by Bryan Outram

If there has been a major championship in recent history that’s taken as much heat for the condition of its greens, this writer certainly can’t remember it.

It’s not uncommon practice for the USGA to have its championship layouts become progressively harder and faster as a tournament goes along, but it appears in this case they’ve taken the firming of the greens to a new, and not very popular, level.

Will Sunday Be A Walk In The Park En Route To A U.S. Open Title For Jordan Spieth? - Image Credit Bryan Outram

by Alfie Lau

Not even an hour into Jordan Spieth’s third round on Saturday at Chambers Bay, the 21-year-old had dropped two bombs for birdies at the second and third holes and sat at (-7) for the tournament and two clear of his closest challenger.

But then Spieth went on a horrendous bogey binge, with mistakes at five of his next eight holes and suddenly, the Texas Grand Slam was now seriously in jeopardy.

Spieth would make one more birdie, at the par-3 15th, but may lament all the short putts he missed on the way in to his (+1) round of 71 that has him in a four-way tie for the lead heading into Sunday’s final round of the U.S. Open.

The View Of Chambers Bay Golf Course And The Puget Sound Beyond From The Top Of The Golf Course Looking Southwest - Image Credit Alfie Lau

by Alfie Lau

It’s the U.S. Open unlike any other. Walking paths going up, down, along and around sand dunes are what spectators have faced all week and it’s so tough that caddies have estimated their walks, inside the ropes, coming in at 8 miles per round.

For us media types, we’re walking a similar amount, but not getting to every part of the golf course. From our media centre, it’s an easy walk to the ninth and 18th greens, and then out to the water, where we can watch the 2nd, 3rd, 16th and 17th holes.

But the northeast quadrant of the course, featuring the 12th green, 13th and 14th holes, 4th, 5th and 7th holes, is only accessible via Gate 2, which is more commonly known as the hole where residents in the University Place neighbourhood enter.

 It's Business As Usual For The Trains That Run Right Alongside The 15th, 16th And 17th Holes At Chambers Bay - Image Credit Bryan Outram

by Bryan Outram

The 2015 Men's U.S. Open is being played in the Pacific Northwest for the first time. 

The host course is the Bobby Jone's designed Chambers Bay just south of Seattle on the shores of Puget Sound. With freight trains rolling by and long fescue grasses waving in the breeze the links-style layout definitely has a British Open feel to it.

With that comes a number of very unique sights, especially for this region. We present to you here a few of our choices for most interesing images from the 2015 U.S. Open. 

by Alfie Lau

On a day when first-round co-leaders Dustin Johnson and Henrik Stenson fell back to earth, two of golf’s Young Guns seized the second-round lead at the U.S. Open.

Patrick Reed and Jordan Spieth now lead at Chambers Bay with a (-5) score of 135. Reed, who started the day one stroke out of the lead, had a roller coaster round of 5 birdies, 6 bogeys and an eagle at the 284-yard par-4 12th for his second-round 69.

Reed made his move with four birdies in his first 11 holes and looked set to be sole leader after a birdie on the 16th hole had him at (-6). But a bogey on the 18th brought Reed back into a tie with Spieth and sets up a marquee final pairing on Saturday.

Brad Fritsch Will Be The Lone Canadian To Tee It Up On The Weekend At Chambers Bay In The 2015 U.S. Open - Image Credit Alfie Lau

by Alfie Lau

A quick turnaround for Edmonton’s Brad Fritsch cost him some strokes, but didn’t prevent him from making the cut at his second US Open at Chambers Bay.

Fritsch, in the first group out off the 1st tee at 7 a.m., started the day at even par and got it into red numbers with a birdie at the par-5 first hole.

But then a couple of poor swings led to three consecutive bogeys and it was an uphill struggle for the resident of North Carolina who also gets sponsorship from the Ottawa Senators.

Surprisingly, Despite Turning Down Fox TV Sports Request For An Interview, Tiger Woods Did Answer Some Questions For The Rest Of The Media After Shooting Another Round In The 80's - Image Credit Bryan Outram

by Alfie Lau

The epitaph has been written several times this year already.

It came after an 82 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open and the subsequent missed cut. It came a week later when after only 11 holes, a WD and a hurried rush to the parking lot, where an impromptu press conference was held only because his car was blocked by camera stands and reporters.

It came two weeks ago when he shot 85 at The Memorial in the third round, a score not even a 14-handicapper would take.

And now, we come here to praise and to bury the great golf career that spawned 14 Major titles for Tiger Woods.

Not Many Thought Tiger Would Face The Meida After His 10-Over Round Of 80 At Chambers Bay But He Did. Briefly. - Image Credit Alfie Lau

by Alfie Lau

There’s an old saying that you can’t win the U.S. Open on the first day, but you certainly can lose it.

That’s definitely the case for the group featuring Rickie Fowler, Tiger Woods and Louis Oosthuizen. The trio combined to shoot (+28), with the South African’s (+7) 77 the best score amongst them, three better than Woods and his 80 and four ahead of Fowler’s 81.

Woods, coming up on the 7th anniversary of winning his last Major, came out to answer five questions from the media. “Not very happy, that's for sure,” said Woods of his round.

by Alfie Lau

When no players withdrew from the U.S. Open field at Chambers Bay on Thursday, dashing the hopes of alternate Mackenzie Hughes of Ontario, the red-and-white Canadian colours were left to be carried high by two other golfers with Ontario links.

The low Canadian was Edmonton’s Brad Fritsch, who now calls North Carolina home.

by Alfie Lau

Never has the U.S. Open come all the way north and west to Washington State, but now that Chambers Bay looks set to host one of the most unforgettable tournaments in recent history, here’s 10 things you might have missed, but we at BC Golf have on our radar.

With all his poor play of late it only stood to reason that former World Number One Tiger Woods would face some questions about the state of his game when he sat in front of the media at Chambers Bay for the press conference prior to the 2015 U.S. Open.

And he did...

The Men's World Number One ranked golfer, Rory McIlroy, answered questions from the media before heading out for a late afternoon practice round at Chambers Bay ahead of the 2015 U.S. Open.

Here is a selection of those questions and answers:

Brown Is The New Green As Evidenced By This View Of The Chambers Bay Layout For The 2015 U.S. Open - Image Credit Kris Jonasson

by Kris Jonasson, Executive Director - British Columbia Golf

Tuesday I attended, along with my friend Dana Prince, my first golf event in many years strictly as a spectator.

Here is what I learned and what you should know before heading down to the U.S. Open at Chambers Bay.

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf and intrepid BCG reporter

Never has the U.S. Open been closer to home for British Columbians, but that only intensifies the pressure for us media types covering the event.

Having covered six U.S. Opens for Inside Golf, the 2015 version, at Chambers Bay, presented a variety of unique challenges.

While the course was a manageable 4-hour drive away from Vancouver, securing suitable accommodation close to Tacoma proved quite challenging.

The Richmond Olympic Oval Will Be The Site Of International Olympic Day Celebrations On Monday, June 15th And Golf Is Playing A Major Role - Image Courtesy Richmond Olympic Oval

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

Monday, June 15 looks like any other Monday, the beginning of another work week and the last spring Monday of 2015.

But look a little deeper and you may discover it’s the biggest day in British Columbia golf.

Let’s start with an event that’s not just about golf, but is important nevertheless. Golf will return to the Olympics in Rio in 2016 and International Olympic Day will be celebrated from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Richmond Olympic Oval, with British Columbia Golf and CN Future Links playing a big part in this event.

Albin Choi Picked Up His First Mackenzie Tour - PGA TOUR Canada Win Claiming The Bayview Place Island Savings Open Presented By Times Colonist - Image Courtesy Golf Canada

by Brian Decker, Mackenzie Tour - PGA TOUR Canada

(June 7, 2015 – Victoria, B.C.) – With a final round 4-under 66, Surrey, B.C's Albin Choi captured his first Mackenzie Tour – PGA TOUR Canada victory on Sunday at Uplands Golf Club, claiming the Bayview Place Island Savings Open presented by Times Colonist.

The 23-year old came out of the gate hot on Sunday, making birdies on four of his first five holes to separate himself from the field, then held on down the stretch to win by three over North Vancouver's Eugene Wong, fellow Surrey native Adam Svensson and Murfreesboro, Tennessee’s Jason Millard.

Former Teammates On The UBC Thunderbirds Golf Squad, Kyla Inaba (L) And Eileen Kelly Have Reunited To Compete On The New Golf Reality Series Altered Course - Image Courtesy Golf Channel

Golf Channel recently announced a new reality competition series, Altered Course, that combines golf, speed, fitness, teamwork and decision-making as teams navigate re-imagined and extreme golf holes in excess of 700 yards, traversing the natural obstacles and challenging terrain as fast as possible.

Altered Course’s inaugural season will take place in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Of particular interest to Canadians, and British Columbians specifically, is the team of Eileen Kelly and Kyla Inaba, calling themselves the #Canadian Ninjas.

Surrey's Adam Svensson Was Oh, So Close To Recording His Fourth Consecutive Win As A Professional, Losing In A Playoff In The PC Financial At Point Grey In The Season-Opening Mackenzie Tour - PGA TOUR Canada Event - Image Credit Bryan Outram

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

For all four days of the PC Financial Open at Point Grey Golf & Country Club, Canadian flags were at the top of the leaderboard.

From first round leader Thomas Hay of Langley to second-round leader Bryn Parry of North Vancouver, the weekend action saw the rise of Langley’s Adam Cornelson and Vancouver’s Ryan Williams on Saturday and on Sunday, Surrey’s Adam Svensson, Victoria’s Riley Wheeldon and Richmond Hill, ON’s Taylor Pendrith all moved up the leaderboard and were part of the five-golfer playoff that also featured Americans Drew Weaver and Ross Beal.

While Weaver would take the $31,500 first-place cheque and the PC Financial Open title, it was the young British Columbians and Canadians who made the biggest news.

Drew Weaver Had Good Reason To Smile After Surviving The Five-Man Playoff To Win The PC Financial Open At Point Grey GC - Image Credit Bryan Outram

by Alfie Lau, Inside Golf

American Drew Weaver spoiled the party for the Mackenzie Tour – PGA Tour Canada’s 2015 opening event at Point Grey Golf & Country Club.

After Weaver finished regulation in a five-way tie at (-12) with fellow American Ross Beal and a trio of Canadians, Surrey’s Adam Svensson, Victoria’s Riley Wheeldon and Richmond Hill, ON’s Taylor Pendrith, Weaver won the PC Financial Open on the third playoff hole.

PGA TOUR Canada President Jeff Monday, PGA TOUR Winner Nick Taylor And Mackenzie Investments Vice President, Sponsorship Court Elliott Pose Next To New Signage For The Mackenzie Tour - Image Courtesy PGA TOUR Canada

via press release

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla., and TORONTO (May 27, 2015) – The PGA TOUR and Mackenzie Investments announced today a six-year agreement making the investment management firm the umbrella sponsor of PGA TOUR Canada.

The Tour is being renamed the Mackenzie Tour–PGA TOUR Canada, effective immediately with this week’s season-opening event in Vancouver.