Week 2 Dawns, and Pinehurst No. 2 is Primed
Defending U.S. Women's Open champion Inbee Park was pleased with the conditions of Pinehurst No. 2 during her first practice round after the U.S. Open. (USGA/Michael Cohen)
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By Hunki Yun, USGA
VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, N.C. – Less than 12 hours after the denouement of the U.S. Open, defending champion Inbee Park, 2011 winner So Yeon Ryu, Belen Mozo and Mariajo Uribe teed off at 6:45 a.m. for the first practice round of the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open.
Amid the heavy stillness formed by the humidity that had rolled in overnight, Park prepared for her defense by assessing the quirks of Pinehurst Resort & Country Club’s Course No. 2. She hit shots from the native areas bordering the wide fairways, tried different clubs from the closely mown areas surrounding the greens, and stroked putts to expected hole locations.
These puzzles crafted so diligently by Donald Ross are difficult enough. Thankfully, Park and the 155 other competitors in the 69th U.S. Women’s Open will not have to overcome another perceived obstacle – the fears about poor conditioning that was a major source of concern for the female competitors in the months leading up to the Opens.
“I think if anybody was here walking this morning, they wouldn’t know the U.S. Open was played here last week,” said Ben Kimball, the director of the U.S. Women’s Open, who was walking the course early Monday morning. “I think the women are really going to find that the things that they were concerned about early on are not going to be a concern.”
Despite enduring more than 1,000 rounds over the previous week, Pinehurst No. 2 remained in very good condition as the women took over the course for the second week of Pinehurst’s unprecedented run as host of back-to-back U.S. Opens.
“The USGA did a very good job of keeping the course in shape,” said Park after her practice round. “It feels like it’s a new course.”
According to Park, the greens are just firm enough that any mis-hit shots will not hold the putting surface, while the putting surfaces are rolling true – both desired qualities in a championship test.
The only difference in setup between the Opens is green firmness; on Monday morning, the surfaces gave way slightly underfoot, evidence of the water applied overnight.
“That is because the women don’t put as much spin on the ball and don’t hit it as high,” said Kimball. “So we have to be a little more careful with how firm the greens get. And we’re looking at hole locations in the same quadrants as Week 1, so we’ll have a similar feel.”
Prior to the championships, there were concerns that the women would have to play many shots out of divots in the fairway left by the U.S. Open competitors. But the setup and the condition of the course the morning following Martin Kaymer’s victory have allayed most of those fears.
“We’re playing approach shots from different spots than the men so divots in the fairway won’t be a problem,” said Park.
The spots that bear watching are the low-lying areas surrounding Ross’ raised greens, which have a seemingly magnetic pull on wayward shots.
“As much as we try to replicate setup from one week to the next, when they actually get out here and play, we’re going to have to adjust on the fly,” said Kimball. “Some newer collection areas may become more in play for the women that weren’t for the men.”
As the week progresses, the expected high temperatures and humidity also may require tweaks to the conditioning and setup. But with two more days until the start of the championship, there are few causes for concern.
“Really, the credit belongs to [Pinehurst Director of Golf Course Maintenance] Bob Farren and his staff,” said Kimball. “The grass is healthy and we are in a position of strength for the next few days.”
On Monday morning, like a general overseeing a battlefield, Farren drove around Pinehurst No. 2, looking for weaknesses in the layout that he has overseen for more than 30 years. He was very satisfied by what he surveyed.
“We had high expectations,” said Farren, “and I think we met them in every regard.”
Hunki Yun is USGA’s director of strategic projects. Email him at hyun@usga.org.
