U.S. Open Hole 12 preview -- Chambers Bay, 18 holes in 18 days
In the 18 days leading up to the June 18 start of the U.S. Open Golf Championship, FOXSports.com and Golfweek will preview the Chambers Bay course -- one hole at a time.
Today’s hole: No. 12 -- Par 4, 281/311 yards
This hole is like downshifting in a Ford Chicane on a LeMans racetrack. Players must be careful not to veer off course on an enticing, maddening, and – for most of the field – reachable par-4. The approach zone runs narrowly through huge dunes, then brings a massive blowout bunker into play short and left of the green.
The putting surface might best be described as a dogleg-left punchbowl that’s barely clinging to a hill. Its three tiers could bring players to tears. Reaching the mammoth green, 58 yards long, is easy, but holding the correct one of three -- or is it four? -- plateaus will be the real problem. Plenty of players will make eagles here, but many more will three-putt. A driver off the tee will draw all the wows, but a 6-iron or wedge might be a smarter play and produce, on average, lower scores.
Earlier holes
No. 1 -- Par 5/4, 598/496 yards
No. 10 -- Par 4, 436/468 yards
No. 11 -- Par 4, 500/537 yards
Golfweek's complete preview