SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Steve DiMeglio dissects the historic course which last hosted the U.S. Open in 2004. USA TODAY Sports
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. – With three hours left to play in Saturday’s third round of the 118th U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, Zach Johnson signed for a 72 and then respectfully told Sky Sports that the U.S. Golf Association had lost the course.
“When you have a championship that comes down to either luck or a fortuitous bounce or sheer luck, that's not right and we are there already,” the two-time major champion said. “It’s unfortunate that our nation’s tournament is already shot at a venue that they lost 14 years ago.
“When you are 15 or 20 feet (from the hole) and you're trying not to three-putt, that's probably not a proper way to play in my opinion.
“We are going to see sheer carnage out there and it's unfortunate.”
Johnson referenced the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock that turned into an embarrassment for the USGA when heat and winds and the lack of preparation by the organization turned the final round into a nightmare.
The green at the par-3 seventh became so unplayable, with players putting balls off the green because speed and wind conspired to make them look like fools, the USGA had to stop play at times to water the greens.
Heading into this championship, the USGA all but guaranteed it wouldn’t repeat its mistakes. Well, Saturday came and Johnson, who is always careful to pick his words and when to voice them, had seen enough.
As Johnson predicted, carnage arrived. With winds blowing off Long Island Sound and the green speeds dangerously high, the U.S. Open became a test of survival more than anything.
World No. 1 Dustin Johnson was 4 under and four clear of the field after two rounds but made a double bogey and four bogeys and lost his lead. Rickie Fowler was 10 over on his round through 11 holes. Not a single player who started the day in the top 10 was under par.
And plenty of golf remained.
“It’s pretty much gone, it's pretty much shot,” Zach Johnson said. “Which is unfortunate because in my opinion, it's some of the best land and certainly one of the best venues in all of golf. In this country, it's as good as it gets. Shinnecock Hills is beautiful, but unfortunately, they've lost the golf course.
“I feel for the spectators who are seeing absolute pure carnage – unless they want to. I feel for the USGA because I don't feel that was their overall intent from the very beginning but when it comes to things that have happened in the past, you've got to err on the side of a conservative approach and that wasn't done today.”
