LOS ANGELES — As you watch the 123rd U.S. Open this week at Los Angeles Country Club, you’re going to like a few of the belongings you see since you haven’t seen lots of them before in a course.
For starters, LACC has five par-3s. One in every of them, No. 11, plays greater than 290 yards and one other, No. 15, can play as short as 78 yards.
The course, too, has a brief par-4 — No. 6 — that has a probability to be one of the exciting risk-reward holes in U.S. Open history.
There is also a 542-yard par-4 — the sixteenth hole.
The sixth hole, though, is the one which figures to confound the players most. It’s 330 yards off the tee, but a dogleg right with a shortcut over trees.
However the green is well-protected by bunkering that could make for a treacherous second shot. The outlet is reachable for many players with driver and a few with 3-wood. But caution is warranted.
“[No.] 6 goes to be interesting,’’ Brooks Koepka said. “You could possibly see anything from a 7 to possibly a 2. It’ll be a fun hole to only stand on and watch. If I used to be watching, that’s where I’d go stand.’’
Jon Rahm was coy in regards to the way he plans to attack No. 6.
“I’m not going to take a seat here and let you know what I’m going to do,’’ Rahm said. “All of it depends. It could be circumstantial. It’s depending on the wind and pin location, as well. There might be those who go for it and make eagles, hit great shots, give themselves lots of beauty at birdie, but I feel it’s also the way in which you’re going to see the very best numbers. Folks that go for the green and put themselves in a difficult spot.’’
Then Rahm dropped this hint for his plans.
“I feel should you hit the lay-up to the spot you desire to each day, which isn’t the toughest lay-up, I feel your scoring average might be lower than going for it each day,’’ he said.
“It’s not set in stone yet,’’ Collin Morikawa said about his strategy on 6. “Immediately, I’m sort of leaning towards going for it, which I definitely was not. I used to be probably set 90 percent I used to be going to put up before we saw [this week].’’
As polarizing as No. 6 is, the short fifteenth goes to be an enchanting watch as well.
“That little shot is awkward,’’ LA native Max Homa, who owns the course record of 61, said. “You’re going to must spin the life out of it and hit your number. They’ve two of the longest par-3s that we’ll play, hopefully, and the best hole is 78 yards. Yeah, I’m looking forward to that. It’ll be great to look at on TV.
“After I got here here for the Walker Cup [in 2017,] my mom and I sat behind 15 green because … it was so fun watching everybody sort of make a large number of this little dinky hole. I’m looking forward to the fans attending to enjoy that this week.’’
Scottie Scheffler called the outlet “really sort of a genius design with the way in which the green is,’’ adding, “I like those little short par-3s. I feel that’s the way in which most par-3s ought to be, simply because there’s opportunity for birdie and bogey. They’re good separater holes.’’
Defending champion Matthew Fitzpatrick said, “I’d argue that at 78 yards, stood there with a lob wedge in your hand, you’re going to be just a little bit more intimidated than should you stood there with a 3-wood in your hand. I imagine that the goal goes to be very small and also you’re going to must hit a superb shot.’’
Added Cam Smith: “I feel lots of the best courses that we play around the globe all have a brief par-4 and a brief par-3, and so they can find yourself being sort of the trickiest [holes].’’
LACC has each, and it’s going to make for appointment viewing this week.