PINEHURST When the U.S. Amateur arrives in Pinehurst on Aug. 18, it will resemble the U.S. Open but with some variation.
.Because the Amateur is this month rather than in June, course conditions are expected to be softer and slower because of the heat. But the characteristics for which Pinehurst is famous – the sloping areas that take balls off and away from the putting surfaces – are expected to be similar to the U.S. Open set-up.
The first two rounds of the championship will be split between courses No.2 and No.4 as 312 golfers play stroke play to determine the 64 who will advance to the match-play portion on Aug. 20.
The match-play bracket will be played entirely on No.2, with a set-up that will closely resemble the one that hosted the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Opens.
The biggest difference will be the length – No. 2 will play 7,281 yards, longer than in either Open. But length is not the issue, especially in a field dominated by long-hitting college players.
“I've watched the last few North and South Amateurs (played at Pinehurst) and these guys hit it farther than the pros,” said Paul Jett, course superintendent at No.2. “They just step up and hit it as far as they can.
“There's not much rough when we play the North and South, so that will be different this time. But I don't think it will make much difference to them.”
Jett cited the 16th hole at No.2 as an example of how long players are hitting the ball. A par-5 for resort guests, it will play as a 510-yard par 4 in the Amateur. Playing at the same length earlier this summer in the North and South, Jett said players were hitting 6-, 7- and 8-irons into the green on their second shots.
The Amateur field is loaded, including several members of the 2007 U.S. Walker Cup team. Among the pre-tournament favorites are Rickie Fowler (Oklahoma State) of Murrieta, Calif., Jamie Lovemark (Southern California) of Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., Clemson's Kyle Stanley and Florida's Billy Horschel.
“This is one of the great courses in America,” said Clemson golfer Phillip Mollica, winner of the 2007 North and South . “Anything can happen because the greens are so severe.”
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