As the golf world descends on earthquake-prone California for the U.S. Open, the aftershocks from last week’s bombshell temblor about the PGA Tour joining forces with Saudi Arabia’s sporting arm continue.Â
Nonetheless, by week’s end, the best golfer here – whether loyal to the old guard or one who stepped out early for the Saudi Arabia pot of gold – will hold a much-prized 18-inch-tall sterling silver trophy.
The Los Angeles Country Club hosts the event for the first time and its north course flush against the mansions of Beverly Hills is largely unfamiliar to the field. Its look is also unfamiliar to fans who are accustomed to courses that regularly stage the national open with tight narrow holes and ankle high rough to challenge the world’s best. Instead, LACC offers players a wild expanse up and over hills with fairways almost as wide as the views with a modicum of rough.  Â
“It’s just different,” says Jeff Hall, managing director of rules and open championships for the U.S. Golf Association.
“Yes, the golf course is a little wider, but you’ll see holes where that’s not the case,” Hall said. “So, there’s great variety that way. There’s great variety in the length of holes that’s out there… it just has so many variables.”
Players will have plenty of opportunities to bring the driver out of their bags this week in an effort to maximize distance off the tee rather than lay back with a more lofted club for a better chance at finding the fairway. Their challenge will likely come from the well-protected greens where an off-target strike could land a player with an awkward lie. A diabolical feature of the course is pockets of deep fescue grass where making par will be as difficult as finding a sale on Rodeo Drive.
This year’s two major champions, Jon Rahm (Masters) and Brooks Koepka (PGA Championship), will deservedly attract much attention from the 22,000 fans expected each day.
“Just keep doing what I’m doing,” Koepka said after his most recent win. “It’s…
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