2013 U.S. Open Third Round Open Comment Thread
/It's going to be a doozy!
(Click to enlarge Saturday's 3rd round hole locations)Dry winds are baking the course out this morning, the players will be going off of split tees starting at 12:15 and the world's best will have to once again negotiate a brilliant Merion design that has driven them batty so far.
But according to the USGA's Mike Davis, who appeared on Golf Channel Friday night, the Saturday setup will be kinder and maybe gentler.
We'll be having a 1 pm live chat/roundtable/Twitter question session at GolfDigest.com between Jaime Diaz, Dan Jenkins, Guy Yocom and yours truly. Come pose your best questions!
NBC sign on is currently scheduled for coverage to begin at noon ET.
Course setup notes and hole locations to follow...
**Saturday's USGA course setup notes:
Hole-by-Hole Information:
Hole 1 – 342 yards; the hole location is a third of the way back, hugging the right bunker.
Hole 2 – 556 yards; the hole location is in the center-right portion of the green.
Hole 3 – 245 yards; tee markers are placed on the forward portion of the back tee; the hole location is placed on the relatively difficult upper-left shelf.
Hole 4 – 604 yards; tee markers have been moved to the forward teeing ground, which will allow players to drive closer to the fairway cross bunker and possibly attempt to hit the green in two shots; the hole location is three-quarters of the way back on the left; most putts will be uphill.
Hole 5 – 510 yards; the hole location is in the center-back portion of the green.
Hole 6 – 477 yards; the hole location is in the front-left portion of the green, several paces over the false front.
Hole 7 – 363 yards; the hole location is placed in the center-right portion of the green, hugging the right bunker.
Hole 8 – 351 yards; the hole location is in the front-right portion of the green, just over the deep bunker that fronts the green; with relatively soft greens, players should be able to impart enough spin to make this a reasonable birdie opportunity.
Hole 9 – 231 yards; the hole location is in the center-left plateau.
Hole 10 – 280 yards; tee markers have been moved forward to the penultimate teeing ground, giving an opportunity to drive the green; the hole location is in the front-left portion of the green just past the front bunker and the false front; putts played from the middle of the green are very fast.
Hole 11 – 370 yards; the hole location is placed in the back-left corner of this kidney-shaped green.
Hole 12 – 403 yards; the hole location is placed in the center-right portion, just above the front-right bunker; there is a subtle false front between the hole location and the bunker; putts from the center of the green are very fast.
Hole 13 – 98 yards; tee markers are placed on the front left side of the upper teeing ground; the hole location is in the front-left portion of this “bowl” green.
Hole 14 – 476 yards; tee markers have been moved to the back teeing ground; the hole location is placed in the back-center portion just left of the “trough” which runs through the center of the green.
Hole 15 – 397 yards; tee markers have been moved slightly forward, giving a few more options off the tee; the hole location is placed on the front-left plateau of the green; putts played from the center of the green must be played very high to negotiate the severe right-to-left break.
Hole 16 – 446 yards; the hole location is placed in the back-right portion of the green; the flagstick/wicker is semi-blind to blind from the right side of the fairway due to the ridge at the front of the quarry.
Hole 17 – 254 yards; the tee markers are placed on the back teeing ground; the hole location is in the center of the green just right of a center ridge/undulation that runs front to back.
Hole 18 – 530 yards; given the good weather prediction, the tee markers are placed on the back teeing ground; the relatively light westerly winds will be out of the right on this tee shot; the hole location is in the back-center portion of the green; putts tend to “feed” to this hole location.
