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Criminal Intent-The USGA

USGA needs to find a new way to get their thrills

 

As I tried (emphasis on tried) to view portions of the 105^th US Open Golf Championship this weekend, I found myself unable to watch the never-ending train wreck orchestrated by the USGA.  The greatest golfers in the world once again treated the viewing public to a bogey-fest on the final day when Michael Campbell escaped the wreckage with winning score of 280 (even par) for the tournament. 

 

The USGA bills itself as the protectors of the game, honoring all of the game’s traditions and rites of passage.  But in recent years, it seems as if the USGA has had a chip on its shoulder the size of John Daly.  We all know that the US Open is designed to the stiffest test of all the USGA sponsored events, but we have moved from tough to trivial as the golf course set-ups are now a bigger topic than the golf that is actually being played. 

 

Perhaps the USGA resents the tremendous advancements in equipment available to the golfers of today or they simply just enjoy watching the very best in the world stumble and bumble all over their tournament, but I have grown weary of the whole situation.  I know some changes are necessary to make a course “US Open-worthy” and there is the need for “US Open rough” and “US Open greens” in order to properly crown a champion, but enough is enough.  When you have over 100 of the best golfers on the planet and only one of them can reach par for your course over four rounds, the problem lies with the course – or the people setting up the course.

 

I wonder if the USGA smiled with a sense of accomplishment as two-time US Open champ Retief Goosen yakked up the 3^rd round lead all over Pinehurst No. 2 on Sunday with an 11-over score of 81?  I only know that I was ready to hurl if I heard one more “par is great score on this hole” comment from an announcer.  I want to see players make birdies and go for eagles, even in the biggest championships.  Did you see the look on Tiger’s face the last two days when he walked off the 18^th green?  The best player in the world can’t wait to get to the clubhouse – how can that be “for the good of the game”?

 

Check out these numbers from the last ten years of the US Open:

 

  Year      Golfers Under Par   Winning Score          Winner                         Site         

2005	0	E	Michael Campbell	Pinehurst No. 2
2004	2	-4	Retief Goosen	Shinnecock Hills
2003	4	-8	Jim Furyk	Olympia Fields
2002	1	-3	Tiger Woods	Bethpage Black
2001	4	-4	Retief Goosen	Southern Hills
2000	1	-12	Tiger Woods	Pebble Beach
1999	1	-1	Payne Stewart	Pinehurst No. 2
1998	0	E	Lee Janzen	The Olympic Club
1997	3	-4	Ernie Els	Congressional
1996	3	-2	Steve Jones	Oakland Hills

 

There is something suspicious going on here – and I think I know what it is.  The USGA, in its holier-than-thou approach, seek to keep today’s golfers in their place by manipulating the one factor the players can’t overcome with technology – the golf course.  And the end result is final round drama that is battered by a barrage of bogeys and dampened by a downpour of double bogeys. 

 

The golfing world better send a memo to the USGA quickly before more golf fans like me become uninterested or unable to watch their product.  When I tune in to watch the major championships I want to see at least two golfers locked in a dual for the title.  What I don’t want to see is a battered golfer holding a trophy that actually should have been won by the golf course.  And once again, this year’s US Open course was the overall winner after 72 holes – and I belief the USGA’s intentions are criminal.

 

New Zealander Michael Campbell was the last man standing at Pinehurst No. 2.  The Powdered Wig says the USGA can kiss him goodbye as viewer if they don’t stop making the golf course the real winner.  (AP)