Live At The US Open: Live at the US Open - Chambers Bay

The 2015 US Open at Chambers Bay is over. There are those who would say “mercifully over.”

It had everything the USGA could have possibly hoped for. It had outstanding weather, an amazing human interest story and high drama on Sunday afternoon up to the very last putt.

It had a few things the USGA could have done without. There was controversy over the greens and limited spectator access to so much of the course. The FOX coverage was adequate at best. I would imagine the USGA thought it should have been better. There were numerous complaints and whining over the greens and their condition. There was Gary Player.

It is true that this Open was not a great place to view the competition. There were five holes that had no grandstand including three in a row – 2, 3 and 4. On the ground viewing was more than problematic. The sand berms you saw were off limits to spectator in most cases. The reason was undoubtedly to save a lot of the course from damage but also for safety. I personally saw several people slide or fall off berms that were roped off. Many of the fairways were extremely wide and so if there was a place to stand many times it was far away from the action. The 18^th hole grandstand was huge (6000 people), had real seats instead of benches but it was set quite a ways back from the green. In some locations in the stand if you got yourself a seat in the lower rows you had a tough time seeing the green. The course layout itself dictates where grandstands can be placed and where fans can stand or sit to view. One last thought on this…the corporate hospitality areas were also set way back from the course and in a few cases you could see almost nothing. I realize that they all have TVs every five feet so the guests can watch the play while they drink and eat but if I was paying the USGA those huge dollars I would want a much better seat in the house. If the Open comes back again I believe this should/will be rectified in some manner. Fans pay a lot of money to see the competition. Many did not get their money’s worth. Unfortunate.

One thing we saw and heard more at this Open than in any other (or in any other tournament I can think of) is player complaints about the greens and almost everything else they could think of. The whining and negative attitudes were unacceptable in my opinion. Many of them behaved like spoiled little boys instead of grown men who are working. The vast majority of us would trade our jobs for the drudgery of working outside in usually good or great weather, getting everything we wear for free, getting every club for free, flying private jets everywhere and having the opportunity to win huge amounts of money. And that doesn’t count the endorsement money. Certainly not all but many players behaved like prima donnas because the greens were not perfectly manicured by white-gloved hands with tweezers. They should try playing the munis that most people play. People who love the game put up with five to six hour rounds on courses that barely have grass on the fairways or sand in the traps.

I know these guys understand that the conditions were the same for all. One day you get the morning and one day the afternoon. Most of the time it evens out. If you liked the afternoon conditions then by all means play better and play your way up the scoreboard to the leader board. It’s pretty much that simple. As we were leaving Sunday early afternoon we were stopped at the 18^th tee crossing for Ernie Els’ twosome. We could not see his drive or where it landed. As he reached the crossing he slammed his drive hard into the ground twice. Obviously he wasn’t happy with his shot. This young man behind me went berserk. He yelled at the top of his lungs to Ernie that (and I paraphrase) if you are going to behave like a spoiled child and you are unhappy that you are here competing for our National Championship then by all means stay home and let other players and would-be qualifiers have the chance. Ernie turned around to look at who yelled with an amazed look on his face. The guy had the cajones to yell again that it was he who said it and he meant it.

And then there is Gary Player. I cannot begin to understand what possessed him to go off on Chambers Bay and everything about it. As an amateur with hardly a single digit handicap I have played CB and found it to be an amazing, challenging course. I played with a friend, a scratch golfer who has played the best courses around the country and Europe, who thinks Chambers Bay is one of the all-time best courses he’s played. One cannot help but wonder if Gary has a bit of sour grapes because he did not win the contract to design Chambers Bay. Gary Player’s diatribe was as uncalled for as it was stunning. He should have known better.

As far as the final outcome of the Open goes I think Dustin Johnson should be proud of how he played. I cannot imagine his disappointment and shock that could not two putt from 13’. It wasn’t the first time and it won’t be the last. I personally am disappointed that he chose to blow off the trophy ceremony. It was rude and unbecoming. Golfers pride themselves on honesty, integrity and responsibility. He was right to talk about how his family is his number one priority as it should be. But I think it was a slap the fans, to Louie O who probably would have loved to leave as well and in particular to Jordan. Jordan who did what he had to do – birdie the 18^th hole.

The sad news is that we will not be going to Oakmont next year. We have done seven Opens and we think it is time to expand the horizons to other tournaments. Perhaps the PGA or the Players. And if so Live at the ? will be back with a vengeance. We do hope to go back to the Open in two or three years and definitely for Pebble Beach in 2019. So never fear – I shall return!

Now stepping off the soapbox…

We all know that the game of professional golf has changed dramatically in the past 19 years because of one Tiger Woods. Love him or hate him he has done more to change the game than anyone since Arnold Palmer. We have followed Tiger and marveled at his accomplishments and his play. We had a front row seat (literally at Torrey Pines and Pebble Beach) watching the most amazing golf in history. When I think about Tiger today I am sad. Such greatness should not be reduced to the ordinary or the embarrassing. I wonder if the man will be able to right his ship – repair his body and in particular his mind – to again compete at the highest level. And yes, win at the highest level. I do hope so. I would bet money that his colleagues wish the same.

I do not think Jordan Spieth is the next Tiger Woods. I am not at all certain there will be anyone even remotely like Tiger every again. But that does not mean Jordan cannot take the reins, arguably already has (at least for a US golfer) and take the game to a place we do not yet see. I hope he does and it will be another great ride for those of us who love the game.

I cannot wait for the Open when Jordan steps to the tee and is introduced as the winner of the 2015 Masters and the 2015 US Open. Can he possibly make it three in a row? We shall see.

Thanks as always to Jeff for going along with me on my crazy US Open journeys. He takes the pictures, edits my posts and smiles. And thank you all for taking time to read my thoughts and enjoying them. I so appreciate all your emails and comments and I am so glad you have been along for the ride.

Until next time - wherever it may be…keep you head down.