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Re: Virtual US Open Cut Line - My Guess = 57

• lvietri 3,326 Posts

  Mon, May 6 2013 3:52 PM

  My guess - 57 will be the cut for the Virtual US Open. (maybe even 56)

  It's a fairly easy course - Very short - lots of wedges into the greens. 

  Just curious what some others think.

• TarheelsRule 5,591 Posts

  Mon, May 6 2013 4:10 PM

  Having played the course about 8 times I have a fairly similar opinion as Lou does, that the cut line will be around 57........13 under par.

  There aren't any holes that can't be birdied, even the tough par 3's that are over 235 yards.   The 2 par fives are easy birdies and there are about 6 par fours that are simple birdies as well.  The 13th (par 3) is 135 yards and although it has some issues with distance it should be a simple birdie.   That gets you to 9 under.  From there it is a matter of playing the other 9 holes in 4 or 5 under to get to the magic number.

  My best to date is 10 under with a double on 18 so a simple intelligent par there would have got me to 12 under.  Instead I had a good look at a birdie, I thought and came up short in the bunker, horrid lie and a missed 8 footer for bogey.

  The putting is the thing that makes it hard for me, not getting a great handle on it.

• lonnieskinner 1,677 Posts

  Mon, May 6 2013 4:13 PM

  I think it will be 57. It is a short course but there are several holes that can end your round in one shot. I was 6 under going into the sixth hole and got VEMed. Ended up in 60-70 rough. Two shots and two putts later i end up with a double bogey. Round over. Also there is no rhyme or reason to the green speeds. Several of the holes putt totally different when it comes to speed. Those who have the best equipment, experience and take notes will qualify. (By VEMed i mean the shot came up 9 yards short with only 7 mph side wind and a dinged shot).

• andrewmca 447 Posts

  Mon, May 6 2013 4:26 PM

  What is the result of making the cut? other than the privilege, are their any financial benefits or prizes?

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Mon, May 6 2013 4:51 PM

  IMO, 56. I think there's 156 players that will put together 14 birdies and 4 pars at least. 

   

  andrewmca:

  What is the result of making the cut? other than the privilege, are their any financial benefits or prizes?

  Yes. For countries and states that allow it you get a year's membership in the USGA, a rules book, cool hat and a  cooler personalized bag tag.  :-)

• MBaggese 15,375 Posts

  Mon, May 6 2013 5:15 PM

  I'm thinking a 56 will be needed, many of the top players haven't posted scores yet...and many who are at the 57/58 area are going to keep at it to make sure they are in.

   

  Plus, available equipment this year is quite a bit better than for Oly, and there are many up and comers that will be able to go low.

   

  Last year at Oly when i made the initial cut at 57 or 58?..(whatever is was) with a few weeks left in qual, I didn't play it again, other than in AS, I was 100% confident I would make the cut...this year if I'm fortunate enough to put up a 57, I won't be sitting back and waiting;)

• tiffer67 1,764 Posts

  Mon, May 6 2013 5:46 PM

  Pretty sure it will be 57. The front 9 is kind and all depends on how you play 3, 5,6 & 9. You need to make 2 birdies at least on these 4 holes with 3 and 9 being the most likely. Out in 29 at worst.

  You then have to make a minimum of 3 birdies over 10,11,12 & 13 to give yourself a realistic chance of a 56/57. Trying to make 4 birdies over the last 5 holes is a really tough task, there really is no margin for error. Even then a lot can depend on the wind you get on 18. My last two rounds I have been hitting in from 230+ into a 14mph head wind on 18, not ideal if you want to make a 3.

• Spammage 694 Posts

  Mon, May 6 2013 6:37 PM

  I think 57 will be safe this year and 58 has an outside shot at it.  This course just has too many holes waiting to bite your good round in the behind.

• 893 Posts

  Mon, May 6 2013 7:10 PM

  Seeing i restarted once and shot 57 i hope it stays 57 lol. Will practice more but with 2 months till open i think the safe bet is stick to your normal play in rgs or whatever it may be. I'm saying that because when the open comes it will play alot tougher than the qualifier conditions and if i bore myself on it now then i will be sure to play horrible in the open. 

• TarheelsRule 5,591 Posts

  Tue, May 7 2013 8:24 AM

  I'm going with 57 after playing a few times.  My initial post of 57/58 is being moved down.

  With the multiple restart option and the better clubs it makes the course a little more tame and the green speed does as well.

  I don't think it will be so easy to put out 12 or 13 under once the tournament starts.  There are a number of shots that are borderline to try and without the advantage of a restart, you probably won't try that in the real tournament.  Cutting over the trap on 1 isn't hard with a slight tail or even side wind.  Carrying the trap on the par five can be done with just a little help from the wind.  Playing left on 10 to the green can be done.  All those things become a lot more of a tough decision when you don't have that restart button available.

  The killer hole to me is still 13.  The others I know what to expect.  On this hole I expect to make a birdie and have made every score from an ace to a nine in qualifying.  Without the restart button it becomes tough to fire it at this pin knowing that sometimes it just seems to go 10 yards long into the back bunker and rough complex from hell.