Imagine a sport that has a relatively large financial barrier to entry as well as an intimidating climate for newbies and requires a sizable time commitment before reaching a state of competency. Now, imagine once a year the governing body for that sport showcases how insanely difficult the sport can truly be by humbling the best players in the world. Doesn’t exactly make you want to go out and try it, right?
Of course, I’m talking about golf and the United States Open Championship. Each year, the best players in the world are humbled by brutal course conditions, but for what gain? We all know golf is difficult for amateurs, even in the most trivial of conditions. Perhaps the most sadistic among us do relish the challenge of a difficult course, but the general public won’t see much joy in being humiliated.
Other professional sports have come to realize how much spectators enjoy watching players excel at their craft. High scoring games, faster times, and world records – that’s what we like to see.
Year after year, a notable swath of players will complain about the fairness of the USGA’s layout. Rarely, in the other major championships, will you hear of a single complaint about fairness. It begs the question – why does golf’s governing body have such a desire to make the game so difficult?