BuzzRoll
Let the U.S. Open complaints begin… Adam Scott preemptively attacks the USGA
Is there a better time of the year for golf fans than the U.S. Open? Official U.S. Open practice rounds at Erin Hills are still a week away, and Adam Scott has already begun pleading with the USGA to go easy on the course setup.
On Sunday after shooting a final-round 74 at The Memorial Tournament to finish T31, Scott had some not-so-friendly words for the USGA ahead of the 117th U.S. Open.
“If their major pinnacle event for them requires courses to be the way they are, it doesn’t set a good example for every other bit of golf that they try to promote,” Scott said. “Maybe we should get the numbers out of our heads and try a new strategy.”
As Golfweek calculated, aside from the 2011 U.S. Open that saw McIlroy torch Congressional for a 16-under total after four days, the previous 10 U.S. Opens have had an average winning score of 1-under par.
“They’ve taken criticism for the last two years, I’m sure they’re not liking it,” Scott continued. “They’re going to have to try to run a really good event. The ball is in their court; they control it all. Hopefully they get it right this time, just from a playability standpoint. Let’s just have something that’s a challenge and interesting, not just playing brutal (golf).”
After applying pressure to the USGA to run a “really good event” in 2017, Scott also questioned the company’s business decisions over the last 20 years… TWENTY years!
“I think they’ve really dropped the ball with where the game is at, over the last 20 years especially,” Scott said. “I know their intent is not to do that. I don’t question their intent at all. … I guess their primary role of administering and looking after the game, they’ve kind of dropped the ball in that sense and gotten worried about other things.”
As a golf fan, you have to love how far in the heads of players the USGA gets during (and this case, before) U.S. Open week; remember when Bubba Watson and others complained about a par-5 playing too long? It’s really the only time of the year where a golf tournament unapologetically toughens up the course to challenge the players, and personally, I love it. If I were the USGA, I’d cut and roll the greens one extra time for each player complaint.
No one wants a course to be truly unfair — which was nearly the case in 2015 at Chambers Bay when they all but lost the greens — but at the end of the day, each player is playing the same course. And it’s awesome entertainment to watch the greatest players in the world battle against par, breaking clubs and confidence in the process.
Yes, the USGA has made some questionable rulings (Dustin Johnson knows what I’m talking about), but year after year the U.S. Open is arguably the most exciting event on the schedule, and it’s the only time we see players struggle mightily because of course difficulty.
Practice rounds are still a week away, and I already have my popcorn out for the player press conferences where they whine and complain about a golf course being too difficult. Tough life for those guys, I know.
I just hope the USGA doesn’t heed Scott’s advice and ease it up.
Side notes: I’d LOVE to see these guys play my home track where golf balls end up in a divot on the fairway 50 percent of the time, and I play out of deer prints in the bunker. My non-sarcastic, super-humble advice to the pros? Tee the ball up, and then try to get it in the hole in the fewest number of strokes possible. Life can be difficult for many reasons, but playing a golf course that’s more challenging than you prefer is not one of them.
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At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a set of Cobra Forged One Length irons.
From the seller: (@adamwittman): “4-PW, GW, lw. Nunchuk shafts. $350 tyd conusa.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Cobra Forged One Length irons
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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In our forums, our members have been discussing Kevin Kisner’s new Callaway X Forged CB irons which he has in the bag at this week’s CJ Cup. WRXers have been commenting on the switch and the clubs themselves in our forums.
For lots more photos, check out the full thread here.
Here are a few posts from the thread, but make sure to check out the entire discussion and have your say at the link below.
- btyh: “Holy offset.”
- Glf_LU: “These are interesting. Not going to make a rush to judgement until I see them in person. It does look like a little more offset than I would expect to see in this model.”
- bcflyguy1: “Kisner is not one to make a lot of equipment changes (see the GBB driver he’s still using), so if these do have staying power in his bag that will be interesting to see. I have to wonder if there’s something different about his set, because like others have mentioned there appears to be more offset on his than I recall seeing in the samples I’ve had in hand.”
Entire Thread: “Kevin Kisner’s new Callaway X Forged CB irons”
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As part of a Srixon campaign, four PGA Tour players recently participated in a three-hole challenge, with each hole being a different game; hole No. 1 was blindfolded, hole No. 2 was costumes and distractions, and hole No. 3 was alternate shot with a baseball bat. The teams were Smylie Kaufman and Sam Ryder against Shane Lowry and Grayson Murray.
Watch the full video below, since it is quite entertaining (albeit not the type of golf that Old Tom Morris surely had in mind), but in particular, make sure to check out the first hole where Lowry and Ryder play a full hole completely blind folded. It’s amazing to watch how badly Ryder struggles, and how Lowry nearly makes par.
What happens when 4 #PGATOUR pros take a day off?
Luckily, the cameras were rolling.
Watch @shanelowrygolf, @graysonmurray, @smyliekaufman10, and @samrydersu in #SrixonVS. pic.twitter.com/C4LJwQgmZ7— Srixon (@SrixonGolf) June 25, 2018
Cleveland-Srixon’s marketing department has been hard at work crafting these viral-esque ad campaigns; if you remember, former long-drive champion Jamie Sadlowski recently dressed as 80-year-old Grandpa Jamie to fool range-goers. That video has since gathered over 1.2 million views on YouTube.
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Jacked_Loft
Jun 10, 2017 at 11:03 am
The US PGA tour supposedly attracts the best golfers playing on the some of the best tracks on the planet for the richest purses.
The US Open (as well as any national Open Championship) should be diabolically difficult. If you can’t take the heat don’t enter the kitchen.
cgasucks
Jun 9, 2017 at 4:11 pm
Tough, but fair. That’s I ask from the USGA.
Ryan
Jun 9, 2017 at 8:20 am
I have to hit out of divots, so you should have to hit out of ankle-deep rough where you can’t see your ball. I agree with Adam Scott. The save-par-at-all-costs mentality has crept into local, public golf courses, and it is hurting the game. I love playing the superintendents revenge-type events, because that’s what they are supposed to be. Now, you have every golf course trying to get their greens to 12′ and mowing the rough monthly. So, you’re everyday foursome spends 10 minutes on each hole finding their 4 drives in the rough, and 3-putting every green. If you love the US Open so much the way it is, maybe you should play in it.
Lonnie Newsome
Jun 8, 2017 at 2:12 pm
We can do without being told about what any politician is doing.
This website is supposed to be about golf, not fostering unwanted, unneeded politico worship about any politician.
Matt R
Jun 7, 2017 at 5:19 pm
He’s right, especially about the USGA being a terrible steward of the game.
Dave G
Jun 7, 2017 at 4:31 pm
USGA has to wake up they have to be the worst bunch of who knows trying to make a name for themselves . They are not going to embarrass any of the top pros it’s their job to play golf at any level. And yes I agree go play realize it’s a us open and it’s going to be tough and so it should be.
Double Ace
Jun 7, 2017 at 3:40 pm
Not a fan of the USGA for numerous reasons but Adam Scott should shut up and play golf. If he doesn’t like the set up of he course he is free to skip it. I am rather bored with players shooting 20 under, courses should be tough. Remember everyone plays the same course. No unfair advantage there.
Ike
Jun 7, 2017 at 3:19 pm
Another look-alike British links course. If I wanted to watch the British Open twice I would record and watch again. There are plenty of tough layouts which can test the players without becoming a 100 yard putting contest out of burnt out fairways and questionable bunkers. Try #2, the Black, Congressional, Pebble set up properly. At least you could tell whether a player is on the green or off. I plead on deaf ears as the elitist toadies running the USGA have little smirks thinking theirs doesn’t. I have a wake up for them – yes it does!
V
Jun 7, 2017 at 10:42 am
Do you really like watching pros 4 or 5 putt greens (wasn’t it Shinnecock Hills where they had to water the greens mid-round?). Isn’t it boring when the only way a player wins is because he is the most defensive? Nothing against Andy North, but he won 2 US Opens and nothing else. Does that tell you something? If you want to watch a pro suffer watch the US Open where the USGA artificially toughens things up unlike the Open where the weather does it.
Lenny
Jun 6, 2017 at 7:27 pm
Just so. Let the primadonnas sweat.
Double Ace
Jun 7, 2017 at 3:43 pm
Agree Lenny, these guys make a fortune playing a game that most of the world has to pay to play, and they whine and cry about everything. I do believe the USGA had made tons of bad decisions, but setting up a course to make it tough isn’t one of them.
Paul Dunn
Jun 6, 2017 at 3:12 pm
A winning score of one under is just about perfect in my book. Imagine that, you’re the only player that breaks par over four days! That would be a special victory and a great story, surely?
bogey mitch
Jun 6, 2017 at 8:50 am
for a guy that has more money than you know what to do with and a great game , why complain?it is the US Open!! Not supposed to be easy!
Mark
Jun 5, 2017 at 8:54 pm
The last 2 US Opens have been as good as any golf tournament you can hope to watch. Scott is a sook.
Matt
Jun 5, 2017 at 8:13 pm
Good. He’s not wrong. The USGA needs changes and the only way they’ll ever wake up is to hear about it.