The 120th US Open Battleground, Irwin's 1974 Winning Score Soars to 7 Over Par, 'Winged Foot Massacre' Notorious, Players Say "Too Difficult"
[Asia Economy Golf Specialist Reporter Kim Hyun-jun] 'The Devil's Course.'
The US Open, organized by the United States Golf Association (USGA) with a total prize money of $12.5 million, is the most difficult professional golf tournament worldwide. Its catchphrase is "A well-hit shot results in par." In fact, the courses in 2014 at Pinehurst, 2015 at Chambers Bay, 2016 at Oakmont, 2017 at Erin Hills, and 2018 at Shinnecock Hills are all notoriously challenging courses. Last year, Pebble Beach was comparatively easier. This year, the tournament is held at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, New York (par 70, 7,477 yards).
Winged Foot is hosting its sixth US Open, having previously hosted in 1929, 1959, 1974, 1984, and 2006. In 1974, Hale Irwin (USA) won with a score of 7 over par 287, which led to the term "Winged Foot Massacre." In the first round, notably, not a single player scored under par. In 1984, only two players?Fuzzy Zoeller (USA) and Greg Norman (Australia)?managed to score under par. Zoeller won after a playoff battle.
In 2006, Geoff Ogilvy (Australia) won with a score of 5 over par. Tiger Woods missed the cut for the first time in a major since turning professional, and Phil Mickelson (both USA) lost a near-certain victory, ending his chance at the "Career Grand Slam." Leading by one stroke entering the final 18th hole (par 4), Woods' tee shot landed in the rough, starting a nightmare. His second shot hit a tree, and the third shot landed in a bunker, resulting in a double bogey with 4 on and 2 putts, a fatal blow.
Winged Foot's notorious reputation begins with its "ant waist" fairways. The fairways are only about 20 yards wide, and stepping off them leads immediately into thick rough. The rough deepens progressively from 5 cm to 10 cm to 15 cm, making it increasingly difficult to attack the green as tee shots become less stable. The greens, protected by variously shaped bunkers, are naturally set up like "glass plates." Among the 18 greens, 16 have front downhill slopes, making it challenging to maintain par when the pin is placed at the front.
Hole 1 (par 4) is straightforward, but from hole 2 (par 4) onward, the course becomes a thorny path. The 484-yard hole 2 features a "turtle shell green" slope that troubles players. Hole 4 (par 4) requires a 300-yard carry to clear the fairway bunker on the left, and hole 5 (par 4) is surrounded by large bunkers around its square-shaped green. Holes 6 and 7 are must-birdie holes. Hole 6 (par 4) is 321 yards and reachable in one shot, while hole 7 (par 3) is 162 yards, the shortest at Winged Foot.
Holes 9 and 12 are the only two par 5s, but reaching the green in two shots is impossible. Hole 9 is threatening with seven bunkers around the green, and hole 12 stretches 633 yards. The final stretch from holes 16 to 18 is the key battleground, where a perfect combination of long and accurate shots is essential. Hole 16 hides its green at a 90-degree left turn at the end. Hole 17 bends to the right, and the final hole 18 turns left again.
Woods, in a press conference a day before the tournament, said, "It competes with Oakmont as the number one or two toughest courses," whetting anticipation. World No. 2 Jon Rahm (Spain), after walking the course, commented, "The course is long, the fairways are narrow, and the greens have severe undulations," and predicted a tough challenge, adding, "If any player scores under par, they can definitely win." Watching Winged Foot's new transformation this year promises to be very entertaining.
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