Pinehurst presents new US Open challenges

Playing alone as shadows fell across the fairways at Pinehurst No. 2, two-time U.S. Open champion Ernie Els hit a 2-iron off the first tee and started to walk away when he asked the USGA an important question.

"How many balls can we hit into the green?" he said.

Unlike Augusta National, players can hit as many as they like in preparation for the 99th U.S. Open.

And just like the Masters, they'll need them.

From just about every tee box and every fairway, Pinehurst No. 2 does not look like a typical U.S. Open. The fairways don't resemble a narrow country lane. The rough is only 3 inches deep, not nearly as daunting as U.S. Opens past.

But the signature on the course built by famed Scottish architect Donald Ross is the contoured, humpback greens and the shaved collection areas that figure to make this U.S. Open unlike any other.

Any approach not struck perfectly, or not aimed at the right spot on the green, could catch the slopes around the edge and roll as many as 30 yards away from the hole. And that's where the fun begins.

Doug Barron stood in a hollow to the left of the 12th hole on Monday and hit five chips shots with mixed success. Then he tried for more loft with the sand wedge. Three holes later, he putted up another slope, then dropped another ball and putted with his 3-wood.

Payne Stewart used nine clubs around one green, from mid-irons all the way to his putter.

Scott Hoch chipped with a 4-iron, "which I hardly ever do."

Then again, a U.S. Open hardly ever looks like this.

"It's a different kind of Open than what I've normally experienced," Justin Leonard said. "We'll have to hit shots we haven't had to hit in the last four of five Opens. You just have to make a decision. The guys who make the right decision a majority of the time will be at an advantage."

Players have two more practice rounds to get in starting today before the 99th U.S. Open begins on Thursday. A score of even-par has won two of the past four years, and no one was willing to venture a guess on a winning score this early in the week.

Scattered thunderstorms are in the forecast each afternoon through Thursday, which could make the greens a little soft -- and the rough a little deeper.

The plan was for the Bermuda rough to be cut at 4 inches. But the USGA staff came out to Pinehurst No. 2 last week, threw some balls in the rough and decided 3 inches would be ample.

The rough is clearly deeper than the so-called second cut at Augusta National, but the punishment might be the same. Spin control is everything on greens so demanding, and the best place to start is in the fairway.

"In this rough, you do have a chance to put the ball on the greens," Leonard said. "But more times than not, you're going to miss the green."

Hoch, for one, isn't convinced.

He was born in Raleigh and has played Pinehurst No. 2 before. The last time the PGA Tour stopped in these woods was the 1992 Tour Championship.

"It's a much better course than I remember," Hoch said. ``But I don't think the course is hard enough. They need to do something before Thursday to make it more U.S. Open-ish."

Hoch doesn't believe the rough is severe, certainly not in the same neighbourhood as Oakland Hills or Congressional. The greens are not as rock-hard, although a stiff breeze on Monday made them firmer than the day before. The USGA doesn't plan to shrink the fairways.

"The only thing left is the greens, and they're expecting rain," Hoch said. "It doesn't add up to U.S. Open style. But they probably know what they're doing a lot more than I do."

AP