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**thakitt** · 07-29-2012, 09:58 PM

No, they changed it to a par 4 just for the mental challenge it presents to the pros....even though it shouldn't change the way they played the hole at all. In addition to changing the first hole from a par 5 to a par 4, the USGA changed the 17th hole from a par 4 to a par 5, without making any other significant changes. In past US Opens, it had always been a par 4, and hardly anyone could birdie it. By making it a par 5, they opened up some birdie chances, but they didn't really change the overall scoring on that hole at all.

The first hole played slightly easier this year than the past Open. That could have been due to course conditions, or it could have been the little mental nudge all the players' had to try to reach the green in two even if their drive wasn't that great. If was the mental nudge, then that's not very smart golf.....tournament players should not let the par designation effect their course management decisions.

so what you saying is that the first hole should have been played the same way no matter it used to be a par5. So they should have played for bogie. When the usga changes a par 5 into a par 4 it's not to give the players a mental nudge. It's to make the course harder. It requires two solid shots instead of three to achieve the new par. Play three shots and one putting for par is not the way the hole and it's difficulty we're designed. The reward for one putting is birdie, on this hole.

07-29-2012, 09:58 PM	#26
thakitt Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 555 Senior Member	No, they changed it to a par 4 just for the mental challenge it presents to the pros....even though it shouldn't change the way they played the hole at all. In addition to changing the first hole from a par 5 to a par 4, the USGA changed the 17th hole from a par 4 to a par 5, without making any other significant changes. In past US Opens, it had always been a par 4, and hardly anyone could birdie it. By making it a par 5, they opened up some birdie chances, but they didn't really change the overall scoring on that hole at all. The first hole played slightly easier this year than the past Open. That could have been due to course conditions, or it could have been the little mental nudge all the players' had to try to reach the green in two even if their drive wasn't that great. If was the mental nudge, then that's not very smart golf.....tournament players should not let the par designation effect their course management decisions. so what you saying is that the first hole should have been played the same way no matter it used to be a par5. So they should have played for bogie. When the usga changes a par 5 into a par 4 it's not to give the players a mental nudge. It's to make the course harder. It requires two solid shots instead of three to achieve the new par. Play three shots and one putting for par is not the way the hole and it's difficulty we're designed. The reward for one putting is birdie, on this hole.
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