USGA may lose up to 10 Million with U.S. Open at Merion

The USGA is expected to lose around 10 million dollars with the U.S. Open being held at Merion Golf Club this year. Due to Merion being much smaller than most U.S. Open venues, ticket sales were limited to 25,000 per day, down from the more standard 40,000-45,000. This will lead to less revenue in concessions and merchandise purchases.

Weather could also play a potential factor in lost revenue with severe weather expected for Thursday, Friday, and Monday, in the event of a playoff.

Even with the losses, Merion is a historical venue that the USGA wanted to return to at least one more time. Bobby Jones capped off the Grand Slam at Merion in 1930 at the U.S. Amateur, Ben Hogan won the Open in 1950 in a playoff, and Lee Trevino defeated Jack Nicklaus in a playoff in 1971 to win the Open.

“The place is just magical,” USGA Executive Director Mike Davis said. “From a golf standpoint, you could easily say it’s a landmark.”

The Design and History of Merion

U.S. Open at Merion Hole by Hole Flyovers: Holes 13-18

Hole #13 Par 3



Hole #14 Par 4



Hole #15 Par 4



Hole #16 Par 4



Hole #17 Par 3



Hole #18 Par 4

U.S. Open at Merion Hole by Hole Flyovers: Holes 7-12

Hole #7 Par 4

Hole #8 Par 4



Hole #9 Par 3



Hole #10 Par 4



Hole #11 Par 4



Hole #12 Par 4

U.S. Open at Merion Hole by Hole Flyovers: Holes 1-6

Hole #1 Par 4

Hole #2 Par 5

Hole #3 Par 3

Hole #4 Par 5

Hole #5 Par 4

Hole #6 Par 4

U.S. Open photographs: Merion, Tiger, Sergio

All Photos by Getty

Tiger Woods Interview prior to U.S. Open at Merion

Tiger Woods discusses his past success in major championships, his chances at the U.S. Open at Merion, and what grinding it out really means.

Golf Betting Odds: 2013 U.S. Open at Merion

Adam Scott will look to win his second consecutive major this week at Merion. 

Here are the golf betting odds for the 2013 U.S. Open at Merion:

Tiger Woods: 7-2 (3 Time U.S. Open winner)
Rory McILroy: 16-1 (2011 U.S. Open winner)
Adam Scott: 20-1 (2013 Masters winner)
Matt Kuchar: 22-1
Graeme McDowell: 25-1 (2010 U.S. Open winner)
Phil Mickelson: 25-1 (5 time U.S. Open runner-up)
Luke Donald: 28-1
Jason Day: 33-1
Sergo Garcia: 33-1
Jim Furyk: 40-1 (2003 U.S. Open winner)
Keegan Bradley: 40-1
Louis Oosthuizen: 40-1
Steve Stricker: 40-1
Webb Simpson: 50-1 (Defending champion)
Angel Cabrera: 66-1
Matteo Manassero: 66-1

Woods, McILroy, and Scott paired together at U.S. Open

Tiger Woods, Rory McILroy, and Adam Scott will be paired together for the first two rounds of the U.S. Open at Merion. The top three in the world rankings will go off at 1:14pm on Thursday at 7:44am on Friday.

Woods enters the tournament with four wins on the season and will be looking to earn his 15th major title and first since the 2008 U.S. Open at Torrey Pines. McILroy has slumped lately with equipment changes but will look to regain the form he had in winning the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional. Adam Scott enters looking to win back to back majors after taking the Masters in April.

It is no doubt the marquee pairing of the week and will help the tournament earn big ratings for rounds one and two.

The Design and History of Merion Golf Club

In 1910, the Merion Cricket Club decided to open two new golf courses and selected 32 year old member Hugh Wilson to design them. Wilson, who had never before done this, traveled to Scotland and England for seven months to study the design of British courses. The East course was opened in 1912 and the West course in 1914.

Several features of Merion East, where the U.S. Open will be played, are derived from British courses, including the Scottish style bunkers. The layout covers only 126 acres, considered extremely small for a golf course.

Merion has since held 18 USGA competitions, the most of any course. Bobby Jones won the U.S. Amateur in both 1924 and 1930, when he completed the first "grand slam" which then consisted of the British Amateur, the British Open, the U.S Open, and U.S. Amateur.

Wicker baskets in place of golf flags at U.S. Open at Merion

You will definitely be seeing something new at the U.S. Open this year. Wicker baskets will be used in place of flags at Merion Golf Club. The exact origin of this tradition has never been verified, but the baskets have been used at Merion since 1916, and is used in the club's logo.

The baskets will be visible no matter what, however, they will not give the player an indication of which way the wind is blowing at the green.

The player that wins the U.S. Open will receive a wicker basket to add to their trophy case.

USGA Executive Director Mike Davis discusses tee locations, hole locations, and rough set-up for 2013 U.S. Open at Merion

USGA Executive Director Mike Davis talks 2013 U.S. Open Hole location selection.

Davis talks about how the rough will be cut at an angle.

Davis discusses the strategy of selecting tee locations.

Tiger Woods previews U.S. Open venue Merion

Tiger Woods played Merion, the site of the upcoming U.S. Open, on Monday for the first time. In June, Woods will attempt to win his 15th major and 4th U.S. Open. He answered questions about it at his press conference for this week's Memorial tournament, hosted by Jack Nicklaus.

Here are a few segments.

Q.  Tiger, going back to Merion, can you talk to us about your initial thoughts?  It's your first time seeing the golf course, if I'm correct.
TIGER WOODS:  As I said, I did not have‑‑ from what everyone said, I did not have the inkling that it was going to be as long as it was.  As I said, it was raining sideways and it was just an ugly day.  We played it as probably long as it will ever be played. In June, obviously the weather won't be like that.  It will be hotter.  The ball will be flying.  The clubs will be different, but the lines will be the same.  It was nice to see and get an understanding of what I need to visualize and my prep next week and get ready for that.  Have a nice understanding of where my sight lines are going to be and where I need to land the ball.  Obviously it will be different clubs.  Won't be quite as long as it was playing yesterday.

Jack Nicklaus discusses the Memorial, Merion, and the state of the game

Jack Nicklaus, host of the Memorial at Muirfield Village, held his annual press conference to discuss a wide range of  topics Wednesday. He was asked about this week's tournament, the upcoming U.S. Open at Merion, and touched on the various hot topics going on currently in the golf world.

Here are a few segments:

Q.  Mr. Nicklaus, with Merion coming up, players have played Merion and said they only have to hit driver on two or three holes, how important is it to you in design a setup that the driver be used a lot during a round of golf?
JACK NICKLAUS:  Well, if they're only using it two or three times, you're not going to win a golf tournament.  That's my opinion at Merion.  You've got 2, 4, 5, 6, 14, maybe 15, but 16 and 18 you're going to use your driver.  That's a number of times.  And you have holes that you're going to back off on maybe.  You may try to drive the green on 1, you may hit the driver.  But I think that Merion will do very well for the U.S. Open.  I think it's‑‑ I was there last spring.  And I think it will do very well.  It's going to have some holes that they're going to abuse the golf course with, but they're also going to have some holes on the golf course that are going to abuse them.  It's not one of the golf courses that are in the middle road.  It's either tough or they'll birdie the hole.  Merion is a great golf course.  I'd love to still have the golf game to go play it.

Early Odds to win 2013 U.S. Open at Merion

 

The U.S. Open begins June 13th at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. Here is a look at the early betting odds for the year's 2nd Major Championship.

Tiger Woods: 7-2
Rory McILroy: 10-1
Adam Scott: 20-1
Phil Mickelson: 22-1
Graeme McDowell: 25-1
Luke Donald: 25-1
Sergio Garcia: 28-1
Jason Day: 33-1
Keegan Bradley: 40-1
Webb Simpson: 55-1