By Dean Reinmuth with Matthew Rudy
Photo By Charles Lindsay
June 2008
When I heard that Golf Digest was picking an "average Joe" to play at Torrey Pines with three celebrities the week before the U.S. Open, I had to chuckle.
Those poor guys have no idea what they're getting themselves into.
A U.S. Open setup is much harder than even the hardest PGA Tour layout, which at Torrey Pines will mean fairways about 30 yards wide, punishing rough and green speeds faster than almost anything outside of Augusta National.
You might never have the chance to play under major-championship conditions, but I'm sure there's a course in your rotation that beats you up every time. By using the same strategies I'd give the average golfer who'll be playing Torrey Pines, you can tame your toughest course the next time you play it.
The biggest battle a tour player faces at a U.S. Open is against the mental wear and tear that comes from grinding over every shot. It's the same for you when the fairways get narrow and it seems like there are hazards everywhere. No piece of swing advice I could give is as important as this "golf psychology" tip: Stay strong and positive, and don't let a bad break cause you to lose your composure. You can hit what you think is a good shot, but the ball kicks into a place where you're going to be lucky to make bogey. It happens all the time. The guys who rage against the unfairness of it -- like Sergio Garcia did when his tee shot hit the flagstick and bounced away during the British Open playoff last year -- lose focus on what's really important, which is staying out of big trouble and avoiding big numbers.
Any really hard course rewards a golfer who takes a more calculated approach. You don't have to be the best player, or even the best ball-striker. You need to have the best strategy, and check your ego at the starter's shed.
First, accept the fact that you aren't going to hit many greens in regulation. Torrey Pines can play more than 7,600 yards for the Open. From the back tees, many of today's toughest private clubs or high-end daily-fee courses push 7,300 yards.
On a penal course with difficult rough, your primary mission is to play from the fairway as much as possible. That means treating all the par 4s like short par 5s. Leave the driver and 3-wood at home, and use the longest club you know you can hit straight, even if it means getting only 160 or 170 yards off the tee. If you can hit a pitch shot from fairway grass for your third on a par 4, you have a fighting chance to make bogey -- and bogeys are your friend. If you shoot for bogey, you're intentionally steering away from risks that can lead to triple bogey and leaving yourself in position to make a lucky par or two if you hit a good pitch or make a putt.
The two other hallmarks of really hard golf courses are long, thick rough and difficult green complexes. The danger with both is compounding the mistake of getting out of position by trying a risky shot from trouble.
If you hit into deep grass, don't even worry about the green. Find the 175- or 150-yard marker and plan a shot with that spot as your goal. If you can hit it to there, you have an opportunity to get on the green with your next shot.
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