(Pinehurst) Michael McGowan teeed off the first tee shot at the U.S. Open on Thursday morning, and it didn’t take long before we realized the magnitude of the challenge that Pinehurst No. 2 represents.
The tee shot, under pressure in front of an imposing crowd, ended up on the left of the fairway, in a sandbank. Just like the next shot. Then, his pit exit landed on — and beyond — one of the legendary domed greens. The 33-year-old golfer, who qualified for the event, then had to record a double bogey.
The history at Pinehurst No. 2 — the U.S. Open is being held there for the fourth time since 1999 — suggests it will be a very difficult tournament, even for the best golfers. Only four of them have finished under par in the previous three editions of the U.S. Open.
Although Pinehurst No. 2 has been revamped, including the addition of sandbars and native plants, it’s the Donald Ross greens that make it famous, looking like saucers that have been toppled over.
Tiger Woods has never seen Pinehurst No.2 with all that sand. He finished third in 1999, and second in 2005. He did not compete in the 2014 U.S. Open while recovering from one of his four back surgeries.
He tees off early Thursday morning on the back nine. Among those teeing off early Thursday morning on the front nine are two-time U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka and two-time Grand Slam champions Justin Thomas and Collin Morikawa.
Scottie Scheffler, the No. 1 golfer in the world who has already posted five victories on the PGA Tour this year, is part of a trio completed by the Nos. 2 and 3 golfers in the world. Scheffler, PGA champion Xander Schauffele and Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy will begin their tournament in the afternoon.