What do top players think about Merion? We asked mrenn29, who is the 2011 Virtual U.S. Open Champion, and currently sits in second place in this year's Qualifier. Here’s what he had to say about Merion...
Well it's that time of year again where all of us get to enjoy and get familiar with a new U.S. Open course on WGT. Merion isn't the longest course, but it sure has its bite in certain areas.
It sort of reminds me of a cross between Oakmont and Congressional. The scenery is similar to Congressional while the greens are high in difficulty like Oakmont. The greens at Merion have a lot of slope and if you are not careful, double bogey with championship green speeds is definitely in the equation even for the top players.
The course offers a lot of birdie opportunities but also some holes where making par is a great score. I think this year it's going to come down to the hot putter and the right winds. Obviously being able to reach the #2 par 5 in two, and the #10 par 4 from the tee is gonna depend on the right wind direction, but being able to make those crucial putts around the greens is where I believe the tournament will be won.
Good luck qualifying everyone and "hit em straight!"
VUSO Highlight of the Week
See mrenn29 play (and ace!) Hole 13 on Merion in this VUSO video replay.
Remember, you can play the Virtual U.S. Open Qualifier as many times as you want to try and post your best score, so keep shooting!
Play Tournament