US OPEN ‘23: Preview

The US Open is back on the Right Coast; get ready for some Prime Time golf, baby!

“The” LACC has not hosted a US Open before, and after this week, will likely never again. #Members, amirite?

THE LACC (North Course)

Very interesting track. Beautiful in it’s uniqueness and privacy, it’s definitely got some janky holes, not going to lie. The 15th immediately comes to mind. It almost looks like they built a golf course with 17 holes and started playing only to realize later they miscounted and needed to add one more, so they just formed a green down near the clubhouse. It has nothing to do with the short length of the hole. We Love some short par 3s. But, it’s like there’s a green just floating aimlessly alone out there. It’s dangerous, for sure, and no offense to George Thomas, but this isn’t your everyday golf course. And, literally, almost every single person on the grounds this week, will never be invited back. LA exclusive, like the Oscars.

The course was built in a canyon. And so, one of the most curious features, is that the beautiful sights you see are not the Santa Monica beach, nor even the ocean. The views that take your breath away are of downtown LA and some insanely big, and outrageously pricey, estates. Ostensibly families live in these things, but they could easily house small armies.

Physically navigating the course is tricky, for several reasons. Not just the layout, which can be confusing as hell, with multiple tee boxes seemingly headed down different fairyways-11 and 16 come to mind, as do 5 and 8. The fact that it’s in a canyon makes the whole course an elevation mess, especially on the slick bermuda grass rough. Even with well-heeled footwear it can be tough to stay upright walking down some of the hills.

The Bermuda rough here is awkward. We saw no less than 5 guys try and go deep from it - at the green from 200+ - only to knuckleball it out about 100 yards, or less. That list includes Rosey, Harris English, Gordo, Min Woo, Rahmbo and Rory.

We followed Rory early Tuesday. He played by himself at 6:45 am local time. Driver looked great, long irons looked excellent - stuck it to 6’ for birdie on #4. But the wedge game. Good God, man. He hit 5 wood just short of the green on 6, which is dangerous to go for, and he likely won’t do during the tournament. Good move. Except, when he laid up, he hit his first two wedges, back to back, into the front bunker. Just awful shots. He did finally hit his third one in tight, but yikes. Ffs, you don’t get three tries in the Open. We had to leave after that. We don’t prognosticate anything good for Rors this week, unfortunately. He’s a scratch on our list.

Brooksy and Rahmbo looked good, as usual. They were confident both on the course, hitting the ball well, and in the presser. Look for them both to contend late.

Scottie has been bet down to 6:1 to win, which in golf odds, if you name isn’t Tiger Woods, is fkn outrageous. Almost every question at his presser was something about why he’s not putting well. It was hard to watch, but he handled it like a champ. If we had to guess, that’s going to add fuel to the fire this week. At 6:1, versus 155 other professionals, the value just isn’t there to bet him to win; although he could, and he might.

Can anyone go low?

Well, it’s a US Open, so “low” is relative, but don’t be surprised if the winning score is over par. And, the exclusivity of this course means that although some SoCal players may be familiar with the Bermuda rough in this part of the country, they surely are Not familiar with the track. The fairways are running lightning fast and most places they pitch directly into of the rough. And once in the rough, it’s a total crap shoot, as we mentioned above. However, we guarantee the best viewing this week will be shots from the Bermuda rough, or the long fescue, around the greens.

There will be plenty of shots like we saw from Thomas Pieters at the PGA. A wood, hybrid or long iron from the rough, that goes nowhere near the intended target. Most of these shots then also ENDED UP in the rough. The smart play is just to get it in the short grass, as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will make one look foolish quick and we’re sure to see much of that this week.

Then, the bunkers. The sand isn’t too bad. It isn’t great, but it’s not the problem. It’s the fescue surrounding them. A shot that’s only slightly off-line -or led astray by the breeze - that finds the bunker rough, well, as we saw demonstrated from Mr. Grillo on 8, it will be tough to even find. There will likely be some wind, but just enough to keep the guys guessing. Augusta gales these are not.

Another word to get familiar with this week is “barranca.” Defined as a “narrow, winding river gorge” these are nearly-unplayable sand waste areas. Any kind of lie is possible in them, if you can even find the ball. It is imperative to stay out of them, at all costs.

There are birdie holes out there, #1 comes immediately to mind. Downhill par-5, reachable in 2. But, the bermuda rough around the greens, mixed with the fescue around the bunkers, makes for some miserable chipping just around the greens.

Expect noted short-game wizards like Cam Smith and Jordan Spieth to excel in this environment. Both players have struggled with driver recently - which will destroy their chances here - but if they can keep it in the short grass, we like them both to contend.

Contend, you say? Yes, Max Homa shot 61 here at the Pac-12 Championship at Cal. No, the course will not be playing anything near that ‘easy’, this week. Can he play well here? No doubt. Will he win here this week? Doubtful. But, we like Max and will be rooting for him.

Fitzy looked solid and has the game for the US Open, he is the defending champion, after all, but that is exactly the problem: No one not named “Tiger” or “Brooks” defends a major championship - it’s just not easy. So, he may play well, but odds are excellent he will be returning the trophy for good, this year.

Ball control at The LACC will be at the utmost premium, so a good ball striker, like a Tommy Fleetwood, Hideki, or Rosey, would all be guys to watch out for.

We also like the Aussies this week. West coast, tough US Open, finds many similarities to the Gold Coast, down under. Cam Smith, Adam Scott and J-Day - maybe even Cam Davis ? - should make the cut and be factors this week.

Tough course? Look no further than DMac, Denny McCarthy, who nearly just got his first win. A self-proclaimed “grinder” that is exactly the type of player you want in an Open. Bad lies will appear for all, but the players handling them the best, will fare most competently.

Californians to Watch:

Usual suspects Collin, Max, Xander and Cantlay are all already known entities. But, don’t be surprised if a guy like Eric Cole, Justin Suh, or Kurt Kitayama makes a move here late. And, don’t hassle the ‘Hoff. Chuck, the San Diegan with the Golden Flo’ could make some noise in what may be his last US Open, and more than likely last Open in his home state.

Another SoCal native, and another Rancho Santa Fe resident like Chuck, Phil Mickelson is only missing the US Open trophy from his mantle - can he get it this week? Cam Smith doesn’t think he hits it straight enough. Well, we know he’s got the short game. Maybe Cam’s comment lights a fire underneath Phil that motivates him to keep the big numbers in check. If he can do that, he’s got a chance.

Longshots to make the cut, or cause commotion:

Brian Harman, Tom Hoge, Sam Stevens, Abe all have the game to get in contention here, this week. Can they do it?

Amateurs?

Yessir, the future of the game. We like Barclay Brown, the Stanford Cardinal that made the cut at the Open Championship last year. He’s got the comfort of knowing 3 of his teammates are also playing here this week.

We like Maxwell Moldovan, Preston Summerhays and Omar Morales, too.

Moldovan, a Buckeye - who we won’t hold that against - lost in a 3 for 2 playoff, after 8 extra holes, to make the tournament out of sectional qualifying. He got in as an Alternate, though. He may be a little pious for our secular liking, but the kid can flat out play. A made cut would be a success.

Summerhays, the rising junior out of Arizona State, is one of the most promising young guns in college. He shot a 62 in the second round of sectionals, with an eagle at the last, to get into a playoff, which he got through. He practiced with Rahm Monday and Tuesday and we’re hoping they can both do some ‘Devil Damage. He missed the cut at his last US Open, so making it here would make it a great week.

Omar Morales, a rising junior out of UCLA. One of, if not the only guy, with some previous playing history at this course. He said he’s played it “multiple times” since enrolling down the street in Westwood. Medalist at sectionals and the #1 ranked amateur coming out of Mexico in 2018-19, he could be peaking at just the right time. He won his first college tournament just this April. Making the cut would be big, and we believe he can do it.

Finally, our boy Gordo. Mr. Gordon Sargent the presumable #1 ranked amateur, now that Ludvig Aberg of Texas Tech is now a professional. We are high on Gordo, but watching his practice rounds, it just looks like he may not quite be there yet. Yes, he hits it longer than anyone out here. And, yes, he was mistaken as a Drive, Chip, & Putt contestant at Augusta in April. Standing just shy of 6 foot, this kid is definitely something special, and someone to watch out for in the future. We were high on him at Augusta where he struggled. We won’t play him to make the cut this week, but, we would love to be wrong. Gordo is a great kid from a great family; We wish him the best.

That’s a pre-tournament wrap from THE Los Angeles Country Club in posh Beverly Hills, California, USA.