Monday At The 2024 U.S. Open
Field filled out to 156, practice gears up, Scheffler arrives, Clark returns the trophy, Odds, the 4th over the years, the new USGA Experience & WGHOF, Weather, plus Today in Entourages.
I had the fortunate experience of talking long hours with Donald Ross more than thirty years ago, and the unhappy experience of writing his obituary in 1948 for The Pinehurst Outlook. He was a strict man, with himself and everybody else, and he looked distastefully on amateurs who didn't do anything with their lives except play golf. He thought, really thought, and all those thoughts were channeled through golf. If golf can be regarded as some kind of religion among some people, then Ross regarded Pinehurst as his Vatican City. CHARLES PRICE
Everyone could use a little Charles Price to wrap day one at Pinehurst where, depending on your views on national championships inflicting player pain, .52 inches of rain fell overnight Sunday into Monday.
So much for Sunday afternoon’s light grilling to get the course playing faster.
Blue skies and warm temperatures could still work their magic over the next few days and take Pinehurst up to the edge. If not, the course should firm up based on the sheer volume of people walking inside the ropes. (Covered later in this edition but I’ll spoil the news now for Quadegnerates: no PGA Championship entourage records were broken Monday, but there’s always Tuesday as the crews dial in their cars!)
Meanwhile in field news, the USGA filled the remaining six spots held back for the Official World Golf Ranking’s top 60 by inviting two players under that criteria—Robert MacIntyre and Adam Scott—along with four alternates from Final Qualifying: Brendan Valdes, Otto Black and Maxwell Moldovan.
The players:
MacIntyre, of Scotland, who is No. 41 in the OWGR, is playing in his third U.S. Open. The 27-year-old recorded his first PGA Tour victory by winning the RBC Canadian Open with a 72-hole score of 264 (16-under) on June 2.
Scott, who is No. 61 in the OWGR, became exempt when the late Grayson Murray (No. 59) was removed from the list for purposes of determining the top 60. Scott will compete in his 23rd consecutive U.S. Open, with his best finish being a tie for fourth in 2015 at Chambers Bay.
Sergio Garcia will compete in his 25th consecutive U.S. Open, which ties him for 10th on the all-time list. He was the first alternate from the Dallas, Texas, qualifying site. The 44-year-old Spaniard owns 36 professional victories.
Valdes, 21, of Orlando, Florida, was the first alternate from the Jupiter, Florida, qualifier. He is competing in his second U.S. Open. He advanced through both stages of qualifying last year. Valdes was chosen first-team All-American as a junior at Auburn University in 2023-24.
Black, of Detroit, Michigan, is playing in his first U.S. Open. The 30-year-old was the first alternate from the Columbus, Ohio, qualifier. He fired a second-round 65 to gain a spot in a 4-for-3 playoff. Black has played in events on four professional tours (Korn Ferry Tour, PGA TOUR Canada, PGA TOUR Latinoamérica, PGA TOUR Americas).
Moldovan, 22, of Uniontown, Ohio, is the second alternate from the Springfield, Ohio, qualifier and became the highest-ranked alternate at that site when Scott’s status changed from first alternate to exempt. Moldovan will compete in his third consecutive U.S. Open.
Now on to a wide array of topics, including fascinating movement in the betting Odds, Quotes, a first look at the new USGA/WGHOF facility, a totally useless Weather forecast if you listen to locals, my video tip on a nice spot to see some plenty of tournament action this week, and Today in Entourages.
Odds
The odds heading into the 124th were already reflecting Scottie Scheffler’s continued domination even before winning the Memorial. He comes in as an astounding-but-deserving 3-1 favorite, well clear of Rory McIlroy at 10-1, PGA Champion Xander Schauffele at 11-1 and Pinehurst defending champion Martin Kaymer is at 200-1.
Jon Rahm, the 2021 U.S. Open champion, was 16-1 last week before withdrawing from LIV’s Houston event with a left foot infection. He’s now 20-1 and as high as 30-1.
Last year’s 54-hole leader Rickie Fowler is 110-1 after an 82 and missed cut at the Memorial.
Defending Champion Wyndham Clark arrives a 60-1 shot to defend his title.
If you’re looking for some better value check out the Top 20 odds. A couple of old war horses in Tiger Woods and Spooning Cleeks President/GM/LIV Houston team winner Kaymer are hovering around 6/1 to finish inside the top 20.
Quotable
Defending champion Wyndham Clark on the state of his game. “I haven't been playing my best golf. It's been kind of a tough stretch these last few weeks. Really I'm trying to gain some momentum for the rest of the season. I know that maybe sounds like low expectations for the week, but honestly I'd love to just gain some momentum.”
Clark on the greens after playing two practice rounds. “They are extremely fast. If they get any firmer and faster, the greens, I mean, they'd be borderline. They already are borderline.”
North Carolina native Webb Simpson on qualifying for the U.S. Open at Pinehurst. “I kind of see it as a gift to be here. I didn't get in. I had to go qualify. So I feel like it's all upside. My game is so much better than it was a year ago. As weird as it sounds, I feel like I can compete. I'm not going to be happy unless I play well overall. But I am thankful to be here.”
Simpson on how he’ll hit recovery shots around the crowned Pinehurst greens. “I'm using 3-wood, which I never used throughout the year. But I did it in '14. I saw somebody doing it, they made it look really easy. I tried it. Put it in play that week. I haven't done it since the 2014 U.S. Open. Already I'm realizing it's easy. I got a lesson from Chesson Hadley. He's really good at it. Why I love it? It comes off the face a little quicker than the putt. It's hard to have consistent contact chipping the ball because every lie around these greens, everywhere you go, side, front, it doesn't matter, it's into the green. You chip five balls you're probably going to chunk one of them.”
Fourth Hole Through The Years
To offer some perspective on how much things have changed, I took the middle image on the Monday practice round ten years ago. The top photo is an AI colorized old photo of the 4th in Donald Ross’ day, while the bottom image is of the fourth hole late Sunday afternoon.
Weather
A 40% chance of more showers was forecast overnight from Monday into Tuesday, but it was a beautiful and clear evening as the typesetter sent the Quad to the printer.
Thursday’s first round features a 40% chance of showers in the afternoon with 10-15 m.p.h winds from the south.
Friday features a 40% chance of thunderstorms and similar breezes predicted.
From the USGA’s on-site forecast:
The weekend currently includes a 40% chance of the same “medium” risk event on Saturday afternoon with a high of 92, while Sunday looks good (as of now).
USGA Experience And World Golf Hall Of Fame
The just-completed two-story structure off the main entrance to Pinehurst is a triumph on multiple levels.
The convenient location rounds out the transformation of the Village of Pinehurst into the legitimate “cradle of American golf” that has included the restoration of No. 2, improvements at many local courses, the USGA’s presence, and the charming Village of Pinehurst’s continued improvements.
The World Golf Hall of Fame’s late inclusion into the project re-creates key elements from the last location in St. Augustine. Namely, the inductee “lockers” include donated inductee items ranging from clubs to offbeat mementos. The lockers are beautifully lit and the inductees are placed with peers of their era.
All of the major championship and other lesser tour “race” trophies are attractively presented.
Architecture and detail photos of the World Golf Hall of Fame at Golf House Pinehurst (Copyright USGA/Jason E. Miczek)
By incorporating the latest display and interactive exhibiting techniques, the USGA portion explains the many facets of the organization in a streamlined and interactive fashion.
Highlights of those exhibits include an explanation of how ball distance works and various green section elements (along with the key USGA championship trophies).
A gift shop features some nice things but could use fewer logoed polos and include reimagined golf history ephemera from the collection, along with books and USGA publications with an emphasis on Pinehurst, WGHOF inductees, golf architecture and history.
An ample temporary exhibition space kicks off with an eclectic look at various moments in Pinehurst history. The items include early development plans, Amelia Earhardt’s golf clubs from the time she played here, some fantastic Donald Ross items courtesy of the Tufts Archives, homages to local legends like Richard Tufts and Harvie Ward, and Payne Stewart’s modified rain jacket from his 1999 win.
Before Monday night’s induction ceremony, Padraig Harrington took a tour of the lockers and inspected his “New Inductee” contributions. He will eventually be placed in a row with other HOF’ers of his era: Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els.
Entering the experience is free this week. U.S. Open spectators can access the new facility without losing their access to course No. 2 and the championship.
Going forward, admission is just $10, $5 for residents and free for USGA Members.
Best of all, the long-time “home of American golf” continues to feel more like the moniker thanks to these additions and others that will be examined this week.