All Roads Lead to Pinehurst…
It’s finally here. The wait is over. For some of those living in Moore County, North Carolina, the week cannot end soon enough. For the rest of us golf fans who consume every minute of every tournament that you possibly could watch, we’ve made it to the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst. Tournament organizers are anticipating over 200,000 attendees this week. Many of whom will make the trip from Raleigh down US-1 to 15-501 and find the Sandhills waiting to greet them. I recall the naming of US-1 and 15-501 to be a point of frustration for a former co-worker, he always joked about the fact that every road leading through Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and heading south towards Pinehurst was some variation of US-1 or US-15/501, or heaven forbid the dreaded combination of US-1/15-501. This week, I don’t think he will mind driving down the winding roads to host venue that’s nestled amongst the majestic longleaf pines.
For many of the patrons, this tournament has been circled on their calendar since Pinehurst last hosted the U.S. Open in 2014. That year saw Martin Kaymer run away with a dominant performance and leave the field behind to battle for second place. 2014 also featured a dominant performance by the Pinehurst grounds crew as they hosted the Women’s U.S. Open that same year. That event had a perfect storybook victory for Michelle Wie West as she captured her first and only major championship. The buildup to the 2014 U.S. Open double header was phenomenal. But this year feels different. 2024 feels more electric, more charged, more anticipated. Maybe that’s attributable to the recent split in professional golf that saw many big names and top talent defect from the PGA Tour in favor of shorter tournaments with more pay and no cuts. Or, maybe it’s attributable to the investments made by the USGA into their brand new venture known as Golf House Pinehurst. This new campus serves as an extension to the USGA headquarters and will cement Pinehurst as a featured host site for decades to come.
Or, it could be that everyone knows they are going to see world class golf being played at a first class venue. Everything about Pinehurst Resort is first class and those who work there do all they can to make sure you feel that way. The players and fans alike know exactly what to expect when they arrive on the grounds. Whether this is their first U.S. Open or their 23rd, Pinehurst just feels like home. Of course, I may be biased, being from North Carolina and all. But this, the 2024 U.S. Open, feels like it is destined to be one for the record books and the memories. For me, this ties back to the last couple of editions not truly living up to the “hype” that’s expected from the USGA’s national open championship. 2023 featured wide open fairways that even I could hit on a bad day from the tee box. Keeping that first shot in the fairway will be a premium on No. 2. The greens have already proven to be a difficult test even in Monday’s practice rounds. Fast and firm will be the common theme throughout the week as we are set to see temperatures that mirror some of my recent rounds with highs in the 90s.
Some of golf’s most memorable moments live within these grounds. The most iconic of all Pinehurst memories has to be that of Payne Stewart triumphantly raising his right fist high into the air while balancing on one foot after sinking a putt on the 72nd hole to defeat Phil Mickelson by one stroke in 1999. This moment is memorialized by a statue that has been relocated from its normal home just off the 18th green to a more fan-accessible spot for the U.S. Open. You cannot visit Pinehurst and leave without a picture with Payne.
Copyright USGA/Chris Keane
Practice rounds will continue Tuesday morning through Wednesday afternoon and offers guests the best opportunities to interact with players as they prepare for the brutal test of skill that awaits them. The field is locked in following the final exemptions and additions. Adam Scott will keep his incredible major tournament streak alive at 92 consecutive events. Sergio Garcia will be in the field as one of the four open qualifying alternates who earned a spot on Monday alongside amateur Brendan Valdes, Otto Black, and Maxwell Moldovan. Tiger Woods returns to Pinehurst after accepting an exemption to enter the tournament. His Monday practice round with Jordan Spieth, Justin Thomas, and Rickie Fowler drew the largest crowd as Tiger worked on his game around Number 2 with his son, Charlie, by his side. It’s hard for Scottie Scheffler to keep a low profile heading into a major, but the buzz around Tiger’s practice round group allowed him to do just that. Many of the players were focused on putting, and as we’ve mentioned, that could pay dividends for anyone able to get hot on the putter.
If you’re planning to attend, make special note of the parking lots & shuttle schedules as there will be no patron parking in the Village of Pinehurst without proper credentials. The USGA & Pinehurst, along with Moore County emergency crews, have carefully planned for this event to ensure minimal discomfort for those traveling to the course. The USGA has a comprehensive fan guide to help you maximize your time at Pinehurst. Above all else, enjoy the golf that is going to unfold over the next several days. Enjoy the beautiful landscape that is Pinehurst, North Carolina. Enjoy Donald Ross’s masterpiece carved through the Sandhills and nestled majestically within the land of the longleaf pine.
