US Open 2015: A guide to the back nine at Chambers Bay
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Jordan Spieth’s caddie Michael Greller has caddied at Chambers Bay more than 50 times. Here are his thoughts on how it might play during US Open week.
Chambers Bay is a beast. Like any good US Open venue, it’s going to test your patience and your abilities to the fullest. It requires good imagination and a good feel because there will be a lot of awkward shots. In that regard, I believe the course sets up well for Jordan because he has very good instincts. The course is also going to beat you up mentally and physically. There’s no doubt it will be the most demanding course we walk all year. It’s long and the rough is getting real thick.
Chambers will play fast and firm. It’s not going to be a Point A to Point B kind of course. In many ways, it might play somewhat like Pinehurst last year. The greens are probably the toughest part about the course. They are majorly contoured and very often, you’ll be aiming well away from the hole to get it close.
Greller’s guide to Chambers Bay’s back nine
Hole 10 – Par 4 – 436/458 yds |
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This is my favourite hole. It’s caught right between the two dunes, and you have Puget Sound in the background. You feel isolated from the rest of the course. It’s a birdie/bogey hole. I f you don’t hit the fairway with driver you’ll struggle to make par. There are so many bunkers. |
Hole 11 – Par 4 – 500/537 yds |
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A dog-leg left with a large mound in the centre of the fairway. The players will need to carry it about 300 yards. From there, you’ve got at least a mid or long iron to the right side of the green since everything slopes down to the left. Avoid the rough past the green |
Hole 12 – Par 4 – 281/311 yds |
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During the 2010 US Amateur, I saw fairway woods and hybrids hit here. You’ve got to score because you have a chance to make a birdie if you drive well. This green is huge with major contours. There will be times where you’ll have to aim away from the hole to get it close. |
Hole 13 – Par 4 – 534 yds |
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This is a beast of a hole, but you’ve got a wide fairway – the widest on the course. You’ll want to hit the driver and then hopefully a mid iron into the elevated green. Anything short will slope to the right. Stay away from the bunker short. It leaves a long up and down shot. |
Hole 14 – Par 4 – 521/546 yds |
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With the waste area along the left, it’s up to you how much you want to take off with the drive. The approach is tricky if you’re in the waste area because the green is so big and slopes so many different ways. Anything on the back funnels away. Take a long iron and land it short. |
Hole 15 – Par 3 – 123-246 yds |
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This par 3 is the signature hole with the lone tree in the background. They can make that a wedge in, or they could stretch that all the way back to a long iron. But either way you have to be wary of the wind because it’s so exposed. Stay away from the waste bunkers. |
Hole 16 – Par 4 – 423 yds |
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This is such a beautiful hole with Puget Sound on the right. They could make it driveable or a normal par 4. When driveable, you have to favour the left side and let the slope bring it back. As a normal par 4, hit a hybrid or 3-wood and take a short iron in because it’s a small green. |
Hole 17 – Par 3 – 172/218 yds |
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With Puget Sound on your right, another tough par 3. It’s hard to get up and down if you miss long. The whole course is known for that. It’s a mid iron, possibly a long iron tee shot. You have to avoid those bunkers and waste areas. Short-sided on this green is not good at all./p> |
Hole 18 – Par 5 – 604/525 yds |
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This could play as a par 4 or a par 5 depending on the day. Either way, you definitely want to hit driver. It’s a good risk/reward hole if it’s a par 5. If it’s a par 4, it’s a really stout hole that needs a long iron to a green with huge contours and levels. Finding the right level is the key. |
