We step onto the green of the Number 2 course at Pinehurst, North Carolina. This week’s venue for the US Open. Ten Golf is already here. The green and what is not the green. The course presents itself in a similar way to 2014, the last time the US Open was played here with a victory for Martin Kaymer, but with some small changes that are by no means small and that could end up being very relevant next Sunday when we find out who the new champion is.
The course design has not changed. The tees are the same, the bunkers have not been touched and the greens are exactly the same as they were ten years ago. However, new elements have been introduced that, in theory, are going to make the challenge even more difficult. In 2014 only three players finished under par. One was the aforementioned Kaymer who went completely crazy that week and finished -9, the other two did -1. More difficult, then? Hold on, here come the curves.
Pinehurst No.2 has no rough. Nothing. Zero. Neither on the sides of the fairway, nor around the green. Visually it is a joy. As Donald Ross wanted it, its original designer back in 1907. Different. Spectacular. The fairways are protected in a way that we could describe with the native word. They are extensions of sand studded with small tufts, buns or bushes. Some native plants, low, secluded, but quite tricky.
One of them is called wiregrass. It was already there in 2014, but what has been done is to plant many more in the last year. That is, to cover a good part of the sand extension that is found to the right and left of the fairway. They are at street level, so they are completely in play. There are many more than in 2014, so it is much more likely that you will come across them during the competition. In an absolute commitment to sustainability, these wiregrass that have been added for this US Open will be removed when the tournament is over and will be replanted in other areas of the course where they do not come into play. After all, Pinehurst is a public resort and has to continue operating and serving the amateur player when the US Open is over without the rounds becoming eternal and a hell for the average player.
The other local plant is called pineweed. The same: tuft, bun or bush. Something like the hair of actor Sideshow Bob from the Simpsons. Hard, long and twisted grass that comes out of the ground. They were already there in 2014, but ten years later they are taller and more widespread. A challenge of great magnitude.
A key component this week, as you will have guessed, will be chance. You can miss the fairway by half a meter and end up with the ball unplayable in a bun or you can miss by fifteen and be perfectly situated in the pine straw. The luck factor comes into play and makes it even more spectacular. In addition, with the weather conditions expected this week, humidity, yes, but a lot of heat, the fairways could be hard and these sand and bun areas will come into play even more.
Another detail of the course preparation has to do with the greens. As we say, there is no rough here. Fundamentally, they are protected because they are built high, in the shape of a flan and with magnificent escape areas around them. In addition, very importantly, they have changed the grass of the greens since 2014. They have gone from traditional Bermuda to ultra-dwarf Bermuda. It is a much tougher and more resistant blade, so the USGA will be able to set the greens almost as they wish. With the traditional Bermuda, they worked more on the wire, we insist that this is a resort and next week they have to keep playing golf, so they could not push that grass to the limit. Now, with these new green individuals, the margin for manoeuvre is greater. Firmer, faster greens that hold up better.
The million-dollar question: is it possible that we will see a US Open without any player under par? Only the USGA knows. It does seem that all the steps they have taken are heading in this direction. Let’s say they have all the tools to do it, now it depends on them how far they are going to tighten the screw.
