新冠疫情打亂高爾夫賽程，美國公開賽因而延到9月17到20日在飛毛腿球場舉行，這是該球場自1929年以來第六度舉行美國公開賽，狹窄球道和茂密長草區將再度給予參賽選手嚴厲的考驗。
飛毛腿球場製造了許多令人難忘的四大賽名場面：菲爾．米克森(Phil Mickelson)滿臉沮喪地站在2006年美國公開賽第72洞開球台；戴維斯．洛夫三世(Davis Love III)在1997年PGA錦標賽彩虹般的擊球；法西．佐勒(Fuzzy Zoeller)在1984年美國公開賽揮舞白色毛巾。
1974年美國公開賽最令人難忘的場面，要數參賽選手輪番在長草區埋頭苦幹，草屑四處飛揚。赫爾．歐文(Hale Irwin)最後以高於標準桿7桿的成績兩桿勝出。這似乎是飛毛腿球場舉行的美國公開賽的宿命：苛刻的長草區永遠是戲劇化焦點。
前提是飛毛腿球場的長草區仍然是我們期待的模樣。
「我們的目標是讓九月下旬的情況和六月一模一樣，」飛毛腿球場總監史提夫．拉畢杜(Steve Rabideau)說。「我們的工作更為艱鉅，因為我們必須保持長草區又濃又密度過一整個夏天。維護人員工作辛勞，每天細心呵護長草區，這個夏天感覺特別漫長。」
拉畢杜和俱樂部都不願見到長草區因為賽程延後而變得稀稀疏疏。「身為老牌經典球場，長草區一直是我們的特色，」他說。
對於希望美國公開賽上演悲劇和喜劇的球迷而言，飛毛腿球場一切如常不啻是個好消息，象徵狹窄球道和茂密長草區的USGA傳統價值再度受到肯定。2014年松林2號球場舉行的美國公開賽之後，這些傳統價值蕩然無存，代之以寬廣的球道以及乾淨的球位。之後每一屆美國公開賽球場的球道寬度都在40到60碼之間(Erin Hills的球道還更寬)，長草區幾無容身之地。飛毛腿球場再現昔日美國公開賽規格，球道寬度只有25到30碼，往後兩年的美國公開賽球場Torrey Pines(2021)和The Country Club at Brookline(2022)也大抵如此。
美國公開賽歷來就是耐力、球技和抗壓力的一大考驗。茂密的長草區更加強考驗力度，給予誤入歧途的選手嚴厲的懲罰。由於長草區對選手成績影響很大，所以有必要探討長草區在球場設計所扮演的角色。
長草區一直是考驗選手某方面球技有用的工具，但是也會因此降低比賽的趣味性。
相對而言，寬廣的球道和球道以外較短的草皮有助於選手發揮創意，以自己的方式擊球和救球。障礙區、有趣的地形變化以及果嶺配置，進一步升高擊球風險和回報。選手們必須臨場做出決定，掌握救球機會，扭轉局勢。然而狹窄球道和茂密長草區突然限制選手的臨場發揮，高爾夫比賽因而變成定點擊球遊戲。
理想的狀況是每座球場視情況訂定剪草方針，強化設計特色。對有些球場而言，長草區是維護設計完整度不可或缺的元素，但是更多球場應該盡可能擴張短草區域。增加短草區域有助於提升擊球變化和趣味性，也可減少用水量。
然而，有一派人士主張長草區是反制當代球員擊球距離暴增的必要手段，厄尼．艾爾斯((Ernie Els)甚至建議將長草區升高至膝蓋高度。美國公開賽一向是最好的實驗室，如果今年實驗成功，勢必將留下更多令人難忘的鏡頭。而飛毛腿球場正是上演高爾夫版《飢餓遊戲》不二之選。
問題是，飛毛腿球場的長草區還是一如往昔嗎？
「我打包票，肯定沒問題，」拉畢杜說。
電視轉播時刻表
Fox Sports 2&3
第一天 9/18 (五)
00:00-07:00
第二天 9/19 (六)
00:00-07:00
第三天 9/20 (日)
00:00-07:00
第四天 9/21 (一)
01:00-06:00
第一、二輪分組表
第一輪
Hole No. 1
6:50 a.m. – Brandon Wu, Curtis Luck, Ryan Fox
7:01 a.m. – Joel Dahmen, Rasmus Hojgaard, J.T. Poston
7:12 a.m. – Chez Reavie, Sung Kang, Kevin Streelman
7:23 a.m. – Jazz Janewattananond, Kevin Na, Matt Wallace
7:34 a.m. – Brendon Todd, Harris English, (a) Davis Thompson
7:45 a.m. – Paul Waring, Victor Perez, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
7:56 a.m. – Hideki Matsuyama, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth
8:07 a.m. – Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods
8:18 a.m. – Matt Kuchar, Lucas Glover, Graeme McDowell
8:29 a.m. – Charles Howell III, Ryo Ishikawa, Max Homa
8:40 a.m. – Kurt Kitayama, Robert MacIntyre, (a) Sandy Scott
8:51 a.m. – Eddie Pepperell, Troy Merritt, Sami Valimaki
12:10 p.m. – Shaun Norris, Rory Sabbatini, Chan Kim
12:21 p.m. – Adam Long, (a) Eduard Rousaud, Mike Lorenzo-Vera
12:32 p.m. – (a) Lukas Michel, Lucas Herbert, Matt Jones
12:43 p.m. – Ryan Palmer, Si Woo Kim, Rafa Cabrera Bello
12:54 p.m. – Joaquin Niemann, Sungjae Im, Cameron Champ
1:05 p.m. – Gary Woodland, (a) Andy Ogletree, Shane Lowry
1:16 p.m. – Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Tony Finau
1:27 p.m. – Phil Mickelson, Paul Casey, Jon Rahm
1:38 p.m. – Rickie Fowler, Matthew Wolff, Viktor Hovland
1:49 p.m. – Romain Langasque, Davis Riley, Will Zalatoris
2 p.m. – Matthias Schwab, (a) Cole Hammer, Alex Noren
2:11 p.m. – Connor Syme, Paul Barjon, Marty Jertson
Hole No. 10
6:50 a.m. – Daniel Balin, Greyson Sigg, J.C. Ritchie
7:01 a.m. – (a) Ricky Castillo, Brian Harman, Andy Sullivan
7:12 a.m. – Tom Lewis, (a) Preston Summerhays, Jason Kokrak
7:23 a.m. – Martin Kaymer, Jimmy Walker, (a) John Augenstein
7:34 a.m. – Tyler Duncan, Thomas Detry, Erik van Rooyen
7:45 a.m. – Tyrrell Hatton, Henrik Stenson, Danny Willett
7:56 a.m. – Webb Simpson, Sergio Garcia, Jason Day
8:07 a.m. – Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Justin Rose
8:18 a.m. – Ian Poulter, Patrick Cantlay, Steve Stricker
8:29 a.m. – Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, Corey Conners
8:40 a.m. – Sebastian Munoz, (a) Chun An Yu, Justin Harding
8:51 a.m. – Scott Hend, Dan McCarthy, Ryan Vermeer
12:10 p.m. – Richy Werenski, Taylor Pendrith, Renato Paratore
12:21 p.m. – Jim Herman, (a) John Pak, Thomas Pieters
12:32 p.m. – Michael Thompson, Andrew Putnam, Chesson Hadley
12:43 p.m. – Bernd Wiesberger, Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith
12:54 p.m. – Lee Westwood, (a) James Sugrue, Bubba Watson
1:05 p.m. – Matt Fitzpatrick, Daniel Berger, Branden Grace
1:16 p.m. – Tommy Fleetwood, Kevin Kisner, Abraham Ancer
1:27 p.m. – Louis Oosthuizen, Zach Johnson, Keegan Bradley
1:38 p.m. – Billy Horschel, Xander Schauffele, Brandt Snedeker
1:49 p.m. – Shugo Imahira, Byeong Hun An, (a) Takumi Kanaya
2 p.m. – Danny Lee, Mark Hubbard, Lanto Griffin
2:11 p.m. – Stephan Jaeger, Lee Hodges, Adrian Otaegui
第二輪
Hole No. 1
6:50 a.m. – Richy Werenski, Taylor Pendrith, Renato Paratore
7:01 a.m. – Jim Herman, (a) John Pak, Thomas Pieters
7:12 a.m. – Michael Thompson, Andrew Putnam, Chesson Hadley
7:23 a.m. – Bernd Wiesberger, Marc Leishman, Cameron Smith
7:34 a.m. – Lee Westwood, (a) James Sugrue, Bubba Watson
7:45 a.m. – Matt Fitzpatrick, Daniel Berger, Branden Grace
7:56 a.m. – Tommy Fleetwood, Kevin Kisner, Abraham Ancer
8:07 a.m. – Louis Oosthuizen, Zach Johnson, Keegan Bradley
8:18 a.m. – Billy Horschel, Xander Schauffele, Brandt Snedeker
8:29 a.m. – Shugo Imahira, Byeong Hun An, (a) Takumi Kanaya
8:40 a.m. – Danny Lee, Mark Hubbard, Lanto Griffin
8:51 a.m. – Stephan Jaeger, Lee Hodges, Adrian Otaegui
12:10 p.m. – Daniel Balin, Greyson Sigg, J.C. Ritchie
12:21 p.m. – (a) Ricky Castillo, Brian Harman, Andy Sullivan
12:32 p.m. – Tom Lewis, (a) Preston Summerhays, Jason Kokrak
12:43 p.m. – Martin Kaymer, Jimmy Walker, (a) John Augenstein
12:54 p.m. – Tyler Duncan, Thomas Detry, Erik van Rooyen
1:05 p.m. – Tyrrell Hatton, Henrik Stenson, Danny Willett
1:16 p.m. – Webb Simpson, Sergio Garcia, Jason Day
1:27 p.m. – Rory McIlroy, Adam Scott, Justin Rose
1:38 p.m. – Ian Poulter, Patrick Cantlay, Steve Stricker
1:49 p.m. – Adam Hadwin, Mackenzie Hughes, Corey Conners
2 p.m. – Sebastian Munoz, (a) Chun An Yu, Justin Harding
2:11 p.m. – Scott Hend, Dan McCarthy, Ryan Vermeer
Hole No. 10
6:50 a.m. – Shaun Norris, Rory Sabbatini, Chan Kim
7:01 a.m. – Adam Long, (a) Eduard Rousaud, Mike Lorenzo-Vera
7:12 a.m. – (a) Lukas Michel, Lucas Herbert, Matt Jones
7:23 a.m. – Ryan Palmer, Si Woo Kim, Rafa Cabrera Bello
7:34 a.m. – Joaquin Niemann, Sungjae Im, Cameron Champ
7:45 a.m. – Gary Woodland, (a) Andy Ogletree, Shane Lowry
7:56 a.m. – Bryson DeChambeau, Dustin Johnson, Tony Finau
8:07 a.m. – Phil Mickelson, Paul Casey, Jon Rahm
8:18 a.m. – Rickie Fowler, Matthew Wolff, Viktor Hovland
8:29 a.m. – Romain Langasque, Davis Riley, Will Zalatoris
8:40 a.m. – Matthias Schwab, (a) Cole Hammer, Alex Noren
8:51 a.m. – Connor Syme, Paul Barjon, Marty Jertson
12:10 p.m. – Brandon Wu, Curtis Luck, Ryan Fox
12:21 p.m. – Joel Dahmen, Rasmus Hojgaard, J.T. Poston
12:32 p.m. – Chez Reavie, Sung Kang, Kevin Streelman
12:43 p.m. – Jazz Janewattananond, Kevin Na, Matt Wallace
12:54 p.m. – Brendon Todd, Harris English, (a) Davis Thompson
1:05 p.m. – Paul Waring, Victor Perez, Christiaan Bezuidenhout
1:16 p.m. – Hideki Matsuyama, Patrick Reed, Jordan Spieth
1:27 p.m. – Collin Morikawa, Justin Thomas, Tiger Woods
1:38 p.m. – Matt Kuchar, Lucas Glover, Graeme McDowell
1:49 p.m. – Charles Howell III, Ryo Ishikawa, Max Homa
2 p.m. – Kurt Kitayama, Robert MacIntyre, (a) Sandy Scott
2:11 p.m. – Eddie Pepperell, Troy Merritt, Sami Valimaki
高爾夫文摘嚴選優質商品推薦
高爾夫文摘嚴選優質商品推薦
高爾夫文摘嚴選優質商品推薦
.jpg)
高爾夫文摘嚴選優質商品推薦
高爾夫文摘嚴選優質商品推薦
.jpg)
好文章與好朋友分享！請分享本文，讓朋友們與您同享新知！
