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United States Golf Association, producer of the U.S. Open, is one of the game’s two internationally accepted rule-making bodies. Finally, it’s the ancient game’s second oldest national championship. That’s what might be called the institu-
tional side, which is not inconsequential. But the U.S. Open’s ultimate precedence derives from the type of courses on which it is played, and how they are prepared for the event. Both require a fuller measure of golfi ng skill than any other of the game’s major titles. To justify this judgment, we turn to the quintessential U.S. Open player, Ben Hogan, one of only three men in the modern era to win this event a record four times. By Hogan’s lights golf was hitting the ball in the air, which requires a far more complicated and demand- ing degree of athleticism — strength, fl ex- ibility, and especially coordination and timing — than does putting, which is merely rolling the ball along the ground with a comparatively simple, mild stroke. Actually, putting does call for some of the same skill-sets as hitting the ball in air, but Hogan’s defi nition of the game offhandedly speaks to the argument for the U.S. Open as golf’s defi nitive competitive test. Briefl y, for the U.S. Open the ball must be played in the air, whereas the British Open, its chief rival in this discussion, is played along the ground. The other majors? The Masters, an invi-
tational event, is always played on the same course, giving players who return regularly the advantage of greater familiarity. To wit, after its 1934 inaugural, only two fi rst- time entrants have won the tournament. Furthermore, the Augusta National greens are so severe in their undulation and speed that putting becomes an overriding factor in the outcome of the competition. The PGA Championship makes playing demands similar to the U.S. Open, but in any case does not allow amateur entrants. U.S. Open courses have (ideally) fi rm
fairways distinctly narrowed by long, heavy grass at their sides. And the greens (also ideally fi rm) are typically raised above fair- way level. Therefore, it is vital that tee shots
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which in turn dictates hitting the ball lower. Both from the tees and to the greens, shots roll more to their fi nal destination, and on ground with random mounding. Thus, successful shotmaking is largely dependent on bounces and rolls, which involve the element of luck and are to no little degree beyond the player’s control. Therefore, links land golf does not require the same level of precision in driving and approach-shot play as the U.S. Open. A case in point: The late
Jack Nicklaus in action at the 1980 U.S. Open at Baltusrol Golf Club, Springfi eld, NJ. He won the U.S. Open four times
on the par-4 and -5 holes not only be accu- rate in terms of landing in the fairway, they must drop from a relatively high trajectory so they stay on the short-clipped grass. By the same token, the chances of get-
ting approach shots to land and remain on the raised greens are best for those coming in from a good height, and with backspin. The height and spin are best achieved when playing from the fairways. Add to the last the ability to control the distance the ball carries. Every winner of the U.S. Open putts well that week. But he gives himself enough opportunities to make the putts that bring victory via well-struck, accurate, fi nely judged and high-fl ying tee- to-green golf.
By contrast, the British Open is
played on fl at links land with roomy fair- way widths and a dry, often sparse rough. The greens are at the same level as the fairways and generally unguarded in front, to accommodate the fact that the game is almost invariably played in strong winds,
Seve Ballesteros was a splendid golfer, but always an uncertain driver of the ball; he was famous for playing approaches out of parking lots. Still, he was able to win three Masters and two British Opens, in both cases on courses with wide fairways and none-to-minimal rough.
However, he had only three top-ten fi nishes in 17 U.S. Opens, where accurate driving is of primary importance. And, as to Snead’s record, asked once
why his contemporary never won the U.S. Open, Byron Nelson said it was “because Sam wouldn’t change his game for it. If it was a par-5 hole he used his driver from the tee and got into trouble when a 3-wood or 2-iron was the smarter play. U.S. Open courses are not like any other; you must adapt your game to them, and Sam didn’t.” As Jack Nicklaus, one of the three four-time winners of the U.S. Open (and winner of six Masters, fi ve PGAs and three British Opens), told Golf World magazine recently, “ … the U.S. Open probably does more to make a man out of you than any other tournament. It is a total examination: driver, iron game, chipping, putting, thinking.”
Al Barkow is an award-winning golf journalist and a historian of the game.
WALTER IOOSS JR./SPORTS ILLUSTRATED/GETTY IMAGES
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