A week on from the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills I take a look back at a very different type of championship this year.
A Different type of U.S. Open:
Traditionally the U.S. Open, as I mentioned in my preview of the Championship, is the hardest of the golfing majors. The USGA normally sets par as a winning score, with slippery greens and punishing rough. This year, however, was different. Brooks Koepka triumphed with a winning score of 16-under-par, tying the record for the lowest U.S. Open score. The record was set by Rory McIlroy in his 2011 victory. The greens were receptive, the fairways were wide, and the fescue was even cut on a couple of holes. So why have the USGA changed their tune this year and, is it really better this way?
Why did the USGA change?
The USGA, with all its recent scandals and slip-ups, has been under a lot of pressure to really deliver a smooth and enjoyable championship this year. They therefore may have decided that, instead of seeing the world’s best struggle, the galleries much preferred to see a classic tour event. The gamble paid off, the tournament went smoothly and the scoring was low and without incident. For some of the golfing purists however, success came at a price, as the U.S. Open seemed to lose much of what makes it great.
Is an easier U.S. Open really better?
The game of golf is changing, of that there is no doubt. It is evident with the way Brooks Koepka cruised through the 72nd Hole of the U.S. Open. The final hole, over 600 yards long, was reached with two 3 woods. This is astonishing and simply reflects the problems that the game is now facing, and the U.S. Open often tries to fight that.
The U.S. Open has often been a favourite major of mine. You see the pros hit ridiculously low rounds week in week out on tour. A different test is needed, where golfers are challenged to really use all of their skills to conquer a course, and that’s what the U.S. Open usually provides. Hopefully this year is simply a change to appease the demons that have been haunting the USGA, and not a permanent change.
The Big Names Crash and Burn:
The U.S. Open this year was a giant killer, with big names such as Rory McIlroy, Jason Day and especially Dustin Johnson (the defending champion) missing the cut. This was the first time since the dawn of the world rankings in 1986 that the top three in the world have missed the cut in a Major Championship. This was a blessing in disguise as the new talent on the PGA Tour had the opportunity to shine through, with Justin Thomas and Hideki Matsuyama making runs at eventual champion Brooks Koepka, all of whom were tipped to be future major champions.
The Tour Overview:
Jordan Spieth won the Travelers Championship with a dramatic playoff win over Daniel Berger. Spieth won his tenth tour title in the similar fashion as he won his first, holing a bunker shot. This time he holed a bunker shot in a playoff instead of to get in one. Spieth had led all three days of the championship but had an uncharacteristically poor round in regulation. With his putter stone cold, he needed a few extremely lucky breaks to get into a playoff with Berger. Even in the playoff he needed a slice of luck to guide his wayward drive to the fairway. Having hit it left off the tee, his ball hit a tree, ending up in the middle of the fairway.
This Week on Tour:
This week the PGA Tour moves to Potomac, Maryland for the Quicken Loans National at TPC Potomac Golf Course. Defending champion Billy Hurley III returns to defend his title. He won The Quicken Loans in one of the most feel-good victories of last season. The field includes U.S. Open challengers Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler. They will be joined by Player’s Champion Si Woo Kim and PGA Champion Jimmy Walker.
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