Open Reads Wednesday

Players say the rough is brutal and the course looks great. As Chip Alexander in the Raleigh paper points out though, that was also the case last year at Shinnecock early in the week.

Brian Hewitt offers some eye-opening stats about Pinehurst in 99, which combined with the early stories and the weather, raises a few questions:

“Pinehurst No. 2 played to 74.55 average in 1999. Shinnecock played to an average of 74.08 at the U.S. Open last year. Kind if surprising, no?

“Four under par won at Shinnecock last year, one under won at Pinehurst in 1999.

“In 1999 the field averaged about 46 percent in greens in regulation at the Pinehurst U.S. Open. The tour average is typically about 20 percent higher.

“You might also be interested to know that less than 40 percent of the green surfaces at Pinehurst No. 2 are deemed “pinnable” by USGA set-up people.”

Less than 40%, the rough has popped (and will be more difficult unless the USGA tops it off), the weather will be warmer (with the forecast calling for downright dangerous heat Wednesday to bake the greens out even more) and finally, Tom Meeks is involved in the course setup. Déjà vu all over again?

For you Fantasy buffs, I come clean about my addiction and offer some suggestions for this week in a Golfobserver.com column. Scott Michaux reviews Pinehurst #2 and has plenty of interesting quotes about the course, including some from the late Mike Strantz. Steve Elling looks at slow play and the incredibly early starting times at Pinehurst in anticipation of 5 1/2 hour rounds.

Tim Dahlberg comes to Rory Sabbatini's defense and shares a great Fulton Allem story about slow play. At USOpen.com, Kevin McManemin writes about the USGA's testing device, set up on the 2nd tee, while David Normoyle and Kimberly Erusha offer a primer on bermuda grass. David Shefter writes about amateurs in the field hoping to impress the Walker Cup Committee. Naturally, Pepperdine's Michael Putnam should be a lock, but as west coast man, he gets an automatic point deduction.

Ron Whitten in Golf World reminds us how difficult Pinehurst was last time and how close it was to going over the edge. And finally, Lorne Rubenstein writes about the village of Pinehurst. It’s enough to make those of us staying at home envious that we aren't there. Unless we read the weather forecast for Wednesday.