expand his power to included bastardizing classic courses.  He is killing the game and someone needs to tell him before he ruins what could be a fine career.

[David_Tepper]

"He is killing the game and someone needs to tell him before he ruins what could be a fine career."

John K. -

Why don't you write him a letter? I am sure he would appreciate hearing your thoughts.

DT

[Bill_McBride]

"He is killing the game and someone needs to tell him before he ruins what could be a fine career."

John K. -

Why don't you write him a letter? I am sure he would appreciate hearing your thoughts.

DT

You don't think Mike Davis reads the tripe that's posted on GCA.com?

[Jud_T]

I agree that he's going too far with these driveable holes, but given that there's exactly 1 woman under par at the moment, I wouldn't say the course is playing too easy by any means.

[John Kavanaugh]

Ran theorized that the removal of mid length par fours helps the bombers. Interesting who is leading. Instead of great architecture we are watching a version of scripted reality TV.

[Mike Sweeney]

Ran theorized that the removal of mid length par fours helps the bombers. Interesting who is leading. Instead of great architecture we are watching a version of scripted reality TV.

I like to try and figure out why you have bug up your bunn at times. This time, I can't figure out your issue with Pinehurst.

If Michelle Wie is not a great putter, how do those greens fit into the scripted reality TV ?

[John Kavanaugh]

Ran theorized that the removal of mid length par fours helps the bombers. Interesting who is leading. Instead of great architecture we are watching a version of scripted reality TV.

I like to try and figure out why you have bug up your bunn at times. This time, I can't figure out your issue with Pinehurst.

If Michelle Wie is not a great putter, how do those greens fit into the scripted reality TV ?

I have to watch these unfunny while we're young commercials during a tournament where a course has been converted into a slow play factory.  This has been two weeks of viewing tourcher.

[Matthew Essig]

Ran theorized that the removal of mid length par fours helps the bombers. Interesting who is leading. Instead of great architecture we are watching a version of scripted reality TV.

I like to try and figure out why you have bug up your bunn at times. This time, I can't figure out your issue with Pinehurst.

If Michelle Wie is not a great putter, how do those greens fit into the scripted reality TV ?

I have to watch these unfunny while we're young commercials during a tournament where a course has been converted into a slow play factory.  This has been two weeks of viewing tourcher.

....in your opinion....

[John Kavanaugh]

Ran called it. Only players under par, two long bombers. From the conspiracy corner...Go USA, this is great for golf.

[Matthew Essig]

Davis is setting the course up IDENTICALLY to how the men played.... SAME hole locations (within a couple feet) and SAME clubs into the greens.

On Sunday, Kaymer, Fowler, Compton, and D. Johnson were left. That is 2 bombers and 2 all-around players. I am expecting the same this weekend with Wie, Thompson, Lewis, and Creamer or any of the other non-Americans at E to +2.

Plus, the bombers probably learned that driver doesn't hurt them this time around.

I don't blame Davis at all.

[John Kavanaugh]

Davis is setting the course up IDENTICALLY to how the men played.... SAME hole locations (within a couple feet) and SAME clubs into the greens.

On Sunday, Kaymer, Fowler, Compton, and D. Johnson were left. That is 2 bombers and 2 all-around players. I am expecting the same this weekend with Wie, Thompson, Lewis, and Creamer or any of the other non-Americans at E to +2.

Plus, the bombers probably learned that driver doesn't hurt them this time around. I don't blame Davis at all.

Two wrongs don't make a right.  Can't wait to see the tee on 7.  I think you are being fed some bad information.

Wait for it...some apologist will soon let me know that the stats indicate that Wie isn't a bomber.

[BCowan]

Davis is setting the course up IDENTICALLY to how the men played.... SAME hole locations (within a couple feet) and SAME clubs into the greens.

On Sunday, Kaymer, Fowler, Compton, and D. Johnson were left. That is 2 bombers and 2 all-around players. I am expecting the same this weekend with Wie, Thompson, Lewis, and Creamer or any of the other non-Americans at E to +2.

Plus, the bombers probably learned that driver doesn't hurt them this time around. I don't blame Davis at all.

Two wrongs don't make a right.  Can't wait to see the tee on 7.  I think you are being fed some bad information.

Wait for it...some apologist will soon let me know that the stats indicate that Wie isn't a bomber.

   Wie has a complete game.  She hits half shots and works the ball better than most on the lpga.  Did you whine like this when the golden bear dominated?? 

[John Kavanaugh]

I'm not whining. This is a dream scenario in the final group.

[BCowan]

So this course is an epic winner 2 weeks in a row!  It is identifying the cream of the crop!  The cream is rising!

[John Kavanaugh]

So this course is an epic winner 2 weeks in a row!  It is identifying the cream of the crop!  The cream is rising!

No, the course and tournament are an epic fail. Michelle Wie, who has never won a major, is leading the US Open at Pinehurst. The lead story tonight is about Tiger. Oops.

[Garland Bayley]

So this course is an epic winner 2 weeks in a row!  It is identifying the cream of the crop!  The cream is rising!

No, the course and tournament are an epic fail. Michelle Wie, who has never won a major, is leading the US Open at Pinehurst. The lead story tonight is about Tiger. Oops.

Seems you are labeling quite a few tournaments and courses failures.
Well maybe only Newport now that I review her US Open history.

[BCowan]

So this course is an epic winner 2 weeks in a row!  It is identifying the cream of the crop!  The cream is rising!

No, the course and tournament are an epic fail. Michelle Wie, who has never won a major, is leading the US Open at Pinehurst. The lead story tonight is about Tiger. Oops.

    Did Tiger win majors while attending Stanford?  At 24 years old, how old was Kaymer when he won his first?  Zinger?  A. Scott?  Dig a little deeper Jkava....  We don't do lead stories on GCA, that is so Sports Center. 

[John Kirk]

If Michelle Wie wins by 9, that'll be something.

To me, the course looks both greener and browner than last week.  The surrounds around the green look very healthy and green, and not as good for putting off the green.

[Matthew Essig]

Davis is setting the course up IDENTICALLY to how the men played.... SAME hole locations (within a couple feet) and SAME clubs into the greens.

On Sunday, Kaymer, Fowler, Compton, and D. Johnson were left. That is 2 bombers and 2 all-around players. I am expecting the same this weekend with Wie, Thompson, Lewis, and Creamer or any of the other non-Americans at E to +2.

Plus, the bombers probably learned that driver doesn't hurt them this time around. I don't blame Davis at all.

Two wrongs don't make a right.  Can't wait to see the tee on 7.  I think you are being fed some bad information.

Wait for it...some apologist will soon let me know that the stats indicate that Wie isn't a bomber.

I would love to hear what "bad information" I am being fed.