Welcome to GOLF.com’s “Seen & Heard” video collection, by which we provide you with an inside have a look at golf’s largest occasions via the eyes and ears of our onsite crew. On deck this week: the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Let’s go!
ICYMI: Tiger’s new coach, ‘borderline’ greens | Seen and Heard at Pinehurst
On Wednesday, U.S. Open opponents have been dialing their video games in for Thursday’s opening spherical, and the GOLF.com crew was desperate to get some participant perspective on simply how exhausting No. 2 goes to play.
Sean Zak wished to take a look at simply how penal the tufty wiregrass that strains the fairways may be for errant pictures. After rolling three balls in and assessing the lies, it was clear that lacking the golf green might certainly be very pricey this week.
Zak additionally caught up with fan-favorite Harry Higgs, who’s contemporary off back-to-back Korn Ferry Tour victories in Could. Higgs delivered what will be the line of the event, which he stated got here from his caddie: “This isn’t going to be golf,” Higgs stated of this week’s U.S. Open. “That is going to be the world’s hardest endurance check.”
Nicely stated certainly!
One of many coolest components of each U.S. Open is the truth that anybody can get a spot within the subject by qualifying. GOLF government editor Alan Bastable caught up with one such qualifier. Colin Prater is a 29-year-old high-school biology trainer from Colorado, and this yr, he’s taking part in in his first U.S. Open.
“Do you carry golf into the classroom in any respect?” Bastable requested.
“Yeah, I feel my children in all probability get sick and uninterested in listening to about it,” Prater replied.
Because the day grew to become night, everybody’s ideas turned to Thursday’s opening spherical, and who’s almost definitely to shine.
James Colgan felt bullish about ascendant star Ludvig Aberg.
“I really feel actually good about Ludvig proper now,” he stated. “I do know he’s been coping with this knee harm, I do know he hasn’t been taking part in essentially his finest stuff, however I feel while you speak about a U.S. Open, particularly speaking about contending at a U.S. Open, it’s a battle of the wits, it’s not a battle of potential. And I feel he actually has it between the ears. For those who’ve seen him swing a golf membership, you recognize he’s greater than obtained the bodily stuff to make it occur.”
Colgan was additionally impressed by what he noticed from Max Homa and Xander Schauffele.
“He appeared actually tense on the PGA,” Colgan stated of Schauffele. “He appears relaxed at Pinehurst.”
The 2024 U.S. Open is able to roll. Carry it on!
To compensate for all of the GOLF crew’s actions at Pinehurst, try the complete playlist beneath — and keep tuned for extra Seen & Heard all through the week.