Scrambling A Must For 2014 US Women's Open At Pinehurst

Jun 15, 2014; Pinehurst, NC, USA; LPGA player Lexi Thompson hits tee shots on the practice ground during the final round of the 2014 U.S. Open golf tournament at Pinehurst Resort Country Club – #2 Course. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The ladies will find the same things while playing The 2014 US Women’s Open as the men found last week at The Pinehurst Resort Number 2 golf course. The 100 year-old turtle-backed greens will not hold a golf ball unless there is a ton of spin applied to their approach shots.

2014 US Open Champ, Martin Kaymer got up and down from off the greens 19 of 27 times last week, and proved the second point. You have to make great putts from 10 feet or further to win this event.

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Kaymer also proved that missing these goofy greens in the right spot, was key to his win.

In fact, most of the field proved that the Native Areas were much easier to conquer than the tall rough we saw during the 1999, and 2005 US Opens.

Kaymer was able to miss the greens in the right position, and was able to get up and down most of the time.

They can talk all they want about landing areas in the fairway, ability to hit shots that work left to right and playing from the Native Areas, but the LPGA Star winning the second major of the year will need to scramble well, and make putts. End of story!

"“From watching on TV, I know I have to think more into my approach shots than usual,” Lexi Thompson said. “It’s kind of like British Open golf, you have to think about where you want to place it, where you want to land it, and the spots where you can get up and down from if you do miss.”"

The USGA is talking about the possibility of watering the greens a little more, at least during the opening rounds. By not hitting the ball quite as hard, and getting the elevation on their shots like the men do, this will server to level the playing field a bit.

I tend to agree with Casey Wittenberg, and his message to Lexi Thompson. Hit the driver and accept the consequences.

Lay-ups are fun to talk about, but the real test for these golfers remains the greens.

"Casey Wittenberg actually thought he was much too conservative in pulling driver and laid up too much, so he texted his buddy Benji Thompson, Lexi Thompson’s caddie, some simple advice for his player.“Hit driver all day!” the text read."

Martin Kaymer was criticized, and questioned all week for electing to putt from off of these greens. Because he always missed the greens in the correct spots, he was able to perfect a runaway win on Sunday afternoon.

"Where you can’t miss is long. Almost every hole on the golf course is particularly penal when you miss long, a“Matt Kuchar said that short sided sometimes here is better,” Kang said. “I mean that’s an odd thing to say, but I walked the course today and I saw some pins today where you were better putting from off the green than being on the green putting.”"

I am anxious for this tournament to get underway on Thursday. It will be very interesting to see which of the best players on the LPGA Tour will have the patience to play this golf course to perfection as Martin Kaymer did, or give up in the early rounds like Bubba Watson.

Source: LPGATour.com

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Scrambling A Must For 2014 US Women’s Open At Pinehurst

By Les Bailey | Jun 18, 2014