The Integrity of the US Women's Open at Oakmont

One of those unavoidable elements to professional golf is the intrusion of weather. Presuming a 7:30 a.m. first time and a 7:30 p.m. completion by the final grouping, tournament officials need to enforce conditions over a dozen hours of golf in a given day. As avid aficionados know, this isn’t always possible. Well-known golfers like Tiger Woods have been both beneficiary and victim to the vagaries of  climate influence. We’ll see this again this weekend at Oakmont. Afternoon soakings forced a cancellation of a portion of play and a restart Saturday morning, with hope for completing round two and beginning rounds three by nightfall.

What’s in store for the competitors? Doubtless, softer, more receptive greens…a plus. Closer approach shots should cede more birdie opportunities. Fairways that hold…also a plus. Even thought the ball might mud up in spots, slightly wayward tee balls will not run as easily into the fescue and other trouble areas. Wet sand…split. From fairway bunkers, should make longer shots easier; from greenside bunkers, not so much.

In the end, as we saw last month at the men’s championship, the most patient golfers will be in the mix at the end. Typically, this relates to experience very well, but not always (first time in contention for Havret and McDowell, yet finished 2nd and 1st.) At this juncture, all eyes are on Christie Kerr.