narrominded
Jake Narro, PGA professional, head golf coach at Southeastern Louisiana University and
Backspin publisher
u.s. open surprises and usga decisions
4
If you read my
last Narrominded
I wrote about how
much I look forward
to sitting in “Daddy’s
chair” on Father’s
Day,
watching
every minute of
the U.S. Open and
getting pampered
by my family. Well,
sometimes things
just don’t work out.
I ended up spending
the day at my two-
year-old nephew’s
birthday party, and
I did not see one live stroke of the event.
While the rest of my column will not be about
eating ice cream and opening presents, I did
want my wife to read this as she edits our July
edition. You can count me as a one-and-done
on that kid’s future birthdays going forward.
Now let’s chat about the U.S. Open.
First and most important to talk about is
the champion Brooks Koepka. I predicted
in the beginning of the year that the winner
would not be a bomb and gouge type player
but more of a control player. Brooks and
fellow bash brother Dustin Johnson both had
great weeks as Dustin could’ve won the event
if not for a balky weekend putter.
Second place finisher Tommy Fleetwood
is more of the style player I thought would
win, but I was impressed by the way the
modern day athletic Koepka and Johnson
performed. I must admit when Koepka won
his first national championship last year at
Erin Hills, it did not feel like he won a U.S.
Open. The wide fairways and low scores
played right into the modern day style these
incredible athletes play. However, winning on
the premier U.S. Open classic style course,
Shinnecock Hills, with a four-day total of
one-over par proved he has the entire game
to win anywhere at anytime. The grit he
showed coming down the stretch making par
save after par save is what the USGA flagship
event is all about.
Koepka will be viewed in a different light as
a player going forward for his championship
performance as he became the first player
to defend the title since Curtis Strange 30
years ago. Unfortunately Koepka’s play was
overshadowed by controversies that will
linger for a long time to come.
Let me start the bashing by reminding
you of the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock
won by Retief Goosen. The USGA had
pushed the course to the limit all week and
by Sunday, they had completely lost control.
The seventh green was unplayable as balls
being putted by the best players in the world
were rolling off the green. The staff had
to water the green in between groups just
to keep play moving along as it was nearly
impossible to finish the hole. Players aiming
at the front bunker were having more success
than the ones who were hitting the middle of
the green which lead to extreme frustration
from the field. The USGA vowed not to let
this happen again as lessons learned in the
past would ensure a great championship.
Then Saturday happened.
The first two days went off without a hitch
as the course setup was doing exactly what
the USGA wanted, testing every part of the
game of the best players in the world. To back
this up, it just so happened the best player
in the world was leading – Dustin Johnson.
On Saturday, the wind changed to the north,
drying out the greens ... and all hell broke
loose. I remember sitting down to watch and
Zach Johnson was being interviewed after
his round. He was asked if the course had
reached its limit of playability, and he replied
that it had not only reached it but gone over
the edge. He tried to be as diplomatic as
possible but basically was saying the USGA
had messed up again.
Then Phil Mickelson lost his cool. He hit
a putt on the 12th green and as it was rolling