The US Open – Is it Worth the Wait?

April 17, 2014May 19, 2014 / The Grateful Golfer / 5 Comments

The 114th United States Open Championship is scheduled for June 12–15 at the No. 2 Course of the Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, North Carolina. This is one of eight courses on the resort and is famous for hosting the US Open two other times since 1999. This majestic course is a Par 72, 7495 yard creation of Donald Ross that has been host to six other major championships through the years. This course has a rating/slope of 76.4/141 – all I can say is ouch!

The US Open Golf Championship is, in my opinion, the third most coveted tournament in the golfing world. Personally, I prefer The Masters, then British Open, but that discussion is for another day. However, The US Open is by far the most difficult of all the Majors. The course is extremely long and the setup is unfair at best. When comparing toughness of courses the comment I hear the most “Well at least it is not US Open rough!” Winning scores have ranged from -16 to +5; all due to course setup and weather conditions. The drier the course the more challenging.

Choosing a course is no easy feat, but the USGA does have certain criteria they use during the selection process. “The following list of 14 factors impact overall U.S. Open course set up. The mix of these factors varies from course to course, year to year. Evaluation of course set up should not focus on any single element but consider the composite result.

Length, variation and playing characteristics of individual holes;
Length of overall golf course relative to total par;
Teeing ground locations (i.e., angles of play, variation of distance day to day);
Fairway width and contours;
Fairway firmness and speed;
Green speed relative to percentage slopes and contours of the putting greens;
Putting green firmness;
Rough height, density and stages of severity;
Bunker preparation (i.e., create challenge of recovery);
Green surrounds (e.g. closely mown areas -vs.- primary rough);
Hole locations (relative difficulty, balance in location of left-vs.-right, front-vs.-back, anticipated wind, anticipated length of approach shot);
Risk and reward options;
Anticipated weather conditions; and
Pace of play.

There is no USGA target score for a U.S. Open. While the final score at some U.S. Open sites will be at or near par, the USGA does not try to formulate a course set up that will only produce a winning score of at or near even par.”

So the course is extremely tough, the best players in the world will be ready to play, and the media hype is starting to going crazy! The second Major of the year is more often than not a war of attrition verses skill! In one round, a player can be out of the tournament. Does this really seem fair? With Tiger Woods likely not able to play with the tournament hold the same meaning?

Through all of this, my question remains – Is the US Open Worth the Wait?

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links…..soon!

The Open Champion – Phil Mickelson

July 22, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 9 Comments

Phil-Mickelson-surges-to-first-British-Open-title-with-5-under-66

USA’s Phil Mickelson holds the Claret Jug after winning the Open Championship at Muirfield on the fourth day of the 2013 Open Championship in Muirfield, Scotland on July 21 , 2013.Mickelson won with a score of three under par. UPI/Hugo Philpott

Congratulations to Phil Mickelson for winning the 2013 Open Championship. It is the first time he has won this prestigious tournament and he did it with style. Mickelson is one of the top players in the world and was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame….and rightly so!

It is no secret that Phil Mickelson is my favorite golfers. He embodies all the positive aspects of golf and yet is not afraid to speak his mind on issues of importance. His performance at The Open was solid and consistent. He really did not do anything spectacular until the last six holes of the final day. And what an awesome last sic holes! He hung around and hung around; pressing where required and playing safe when needed. There is a lesson in his win for all golfers.

Breaking 100

Practice your short game. Mickelson practices 25 yards and closer all the time. That is where real strokes are saved. He is considered one of the best wedge players of all time; so to break 100 work on your short game!

Breaking 90

After practicing your short game, practice your putting! Mickelson is a great putter. He is no Steve Stricker, but Mickelson seems to sink the important putts when required; much like his putt on the final hole at Muirfield….simple spectacular!

Breaking 80

After conquering your wedges and putting, the next step is the range from 150 to 75 yards. This distance will determine your greens in regulation stat. I believe this is the most important stat in golf. If a player can be putting for birdie eight times out of ten….their scores drop considerably.

Phil Mickelson played great during the Open this year. His steady approach shots, chipping and putting clearly demonstrated where most players should focus their practice time to lower their score.

Phil Mickelson’s quote “A great shot is one that you pull off and a smart shot is the one you hit when you don’t have the guts try it!” I love this quote!

However, as amateurs to break 100 or 90 or 80, it is better to play more smart shots than great shots!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Surviving The Open at Muirfield

July 20, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Surviving the Open at Muirfield

Lee Westwood could be the first Englishmen to win The Open since Sir Nick Faldo in 1992. Westwood has played extremely well through the first three rounds and has demonstrated that persistence and patience does pay off. Westwood’s greatest attribute to date has been his putting. His skill on the green resulted in being the only player to shoot sub-par rounds in the last two days!

As we watch 90 yard roll outs on the fairways, players hitting medium irons 270+ yards, bunkers that guard the course like soldiers on sentry, and greens that are faster than your kitchen floor, Muirfield Golf Course is a relentlenss beast that challenges the world’s best golfers!

Players said that the dry conditions and constant 15 mph wind almost makes the course unplayable. It is on the cusp of being unfair, but as the players continue to challenge the beast they are finding new and creative ways to keep their score low. Whether they are putting while standing 4 feet in a bunker or shooting eagles from the fairway, it is not difficult to understand why only so few players are breaking par each day.

The last round of the Open should prove to be as exciting as the first three. Regardless of what the odds makers have said, the winner is too difficult to call. However, watching the first three rounds, anyone at +3 or less has a chance to raise the Claret Jug!. Here is why:

Players at +3 are going out earlier than the leaders. All three days, Muirfield has player easier early in the morning than later in the day. If players like Sergio Garcia or Brandt Snedeker can post a 68 or 67 early, the leaders may have some difficulty keeping their scores low enough to win.

The wind picks up through the day. Each day the wind blew less during the morning rounds than the afternoon rounds. The few extra mph of wind, added to the dry conditions may just be enough to cause a major shift in the leaderboard.

Lastly, the famous unknown of the Open. Muirfield has demonstrated that the bounces off the uncountable knolls and bumps are unpredictable! None of the players really know how far the ball will release or how the undulating fairways will affect their ball. How many times have the pros raised their hands in a “you’ve got to be kidding me!” stance because the ball did something completely unpredictable!

The final round of the Open is going to as exciting as the first three! Given the current leaderboard, the Grateful Golfer predicts the following:

Lee Westwood
Ryan Moore
Phil Mickelson
Tiger Woods
Hunter Mahan

Prudence would suggest not betting on my prediction. However, we can all agree that it is high time an Englishman won The Open and brought the glory home!

I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!

Is G-Mac Ready for the Claret Jug?

July 15, 2013 / The Grateful Golfer / 4 Comments

Is Graeme McDowell ready for the 142nd Open Championship at Muirfield, East Lothian, Scotland? Born in the quiet town of Portrush, Northern Ireland, on 30 July 1979, he currently splits residence between his home town and Orlando, Florida. His self-professed career highlights are winning the 2010 US Open and being a three-time winner with Europe in the Ryder Cup. When not playing golf he loves hanging out with friends and family. He is top-tear player currently ranked sixth in the world. However, since turning pro in 2002, G-Mac has ridden the roller coaster of ups and downs like most professional golfers. This year is no different.

Winning three times this year between the European Tour and the PGA Tour, G-Mac appears to be ready for another Major. After winning the 2010 US Open Championship, G-Mac’s performance has been spotty. In 2011, he missed the cut in three of the four Majors. In 2012, he was in contention in all the Majors. His game was strong and his low hitting style seemed perfect for the pressures of playing in golf’s big four tournaments. However, in 2013, G-Mac has missed the cut at all the Majors. His hot and cold play has many analysts wondering if he is ready for the spot light again.

As his recent streaky play continues, results outside the Majors have not demonstrated that G-Mac has regained his former champions form. Winning the 45th RBC Heritage tournament at the Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island in April; G-Mac demonstrated he was ready to “Get His Plaid On!”

Winning the Volvo World Match Play Championship in Bulgaria in May, G-Mac fought through the final round to clinch this prestigious European Tour event. His strong ball striking and rock-solid putting propelled him to his second win of the year.

Recently winning the ALSTOM OPEN DE FRANCE in early July by four strokes might indicate that G-Mac is in fine form and read for the Open next weekend. However, he was not in championship form prior to his recent win because he missed the cut in five of his last six stroke-play events.

“It’s been a funny year because my game hasn’t felt far away most weeks,” added McDowell. “But I’ve missed a lot of cuts and missing cuts hurts. That has certainly motivated me a lot these last few weeks.” (BBC Sport Golf)

Is G-Mac ready to raise the Claret Jug for the first time? At Golf.com, many leading experts have mixed feelings about G-Mac’s chances of winning the Open. Their trepidation centers on his lack of consistency this year and his poor performance at the Majors. However, some of the experts think a European is going to win this year and Graeme McDowell’s changes are as good as any. The real question is who is going to show up….professional G-Mac or amateur G-Mac!

Picking the Open Champion is difficult. Although never betting on a sporting event, nor supporting the idea, the number of factors that must be considered to select a winner are infinite. However, at betting-directory.com, 6 of 7 groups place Graeme McDowell odds of winning the Open at 25 to 1. Compared to other names on the list like Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Paul Casey, and Phil Mickelson, Graeme McDowell would appear to be a dark horse selection.

Graeme McDowell is a player who is well prepared, has the experience, and covets the Claret Jug. His up and down play lately is a cause for concern, however if he shows up on a hot streak, he will be hard to beat. G-Mac is a former champion and has the skills to win the Open. The only questions need answering: Is G-Mac Ready for the Claret Jug?

I am grateful golfer! See you on the links!