The U.S. Open at Pinehurst No.2 is now honing into view as the world’s best golfers get set to take on the daunting North Carolina track.
Pinehurst promises to provide a much sterner test than the PGA Championship at Valhalla – which saw Xander Schauffele edge out Bryson DeChambeau to land his first major title.
No.2’s treacherous greens and waste areas will reward those who have elite-level short games – a part of Pinehurst Tom Watson highlighted back in 1999.
The 1999 U.S. Open was the first time America’s most prestigious event was hosted at the North Carolina course. Payne Stewart famously took to the title on one-under-par, one shot clear of Phil Mickelson and two shots ahead of a fresh-faced Tiger Woods.
When two of the best to ever play the game are battling to get under par in round four, Pinehurst was clearly playing as tough as it gets.
Tiger Woods on Pinehurst No.2’s difficulty back in 1999
Speaking to ESPN in June 1999, 15-time major champion Woods spoke of just how difficult Pinehurst was 25 years ago.
He said: “We were grinding so hard—the golf course was so hard—that we kept putting ourselves in places where it was just hard to get a feel for your shot.”
Due to the course’s difficulty, Woods explained how his group fell nearly a hole and a half behind.
He added: “You had so much stuff in front of you that you had to take your time to figure it all out. Where to miss it? If I miss it, how hard to hit it? Where am I going to land it? What kind of spin am I going to put on it? We ended up getting about a hole or a hole and a half behind.”
The 2024 U.S. Open must be a stern test of golf
The 2024 U.S. Open must produce a stern test of golf in June. A repeat of the PGA Championship scoring must be avoided.
Valhalla produced excitement, but the major championships must be the most demanding tests; the Louisville venue was ripped apart with ease immediately in the first round.
Hopefully, the USGA take the year’s third major back to its most challenging, with a score near par taking the title.
More jeopardy is required in the modern game – and Pinehurst No.2 should provide that.
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