Pinehurst’s Swift Greens to Unleash ‘War of Attrition’ at US Open 2024

Legendary golfer Tiger Woods has issued a stern warning ahead of the 2024 US Open at Pinehurst Resort and Country Club: the lightning-fast greens will test players to their limits. “It’s going to be a war of attrition,” Woods said during a recent interview. “The speed of those greens is going to make it extremely difficult to score.” Pinehurst No. 2, which will host the tournament, is renowned for its notoriously fast putting surfaces. The TifEagle Bermuda grass greens are known for their smooth, lightning-quick roll that makes even short putts a challenge. Woods explained that the greens will demand precision and patience from players. “You’re going to need to hit the ball exactly where you want it,” he said. “If you’re even a little off, you’re going to three-putt.” The former world number one added that the length of the course will also play a significant factor. “It’s a long course, so you’re going to need to be strong off the tee,” Woods said. “But even if you hit it long, you still need to find the fairway, because the rough is thick and penal.” Woods’ assessment echoes the sentiments of other top players who have played the course. “Pinehurst is a beast,” said world number one Scottie Scheffler. “The greens are so fast, it’s like putting on ice.” Justin Thomas, another contender, added: “It’s going to be a tough test. You’re going to need to be on your game, and you’re going to need some luck.” The 2024 US Open at Pinehurst promises to be a thrilling spectacle of golf. With its lightning-fast greens and demanding layout, the course will put the world’s best players to the ultimate test of skill and endurance.

The green surroundings are also causing much debate among players about whether to negotiate the steep slopes with putters, wedges, irons, or even fairway woods.

The green surroundings are also causing much debate among players about whether to negotiate the steep slopes with putters, wedges, irons, or even fairway woods.

Rory McIlroy believes the variety of shots players will have to hit will make for “more exciting viewing” for fans “rather than watching guys hit four-inch rough shots all the time,” as happens in the PGA Tour.

On Tuesday, the 2011 Northern Ireland champion said he had “36 hours” to “find out what I’m comfortable with on the greens.”

It’s an opinion shared by world number one Scottie Scheffler, who said he “appreciates the playability of the teeing areas more than the heavy heavy duty that surrounds each green.”

“It offers a little more variety, a little more excitement, and a little more creativity around the greens,” the two-time major winner said.

“It’s a better test than just having a heavy hitter on the back of every green.”

Woods says he has ruled out using woods, while 2020 champion Bryson DeChambeau prefers his wedges, “hitting the slope, bouncing and rolling off the top of the hills” unless he gets a bad lie, in which case are putting.

Norway’s rising star Viktor Hovland says he leans more towards the putter.

“If you average 20 shots, the putter will be much better than the chip,” he said.++”Maybe it’s closer to 60-40 with a putter.”

Xander Schauffele, who won his first major at the US PGA Championship last month, says he “normally defaults to putting.”

“The Texas wedge is definitely my friend,”+he+said.++“I’ve+never+hit+that+many+putts.+I+joked+with+my+caddy+that+I+should+get+it+looked+at.+I’ve+never+swung+my+putter+that+hard+for+nine+holes,+just+trying+to+get+up+and+down+mounds.”

However,+Kaymer,+famous+for+making+a+magnificent+putt+on+and+off+the+green+en+route+to+victory+a+decade+ago,+says+his+approach+this+week+“might+be+a+little+different.”

“I+may+use+the+rescue+a+little+more+often+or+the+hybrid+around+the+greens+because+of+the+length+of+the+grass,”+he+said.

“It’s+a+little+higher,+a+little+thicker,+so+it’s+not+as+tight+as+it+used+to+be.”

And+that’s+coming+from+the+only+man+to+reach+double+figures+under+par+in+a+US+Open+at+Pinehurst+Number+Two.

Tiger Woods believes the fast greens at Pinehurst No. 2 will lead to a “war of attrition” at the 2024 U.S. Open. Woods, who won the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, said the greens at Pinehurst are “similar” to those at Torrey Pines, which were also very fast. “It’s going to be a war of attrition,” Woods said. “You’re going to have to make a lot of putts. You’re going to have to make a lot of pars. And you’re going to have to keep the ball in play.” Woods said the key to playing well at Pinehurst will be to keep the ball below the hole. “You’re going to have to hit a lot of low shots,” Woods said. “You’re going to have to keep the ball below the hole. And you’re going to have to make a lot of putts.” The 2024 U.S. Open will be the third time the tournament has been played at Pinehurst. The other two times were in 1999 and 2005. Woods finished tied for 12th in 1999 and tied for 30th in 2005.