Twenty-two hours ago, the leaders were making their way to the back 9 at the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay. I was sitting in the same spot on the couch as I am now, and as the next two exciting hours unfolded, one of the best golf tournaments would unfold in fantastic fashion. Jordan Spieth would hit his second shot on the 72nd hole to the center of the green and make birdie to take a one shot lead. Just one group behind, Dustin Johnson needed to make birdie to force a Monday playoff. It didn’t play out like that and Jordan Spieth now owns the first two golf majors of the 2015 season.
It was a spectacular golf tournament and one that I will never forget. As we wrap up this year’s second major golf championship, here are my final 15 thoughts closing out the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.
1.) Jordan Spieth has balls of steel
After a double bogey on 17 dropped him back to 4-under, Jordan Spieth stood on the 18th tee box and just unleashed a perfect drive like he was playing with his buddies in a money game. To make things even better, he then stood over his second shot and smoked a 5-wood to the center of the green, giving him a great look at eagle. He left it a little short but tapped in for birdie to get to 5-under, which would end being enough to get the win. This guy fears nobody. I love to see it and hope to be seeing more of that in the very near future.
2.) Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy are not quite rivals yet, but we’re getting close
In a Twitter chat with @UWedge today, we discussed the rivalry between Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy. I think we both agreed that in order to have a true rivalry, we need to have these two battle head-to-head over the next several years in a row to make it a true rivalry. While McIlroy made a little run at the end of the round on Sunday, it wasn’t enough. If these two can trade #1 and #2 over the next couple years, we will have a full blow rivalry on our hands. But we’re not quite there.
3.) Chambers Bay is a Great Golf Course
I like Chambers Bay. I would defintely travel and spend $250+ dollars to play it. The U.S. Open is suppose to be a tough challenge for the best players in the world. While the greens were a joke this week according to many players, the course itself is beautiful. I don’t think the course plays to those conditions for daily fee play and the greens are not that bad. Chambers Bay is definitely in my top-20 golf courses to play list.
4.) I Hope the USGA Brings the U.S. Open back to Chambers Bay
I loved the golf course. I hated the coverage. With those things said, I really hope the USGA brings the U.S. Open back to Chambers Bay. Future U.S. Open venues are locked for the next six years, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see the championship back in 12-15 years. I can guarantee, the USGA would do things differently the next time.
5.) Fox Golf coverage was just terrible
Poor camera work. Announcers who know nothing about golf. Lack of coverage of golfers who are hot. These are just a few of the things Fox Golf screwed up royally over four days of network coverage. We have another 11 years with them so I hope they get it together and put together a team who can handle the prestige of the U.S. Open. I’ll keep it at that.
6.) I love the 18th hole at Chambers Bay as a Par-5
The 18th hole is meant to be played as a par-5. Period. Jordan Spieth said it and a lot of other players chimed in as well. Playing it as a par-4 is just dumb. Did you see the excitement that played out yesterday when Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson both hit great golf shots into the green on the 72nd hole? Yeah, you would not have gotten that with a par-4.
7.) I’m starting to question if Dustin Johnson will get a major
Whistling Straits, Pebble Beach and now Chambers Bay. Dustin Johnson has had his shot at a major championship but just can’t close it out. There’s lots of great golfers who just can’t get it done and I am beginning to think DJ is one of them. He’s got talent like no other golfer we’ve seen but just can’t make those putts to close out big events. He’s most definitely one of the top-5 players with no majors and this one will hurt for a long time.
8.) Tiger Woods has A LOT of work to do on his golf game
Tiger Woods shot 80-76 on Thursday and Friday at the U.S. Open. This is coming off a last place finish at The Memorial Tournament a couple weeks ago. This dude lives for the major championships and he has officially hit rock bottom with his golf game. We’ll be seeing him quite a bit over the next couple months so I hope he figures something out fast. He has A LOT of work to do.
9.) I don’t think Phil Mickelson will ever win a U.S. Open
Unfortunately, I don’t think Phil Mickelson will get the ever-elusive U.S. Open that is holding him back from completing the career grand slam. He’s 45 now and doesn’t seem to be getting any better. While he’s put together a couple good rounds this year, he can’t seem to put together four good rounds. Phil ended up at 13-over par for the 2015 U.S. Open and just couldn’t back up that first round 69 with wait until Oakmont next year
10.) Fox Sports had some positives
I loved some of the graphics Fox Golf offered to the viewers. In particular, I liked the “ball tracer” view accompanied with the yardage markers to the greens. They also showed these yardages to carry bunkers and hazards. Here’s a quick little shot of some of their technology.
11.) The U.S. Open is still my favorite major championship
The U.S. Open is my favorite golf major. Period. It’s just the hardest and most challenging golf course layout the pros play each year. Sure, The Masters, Open Championship and PGA Championship are awesome to watch, the U.S. Open is by far my favorite. Did you see that finish yesterday? How can you not love that?
12.) My goodness I love this game
I Tweeted out about this last night but I’ll say it again. I just absolutely love the game of golf. Yesterday’s U.S. Open championship just cemented my affinity for this game and
13.) Joe Buck should stick with football and baseball
Joe Buck is Fox Sports premier lead sports commentator. Much like Jim Nantz and Dan Hicks lead CBS and NBC, respectively. Maybe he will get better in future years, but I think Fox needs to find another lead golf announcer to head up golf coverage. I don’t know who that can be but Joe Buck should stick with football and baseball.
14.) 8+ hours of golf coverage is just awesome
Thursday: 11:00am – 10:00pm
Friday: 11:00am – 10:00pm
Saturday: 1:00pm – 7:00pm
Sunday: 1:00pm – 9:30pm
Yeah, that was the TV Coverage for live golf the last four days. That’s awesome. Enough said.
15.) Mobile steaming is the wave of the future for golf
Thursday and Friday, while I typed away on spreadsheets at my corporate cubicle job, I was able to tune in to all the early coverage thanks to mobile streaming and mobile apps. The USGA launched an app, much like The Masters does, which provides streaming and highlights from the play. AT&T Uverse also has an app that allowed me to watch Fox Sports 1 which had the early round coverage on Thursday and Friday. This has come a long way in the past several years and this is something that needs to grow into the future.
What do you think of the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay? Let me know your thoughts below or hit us up on Twitter, @Front9Back9.
Todd says
Ryan,
Great post. I agree with you completely. It seems like DJ subconsciously does not want to win. When he gets close something happens and he misses short putts. Some people can’t live with fame, others like Spieth live for it.
I would play the course for sure but I wouldn’t want it to be my home course. Too sever around the greens for me.
You are spot on about Fox. Buck was lost as were the producers. No idea what was important to show. People making birdies and the live camera was on someone walking around a putt. As you mentioned there was some good too. Many hours of coverage, the graphics were good (except lack of scored unless you only card about the top 5), and no commercials at end which was nice.
I bitched thru a lot of it but the golf was exciting at the end!
I think Fox has some senior and amateur opens to cover so maybe the practice will help them.
What do you think of the actions of Horschel and others on TV and during press conferences. Should they of been more respectful?
Ryan Young says
I don’t have a problem with Horschel and others on TV doing the things they do. They were frustrated. I think where people have the most problem is when they come across as whining and moaning. I think there is a fine line between expressing your frustrations and whining. People don’t like the whining. Thanks for the comment Todd!