The experience of attending a golf tournament in person is almost completely different than watching on TV – I say “almost” because, from time to time, both viewing formats do allow you to see golfers hit balls, occasionally even from up close. Most of your time at a golf tournament, however, consists not of watching golf, but walking – endless walking. Up hills, down hills, so many times around hills, on sandy, dusty paths with the promise that, maybe around the next corner, real golfers might be playing golf.
The grass-covered slopes that give Chambers Bay its definition, and the epic grandstands that look so cool on TV, conspire to make our original viewing plan more challenging than we anticipated. With the 18th fairway to the left of it, and a large dune separating it from the 10th fairway to its right, the first hole is almost entirely closed to spectators – we watched Putnam tee off, but to follow him to the green meant walking all the way around the 10th hole, then crossing the 11th fairway. By the time we made it, he was already on the second tee.
The same is true at multiple spots on the course. The entire length of the eighth hole, and the upper tee at No. 9, are closed to spectators, besides those looking down from the Grandview Trail above. Fans following a group on the front nine were better off ditching them in the seventh fairway and then picking them up on 10, or taking the opportunity to switch to another group.
The 12th hole also provides few viewing options outside of a jam-packed grandstand, while the 14th fairway is free of spectators; unless you’re planning to pitch camp at the grandstand on 13, your best play is to ditch a group on the 12th tee, then wait for a seat in the grandstand at 14 or 15, and pick them up again for the stretch run.
The only other hole where it’s nearly impossible to follow a group is down 18; though, with binoculars, you can track them into the fairway, then zoom in on the distant green.
We wound up following Putnam for three holes, then picking up Phil and Bubba at the first green and following them until we couldn’t go any further, halfway up the seventh hole. We then cut back and picked up Rory and Kaymer at 15 and tracked them for three holes, before losing them on 18. So, in four hours of walking, we watched our preferred groups play 12 holes.
The best suggestion we can make is to come prepared. Know which groups you want to follow, and the points on the course where you’ll have to leave them and either pick them up later, or make a switch.
The easiest holes to follow are 2-6, and 15-17. Our advice is to pick up the group you’d like to follow on the second tee (don’t bother with 1 – it’s a total choke point and impossible to see anyway, unless you’re in the grandstands) and stay with them through Nos. 2 and 3. Let them go at No. 4 – it’s not worth the climb — and go stake out a spot on the east side of the No. 6 fairway. You’ll be able to watch all of No. 6, then jump over to No. 7 to watch the first two shots there. Then, skip the seventh green and No. 8 and go straight to No. 9. If the grandstand is packed, stay to the southwest ridge. Skip No. 10 (like No. 1, the surrounding dunes make it a waste of time for viewing), and catch them again at No. 11. Leave them on the No. 12 tee and go stake out a spot in the grandstand at No. 14. Pick them up again on the 14th green, and follow them down 15, 16 and 17 (cross the 16th fairway at the tee box and follow the paved path below the 16th and 17th holes, by the train track, for a great view), before watching 18 from near the tee. There’s a small viewing area to the right of the 18th fairway, between the suites and the grandstand, from which you can see the green. Otherwise, it’s grandstand or bust.
If you don’t have to follow a specific group, however, we’d recommend arriving early and staking out a grandstand or specific viewing point on the course, and pitching camp. You won’t get to see your favorite golfer play 18 holes, but realistically, that’s not going to happen anyway. You’re better off following them for a few holes, then finding a good place to relax and watch the rest of the groups come through. The grandstand above the No. 1 fairway commands an awesome view of Nos. 1 and 18; the grandstand at the No. 13 green can see both 13 and 14, and the grandstands at Nos. 9 and 15 provide close-up shots of the course’s two iconic par-3s. And the stadium aspect of the 17th grandstand, especially when the trains are going by, is hard to beat.
Have a plan, and try not to get frustrated. You’ll probably have more fun the less you worry about chasing a specific group around the course – so pick a spot, grab a beer, and enjoy the view.
WHAT WE SAW
1. These Greens Mean Business
Players learned quickly that hitting the green is no guarantee of success. We watched multiple players come through the sixth green, and three putts were far more common than one-putts. The same was true at No. 9, where plenty of players knocked it close, but almost nobody made the bird. Rickie Fowler put his tee shot on the back right of the ninth green and proceeded to take five more strokes before finally plucking his ball from the cup – overcooking a chip into the bunker below the hole, then chipping out and three-putting from 12 feet. The golfer who wins Sunday will be the one who has managed to tame Chambers’ greens.
2. Seattle loves Phil
Following several groups today, no single golfer received more attention from the crowd than Phil. When he nearly holed a chip from the 18th fairway on the first green, the roar could be heard halfway across the golf course. Birdies at No. 3 and No. 5 received similar roars, while every step down the fairway was accompanied by a “Go get ‘em, Phil!” or “We love you, Phil! Bubba Watson, playing in the same group, saw maybe 10 percent of the attention.
3. The Monster Mile
We said the stretch of par-4s from No. 4 to No. 7 would prove critical in this tournament, and that was certainly the case today. Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson, your co-leaders, played The Monster Mile 3-under and even, respectively, gaining crucial strokes on the field.
4. Watch For the Scoreboard to Flip
As of late in the first round, eight of the top-10 and 15 of the top-20 players on the scoreboard teed off in the morning, when the greens were more receptive and the wind was low. As conditions changed in the afternoon, scores soared, particularly on the holes that played towards the water (5, 9, 14, 15). With the tee times reversed tomorrow, keep an eye on Thursday afternoon players who posted good scores — Jordan Spieth (-2), Jason Day (-2), Brian Campbell (-3), etc. With conditions in their favor on Friday, they’re a good bet to be a atop the scoreboard heading into moving day.
5. The All-Nice-Guy Team
Speaking of Spieth and Day, there might not be a more likable group on the course than Jordan Spieth, Jason Day and Justin Rose. They all seem like good guys, and appeared to genuinely enjoy playing with each other on Thursday, often walking together in the fairways, and joking around on the tees. At one point, Rose hit a terrific bunker shot and Day was overheard to say “That was the best shot I’ve ever seen,” as Spieth gave his applause. Later, Day and Rose gave Spieth a good ribbing after Spieth, who had honors, was delayed arriving at the 18th tee. He was in the bathroom.
6. Flip Flops Are A Bad Idea
While the public walking trails through the lower part of the property, and on the ridgeline above, are put to good use, many of the walking paths from hole to hole are simply cut through and around the rough, meaning you’re often walking on ragged ground or even deep sand. It makes for a difficult walk, particularly when going uphill on Nos. 4 and 7. Some fans in flip-flops today simply gave up. I made a summit attempt on Mount Rainier two years ago, and climbing up those sandy slopes today reminded me of trudging up steep snow on the way to Camp Muir. It’s a workout, so be prepared – or, just take our advice above and find a nice, comfy grandstand.
7. Know The Shortcuts
There are ways to save time getting around the golf course. The best shortcut we found for getting from one side of the course to the other is a paved path that runs adjacent to the train tracks, below the 16th and 17th holes. You can access it from behind the 17th green, or by crossing the 16th tee. It’ll save you at least 10 minutes, give you a great view from below of both 16 and 17, and also exclusive access to a 17th grandstand that almost never has a line. Likewise, if you’re trying to go around Nos. 1 or 10, don’t wait in the “crossing zones.” Just go around (to the east, towards the ridge) and you’ll save several minutes. Otherwise, the fairway crossings at No. 2, No. 4, No. 5, No. 6, No. 7 are all great ways to save time moving around.
8. Use The App
Too many times, we saw spectators wandering blindly from hole to hole, hoping to find a good group. That’s a good way to waste a whole day. Make sure to download the USGA U.S. Open app to your phone, and use it to track groups all over the course. Find a series of groups that you’d like to see, then go pitch camp a hole or two ahead of them, and watch them all come through. The app also shows the location of restrooms and concessions, live scoring, and even the Fox video feed, so you can follow the top groups regardless of where you are on the course.
9. Thank A Volunteer
Throughout the course, volunteers did an excellent job at guiding spectators from hole to hole, and answering questions. If you come down this weekend, be sure and thank a volunteer while you’re here. They’re working hard , and doing a great job.
DICK’S PICKS
By Dick Stephens, CG Publisher
It was a glorious day on so many fronts for me as a journalist, fan, Seattleite, father and son. After all the waiting, I got to FINALLY see the U.S. Open unfurled in our hometown. Chambers Bay is now known to the world — and the reviews are much more favorable than expected. “Brown” is the new “green” here, for sure. There are rough edges, but they will be smoothed out. I enjoyed the day with my son, Simon, who celebrated his 15th birthday with me on course.
On an additional personal note, I lost my father on Wednesday to a long bout with cancer. It was hard today; I won’t lie. He went peacefully and my son and brothers on the course felt his warmth and love of the golf with each stroke we witnessed. We were right where he wanted us to be. Thanks to the journalist friends that shared their condolences with me today.
Here’s players to watch Friday.
PHIL MICKELSON — With four birdies and his magical wedges finding a balance with the firm ground here, he’s in a great spot to strike and gain on the leaders – setting the stage for Saturday. His putts were a little inconsistent, but with a round under his belt he will null out the putts he left short. The fans love him. Also, he might need to use driver a couple more times, not hybrid, if we wants to steal back a stroke or two. A front-nine 32 showed that good guys wear black. Back-nine 37 was just a one-time thing, I feel. I don’t think he will card a 37+ again this week.
BRIAN CAMPBELL (a) — This amateur was the talk of the track today (outside of the Tiger group meltdown) with seven birdies. Who does that on a new major course at the amateur level? Campbell does. The collegiate qualifier who punched his ticket a couple weeks back in Newport Beach has the game to handle the links land here. He can punch low-line approaches to the green with loft, plus bump-and-run. That is why his putts are shorter than the others in his grouping. Toss out his two bogies and the double on the seventh and he is a force to be reckoned with. The Fighting Illini star has NO baggage and will be someone to watch.
HENRIK STENSON — The Swede was The Man on the back nine, with a 31 for a round-trip 65. That’s the level, and with three birdies on longer holes, his set-up shots ruled the day. His putting was solid and he learned that the fescueish greens here demand a little extra kiss when you putt away from the Puget Sound. I watched him hit balls after his round and he relentlessly punched and pitched, further familiarizing himself with the firm brown grounds. He hit 78 percent of the fairways today — huge! Do that again Friday and he will be a formidable contender.
DUSTIN JOHNSON — DJ was a cool cucumber. With a 65 and four birds on the front nine, DJ looks like a man walking through the park without a care in the world. He doesn’t appear stressed or worried about this course being new. His confidence on four of the 500+ yard holes – going four-under on 1, 5, 7 and 11 — his length and his putting kept him on top all day. Hitting 79 percent of the greens played was his hallmark. His major performance at Whistling Straits a few years back proves his love of links golf. He just needs to be a mental tough guy for four rounds, which is where he lags at times. SUCH a blast to watch, though, with the huge athletic turn.
MIGUEL ANGEL JIMENEZ — This is one of my Dad’s favorites, so he’s one of mine, too. He makes my five dudes to watch for this reason — only 30 putts. Despite being 20 yards shorter than the field off the tee, his putting is two tenths better than the field. His shaky front nine was bested with a bogey-free back nine and after watching him hit balls in the afternoon, he looks ready to toss spears at the pin on Friday. The Seahorse also loves the European feel of the place and seems ready start stronger. He’s so cool and the fans love him — he’s gonna be a fun Friday player to watch.
LASTLY — My teenage son Simon was very excited to see Rory, DJ, Spieth and Rickie today. After asking him why, he said, “They have style and look interesting. And are all so different as athletes.” From the mouths of babes, right? Clearly the future of golf may rest on these guys’ shoulders and I loved watching my son enjoy the day and look for these heroes.
Enjoy day 2, thanks for following us and TAKE IT EASY.