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World's best in for a test at Bethpage

Early thoughts that this year's course would not be up to U.S. Open standards have gone away quickly.

By BOB HARIG, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published June 13, 2002

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- When the masses arrive at Bethpage State Park with their pull carts and kick-stand bags, they cannot step onto the first tee of the Black Course without passing a sign.

"Warning: The Black Course is an extremely difficult course which we recommend only for highly skilled golfers."

There are nothing but highly skilled golfers today on the Black, the competitors who begin play in the 102nd U.S. Open.

They will encounter a course that few saw before this week. It is the longest U.S. Open venue in history, measuring 7,214 yards. Five par 4s are more than 460 yards, including a crucial stretch that includes the seventh (489), 10th (492) and 12th (499), the longest in Open history.

At par 70, the course has two par 5s, the 517-yard fifth and the 554-yard 13th. The four par 3s average nearly 196 yards.

Tiger Woods, the favorite to add the Open to his Masters title from two months ago, called it the hardest par-70 course he has ever seen.

"This golf course, the way it's set up, I don't really know if the golfing public who plays here every day would want to have it set up like this," Woods said. "It's set up so difficult this week that's it's certainly going to be a test for all of us."

By most accounts, if there is any vulnerability, it is the greens. They are flat and somewhat ordinary by major-championship standards. Greens with little undulation offer inviting targets for the world's best players, who seemingly can drain putts from anywhere.

"I asked David Duval, "Is this the best U.S. Open greens we've ever seen?' " Davis Love said. "He said, "They are the best greens I've ever seen anywhere.' I can't remember putting on truer greens more than a couple of times."

But it's getting to them that will offer the difficulty. The fairways aren't single file, it just seems that way. Long iron approach shots will be the norm. And those that come from the rough? Duval said, "It's like trying to hit out of peanut butter." You can't expect to get those shots close to the pin, either. Hence, fewer birdies.

If there is a complaint, it is that the course appears too perfect. It looks like a country club layout, not a scruffy public course that people pay $39 to play on weekends.

That is because the USGA spent $3-million to refurbish the course, bringing in noted architect Rees Jones to do the tinkering.

"I'm amazed this course has been sitting here 65 years, unknown," six-time major-championship winner Nick Faldo said. "It's an absolute monster diamond, a monster gem. They have managed to get everything. We have got length, accuracy, megathick rough, bunkers that are 8-feet deep and you've got super-fast greens. And now it's blowing. Apart from that, it's dead easy."

Asked if he enjoyed this kind of test, Faldo, 45, who was the ultimate tactician in his prime, said: "Ten years ago, yeah. I do enjoy it. But you wait in trepidation for (today). You just don't know what's in store. If you play well, you're cool with it, but if you don't, it will just grab you by the arms. It's as tough as anybody has ever seen."

Sounds like it should be called the Black and Blue Course. And to think, there were many who wondered in the weeks leading up to the tournament whether the U.S. Open scoring record of 272 would be in jeopardy. Even Tom Meeks, the director of rules and competitions for the United States Golf Association, said he expected a winning score of 6- to 8-under par. "In order to be a real U.S. Open course, I think the greens have to be a little scary," Meeks said.

But you don't get that feeling from the players who have seen the Black during practice rounds.

"Whoever thought they would tear this course apart has to be nuts," Rocco Mediate said. "They must not have played it from the back tees."

"If the wind blows even 15 mph, some guys won't finish," Love said. "The only scoring record that might be set is the wrong kind."

On top of everything, the Black promises to be a physically demanding test. It is a 7-mile walk from the first tee to the 18th green, with plenty of hills and some good hikes between greens and tees.

In other words, no walk in the (Bethpage) park.

"I just love playing it," Stewart Cink said. "It's probably the best course I've ever seen for an Open. I love the look of it."

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