A memo was sent to players shortly after the second round of the US Open at Shinnecock Hills on Friday.
The message from the USGA indicated:
“For Saturday and Sunday, the golf course is being set up for progressively firmer conditions, targeting a green speed of 11.0 on the USGA Stimpmeter.”
You could interpret that as: “Alright, the first two days were fun, but now it’s time for a challenge.”
Dylan Wu was the first of 72 players to tee off at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Upon reaching the first green of the usually easy par-4 opening hole, he took five putts and trudged to the second tee with an 8 after a disappointing bogey on the fourth.
This scenario was reminiscent of the 1986 Masters when Seve Ballesteros experienced a four-putt on the par-3 16th and humorously recounted how it happened.
“I missed the putt. I missed the putt. I missed the putt. I made it,” Ballesteros quipped.
The irony of Wu’s five-putt on the first hole was notable, especially since he had just finished the second round on Friday leading the pack with a 4-over-par score, managing to save par by sinking a 7-footer on the 18th.
“I was really pleased to make the cut. I made it up and down on the last hole,” Wu stated, despite shooting an 82.
Five putts? Really?
“I knew the greens were getting faster and thought my first putt was decent, but it just wouldn’t cooperate,” Wu shared, clearly frustrated.
That said, he didn’t complain about the setup, rather he acknowledged the unique approach by the USGA, particularly for Shinnecock during the U.S. Open.
The USGA has had its share of controversies at Shinnecock, like during the 2004 seventh hole issues and Phil Mickelson’s struggles in 2018.
However, if we’re going to critique the USGA over past mistakes — and it’s fair to do so — then it’s only right to commend them for their careful course setting this week.
During the first two days, which had very windy conditions, they placed pins in accessible spots and moved some tee boxes forward. For those initial rounds, the greens were kept at a speed between 10.0 and 10.5 on the stimpmeter to ensure they were responsive.
The USGA has been quite transparent about the course setup throughout the week, right down to the memo sent to players on Friday night.
“I don’t think it got out of control,” Wu said.
“I thought the setup was good,” Rory McIlroy commented after his second round. “The main narrative for the first two days didn’t revolve around setup; it was about the golf course itself.”
Tommy Fleetwood, who was the runner-up to Brooks Koepka in 2018, remarked how impressed he was with the softness of the greens on Monday.
“They were quite soft and slow, but they had managed it perfectly,” he noted.
However, the setup didn’t quite fit Irishman Shane Lowry, who struggled on Friday.
“I’m not having fun,” Lowry expressed, adding that the course was particularly challenging and stressful.
Wu didn’t need to be told that.
After completing Saturday’s round, I asked Wu how he was holding up. He simply replied, “I’m glad that’s done. I’m looking forward to spending Father’s Day with my dad,” adding that he’d walk the course again the next day. “Whoever wins this week deserves the title of true U.S. Open champion.”
