The 2024 US Open is being played on a course that is widely considered to be one of the best in the world, but at least one former major champion is not a fan.
Mark Calcavecchia, who won the 1989 Open Championship and 13 PGA Tour events during his career, took to social media on Thursday with some harsh criticism about Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, N.C. Calcavecchia called the venue the “most overrated course in the world.”
“I’m ready for some abuse. Just gonna spit it out!! Pinehurst is such a cool area with great courses. #2 ain’t one of them. Most overrated course in the world!! Lemme have it!! But it’s true,” Calcavecchia wrote on X.
I’m ready for some abuse. Just gonna spit it out!! Pinehurst is such a cool area with great courses. #2 ain’t one of them. Most overrated course in the world!! Lemme have it!! But it’s true
— Mark Calcavecchia (@MarkCalc) June 13, 2024
Calcavecchia then gave some specific reasons why he does not like Pinehurst No. 2.
“Greens. No OB. No water and almost impossible to hit a tree. And pot luck if u miss fairways,” Calcavecchia wrote to one follower.
Greens. No OB. No water and almost impossible to hit a tree. And pot luck if u miss fairways
— Mark Calcavecchia (@MarkCalc) June 13, 2024
The turtleback greens at Pinehurst No. 2 punish a lot of good shots, as holding them is almost impossible at times. That is especially true during the US Open, where the greens are intentionally sped up. We saw how fast and undulated the greens are with the insane bunker shot Collin Morikawa hit during the first round on Thursday.
As Calcavecchia mentioned, players also have to rely on a lot of luck when they miss the fairway. While other courses have differing lengths of rough off the fairway, Pinehurst has native areas with sand and tufts of grass. Sometimes the ball ends up fine, but other times it settles in or against a thick tuft of grass and sets up an incredibly challenging shot.
The US Open is the toughest test in golf, so there are numerous complaints about it every year. One player in the field had a great quote about the challenges after the first round. Calcavecchia obviously prefers when the tournament is held somewhere other than Pinehurst No. 2.
