PINEHURST, N.C. — Wyndham Clark, the defending U.S. Open champion, described the treacherous turtleback greens at Pinehurst No. 2 as “borderline’’ unplayable.
“If they get any firmer and faster … they’d be borderline,” Clark said, before adding, “They already are borderline.”
That was Monday, four days before the 124th U.S. Open begins with Thursday’s opening round.
On Tuesday, Tiger Woods predicted that players are going to be playing “pingpong’’ with putts on the hump-back greens, conceding that in his practice rounds he and other players were seeing putts roll off the greens and into sand traps.
“It depends how severe the USGA wants to make this and how close they want to get us up to those sides [of the edge of greens with pin placements],’’ Woods said. “But I foresee just like in ’05 watching some of the guys play pingpong back and forth. It could happen.
“We were half joking that by the end of the week, it might be one of those Bermuda greens when they get so slick that you bend down to read a putt or bend down to fix a ball mark and your putter slips. I think it has that kind of look and that kind of sheen that it could get there by Sunday.’’
Since the last U.S. Open at Pinehurst, the grasses have been changed from bentgrass to Bermuda.
“When [course designer] Donald Ross did this golf course and made the greens this severe, I don’t think he intended it to be running at 13 on the stimpmeter,’’ Woods said, referring to the device that measures green speeds. “They were the speed of fairways. It’s going to be a great test and a great war of attrition this week. It’s going to be a lot of fun for all of us.’’
When Martin Kaymer won the U.S. Open the last time it was played at No. 2, he famously putted from almost everywhere around the greens because of the tight lies that make chipping difficult.
Asked if he’ll use putter, wedge or fairway woods around the greens, Woods said, “I think all of the above.’’
“That’s the beauty of playing Donald Ross golf courses: He tests you,’’ Woods said.
There have been three U.S. Opens played at Pinehurst — 1999, 2005 and 2014 — and only four players have ever finished under par.
A year ago, in the first round of the U.S. Open at LA Country Club, Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele both shot 62s. It’s safe to say that will not be happening again.
“It has that look and feel that this could be one of the Opens where whatever the leading score is, that’s probably as low as we’ll ever go after the first day,’’ Woods said.
“If they were, in my opinion, borderline [Monday] when the greens were soft, what if [the wind] starts blowing up a little bit and the greens just keep getting firmer and faster?’’ Viktor Hovland said. “It’ll be just interesting to see.’’
Rory McIlroy said “it will be around the greens’’ where this tournament is decided.
“Like most Donald Ross courses, it’s on and around the greens where I’m going to have to sort of do the most work and sort of figure out what shots to hit around greens,’’ McIlroy said. “Obviously, Martin here 10 years ago used the putter very, very well.’’
Xander Schauffele, who won the PGA last month and is playing Pinehurst for the first time, said the key for players is to do “whatever you’re really comfortable with’’ around these greens.
“I hit a lot of putts today,’’ he said. “I was joking with my caddie that we should probably get our putter checked. I’ve never swung so hard on my putter for nine holes than I did today, just trying to get up and down mounds.
“There’s certain spots where you feel like you have to hit it really hard, and you hit it too hard you putt it off the other side of the green. Leaving yourself in a really good position is A-1, but even when you do leave yourself in a good position, the hole is not over yet.’’
U.S. Open picks
Collin Morikawa: He hasn’t won a U.S. Open, but he’s finished second, fourth and fourth in his last three tournaments and has also played well at U.S. Opens — with a tie for fourth, tie for fifth and a tie for 14th in his past three. He was close at last week’s Memorial. This week, he wins the third leg of the career Grand Slam.
Scottie Scheffler: The world No. 1, who’s won five of his last eight starts, hasn’t won a U.S. Open, but he’s lost to just nine golfers in his last three U.S. Opens. He finished T7 at Torrey Pines, T2 at Brookline and third last year at LA Country Club. He’s the most patient player on the planet and patience will be a virtue this week.
Xander Schauffele: He’s never finished worse than T14 at a U.S. Open in seven tries, a run that includes six top 10s and five top 7s. He, too, is coming off his first major championship victory, last month at the PGA.
Jordan Spieth: His form hasn’t been great, but Spieth is extremely creative around the greens, which is going to be a premium this week on No. 2.
Bryson DeChambeau: His confidence is soaring after his electric runner-up finish at the PGA, and he’s been very hot with the putter, which would bode well this week.
