June13 USOpenthunder
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Thunder and lightning hit Oakmont on the eve of the 107th US Open a bit like the prelude to an opera.
Crowds scurried for shelter and a few limbs fell off trees as a huge storm hit the 100-year-old course, just 13 hours before the first tee times were due off. USGA officials were confident, however, that there wouldn’t be a delay to the start of play – assuming there was no more rain.
Tim Morgan, the USGA agronomist said: “We had 4/10ths of an inch in under an hour. It’s not ideal. It’s probably set our target goals as far as the firmness of the course goes back by a couple of days. It has altered the state of the course quite significantly.”
So, just who does this favour? My feeling is the greens will be slightly more receptive, and the rough will be tougher to extricate yourself from; but the general principals of a US Open champion at Oakmont (you will have to hit the ball straight and putt brilliantly) will remain.
