ERIN HILLS could cause havoc for the world’s top golfers at this week’s US Open.
That stark warning came from former USA Ryder Cup captain and Major champion Paul Azinger.
‘Zinger’ identified two ‘killer’ stretches of holes at the windswept Wisconsin layout — a 650-acre piece of property that was a former cattle ranch.
Keep up with the all news, scores and gossip from the US Open with our golf page
And he fears if the wind picks up during the Championship which starts today, the knee-deep rough will prove almost unplayable.
Azinger, 57, played the course to prepare for his role as a Fox Sports analyst and also walked it several times — and the 1993 USPGA champion does not envy Dustin Johnson, Rory McIlroy and the rest of the US Open contenders.
He said: “I love the natural look of the course — but, oh, Erin Hills, she can be nasty.
“If the wind doesn’t blow, the scores will be reasonably good. But the odds of the wind not blowing are very low.
“And it could become torturous when it’s blowing above 20mph. The killer stretches are holes six-12, where every one veers off in different directions, and last five holes.
Facey's five to follow
KEVIN CHAPPELL
Followed up his tied-seventh finish at The Masters by winning his maiden PGA Tour title at the Texas Open. Great temperament for the Majors and showed he is in good form with a share of fourth in Memphis last week.
JASON DAY
The world No 3 is still looking for his first win of the year. But four top-ten finishes in the last five US Opens suggests this is where he could get his mojo back. Putting a two iron in the bag is a sound move.
RICKIE FOWLER
Liked his chances more before he missed the cut last week but his thoughts were probably straying to Erin Hills. A win plus two top-three finishes this year and enough Major near-misses to know what the pressure feels like.
JORDAN NIEBRUGGE
Has struggled to reproduce brilliance he showed as an amateur in the 2015 Open when matching Sergio Garcia shot for shot, finishing T6. But the Wisconsin native, 23, qualified well and knows Erin Hills better than most.
JUSTIN ROSE
It is all about the Majors these days for the Brit and his epic final-round battle with Garcia at The Masters will spur him on. Likes this course — he says Merion, where he won the 2013 US Open, was a ‘baby Erin Hills’.
“They include the driveable par-four 15th and the 600-yard plus closing hole.
“You could see a train wreck on 18 — and it’s a par five!”
Azinger reckons the 18th will play even tougher if they push the tee forward from its usual 637 yards.
That could tempt players to go for the green in two.
But they would have to aim for a section of the fairway that narrows to 25 yards — about half of the hitting zone at its widest point.
And that would then bring the thick rough into play.
Despite those warnings, 2011 US Open winner McIlroy and 2015 champion Jordan Spieth have been fiercely critical of the decision to mow down some of the most dense rough, after complaints it was too penal from other players.
most read
McIlroy and Spieth were backed by double US Open champion Ernie Els, who said anyone who missed fairways that are up to 60 yards in places deserved to be punished.
South African Els, 47, said: “The course is pretty exposed but these fairways are miles wide most of the way round.
“I don’t like it when the guys complain about the course set-up — it makes it sound like they don’t have the stomach for a scrap.”
The layout also got the thumbs-up from Welshman Bradley Dredge, who is buzzing at the prospect of finally making his US Open debut at the age of 44.
Willet be key to win for Dustin
DUSTIN JOHNSON is following Danny Willett’s path to Major glory as he tries to become the first player to defend the US Open for 28 years.
World No 1 Johnson arrived at Erin Hills late on Tuesday after wife Paulina gave birth to their second child on Monday.
His rushed preparations revived memories of Willett’s last-minute arrival at Augusta last year after becoming a dad — and he won the Green Jacket.
DJ is still the bookies’ hot favourite to become the first man since Curtis Strange in 1988 and 89 to win back-to-back US Opens.
The Yank, 32, said: “I have been through every tough situation you could imagine coming up on a golf course, so I have done it all.
“I’m pretty good at handling situations.”
Dredge, a double European Tour winner, said: “Yes, it’s tough — there are no trees to shelter you from the wind, and if you get hit by a crosswind it’s going to cause havoc.
“But it’s the US Open — you don’t expect it to be easy.
“I shot 62 in the qualifying tournament to get here and I don’t for a minute think I’m going to shoot score like that around here. It’s just a really stern test of golf, which is what they always serve up at this event. I cannot wait to take on the challenge.”
Not everyone shared Dredge’s enthusiasm but US Golf Association chiefs denied they were pandering to whingeing players.
The USGA desperately need a trouble-free tournament following last year’s rules rumpus involving winner Dustin Johnson at Oakmont, and the farcical greens at Chambers Bay 12 months earlier.
But boss Mike Davis insisted: “We always welcome feedback from the players. But I can assure you their comments on the rough had absolutely zero effect on our decision to cut it back in certain areas.
“That is just part of the ongoing process dictated by the heavy rainfall and unusual growth we’ve seen in the fescue grass.
“We recognise that some players will like the set-up while others won’t. But that is always the case at events of this nature.
“This is a new course and it is unfamiliar to most of the players in the field.
“But I am certain we will witness another wonderful and dramatic tournament here this week.”
Leave a comment