Players aim to stay fresh ahead of U.S. Open grind
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[June 13, 2017]
By Larry Fine
ERIN, Wisconsin (Reuters) - Coming to
relatively new Erin Hills, which is hosting its maiden major
championship, gives the world's best golfers a taste of the unknown
this week at the U.S. Open.
But being a U.S. Open, players can expect a mental and physical
challenge at the year's second major. The 11-year-old, tree-less
course 35 miles (56 km) northwest of Milwaukee stretches beyond
7,700 yards, where calf-length fescue grass waves in the wind
alongside fairways.
"It's one of the toughest mental tests that you're going to
encounter out there, and it's important to be fresh, and at least I
think I've got that part," British Open champion Henrik Stenson of
Sweden told reporters on Monday.
"I've had a week off in Sweden and haven't really focused much on
golf. So at least we're fresh."
Spain's Jon Rahm, a candidate to become the sixth successive
first-time major winner, said he also was trying to lessen his
stress level before Thursday's start.
"I wanted to get some rest at home, work out, practice on my game.
And made sure I stayed patient, not get the anticipation built up
too high."
Rahm, who tied for 23rd as the low amateur at last year's U.S. Open
at Oakmont, has been a sensation since turning professional.
He won the Farmers Insurance Open in January and has recorded five
more top-five finishes to zoom up the world rankings to number 10.
Rahm played a full round of practice on Monday and was full of
enthusiasm.
"I absolutely love the golf course," he said. "It's a very long golf
course, big greens. ...It's like a links golf course on steroids."
The Spaniard said he plans to dial down his practice to stay fresh.
"Played 18 holes today to get a feel of the golf
course. I'll play nine tomorrow and nine Wednesday, and after the
nine holes try to get my touch around the greens which I think will
be very important," he said.
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Detail view of an Erin Hills logo golf ball
for the U.S. Open golf tournament
at Erin Hills. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-USA TODAY Sports
The greens, like the fairways, are full of slope. Although there is
no rough around the greens, swales can carry errant approach shots
far away from the pins.
Stenson took a different approach to getting acclimated.
"It's important to have your mental strength and energy over the
weekend, if you're going to do well, and not overdo it in the first
couple of days," said Stenson, who added the Olympic silver medal in
Rio.
"So I walked 18 today, and then I'll play nine tomorrow and nine on
Wednesday and that should be good," Stenson said in between sneezes.
"One thing I forgot to say, this is hay fever heaven, and I expect
any local pharmacy to sell out of antihistamines. If you haven't
gotten yours, make sure you get them quickly.
"I forgot to take my pills this morning and I've been sneezing about
50 times already."
(Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Gene Cherry) [© 2017 Thomson Reuters. All
rights reserved.]
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