‘Dawgs Summering In The Hamptons

Summer is the time for travel, and Bulldogs of all kinds are hitting the roads.

The UGA Women’s Track & Field team was in Eugene, OR the last few days, just wrapping up consecutive Outdoor National Championships (and completing the sweep after taking the Indoors Natty earlier). The Men’s squad finished a respectable 2nd place to champ and powerhouse Arkansas.

You’ve seen the Diamond Dawgs hit up Omaha, and beat down Texas University-Burnt Orange Campus.

Now the pro golfing ’Dawgs are driving the Long Island Expressway on their way to swanky Southampton. Because nestled just inland is a hunk of real estate known as Shinnecock Hills. And if the best golfers in the world are descending on Shinnecock, that means the USGA is ramping up to deliver some carnage.

That carnage is more commonly known as the United States Open, the toughest test in golf. The United States Golf Association who puts on the tournament is infamous for selecting tough courses, then over the span of months setting up the track to be as tough as possible. Tighten fairway landing areas, shave false fronts, lengthen and thicken the rough, and eventually cut the greens slicker than Lane Kiffin at a 5:30 am small town hot yoga class.

And Shinnecock Hills is already a tough test, often ranked as one of the most difficult courses in America (and the world) on a daily basis. Usually called a “links style” course, the land is actually quite arable. Links courses are of course the “link” between fertile, arable land and the beach/salt water. It can’t be farmed, it can’t be fished, so it links the two valuable geographic features and is only good for 18 holes. Shinnecock has more undulation than a links course, and is surrounded by farmland, vineyards, and 8-9 figure real estate parcels. It is wide open, windswept, tons of tall, wide fescue, plenty of bunkering, and looks like a links course. But it is more accurately a B****-slap to anyone who can’t control their golf ball.

And the USGA drools over their appropriation of Shinnecock Hills every few years. The land and daily conditions contribute a perfect canvas that they can tweak, distort, and pervert to their heart’s content. If you doubt, just check out YouTube highlights from the last 3 US Opens held here in 1995, 2004, and 2018. Or you can check out how fan favorite and multiple major winner Phil Mickelson handled a poorly struck putt in such challenging conditions. Phil not accepting responsibility and looking for a short-cut against the rules when things don’t go his way? Perish the thought. Or perish the insider trading. Or the soul sold. Or the unwanted attention given to club staff. Sorry Phil – I know today’s your birthday. And it’s best to sit this out for a while.

World #1 Scottie Scheffler comes to Long Island with his first attempt at the career grand slam, having already captured a couple of green jackets, a Wannamaker, and the 2025 Claret Jug. Brooks Koepka returns to friendly confines for him, but he’s got an upper extremity issue. Rory McIlroy has been mostly quiet since his consecutive Masters, but would love a 7th major.

And there’s a host of former Georgia Bulldogs ready to take this test. Russell Henley, already a winner on Tour this year, comes in with good form. Harris English is not far behind, and was 2nd at the British last year. Brian Harman, Sepp Straka, Chris Kirk, Keith Mitchell, Davis Thompson, and even incoming ‘Dawg Mason Howell will be on site and ready with sharpened #2 pencils.

We’ll be back with tee times and some other stats to get you ready. For now, gird thy loins, and as always…

GO ‘DAWGS!!!