Nobody knows Olympia Fields Country Club likes its director of golf, Brian Morrison. He gives Tribune golf reporter Ed Sherman his assessment of how each hole will play for the U.S. Open.
HOLE 1
PAR 5
576 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “Here’s a chance for the players to get off to a good start. This is the best birdie opportunity on the course. Players like Tiger will hit their drive over the right side of the left bunker. They’ll hit a power fade and let it sling down. It will leave them about 256 yards to the middle of the green. If you’re playing it as a threeshot hole, you’ll lay up to the top of the hill, leaving a 100- yard wedge.”
Is driver the play off the tee? “Yes.”
Is it a birdie hole? “You want to birdie this hole.”
HOLE 2
PAR 4
400 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “You’ll see a lot of 3-woods and 2-irons off the tee. The key is to hit the drive up the hill adjacent to the fairway bunker. You want be 125-130 yards out so you can spin your second shot. It’s a small green with a lot of slope. Over the green is deadsville.”
Is driver the play off the tee? “No.”
Is it a birdie hole? “Yes.”
HOLE 3
PAR 4
389 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “Players will lay up in front of the creek. Tiger might even hit 4-iron. You want to use the right club to leave a second shot in the 135-150-yard range. This hole is all about hitting the fairway, and being on the right place on the green. If you get above the flagstick, you’re hanging on for dear life.”
Is driver the play off the tee? “No.”
Is it a birdie hole? “Yes.”
HOLE 4
PAR 3
164 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “I think you’ll see some treacherous pin placements: Front right and left, and back right and left. The bunkers also are treacherous. It’s not easy to gauge the wind because of the trees left of the putting surface.”
Is it a birdie hole? “You want to birdie this hole.”
HOLE 5
PAR 4
440 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “Here’s where the fun begins. The big hitters will hit 3- woods. Tiger might hit his stinger 2-iron. If you hit a driver, it could go through the fairway. It’s a narrow fairway that’s been pushed over to bring the creek into play. Players will have about 160 yards to an elevated green. They won’t be able to see where they’re hitting. If you hit in front of the green, it could spin down the slope, leaving you with a 40- 50-yard shot.”
Is driver the play off the tee? “No.”
Is it a birdie hole? “No.”
HOLE 6
PAR 5
555 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “I’ll be interested to see how they play this hole. If you pound a driver down there, the landing area is the narrowest part of the fairway. I don’t know if they are going to bomb it, leaving middle irons (to the green), or lay back. Will they respect the narrow opening? Any shot right means having to deal with the trees. It’s a very subtle green.”
Is driver the play off the tee? “We’ll see.”
Is it a birdie hole? “Anytime they have a wedge in their hands (for the third shot), they’re thinking birdie.”
HOLE 7
PAR 3
212 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “A downhill shot, the first order of business is to hit the green. The front right bunker will get a lot of activity. Left and over is deadsville. There’s a lot of motion on this green. It also has a false front. Most players will use 4-5 irons.”
Is it a birdie hole? “Maybe.”
HOLE 8
PAR 4
433 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “The tee says hit your driver, but the big boys will hit fairway woods. This is the only green on the course that runs away from the golfers. You can’t hit it from the rough. It’ll go over. Players will have about 140 yards to the green. But it’ll be hard to get it tight.”
Is driver the play off the tee? “For some.”
Is it a birdie hole? “Possible, but not easy.”
HOLE 9
PAR 4
496 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “Needless to say, this is not a good hole to miss your drive. If you line up to the right bunker and hit a power draw, you’ll get some good roll. You’ve got to step on your driver. Even then, there will be some guys who hit 3-woods into the green. This green is one of the most difficult on the course. If you’re not on the right part, you won’t enjoy putting much.”
Is driver the play off the tee? “Yes.”
Is it a birdie hole? “No.”
HOLE 10
PAR 4
444 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “It’ll be interesting to see what they hit off the tee. Most players will try to hit it over the left bunker. They’ll have a short iron into the green. There’s a false front and some guys will spin the ball off the green. The green has some slope.”
Is driver the play off the tee? “Yes.”
Is it a birdie hole? “Yes.”
HOLE 11
PAR 4
467 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “This is a good hole. They’ll probably try to hit a power fade. The big key is being able to shape the shot correctly. Otherwise, they’ll go into the left rough. The second shot will be around 160-170 yards. There will be a back right pin. If you go for the flag and miss, you’re in a deep bunker. Anywhere right is a lot of trouble.”
Is driver the play off the tee? “Yes.”
Is it a birdie hole? “Yes, if you get a good tee shot.”
HOLE 12
PAR 4
458 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “One of our signature holes. It’s a blind tee shot over the hill. There’s more room left than you think. Miss it right and you’re in the rough and trees. The driving areas are narrow, but the players still will want to bust it. They’ll have a middle iron to an elevated green. (During the U.S. Senior Open), the seniors had problems spinning the ball off the green, leaving them with a difficult 40-yard pitch.”
Is driver the play off the tee? “Yes.”
Is it a birdie hole? “No.”
HOLE 13
PAR 4
397 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “I don’t know what they’ll do on this hole. Will the big hitters try to hit it over the hump? If you get on top of that fairway, it’s a big reward. Otherwise, you’ve got a semi-blind shot into the smallest green on the course. There’s a lot of roll on this green.”
Is driver the play off the tee? “Maybe.”
Is it a birdie hole? Depends on the tee shot.”
HOLE 14
PAR 4
414 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “Once again, you’ve got to control the ball here. It’s very tight. Players will hit 3-wood, 2-iron on this hole. The approach will be into a tricky, small green. I don’t see players getting close to the cup. I expect the bunkers will get a good workout.”
Is driver the play off the tee? “No.”
Is it a birdie hole? “Probably not.”
HOLE 15
PAR 3
187 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “It’s a downhill tee shot. I envision the players will hit a lot of 6-and 7-irons. This hole isn’t a tough par, but it is a difficult birdie. The pins will be front right and back left. You’ve got to hit a super shot to make birdie.”
Is it a birdie hole? “No”
HOLE 16
PAR 4
451 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “The big hitters will play over the left bunker. The medium hitters will hit out to the right and draw it. The ticket here is the green. It could be a three-club green depending on where the pin is. Back left is in a different ZIP code. I’d expect some front left and right locations.”
Is driver the play off the tee? “Yes”
Is it a birdie hole? “No.”
HOLE 17
PAR 3
247 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “This hole speaks for itself. It’s uphill usually into a crosswind. Having to hit a 3-wood under U.S. Open pressure is not going to be fun. To compound matters, this is a very difficult green. You can count on a front right flag. This will be the most difficult hole relative to par.”
Is it a birdie hole? “No way.”
HOLE 18
PAR 4
460 YARDS
Morrison’s view: “The drive is into the wind, and it’s a little uphill. The fairway bunkers come into play here. You have to work the ball a bit to get between them. If you hit into these bunkers, I’m not sure you can get to the green. It’s a very difficult green, and the greenside bunkers are treacherous. There are a million places to put the flag. My guess on Sunday is that it will be middle right.”
Is driver the play off the tee? “Yes.”
Is it a birdie hole? “No.”
