US Open Articles Roundup - 2013

A list of articles about the 2013 US Open that I’ve found interesting:

Hogan’s 1 Iron All But Extinct In Major Play

While wicker baskets remain, the 1-iron has become extinct since the last Open at Merion in 1981 as graphite drivers and other long-distance clubs have become the norm.

“These guys are getting better and better and they’re longer and longer, and the ball has made the big change,” Trevino said. “It’s not the equipment, it’s the ball. I tell amateurs, ‘You keep talking about this equipment. it hasn’t helped you a damn bit. Your handicap is still 18.7. Even though you got the big-headed clubs, the graphite shafts, the ball that goes four miles and all this stuff, your handicap is still high.’ “

USGA Not Changing For The Weather

More than 6 inches of rain has fallen on Merion Golf Club’s East Course since Friday, and more poor weather is predicted for the start of the U.S. Open here on Thursday.

But no matter how poor the weather gets, or how difficult the course conditions become, the United States Golf Association will stick to its long-time policy of not allowing preferred lies.

The Rules of Golf allow for such exceptions, and it is a policy put in place often on the PGA Tour. If weather conditions dictate, players are allowed to “lift, clean and place’’ their ball as long as it is in the fairway.

Not at the U.S. Open.

Sergio Garcia seems beaten down by his dustup with Tiger Woods—and the game

Where is the love? He used to love the game of golf. It was obvious. You saw it at Medinah in 1999 when he ran across the fairway and leaped to see how his shot turned out during the PGA Championship. You saw it in Ryder Cups when he bounced off teammates like the Energizer Bunny and was clearly having the time of his life.

That love, that joy, hasn’t been the same in recent years. There may be a variety of reasons for that. He definitely was not having fun Tuesday when he had to face golf’s version of the Spanish Inquisition—writers in a tabloid frenzy about his recent dustup with Tiger Woods. Even Tiger said he’s ready to move on, and certainly Sergio is, too, since he made the effort Monday to reach out to Woods on the range and shake his hand. But the media love a good catfight, especially in a sport typically devoid of interesting controversy and no, square grooves versus modified V-grooves does not count as interesting controversy.

The Five Best Playoffs In US Open History.

The U.S. Open is known as the toughest test in golf, and it’s even more difficult when more than 72 holes are required.
Willie Anderson won the first of 33 playoffs in U.S. Open history with an 85 to win by one shot over Alex Smith in 1901 at Myopia Hunt north of Boston. Tiger Woods won the most recent playoff, a 19-hole thriller over Rocco Mediate on a badly injured left leg.

Arnold Palmer was in three U.S. Open playoffs — and lost them all. The great Bobby Jones twice lost U.S. Open playoffs by a single shot.

Tiger Woods’ quest to best Jack Nicklaus is race against the clock.

Once upon a time, he was the rarest breed of Tiger, stalking his prey on one leg and still finding a way to make the kill.

That was five years ago, though, that remarkable playoff win over Rocco Mediate at the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. And now as Tiger Woods gets ready for another U.S. Open, this time at tradition-rich, rain-drenched Merion Golf Club in suburban Philadelphia, we can’t help but wonder if he’ll ever catch the prey he has long sought: Jack Nicklaus and his record of 18 major championship wins.