US Open: Welcome return to play for a wee par three

The short par three at Brookline

THE short downhill par-3 12th hole was always one of three holes from The Country Club main course excluded in the championship routing — replaced by three holes from the adjacent Primrose nine. But for the first time in a US Open at Brookline since Francis Ouimet’s landmark victory in 1913, the wee par-3 will take its place as No 11 in the routing when the championship begins tomorrow after a 34-year absence.

The USGA’s primary reasoning for including it? “This is a really neat golf hole — let’s use it,” said Jeff Hall, the USGA’s managing director, rules and Open championships.