Some U.S. Open spectators complain about limited viewing

UNIVERSITY PLACE, Wash. – To the many spectators frustrated by limited views, outside of grandstand seating, of the action at spacious but hilly Chambers Bay, Phil Mickelson feels your pain.

“Amy (Mickelson’s wife) wants to come out and follow and she simply can’t,” said Mickelson, who shot 1-under-par 69 in the first round at the U.S. Open. “She just can’t come out and first of all see.”

Mickelson, a fan favorite in search of his first U.S. Open title after six second-place finishes, was followed by huge galleries that swelled as he reached the top of the leaderboard on the front nine. Fans stood eight or nine rows deep outside the ropes bordering the 12th fairway and six deep near the green, even though those in the back could barely see a sliver of the putting surface.

Dozens ignored the ropes and scrambled up a steep grade separating the 13th tee box and the front of the 14th green, just to get a peek at Mickelson’s drive on 13.

Chambers Bay has wide walking paths that meander through the perimeter of the property but they’re often surrounded by large mounds that obstruct views of, well, actual golf. The ropes are in place for safety reasons to keep fans from slipping or falling on steep slopes.

One fan grumbled about seeing just a handful of shots in an hour of walking the grounds.

“Golf spectators are probably the most dedicated fans when you think about it,” Mickelson said. “Any other sport you buy a ticket, you sit in a seat and you watch 100 percent of the action. In golf, you buy a ticket, you’ve got to walk miles in rough territory and you see but a fraction of the event. I give a lot of credit to the people who are out here.”

Co-leader Henrik Stenson acknowledged that Chambers Bay probably isn’t the most viewer-friendly site.

“St. Andrews is not the best spectator course and this one is a little bit of a tricky one,” he said. “I think you want to walk a few holes and find a good spot in the grandstand.”

The par-5 8th sits on a plateau between two slopes, leaving the hole virtually spectator-free.

Is that odd, Phil? “Yes it is,” he said, adding, “It is different than a normal Open … because the people aren’t close like they normally are. They’re so far removed that it has a more spacious feel, but there’s been a lot of support out here from this community.”

Greens without envy

Not a day goes by without at least one player chirping about Chambers Bay’s splotchy greens. Colin Montgomerie told Sky Sports prior to his round: “The quality of the surface of the greens is extremely poor. The 10-footers that people hole that you see on television … that won’t be happening this week, it just won’t be happening.

“A course of this demanding nature has to be in perfect condition. Unfortunately, it’s not.”

One more dart, as it appeared in a Sergio Garcia tweet: “Happy with my Even par round today although it could’ve been a bit better by the way I played but this greens are as bad as they look on TV.”

Montgomerie shot 1-under 69. Garcia carded a 70.

The course drew its share of compliments.

“It’s got its challenges, but it is so unique and different,” said Matt Kuchar, who shot a 67. “I think everybody likes coming to a new venue. Veterans don’t have an advantage over the rookies here. It’s certainly fun because of all the different options.”

Regional watch

University Place’s Michael Putnam bogeyed the first hole, which played as a tough par-4 instead of an easier par-5, but birdied No. 18 to finish at even-par 70.

“I was so nervous,” he said. “Obviously (No. 1) is the hardest par-4 on the course. You have to hit that tee shot in the fairway to do anything and I didn’t.”

Scotland’s Jimmy Gunn, who has been sponsored on mini-tours by the Coeur d’Alene Casino, opened with a 72. Puyallup native Ryan Moore struggled to a 75.