Notebook: Merion Beats Up On Field

By Ken Klavon, USGA

Ardmore, Pa. – One by one they marched off Merion Golf Club Monday as though they’d been put through a heavy rinse cycle. Twice.

If Merion officials were wondering whether their renovations to the 99-year-old course passed the test as a tough venue, they got their answer. Tough wouldn’t be a strong enough word as it played more than four shots harder than Philadelphia Country Club, the other site being used for stroke-play qualifying.

The statistics also tell the harsh story. Merion surrendered 222 birdies compared to 311 at PCC. What’s worse, Merion saw 815 bogeys and 236 double bogeys compared to the 725 bogeys and 94 doubles at PCC.

"I’ll tell you what, this course today was the hardest course I’ve ever played," said 19-year-old Chris Ault of nearby Levittown, Pa.

During qualifying, Ault rode a 63 to a 36-hole 134 that earned him medalist honors at Llanerch Country Club (Havertown, Pa.) and Rolling Green Golf Club in Springfield, Pa., on Aug. 1 and 2.

On Monday, his chief highlight came on his final hole, the par-3 ninth, where he bumped in an 80-foot putt for birdie. He then attached his name to an 11-over 81.

"It got over the hill and broke left," he said of the putt. "Then it went straight down. I thought, ‘No way.’"

No way would sum up his feelings, too, as he battled every nuance that Merion offered. He absorbed three double bogeys and four bogeys, and then tried to put his finger on what made the course so difficult.

"The rough is 65 inches up, the greens are quick – they really firmed up the last 12 holes – the pins are tough, they’re on slopes … the middle holes, five and six, play forever long," he said.

First-round leaders Chandler Cocco, Andrew Parr and Ryan Yip, 20, played at PCC. Each acknowledged that they wanted to get off to a solid start.

"That was the goal today; try to take advantage of this course," said the 22-year-old Parr of PCC’s 6,967-yard layout. "Hopefully, I can keep it respectable at Merion."

"That’s what I wanted to do, get a pad for tomorrow because that course is tough," said Cocco, 20.

Brian Harman, 18, coming off an emotional team victory at the Walker Cup, fired a 1-over 71. The 2003 Junior Amateur champion felt he left a couple of strokes on the course due to how severe it sets up. Two of his four bogeys were carded on brutal par-5 holes, No. 5 (504 yards) and 18 (505 yards), masked as par 4s this week.

"The stroke average would be a lot lower on this course if those two holes were par fives," said Harman.

Others who fared better wouldn’t disagree with the notion that Merion disguised itself as a heavyweight prizefighter, landing excruciating body blows. Sixteen-year-old Sihwan Kim, the 2004 Junior Amateur champion, shot even-par and felt fortunate; 21-year-old Canadian James Lepp also took an even-par score, and 36-year-old mark Strickland, a 1991 Amateur Public Links quarterfinalist, recorded a 1-under 69, smacking Merion back.

"I scrambled really well and had a really good day on a really hard golf course," said Kim, whose only blemish was a double bogey on No. 18.

During the annual players’ dinner that precedes the U.S. Amateur 16-year-old Bradley Johnson of Birmingham, Ala., leaned over and uttered that he had no expectations this week primarily because he only averages 270 yards off the tee. He knew coming in that he had to be accurate and not open himself up to mistakes.

The words raised an eyebrow probably because it was surprising talk from the high school junior who placed runner-up at this year’s Junior Amateur. Johnson lost to Kevin Tway, 5 and 3. Both earned exemptions into the Amateur.

Looking at Johnson’s score, prevailing wisdom would suggest he struggled to a 7-over 78 at Merion Monday. That wouldn’t be quite accurate.

"I didn’t hit a bad shot the first three holes and I was three over," said Johnson. To be more accurate, Johnson actually didn’t go 3 over until his fourth hole was complete, but the point was well taken.

Like Ault, Johnson had a highlight shot on his finishing hole, which also was No. 9. He had a 25-foot chip-in from the left greenside rough. He took some solace from it, but knows full well that his chances of making play are slim. He said he’s played The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Sea Island Golf Club (Sea Island, Ga.) and East Lake Golf Club (Atlanta, Ga.) but Merion takes the cake as the hardest he’s played.

He said that anyone hoping to play well simply can’t take any double bogeys, like the three he took, reasoning that for each notched double it takes two holes to make it up.

"This course is so demanding that you can’t let your guard down," said Johnson. "It’s the longest short course, I’ll say that."

What Would Hogan Think?

Lepp never tried qualifying for a U.S. Amateur. That would also be the case this year. How so? The University of Washington senior gained an exemption for winning the NCAA Championships.

Monday afternoon there he was staring down the 18^th fairway holding his driver. He crushed the ball. When it stopped rolling, he measured 360 yards. All he needed from there was a pitching wedge in on the 505-yard, par 4.

"I was surprised to see how far it went," said Lepp. "It hit the flat and got far enough to roll down the hill a bit."

Pace Of Play

It wasn’t uncommon for groups to post rounds that exceeded five-plus hours Monday at Merion. At first glance Tom Meeks, the USGA senior director or Rules and competitions, seemed stunned – until he saw the scores coming in.

"That’s just the golf course," said Meeks. "It’s that hard."

When told that Ault had carded a 63 in qualifying, Meeks used that as ammunition.

"He shot a 63 to get in?" he said. "He shot 81 today? That just shows you it’s hard."

Ken Klavon is the USGA’s web editor. E-mail him with questions or comments at kklavon@usga.org.