More on Pinehurst Setup

John Dell in the Winston Salem paper has more on Pinehurst and the forthcoming Open setup. He reprints a few more comments from USGA Ex. Director David Fay from last week’s media day.

Dell reports that Fay says the goal is to make a course play "to that mythical edge, but we sometimes fall over that edge."

Dell also writes, but unfortunately does not quote Fay, “They'll [SP.] be three inches of Bermuda rough, just like in '99, but the fairways will be taken in about five more yards. Fay said that this is being done to combat technology. Yes, equipment and golf balls have improved a great deal in six years.”

This would seem to contradict USGA President Fred Ridley’s recent insistence that the players are just working out so, so much. And it’s been said here before but really must be repeated: Pinehurst was setup up with 25-30 yard wide fairways in 1999. Taking four to five yards off of that brings it to the 20-25 range.