Leading into the 123rd U.S. Open, numerous pundits and players noted that the Los Angeles Country Club did not look like a typical U.S. Open layout.
U.S. Open trashed by fans, media alike with historically low opening round
The first round of the 123rd U.S. Open at the Los Angeles Country Club had plenty of scoring records.
Photo by Keyur Khamar/PGA TOUR via Getty Images
Jack Milko has been playing golf since he was five years old. He has yet to record a hole-in-one, but he did secure an M.A. in Sports Journalism from St. Bonaventure University.
It sure did not play like one on Thursday.
“When we showed up at 5 o’clock this morning, we had misty and soft conditions, and we had a cloudy, overcast marine layer, and then the cool and damp weather persisted throughout the day,” John Bodenhamer, the USGA’s Chief Championships Officer, said on Golf Channel’s Live From the U.S. Open Thursday night.
“The sun never really broke through to dry things out as we had hoped.”
Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele took full advantage of the benign conditions, blistering the course en route to shooting an 8-under 62—a U.S. Open record.
Whether the USGA tightens the screws for Friday’s second round remains to be seen.
“I felt like the greens were a hair more receptive [Thursday] than they have been in the practice rounds,” Dustin Johnson said after Thursday’s round. “The course was set up really nice today, and then obviously the par-3s, I think they had all of them up a little bit today, which made those play quite a bit easier. I imagine the next few days you’ll see the golf course [play much harder].”
It all comes down to the weather. The field will go low again if the sun does not peak through the Southern California marine layer.
Yet, many have trashed LACC for these record-breaking scores despite mother nature controlling the conditions.
What do you think about the Los Angeles Country Club? Does it deserve the criticisms it is receiving? Let us know in the comments below or @_playingthrough.
