A Path Less Travelled

These US Opens will certainly be unique and absorbing viewing for those with an interest in golf course architecture and strategy, and from a pure theatrical perspective, the ‘MickelSlam’ opportunity alone provides great interest.

This tantalising scenario was set up by the 43-year-old’s maiden Open Championship win at Muirfield last year and will justifiably dominate the event’s build-up, but what will this architectural masterpiece and radically different USGA setup throw up in terms of contenders this year?

Defending champion Justin Rose won at a difficult, more typical set-up at Merion last time around, an event that placed a premium on all facets of his game, most notably his patience. The Merion test also identified challengers of the highest calibre in runners-up Mickelson and Australia’s Jason Day, with soon-to-be US PGA champion Jason Dufner and four-time major winner Ernie Els hot on their heels.

Will this year’s more ‘open’ Open aid and abet the cream to rise to the top?

Wider fairways may tempt more players into hitting drivers, but this also heightens the risk of bad or downright ugly lies from the waste areas and wire grass should the course play in a firm and fast manner as is hoped.

It will be fascinating to see if the shortlist of potential winners will be expanded or contracted by the course setup and if the USGA’s time-honoured intention of identifying the best player will be affirmed or eroded by such a diversion from their norm.

Pinehurst 2014 will be as far from ‘formulaic’ and in that sense, it’s significant that there was nothing formulaic about a Payne Stewart, nor a Phil Mickelson. Players we’ve been drawn to, admired, been exhilarated by and who brought a point of difference and charisma to the game.

These two championships over a renewed classic in Pinehurst No 2 promise much of the same. We may not believe our eyes.