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At Chambers Bay, players miss hearing the spectators as much as spectators miss watching players
UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. -- Chambers Bay was built to host a U.S. Open. From day one, that's been the course's primary goal. And the course itself certainly feels like a championship track -- it offers holes that drop and rise and turn in interesting ways, it has dunes and fescue that make you feel as if you're overseas and, of course, it's visually stunning.
One major detail, however, was unfortunately overlooked. The fan experience at Chambers Bay is horrific -- entire holes are roped off because the dunes that surround them would be far too dangerous to climb, and spectators are instead encouraged to sit in grandstands. And both players and spectators alike are not amused.
Jordan Spieth, after his round on Thursday, called the eighth hole "eerie." "I've never played an entire hole in a major championship with no gallery," Spieth said. "It was kind of odd. And there's a delayed reaction from the crowd because they're so far away."
Billy Horschel misses the cheers.
What's disappointing about @usopengolf is the fans not being about to walk around the course/get close enough to most of the greens to cheer
— Billy Horschel (@BillyHo_Golf) June 19, 2015
Fans are having a hard time walking the course. They can barely see anything from outside the ropes.
— Billy Horschel (@BillyHo_Golf) June 19, 2015
I would be pissed if I paid a lot of money for tickets and could barely see the top players hit golf shots.
— Billy Horschel (@BillyHo_Golf) June 19, 2015
I truly miss the cheers/roars when you hit a great shot. Especially if you can't see where it finished. I feed off the energy of the fans!
— Billy Horschel (@BillyHo_Golf) June 19, 2015
Phil Mickelson, after his round on Thursday, called the spectator experience "weird." "Amy wants to come out and follow," Mickelson said, "and she simply can't, she just can't."
Ellie Day, Jason's pregnant wife, is "disappointed."
@AshleyKMayo I'm on site but not out there. Jason (and everyone) said its nearly impossible... And not super safe esp since I'm prego ð
— Ellie Day (@ellielaneday) June 18, 2015
@AshleyKMayo So excited for this week but I am SO disappointed I can't really watch this week. So lame.
— Ellie Day (@ellielaneday) June 19, 2015