With changing conditions, Tiger preps for U.S. Open
Anytime players spend more time talking about the condition of the course than golf before a U.S. Open, it’s not a good sign. Unfortunately, that has been the theme this week at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., where the 113th U.S. Open begins Thursday.
The club has spent years preparing to host the tournament for only the fifth time. The course has been lengthened, logistical nightmares addressed and the members have done their part to ensure a memorable experience. The problem is Mother Nature hasn’t cooperated.
The USGA, which conducts the championship, always prefers a firm and fast track. That usually results in the ultimate mental and physical test, and makes even-par golden.
All was looking good until last Friday, when 3 1/2 inches of rain saturated Merion. It poured again Monday, flooding a bunker by the 11th green and created standing water throughout much of the lower part of the famed layout, forcing a four-hour closure. More rain is in the forecast the next three days.
“Obviously, it’s rainy and soft,” three-time winner Tiger Woods said Tuesday at his pre-tournament press conference. “I thought it might be totally different.”
Woods played a practice round at Merion two weeks ago in the rain and said it might prove advantageous for him this week.
“I thought the ball would be running out and we would hit different clubs and different shapes,” he said. “But it’s going to be the same.”
It remains to be seen how the USGA will adjust. With soggy fairways and softer greens, players can be more aggressive from tee to green, which should create lower-than-expected scoring. However, if you miss the fairway, the rough is thick and wet, and will seldom allow players to do anything but advance the ball back into play with short irons.
The USGA could be forced to use the lift, clean and place rule — a last resort — to limit mud balls. But either way, it figures to be a long, grueling week that puts a premium on patience.
“I don’t think we have an exact feel for it yet, what we’re going to have to do and what we’re going to have to shoot,” Woods said. “The conditions keep changing.
“We haven’t dealt with teeing it up in a tournament yet with it raining and drying out for a couple days and the mud balls appearing. That’s going to be interesting. Especially the longer holes.”
The good news for Tiger is that he has won in both kinds of conditions. In 2000 at Pebble Beach and 2008 at Torrey Pines, they were firm and fast. In 2002 at Bethpage, they were soft and slow.
“Either one — the execution doesn’t change,” he said. “You’ve still got to hit good golf shots and get the ball in play, especially now with the rough being wet, it’s imperative to get the ball in play so that we can get after some of these flags and make as many birdies as we can.”
As in every Major Championship, good fortune will play a part in the outcome.
“I think there’s an element of luck anytime you win a golf tournament,” Tiger said. “You’re going to hit shots that are borderline. You’re going to hit shots that you will get away with and take advantage of them. And it could turn the entire tournament around for the good or for the bad.”
Case in point: Woods’ third shot to the par-5 15th hole during the second round of the Masters this year. The ball hit the pin and could have resulted in a short birdie putt to gain a share of the lead. Instead, the ball caromed backward into the water and resulted in a quadruple bogey.
Tiger arrived at Merion last Sunday and has played portions of the course each day.
“It’s a great golf course,” he said. “It’s just a little bit tricky with some of the blind tee shots and trying to get a feel for what my finish lines are going to be. The greens are pretty self-explanatory. They’ve got a few waves in them, a few little movements. Not too complicated.”
Tiger only expects to hit a few drivers off the tee, unless conditions dictate otherwise, and will likely opt for position with fairway woods and long irons. The par-70 course features only two par-5s, — the second and fourth holes — and the closing holes will be a challenge.
“From 14 on, it’s going to be tough to make birdies, especially if they put the tees back on 17 and 18,” he said. “Those are two awfully difficult finishing holes when you’ve got 250 into the 17th and the last hole is 520 and you’re not getting any run.”
As for potential weather delays, Woods said most players are used to it and adjust accordingly.
“We play so many events and have to deal with weather, it’s just part of our sport,” Tiger said. “We deal with coming in, going back out, playing 36, finishing up rounds. It’s just the way it is.”
There was a lighter moment in the press room when a young woman asked Woods what he would do off the golf course to relax. The question was posed to the unsuspecting Woods by his 22-year-old niece Cheyenne, a promising pro golfer.
“Didn’t expect that,” he laughed. “Well, off the course, we have a great crew at the house and we’re going to have fun. Tomorrow, make sure you’re — is it 6:30 dinner? Is that all right? OK. Perfect.”
Tiger is scheduled to begin opening-round play on the first tee Thursday at 1:14 p.m. ET with Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott. The trio are ranked 1, 2 and 3 in the world, respectively.
“I think it will be fantastic,” Tiger said. “We don’t get these type of pairings every often. When you do, it just makes it that much more enjoyable for us as players.”
