The United States treasures its iconic sporting venues. Whether Fenway Park or Candlestick Park, there is an extra sense of occasion when events in this country are held at stadia which have not been replaced by the modern equivalents that have sprung up everywhere.
The choice of Merion for the 113th US Open continues that tradition. The man who lifts the trophy on Sunday evening will have rubbed shoulders with history. The East Course is not necessarily extra special; what it routinely produces, however, unquestionably is. Included in the back catalogue is one of the most iconic golf shots of all time and one of the most memorable major play-offs.
Yet there is a strong, and unfortunate, possibility that the key player on day one may not even be in the draw – mother nature. By lunchtime on Wednesday, the USGA’s on-site meteorologists predicted a 100% chance of rain for the first round. The biggest dangers resonate in how severe it is, what comes with it, and when it arrives. We don’t have a definite, said Mike Davis, the USGA’s executive director. We could have a quarter of an inch, we could have two or three inches. This isn’t a huge front that is coming our way. It really depends on what hits us, how unlucky we are.
There could be some really high winds with us, potentially damaging winds, even some hail. That’s kind of the worst-case scenario. They are fairly certain that we are going to have some type of weather tomorrow. But, let me clarify, it’s going to be probably mid-afternoon or later. So I think tomorrow morning we’re looking OK.
Chaos, unfortunately, cannot be completely ruled out as Merion seeks divine intervention against the tail-end of a tropical storm. It could be very slow, and very messy, hence the organisers have braced themselves.
The championship course, while perfectly playable, has already born the brunt of six-and-a-half inches of rain between Friday and Monday which caused major problems – primarily a lot of mud – in public areas and left certain fairways and greens perilously close to flooding. Fine weather on Tuesday and Wednesday alleviated that risk; only time will tell whether permanently or not.
For now, all the tournament’s organisers can do is hope the gods smile kindly but the opening round’s marquee group of Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and Adam Scott are almost certain to be rummaging for their waterproofs after teeing off at 13.14 local time. That spells particular trouble for McIlroy, who has made little secret of the fact he struggles in inclement conditions.
Merion’s clubhouse is akin to a museum. Bobby Jones competed in his first US Amateur Championship here, as a 14-year-old. Jones returned in 1924 to win that title.
Ben Hogan’s one-iron approach shot to the 72nd hole of the 1950 US Open, also in this salubrious corner of Pennsylvania, is one of golf’s most iconic moments. Hogan, 16 months after surviving an horrific car crash which threatened his ability to walk again, proceeded to win the championship in a play-off. In 1971, Lee Trevino famously triumphed over Jack Nicklaus, also in a play-off.
And yet, since David Graham’s success a decade after Trevino, Merion has been left off the US Open rota. There was a sense that, as golf changed with the times and technology boomed, the venue failed to do likewise. That altered in the 1990s, when Merion succeeded in retaining its identity while adding the distance thought necessary to combat advancements in equipment.
It is a course with character, unlike so many which have emerged in recent times. There is also an element of the claustrophobic, with USGA marquees literally pitched in the back gardens of those who stay adjacent to the club. Logistically, the biggest challenge for competitors will be arriving on time at the 1st tee from a practice range which lies a 20-minute drive away. Depending on your outlook, such matters are either quaint or an inconvenience.
In highlighting sporting history’s endearing capacity to repeat itself, when the East Course opened as an offshoot of a cricket club it measured a hefty 6,500 yards as an antidote to what was viewed as a dangerous development in how far leading players could hit the ball. Today, Merion is only 500 yards longer.
The set-up and the exact level of poor weather prompts intrigue over how the second major of 2013 will play out. Some believe the softening of the course and a series of short holes could trigger a winning total around 16-under par. For years, there is no doubt the USGA had an obsession with avoiding such a circumstance but its stance has eased; when Woods won by 15 strokes and on 12-under par at Pebble Beach in 2000, he made a mockery of attempts to manufacture scoring.
The low-scoring theory this time round is offset by the thickness of the rough, how narrow so many fairways are and the fact that, on greens which almost all slope from back to front, controlling spin rate will prove to be a problem.
The first two holes offer opportunity, the 3rd to 6th are stern tests, the 7th to the 13th will be regarded as chances with the exception of the 9th, and from the 14th in represents one of the toughest closing stretches in golf.
A key, not-so subtle change from 1981 is the US Open prize fund. It now sits at $8m. Predictions were confirmed as the territory of the foolish a long time ago so here is one; Woods will depart Pennsylvania with the largest share of that bounty.
The magic of Merion
Merion is making its first appearance on the major circuit since the 1981 US Open
What makes the course unique?
• Merion has hosted more tournaments for the United States Golf Association, now 18, than any in the country. This year marks its fifth US Open.
• Wicker baskets adorn the pins instead of flags, right, and the compact nature of the venue – only 122 acres – means ticket sales have been restricted to 25,000 a day, some 45% fewer than usual.
• Plaques on the course refer to the historic achievements of Bobby Jones and Ben Hogan.
• Players will start their rounds on Thursday and Friday from the 1st and 11th, rather than 1st and 10th, for logistical reasons.
Why has the US Open come back here to Ardmore, Pennsylvania?
• Merion has a history of staging brilliant championships with equally impressive winners. The USGA had been under pressure to restore Merion as a US Open venue, especially after the course was lengthened, as a nod to its historic significance. The event is expected to run at a significant financial loss, however.
Who will it suit?
• Players who can keep the ball on the fairway and chip well. Tiger Woods and Graeme McDowell are the names which spring immediately to mind from either side of the Atlantic.
How has it played out in history?
• Australia’s David Graham was the last US Open winner at Merion, in 1981. A decade earlier, Lee Trevino prevailed. Ben Hogan won in 1950 and Olin Dutra was the victor in 1934.
• The last playing of the United States Amateur Championship at Merion, eight years ago, saw Edoardo Molinari take home the trophy.
Related Articles
No user responded in this post