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Jordan Spieth tries to escape the rough at Oakmont
USGA
After two rounds, it’s undeniable that Oakmont is the toughest test in golf. The bunkers are brutal, the greens are severe, but one aspect that has consistently stumped players—the rough.
Oakmont’s relentless second cut has snagged clubfaces and players’ chances of making it to the weekend, and according to GOLF Teacher to Watch Parker McLachlin, there are a couple of reasons it’s been tough to tackle.
The lies are deceptive
McLachlin says many players are struggling to read their lies from the thick grass—which he says is a critical component when trying to escape this kind of lie.
Before setting up to their shot, players need to assess if the ball is sitting up or down, how much grass is behind it, and whether it’s into the grain or with it. At Oakmont, he says, you’re rarely certain.
“All of these things play a role as you pick your shot,” McLachlin says, “That then dictates how much shaft lean you need or how open the clubface is.”
Which means, more often than not, they’re guessing.
And as we’ve seen, some of these gambles can be costly.
Contact is unpredictable
The other major challenge? How grass interacts with the clubface.
“Oakmont greens require precision as to where you land it and how much spin you’ve got,” McLachlin says, “With the rough the way that it is, it sort of removes all of that precision.”
Hitting into greens as fast as Oakmont’s is hard enough. But add in not knowing how the ball will react from the rough? It’s enough to shake even the best players—especially as the greens have sped up in round two.
Players will think they hit the perfect shot, McLachlin says, and miss their landing spot by a few inches and without any spin on it, now the ball is off the green—which as we’ve seen, can quickly compound one mistake into a big number.
With conditions only getting tougher, managing the rough will remain a key factor heading into the weekend. Stay tuned to see who handles it best and conquers the beast that is Oakmont.
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