Fans at the U.S. Open took issue with USGA officials watering the greens, serenading them with boos as they hope for drama on the final day at Pinehurst.
Earlier this week, 15-time major champion - and three-time U.S. Open winner - Tiger Woods declared the notoriously tricky turtleback greens at Pinehurst No. 2 would represent a ‘war of attrition’. He was right, falling as one of many victims the greens have snatched throughout the week.
With temperatures skyrocketing, green speeds get faster throughout the day the firmer and drier they get. But officials are combating this by applying water as needed.
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This was not what fans around the course wanted to see. When the green at No. 7 was tended to, boos rang out as tournament goers hope to see drama unfold as the game’s best players look to take on the uniquely difficult challenge this iconic course provides.
Pinehurst has an intriguing aspect to monitor, too. The course’s greens here are made of Bermuda grass, which grows quicker than other types of grass used by other golf courses - and the more the grass grows, the slower the green speeds get.
Given the sun beating down on the North Carolina along with the life of the grass, the greens can be incredibly difficult to read. USGA officials will be watering specific greens to soften the surface and ensure as much consistency as possible from hole to hole.
Bryson DeChambeau owns a three-shot leading heading into the final 18 holes at the 2024 U.S. Open (Getty Images)While chaos is intrinsically linked to the U.S. Open, there is a line for what is acceptable. Shinnecock Hills’ tournaments in 2004 and 2018 attracted widespread criticism, with play needing to be stopped for 90 minutes so maintenance crews could apply emergency water to the seventh green to keep them alive.
The fairways and greens are certainly starting to brown at Pinehurst, but this is largely due to the conditions meshed with the fact it is the final day of the tournament. Pin placement, just as much as the greens themselves, are going to dictate who emerges victorious after the final round.
Matt Fitzpatrick, the 2022 U.S. Open champion, suggested the greens were faster on Saturday. He also pointed out the impact of pin placements on how the round plays out, saying: “It was just a bit firmer yesterday. But pin placements are a big thing. Obviously, there is not too many options out there – with the greens the way they are – but I think pin placements make a big difference.”
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