Davis would like US Open back

USGA executive director Mike Davis today said he is already keen to bring the US Open back to Merion – if the club and local residents were willing to host the tournament again.

Merion’s famed East Course has not staged the US Open since 1981 due to the logistical demands of staging a major championship on a relatively small piece of land, with the practice range on the West Course and the gardens of adjacent houses being used for corporate hospitality.

Despite such issues, Davis said he had “not seen anything to say we would not come back here,” but added: “Personally I’d already like to see us return. I’m not sure Merion wants us to return.”

With the range a long way from the first and 11th tees which will be used in the first two rounds, players will be shuttled between the two locations.

But although the tournament committee will have some leeway in assessing penalties or disqualification for missing tee times, Davis stressed that responsibility remained with the players.

“We go through this whether it’s at Pebble Beach, Bethpage or wherever,” Davis added. “We have a wonderful transportation system set up. They can get from point A to point B without traffic. That’s not going to be an issue.

“(But) if we erred, then we would make provisions to where the player wouldn’t be penalised.”

Former champion Graeme McDowell is well aware of the problem, adding yesterday: “I wouldn’t be the most punctual person in the world, so my caddie is already on my case. It was pretty much the first thing he said to me when I arrived yesterday.

“If you want 50 minutes hitting golf balls, you’re going to have to be getting out of your car literally an hour and 30 minutes before your tee time.”

One area where the USGA will certainly not make any concessions is with regards to preferred lies, even after around six inches of rain fell on the course in the last four days – with more forecast for tomorrow.

USGA vice-president Tom O’Toole said: “It’s been a long-standing philosophical point of view from the USGA to not adopt that local rule (allowing preferred lies) in our national championships. And the current championship committee is consistent with that long-standing philosophical point of view.”

The target time for play in the first two rounds has been set at four hours and 39 minutes, but rules officials with each group have been encouraged to remind players to speed up when they are in danger of being out of position.

And the USGA have amended their policy for this week so that all members of a group must have a ball in play before the group ahead is off the green or they will be considered out of position.

Previously, only one player needed to have a ball in play for the group not be out of position, which triggers the timing process which can eventually lead to a penalty being assessed.