Two players finished under par at the Women’s US Open at Lancaster Golf Club this past weekend. This was the fewest amount since 2014, when only Michelle Wie finished on the right side of par. The field scoring average about par was also at its highest since Pinehurst in 2014 at +3.6.
We witnessed a different style of golf: firm, fast and consequential. Good shots are rewarded, and foul shots are punished. That is how professional golf should be. Some golf sickos marvel at the toughness; others want to see an exorbitant amount of bridies. But what is more entertaining for golf?
Embed from Getty ImagesA Tough identity for the national open
When even the pros can appreciate the test that the conditions and golf course are asking of them, that surely is the pinnacle of the sport. It also provides a dichotomy to regular weeks on Tour, which speaks for both the women’s and men’s sides of the game. The U.S. Open has its own identity and has historically been the toughest test in golf, with winning scores closer to par than any other major. The recent overarching problem with the PGA Championship is that it lacks a true identity as a major championship that differentiates it from a standard tour event. The U.S. Open does not have that issue. Players go into the week knowing it will be dry and firm with thick rough. As a spectator, you know there will be a deserving champion who battles throughout all 72 holes. There is no respite.
Nelly’s Nightmare
World Number One Nelly Korda had six wins in her last seven starts going into the U.S. Open. She was undeniably the favourite. But she had a meltdown on her third hole (the 12th as she started on 10) on Thursday, where she made a ten on the par-three. She put three balls in the water, ultimately destroying her tournament chances. She would go on to produce a minor fightback, but that one hole meant she missed the cut. Yuka Saso went on to win her second major victory and second U.S. Open. It was a shock to the golfing world when Nelly had that catastrophe in the first round. She has dominated the Women’s game in 2024, but one missed cut does not change that. It would not surprise anyone if she won in her next start.
Embed from Getty ImagesPinehurst looms
The 2014 Women’s and Men’s US Open site on Pinehurst No. 2 returns this year to host the 124th edition of the US Open for the men. It was held back-to-back weeks in 2014, where Martin Kaymer and previously mentioned Michelle Wie came out victorious. Pinehurst is a prestigious venue ensuring a stern yet unique test for top golfers. Pinehurst No. 2 is renowned as the resort’s crown jewel, but all the other courses at Pinehurst in North Carolina hold their own. It should make for an enthralling US Open next week; more will come soon.
Embed from Getty ImagesPars are good
In golf, golf is at its best when par is a good score on a hole for a pro. Now, of course, that is subjective, and as previously mentioned, some prefer more birdies than bogeys. But, from an entertainment standpoint, golf is more enjoyable when the professionals are relatable. Watching them strategically plot their way around a golf course and execute shots to their best ability is as good as it gets. And the US Open typically encompasses that. Sure, seeing them make birdies is fun as well. But the consensus is that we see that every week on Tour, so having an outlier in the US Open where the scores are lower, or closer to par than other weeks, gives us variability as the consumer.