The second major championship of the 2016-17 PGA Tour golf season begins Thursday, and there's plenty of mystery surrounding the 117th United States Open because no one knows what to expect from a new course that was built largely just to host this event.
The following column was written on a flight to Wisconsin that was so delayed, its pace-of-play was completely in line with U.S. Open standards.
"It's absolutely wonderful", said John Morrissett, Erin Hills' competitions director.
While the sun was tough on spectators (and media who arrived straight from the airport) the pros are more concerned with acclimating to an unfamiliar golf course, and particularly it's long, lush rough. It's kind of like your home. This is how they make their living. Hopefully they get it right this time, just from a playability standpoint.
Jon Rahm left his first US Open with a gold medal for being the low amateur and no guarantees except for sponsor exemptions to play in six PGA Tour events in two months. "That's nice, that's great, '" Morrissett said.
Particularly at the Open, which will be staged for the first time at Erin Hills, a sprawling Wisconsin course which seemingly suits Woodland's length.
Along the way, there have been several milestones that have helped pass the time. The sorts betting favorite and defending champion has been excellent at past US Open tournaments including last year's win and his game is flawless for this course. The next milestone was when January 1 came and the next one after that was Media Day on May 17.
Barrie: I think the course will show itself well to the players.
"The U.S. Open, you normally play on golf courses that are tricked up just to the limits, sometimes over the limits and sometimes just underneath", Stenson said. "It's going to be great to see the fans of Wisconsin come out and support it as well".
The US Open has always been the Major with the hardest and fairest set-up.
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"I think it's a lot to do with preparation".
Nicki is caddying for him this week at Erin Hills. That ended a 17-year run for Morrissett in the rules department with the USGA. Players have already started to complain.
Bob Lang, the course's original owner, bought the former cattle pasture in 1999.
"Modern equipment is just created to go further, through a higher launch angle with less spin off the tee and that's never really been my game", Pepperell said. And it didn't let up.
Since 2005, the eventual U.S. Open champion has not been able to shoot under par five times.
Mike Davis, the USGA's executive director, toured Erin Hills in 2004, before the first shovel of dirt was turned, and told Lang it was one of the best properties for golf he'd ever seen.
Spieth made it the quarterfinals at the 2011 U.S. Amateur here and could recall going bunker to bunker to bunker at the par-5 18th in getting eliminated. It was developed specifically with the idea of hosting a U.S. Open. "I didn't believe I could win, give myself chances to win World Golf Championships, get into the top 10 in the same year".
To look back on how far the facility has come in the last 2,000-plus days is nearly surreal.
Ziegler says whatever revenue was lost in May and June is insignificant in the big picture. "When you look back at all of that, you kind of get exhausted, just looking back and think about everything that's gone on".
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