72 Chambers - Bringing The Ruckus

"If what you say is true the links at Chambers Bay could be dangerous. Do you think your Chambers Bay links can defeat me? On guard! I'll let you try my Chambers Bay links!" 

In the build-up to the 115th US Open at Chambers Bay, Washington State, some of the noise coming from top players about the course has been of an indifferent tone.  This strikes me as strange, particularly since some of these players are yet to play it.  Peter Uihlein seems to have enjoyed it just fine when he won the US Amateur title there in 2010.

Rory McIlroy, who lest we forget is the current world number one and a four-time major winner, has referred to Chambers Bay as an “unknown quantity” and has played down the idea of a requirement for extra preparation at this major championship venue.  Rory has won an Open Championship at Hoylake and a PGA at Kiawah Island, so he doesn't just win majors on conventional US Open type courses.  Maybe we should listen to him.  So, is he right to suggest extra preparation is not required at Chambers Bay?  

"36 Chambers" rather than 72 with that attitude Rory my friend.  This is no Hoylake or Kiawah let me assure you.

Victor Dubuisson seems to think that the course will play easy unless the wind blows.  That might apply to some links courses, maybe, but to a Robert Trent Jones II design that can play over 7,500 yards… Je ne pense pas Victor.

Ian Poulter summarised feedback about the course he had received from other players (not him - he hadn't played it) by stating that it was a "complete farce" (my own view is that the term farce can also be used to describe criticism of a course by someone who has never played that particular course) and that "oh well...someone has to win it".  Part of Poulter's issue seems to be with the fact that the 1st and 18th may alternate as par fours/fives on given days.  Is this somehow being construed as a "farce" then maybe we can include features such as double-greens (St. Andrews) and bunkers in the middle of greens (Riviera) in the same bracket?!

The most revealing anecdote from the build-up to this US Open is that of Tiger Woods, who will be, lest we all forget, the most decorated major champion in the field (he has fourteen of these things including three US Opens and three Open Championships).  Tiger spent seven hours in total playing the course in one day before the Memorial last week and has commented that familiarity with the course will be particularly important.  Tiger and his team are giving this due attention.  Don’t be surprised if Tiger fools you all and has a very good week. 

Others such as Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth have expressed more of a fascination with the course erring on the side of a positive view.  Phil has said that "the more you play it, the more you appreciate it" and that it is the closest he has seen in the US to a "British" Open links course.  Spieth's caddie Michael Greller has previously worked at Chambers Bay, which could be a very important factor as his employer aims to set up the SpiethSlam, and Jordan seems to be intrigued by the challenge that will be presented by the undulations on and around the large greens.

So, it seems that the players who are making less than positive noises about the course may have the following in common:

• They are concerned that they do not possess the level of shot-making ability required;
• They are concerned that they do not possess the ability to control the golf ball in wind;
• They are concerned that a more strategic approach may be required rather than a yardage numbers game or a matter of just keeping it out of the deep rough.

Yes.  It does seem that certain players are getting their excuses in early, and it would not surprise me if those same players ended up playing "36 Chambers" rather than 72.

Among others, Sergio Garcia and Rickie Fowler have not said much about Chambers Bay and are likely to be relishing the challenge, as they both did in difficult conditions recently at Sawgrass, while others floundered.  We know that putting is always a factor, but a golf course that requires strategic thinking, accurate positioning, shot-making ability and a sharp short game always distinguishes the very best.

I can therefore only see one outcome at Chambers Bay -  the best all-round golfer in the field will win.  In this regard the recent Players Championship was a compelling example.  Sergio Garcia had a bad week on the greens, but still made a playoff, and Rickie won.  Yes I know Rickie and Sergio, along with Rory, struggled in the wind at the Irish Open recently, but there was more than just wind to contend with there and it is unlikely that a stormy winter will come to University Place in half-hour cycles in the manner in which it did at Royal County Down (at least not on all four days). 

Chambers Bay will play long, but this does not necessarily mean it will play into the hands of bigger hitters.  For comparative examples in US majors, rather than Whistling Straits, think Shinnecock Hills.  In 2010 at Whistling Straits Martin Kaymer defeated Bubba in a playoff, with Dustin Johnson just missing out and Rory not far behind.  Was length a factor here?  Possibly yes.  At Shinnecock however, a different trend emerged from 1995 and 2004.  Not only did short hitter Corey Pavin win in 1995, he made the top five in 2004, which was won by Goosen.  Mickelson featured high in the leaderboard at Shinnecock on both occasions, and we know from Muirfield in 2013 that he has “cracked” links golf. 

Chambers Bay is in some ways a hybrid of the two, almost like a power-links.  Obviously players who are comfortable with links golf can’t be ruled out, but there is more to it than that.  Shot-making, invention and strategy will be critically important.  You’ve got to look at players who have won big events on golf courses where length is not necessarily everything, such as Justin Rose at Merion 2013, Graeme McDowell at Pebble Beach 2010 and recent winners of the Players such as Fowler, Kaymer, Stenson, Garcia and Kuchar. Maybe Poulter is right, that "someone has to win it", but I suspect that there will be NOTHING farcical about it.

The top ball-strikers should enjoy Chambers Bay.  A ball-striking genius who has a great putting week won’t be too far off it.  Have I mentioned Sergio Garcia?  Also, don’t dismiss an experienced campaigner such as Lee Westwood.  He is going to love it here. Bubba should love it too but only if it stays calm.

The last word goes to Peter Uihlein, winner of the 2010 US Amateur at Chambers Bay.  Sadly he has just missed out on qualification for next week, but his comments after his 2010 triumph should be noted by any player hoping to do well at Chambers Bay:

“It was one of those courses where I felt like you needed to have every shot, work the ball and have every shot around the greens.  I was working pretty hard leading up to it to throw some extra shots in my bag to be able to use... and it paid off."