2018 U.S. Open--Shinnecock

Saints Rest

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I'm not out there today, but the best I can tell you is to take those morning times and use them as a baseline for how much time to give yourself. In my opinion, tomorrow will be the worst traffic day due to the combined US Open/regular Hamptons Friday traffic.
We are coming Sunday only. Tricky part is that we are coming from Pt. Jeff so the only way to train it is to drive across island to Patchogue in the hopes of being able to ding a spot to park and room on the train.
 

bostonbeerbelly

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That was 4 shots in a row that tiger hit, that I have in my bag. Over club and fly the green, come up short with a flop shot, come up short with a putter, and then blow a putt past the hole 8 feet in anger. Probably will leave it on the low side as well and I can do that too!
 
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bostonbeerbelly

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Morning wave has completely finished and scores look like the following. (78 out in this wave)
-1 2 players
E 0 players
+1 4 players
+2 3 players
+3 10 players
+4 7 players
+5 8 players
+6 or worse 44 players
 
For what it's worth, here's a list of leading scores at the US Open after 18 holes and after 72 holes going back to the last time we were at Shinnecock:

2017, Erin Hills:
Fowler (-7 after 18), Koepka (-16)
2016, Oakmont: Landry (-3 after 18), DJ (-4)
2015, Chambers Bay: DJ/Stenson (-5 after 18), Spieth (-5)
2014, Pinehurst: Kaymer (-5 after 18), Kaymer (-9)
2013, Merion: Mickelson (-3 after 18), Rose (+1)
2012, Olympic: Thompson (-4 after 18), Simpson (+1)
2011, Congressional: McIlroy (-6 after 18), McIlroy (-16)
2010, Pebble Beach: Casey/De Jonge/Micheel (-2 after 18), McDowell (E)
2009, Bethpage: Weir (-6 after 18), Glover (-4)
2008, Torrey Pines: Hicks/Streelman (-3 after 18), Woods/Mediate (-1)
2007, Oakmont: Dougherty (-2 after 18), Cabrera (+5)
2006, Winged Foot: Montgomerie (-1 after 18), Ogilvy (+5)
2005, Pinehurst: Browne/Mediate (-3 after 18), Campbell (E)
2004, Shinnecock: Cabrera/Haas/Maruyama (-4 after 18), Goosen (-4)

I suspect we might be looking at one of those events where the leader after today is -1 or -2 and then the winning score is +5. (And I love it.)
 

BigMike

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Looking at the stats at least, the Driver seems like it has been the best club in Tiger's bag so far today.
 

Light-Tower-Power

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Tiger is....not good. So disappointing but I'm not surprised. This course is destroying everyone who doesn't have every part of their game going.
 

dcmissle

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Tiger is....not good. So disappointing but I'm not surprised. This course is destroying everyone who doesn't have every part of their game going.
Everyone should be stunned based on the breathless promo during his warmup today, and some of the lead up to this tournament. Had to break away, scrolled down the leaderboard but did not have the patience to scroll 109 spots.

Don’t root for him, don’t root against him, but can this stop please, at least for this particular tournament? He’s overmatched.
 
This course is so good. It's basically a perfect golf course.
It really is. I think the real charm of it lies in the rolling nature of the property - there isn't really a signature hole as such, but it has so many memorable ones in large part because of how it uses the changes in elevation, particularly starting with the approach at #9. #10 and #11 are such unique holes, #14 is wonderfully twisty, the drive at #15 is memorable, and the more gentle rise to #18 green is fantastic. (If you've never been there before, as usual television flattens everything and minimizes the scope and scale of the terrain.) And I haven't even begun to praise the mostly flatter holes!
 

cshea

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Everyone should be stunned based on the breathless promo during his warmup today, and some of the lead up to this tournament. Had to break away, scrolled down the leaderboard but did not have the patience to scroll 109 spots.

Don’t root for him, don’t root against him, but can this stop please, at least for this particular tournament? He’s overmatched.
A lot of people were overmatched. Spieth shot 78. Phil 77. Rory an 80. Jason Day 79. Tiger wasn’t without company among the big name players. He’a still the biggest draw by far in the sport (who has also played well this year) so they will hype the hell out of him and will continue to do so. Tomorrow they’ll do the same for Mickelson when he is in that same afternoon time slot even though he shot 77 today.
 

dcmissle

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A lot of people were overmatched. Spieth shot 78. Phil 77. Rory an 80. Jason Day 79. Tiger wasn’t without company among the big name players. He’a still the biggest draw by far in the sport (who has also played well this year) so they will hype the hell out of him and will continue to do so. Tomorrow they’ll do the same for Mickelson when he is in that same afternoon time slot even though he shot 77 today.
ESPN had a feature about Phil’s sad day. He finished some 13 places and a stroke ahead of Tiger — who trials 4 golfers, including Poulter and Johnson by 9 strokes, after 1 day.

But yeah, let’s hype the hell out of his prospects.
 

Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat

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A lot of people were overmatched. Spieth shot 78. Phil 77. Rory an 80. Jason Day 79. Tiger wasn’t without company among the big name players. He’a still the biggest draw by far in the sport (who has also played well this year) so they will hype the hell out of him and will continue to do so. Tomorrow they’ll do the same for Mickelson when he is in that same afternoon time slot even though he shot 77 today.
Of course. Casual fans aren't going to drop everything to make sure not to miss one of Russell Henley's or even Matthieu Pavon's shots, especially on Thursday and Friday. You promote the players people want to see.
 

Papelbon's Poutine

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Everyone should be stunned based on the breathless promo during his warmup today, and some of the lead up to this tournament. Had to break away, scrolled down the leaderboard but did not have the patience to scroll 109 spots.

Don’t root for him, don’t root against him, but can this stop please, at least for this particular tournament? He’s overmatched.
Ummm...no?

He’s not any more overmatched than anyone else out there - the course is a beast on a good day, let alone with the wind they saw today. (I wouldn’t be shocked if we see hoses watering overnight or over the weekend; this set up was an obvious overcompensation for last year and the winds are drying it out too much). As someone else noted, plenty of other guys are right in the same neighborhood he’s living in right now - Speith, Rahm, Day, McIlroy; all tied or worse with Tiger. Those are 4/10 on the rankings right now. I’d wager none of them think they’re out of it. And a weather shift and the swap of tee times can level things pretty quick on a course like this. Looking at the leaderboard, other than DJ, Rose and Stenson, I’m not seeing anyone I expect to stay near their day one number until you get to the +3 group and you see Fowler. So while he’s 9 back, he’s really not, because the field will come back to him. If he can put up a round in the 60s tomorrow, he’s absolutely back in contention.

To the overall sentiment, again as someone else noted, of course they’re going to follow Tiger breathlessly - just like the majority of people in attendance are doing and just like all the sponsors and advertising dollars and PGA/USGA officials are - Every. Single. Tournament...is better when Tiger is in it; it’s tenfold when he makes the cut; and it’s orders of magnitude better when he’s in the mix Sunday, whether it’s a legit chance or just enough to keep cameras on him. Multiply that by what you’d like when it is a Major.

Tiger is only overmatched at playing twenty plus events every year. Throw him at the majors and ten more so his body holds up, he will win another again. He is showing he is healthy for the first time in years and he will put it together on the right weekend when he gets enough reps. The mere fact he is healthy is worthy of the attention he’s getting.
 

Petey

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"he will win another again" - PGA Tour victory, sure, good chance of that. But a Major? He is north of 42, the odds are dismal and get worse with each passing day.
 
He’s not any more overmatched than anyone else out there - the course is a beast on a good day, let alone with the wind they saw today. (I wouldn’t be shocked if we see hoses watering overnight or over the weekend; this set up was an obvious overcompensation for last year and the winds are drying it out too much). As someone else noted, plenty of other guys are right in the same neighborhood he’s living in right now - Speith, Rahm, Day, McIlroy; all tied or worse with Tiger. Those are 4/10 on the rankings right now. I’d wager none of them think they’re out of it. And a weather shift and the swap of tee times can level things pretty quick on a course like this. Looking at the leaderboard, other than DJ, Rose and Stenson, I’m not seeing anyone I expect to stay near their day one number until you get to the +3 group and you see Fowler. So while he’s 9 back, he’s really not, because the field will come back to him. If he can put up a round in the 60s tomorrow, he’s absolutely back in contention.
I disagree about the course setup - I think it's been pretty much spot on. The fairways are generally quite wide and very hittable, and nothing about any of the green complexes seems unfair to me. (#7 probably seemed slightly unfair because the flag was at the front; put it back left, and you'll see many more birdies.) When the wind blows 15-25 mph all day on a course like this, it's supposed to be very difficult; if the wind slackens a bit, as I think is supposed to happen in the forecast, it will become more playable, and scores will become more gettable. If anything, I expect the greens to be trimmed a bit closer and become rather faster if the wind looks likely to die down somewhat.
 

CodPiece XL

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You're probably right...but the same could have been said about Nicklaus before 1986.
If Watson had won the playoff at Turnberry he would have been 59, Nicklaus was 46 right? If Watson had won, and I know he had me captivated for all 4 days, do you think that would have been a greater achievement given his age? I'm just curious as to what people think.

You can put me down as someone who is sick to death of all the Tiger hype, the guy has had so many comebacks over the last 10 years it's not funny. I get the the hype, Papelbon hit the nail on the head with his post. I know so many people from the golf industry, be it course designers, club manufacturers , GPS units ..sponsors. Every single one says that if Tiger is in contention they make more money and it's "good" for golf in general, more eyes on TV. I guess I'm tired of it, I've heard about it for so long...this will be Tiger's year etc. Maybe it's blind hope and they feel he can recapture his glory days, some of it will be curiosity , some will treat it as a religious experience to follow him around the course. It's now June, I can see why there is new hope, a much more fluid arc to his swing, he seems more mobile he hasn't broken down yet.. I kind of get it...but at the same time, I won't be scrolling down the leaderboard looking for his name.
 

TheYaz67

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They were just discussing that on the broadcast, and the estimates for the cut line ranged from +8 to +12 - if it gets windy again this afternoon, will definitely be higher than +8 I think....

DJ looking very steady/ice water in his veins....
 

TheYaz67

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Tiger can just not get anything 8 to 20 feet to go down....

Meanwhile, even when DJ misses from 15-25 feet, every time his pace and line are very close to correct - he is locked in.