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"All the current rules achieve is to make highly-skilled practitioners see shots go sideways through no fault of their own."

Perfect, now that everyone else will be hitting those troublesome lateral shots Ian Poulter will probably have his best ever chance of winning a Major.

It does seem ridiculous that the USGA would choose not to allow this, quite common, practice to be used. They can say all that they want about prestige or the historic values of the game but the fact is a tournament that over-runs, as this one may well do, is always going to be looked at with a slight asterix - on that note, can you imagine the issues if it runs through to Monday and then ends in a tie with an 18 hole play-off required on the Tuesday?.

(what could they do to try and get things done on time? Surely 3 ball groups on the weekend wouldn't be considerd would it?)

Not sure that I agree, the pro's don't call it lift, clean, place and cheat for nothing. And it wouldn't apply to balls in the rough.

More pertinently, what if they completed a play-off on Tuesday and began the US Women's Open on Thursday?

I have always enjoyed watching The Majors on TV. After a few pints of a Sunday lunchtime and a late roast dinner, to settle down in front of the box to the excitement and wonderful scenery of Georgia, and the dulcit tones and witty commentary of the incomparable Peter Allis was an annual event not be missed which ranked alongside the Morecambe and Wise Christmas show. One thing always annoyed me though. Something along these lines...

AT-THE-TEE INTERVIEW WITH SPECTATOR AT US OPEN GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

INTERVIEWER: Hi there Sir. Adam Middiot from K.R.A.P. News. Whats your name?
SPECTATOR: Hi. Im Marvin.
INTERVIEWER: Well, Marvin, you look like youve enjoyed the golf today.
SPECTATOR: Yeah. I sure have.
INTERVIEWER: And whos your favourite player?
SPECTATOR: UhItsuh...goddammitoh yeahthat Cat Forest guy.
INTERVIEWER: Cat Forest? You mean Tiger Woods.
SPECTATOR: Yeah. Hes good too.
INTERVIEWER: And did you cheer him on the tee?
SPECTATOR: Yeah. I always shout for the Cat. I said Get in the hole! but I dont think he heard me cos a load of dumb schmucks were shouting Youre the Man. Hell, they say that to everybody.
INTERVIEWER: And do you shout anything to the other players?
SPECTATOR: Yeah. I shout Get in the hole!.
INTERVIEWER: But this is a 475 yard par five. Theres never been a hole-in-one here and there never will be. Nobody will ever even reach the green from here.
SPECTATOR: Green???

Here's another good idea.
Disqualify all groups who are unable to finish nine consecutive holes in less than three hours. After 3 1/4 hours of play on Thursday, only one of the groups starting on #10 had completed nine holes. Allowing the 7.11 tee time to dawdle has concertinaed all the remaining groups and jeopardise completing round one on Friday, let alone start round 2.

I don't know if you are correct to feel so strongly when you speak about being able to clean & place? Moreover, I take it the plugged balls rules are the same used by the USGA? At a guess, I'm sure the USGA are closely considering free drops from bunkers at this stage?

As for Retief Goosen's comments. I'm not sure if he is talking either with a lack of confidence with his driver or, he's thought this one through & has worked out his course management & strategy with impeccable detail?

Anyway, enjoy yourself & lets hope we get a lot more Golf on Friday, a lot more, though rumour has it that a price for a Tuesday finish has now entered the betting.

The fairwas are by all accounts very lush at Bethpage and there is very little mud accumulatng on the ball unless there is a plugged lie, in which case a drop is allowed anyway.

I'm sorry, but I don't agree with you. The game is sterile enough as it is, without taking out another element of the game. hitting the ball off a poor lie or out of a divot is part of the game and after 4 rounds the chance factor pretty much evens itself out. How you deal with adversity is part of the test and long may it continue.

I personally hate the US Open.

Firstly it's not open in the true sense, as many players receive invitations. The venues are tricked-up with ridiculously narrow fairways and brutal rough, and the greens are often like concrete. They also try to ensure that no winner will ever be more than 9 under par. Why??

Spectators come to watch the best players in the world play at their best, and pay good money to do so. Surely a good course well-managed will produce enough degree of difficulty to test the best. I guess the TV companies want drama, artificial or not, and their money speaks loudest.

I won't be watching it and I don't much care who wins it. Bring on THE Open, where the players will be given a very stern test on an immaculately presented course where all the difficulty will be of a natural variety.

Cant agree with the pick and place theoey myself. Everybody is playing in the same conditions so its the same for everybody. A drop for a plugged lie is fine but that is all.

Wipe, drop & place.
You are just pampering to the over pampered Pros.

The first rule of golf is hit the ball, find the ball hit it again.
Where does wipe, drop & place come into that scenario..

back_nine,
Perhaps you could explain the difference between the US Open and Open Championship qualifying, because there really isn't much difference at all. There may have been one special invitee this year but can't think who that might have been - at least 60% of the Bethpage field secured entry via regional ("sectional") qualifiers, the rest via mostly the same exemption criteria used for Turnberry.

Meanwhile, Iain will hopefully be able to tell us that balls will be in the Bethpage air promptly at 7.30 a.m.

"ridiculously narrow fairways and brutal rough, and the greens are often like concrete". Yes, the British Open at Turnberry next month should be a true test of golfing ability. And don't forget that other annoying little contribution to links golf - the wind that reverses from morning to evening. Gosh, it won't be fair. Why bother watching it?

Iain you drove me to comment because I completely agree with you.

Comment no 6 and a few others clearly don't understand what your talking about. He talks about getting a bad lie or landing in a divot is part of the game. I agree completely, but what this has to do with hitting a ball with a clump of mud on it I don't know? I happen to be a rather decent golfer and I can tell you there is nothing more unfair than standing in the middle of the fairway (again) and hitting a shot which nosedives left or right uncontrollably.

The way I see it, golf is golf, sometimes you get the 'rub of the green', so good weather & bad, you get what you get, lets see the best golfers in the world (and im counting all of the competitors, not just the Tigers of this world) battle it out with the conditions and see who comes out on top! If an unexpected champion comes from this, then so be it. Remember - the sun even shines on a dogs ass some days!

I do not agree with placing of the ball. I do not agree with the technology game golf has become either. Professional golfers are so used to playing in perfect weather on snooker table fairways that as soon as conditions change they look pretty ordinary. Just my opinion.