U.S. Open presents a tough challenge
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Longtime Maui resident Mark Rolfing, an NBC golf analyst, will be providing commentary for the network at the U.S. Open. He also will chronicle his observations for The Advertiser.
By Mark Rolfing
Special to The Advertiser
TULSA, Okla. — The pre-championship hype and excitement level is greater here than any U.S. Open I have ever been to. The crowds for the practice rounds exceeded 40,000 on both days.
Associated Press
The golf course is playing extremely difficult, and many players are saying that any score under par could well win the championship. Southern Hills this week will have the longest hole in U.S. Open history ... a 640-yard par-5.
Tiger Woods attracts a crowd as he chips onto the practice green yesterday at Southern Hills. Woods will be shooting for an unprecedented fifth consecutive majors title at the U.S. Open, which begins today.
The biggest story of the week has been the 18th green, which I believe is the toughest finishing hole ever in a U.S. Open. In the five previous major championships that were held here, the winner never has made par on this hole on the final day.
On Monday and Tuesday, the hole was unplayable. The green has so much slope that any ball landing in the front half of the green would roll all the way off and back down the fairway. The USGA has not even mowed the green in three days, but it is still very fast. It could be a problem.
Obviously, most of the talk has been about Tiger Woods. Clearly, he is the overwhelming favorite, but I don't think he will run away like he did at Pebble Beach last year. This course has so many doglegs that I think it will tend to neutralize Tiger's power.
I will be with Tiger's group for all 18 holes today, and it will be interesting to see just how aggressive he decides to play. He has to get the ball in the fairways off the tee because I don't think even Tiger Woods can stop the ball on these greens from out of the rough.
There are a number of players in this field, aside from Tiger, who I think could win. I have a good feeling about Tom Lehman. He won the Tour Championship here back in 1996 and is a great driver.
Heat will definitely be a factor this week, which should favor the younger players.
It also has been quite windy so players with a lower trajectory such as Hal Sutton or Jesper Parnevik should do well.
