I’m about to say something blasphemous, so please grant me a temporary pardon until you at least hear me out. I generally don’t enjoy watching the US Open. This year was no exception. There, I said it. It’s comforting to get that out in the open…
I can give you all of the typical reasons. The golf course setups are too hard, borderline disastrous in many cases (think Sunday at Shinnecock a few years back). I also hate the concept of turning a par 5 into a par 4 just for the sake of making par that much more unattainable. Or maybe it’s just the borderline absurdity of Johnny Miller attempting to convince me that he has any clue about the modern game.
Granted, the Open was won by a very solid playing Argentine (what a good week for Argentina with Cabrera and then the Spurs victory and two key players coming from his native country). Ultimately the competitor who played the best won this week and I am certain that’s the goal of the USGA.
However, great sports theater to me is all about great rallies from behind to catch the leader at the finish line. And having a course setup that allows a few birdies down the stretch to me offers just that type of theater.
Tiger hit a wonderful tee shot on 17 and had literally no chance from the bunker. Birdie on 18? Forget about it, wasn’t going to happen. And thus, the USGA missed a chance to write a chapter in golf history because the course was set up just too hard. Instead, we got another career grinder who won because he was able to keep his hands on the steering wheel just long enough to limp it across the finish line. Don’t get me wrong, I’m truly happy for Cabrera. And no, I wasn’t necessarily rooting for Tiger to win it all (I was actually pulling for Baddeley).
I’m more interested though in tournaments, finishes and story lines that help grow the game of golf. 18 holes of playoff golf on a Monday would have been good for the game. It’s a shame it had no chance of happening…
