ESPN Golf Online: 1999 U.S. Open: Hole of the day: No. 9

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Friday, Jun. 18
Hole of the day: No. 9

By Mike Grady
ESPN Golf Online
It's the shortest hole on the course. Compared to the 17 others, in fact, the 179-yard No. 9 at Pinehurst No. 2 comes as somewhat of a breather on the heels of a monster stretch at 5-6-7-8.
Through the first two rounds of the U.S. Open, No. 9 has played as the 10th easiest hole on the course, with a 3.265 scoring average. On Friday it had a little more bite, with only 41 percent of the 154 players hitting the green with their tee shots and a scoring average of 3.455.
Before the Open started, Jack Nicklaus, known for his course-design skills nearly as much as his swing, had this to say about No. 9: "A pretty straight-forward par 3. I don't think there are any mysteries to it. There are a couple of areas to play to, and the back left is tough. But it sits right in front of you."
On Friday, No. 9 did more than sit idly for the majority of players on the U.S. Open leaderboard. Of the seven players heading into the weekend under par, six moved either up or down on the ninth.
Three players -- Tiger Woods, Hal Sutton and Vijay Singh -- birdied. Two -- Payne Stewart and David Duval -- bogeyed. And one unlucky fellow -- Billy Mayfair -- carded a double-bogey 5. Only Phil Mickelson walked to the 10th tee on an even emotional keel, and that's a bit misleading since he made a great par save with a long sand shot from the front bunker and a 5-foot putt.
"I'm really pleased with the opportunity that this golf course presents," said Mickelson, talking about the ninth being one of four holes he made up-and-down par saves. "If I, or another player, misses a shot, we have the opportunity here to hit a great recovery and get up and down."
The hole was especially disastrous for Mayfair. He came to it at 3-under overall, even on the day after a birdie on No. 1 and bogey on No. 5.
His tee shot landed near the pin, but it took two hops and rolled off the back edge into a collection area. His putt back up nearly got all the way back up the hill before stopping and rolling back from where it came. Another stronger effort followed, with two more putts for 5.
Instead of having his name on the leaderboard above or with the group of Stewart, Duval and Mickelson, Mayfair left No. 9 at 1-under overall and tied with Woods, Sutton and Singh. He parred out the rest of the way.