'The world's hardest endurance take a look at': | Seen and Heard at Pinehurst

Welcome to GOLF.com’s “Seen & Heard” video sequence, by which we provide you with an inside have a look at golf’s greatest occasions via the eyes and ears of our onsite crew. On deck this week: the 2024 U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Let’s go!

ICYMI: Tiger’s new coach, ‘borderline’ greens | Seen and Heard at Pinehurst

On Wednesday, U.S. Open rivals had been dialing their video games in for Thursday’s opening round, and the GOLF.com crew was desirous to get some participant perspective on simply how arduous No. 2 goes to play.

Sean Zak wished to take a look at simply how penal the tufty wiregrass that strains the fairways could be for errant pictures. After rolling three balls in and assessing the lies, it was clear that lacking the golf green may certainly be very pricey this week.

Zak additionally caught up with fan-favorite Harry Higgs, who’s recent off back-to-back Korn Ferry Tour victories in Might. Higgs delivered what will be the line of the match, which he mentioned got here from his caddie: “This isn’t going to be golf,” Higgs mentioned of this week’s U.S. Open. “That is going to be the world’s hardest endurance take a look at.”

Properly mentioned certainly!

One of many coolest elements of each U.S. Open is the truth that anybody can get a spot within the area by qualifying. GOLF government editor Alan Bastable caught up with one such qualifier. Colin Prater is a 29-year-old high-school biology instructor from Colorado, and this yr, he’s taking part in in his first U.S. Open.

“Do you deliver golf into the classroom in any respect?” Bastable requested.

“Yeah, I feel my youngsters in all probability get sick and bored with listening to about it,” Prater replied.

Because the day grew to become night, everybody’s ideas turned to Thursday’s opening spherical, and who’s almost certainly to shine.

James Colgan felt bullish about ascendant star Ludvig Aberg.

“I really feel actually good about Ludvig proper now,” he mentioned. “I do know he’s been coping with this knee damage, I do know he hasn’t been taking part in essentially his finest stuff, however I feel while you speak about a U.S. Open, particularly speaking about contending at a U.S. Open, it’s a battle of the wits, it’s not a battle of skill. And I feel he actually has it between the ears. For those who’ve seen him swing a golf membership, you understand he’s greater than obtained the bodily stuff to make it occur.”

Colgan was additionally impressed by what he noticed from Max Homa and Xander Schauffele.

“He appeared actually tense on the PGA,” Colgan mentioned of Schauffele. “He appears relaxed at Pinehurst.”

The 2024 U.S. Open is able to roll. Deliver it on!

To atone for all of the GOLF crew’s actions at Pinehurst, take a look at the complete playlist beneath — and keep tuned for extra Seen & Heard all through the week.

Golf.com Editor

As a four-year member of Columbia’s inaugural class of feminine varsity golfers, Jessica can out-birdie everybody on the masthead. She will be able to out-hustle them within the workplace, too, the place she’s primarily chargeable for producing each print and on-line options, and overseeing main particular tasks, reminiscent of GOLF’s inaugural Type Is­sue, which debuted in February 2018. Her origi­nal interview sequence, “A Spherical With,” debuted in November of 2015, and appeared in each within the journal and in video type on GOLF.com.