The greens at Pinehurst No. 2 are extremely difficult. Some claimed that although the course seems longer visually it is witnessed to be shorter once someone hits a ball. Given such conditions does the USGA allow its field members to use distance-measuring equipment such as rangefinders?

The USGA has a very meticulous and long list of rules and clarifications. From making sure that repairs are done in certain ways to letting the players know that many of them can share one bag, USGA has pinpointed every possibility and encompassed it in its rulebook. According to their Use of equipment rule, there are limitations to using ‘green-reading’ materials. “Rule 4.3 limits the use of equipment and devices that might help a player in their play, based on the principle that golf is a challenging game in which success should depend on the judgement, skills and abilities of the player,” said USGA.

According to USA Today, USGA has allowed laser rangefinder usage since 2006 but only for casual play and tournaments. It was later banned by local rules. They also reported, “At elite professional levels of play, the devices still have not been embraced for competition rounds, though they have been allowed in the U.S. Amateur since 2014. They are still not allowed during competition rounds at PGA Tour events or at the U.S. Open and British Opens.”

USGA limits a putting green map image to only a ‘scale of 3/8 inch to 5 yards or smaller’. Additionally, as per its size limits, the image or map can be ‘4 1/4 inches x 7 inches’. Interestingly, the permission to use a rangefinder can be easily ruled out as USGA restricts the use of any magnifying equipment. It states, “No magnification of putting green information is allowed other than a player’s normal wearing of prescription glasses or lenses.”

Furthermore, the USGA does not allow any handwritten or hand-drawn information regarding the putting greens unless it meets the size limits and is written by either the player or the caddie.  There are also limitations to the alignment devices. The rulebook states, “If a player places an “alignment device” (see definition in Equipment Rules) to show the line of play and then positions their ball based on the direction of that alignment device, the player is in breach of Rule 4.3a.”

The PGA of America has enabled the use of distance-measuring devices in three of its major championships since 2021. Along with the PGA Championship, it also lets the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship and the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship use such advantages.

The then president of the PGA of America, Jim Richerson had previously stated, “The use of distance-measuring devices is already common within the game and is now a part of the Rules of Golf. Players and caddies have long used them during practice rounds to gather relevant yardages.”

PGA of America is a standalone association that allows using such equipment. Using devices that provide insights on elevation change is a prohibited practice but using a rangefinder is not. For the devices that already have the feature inbuilt, the golfers keep it turned off.

The greens of Pinehurst No. 2 have been declared to be one of the best of Donald Ross and the toughest too. With so many speculations springing up to scrutinize its difficulty, the 15-time major winner, Tiger Woods, is relating to the golf community how difficult it truly is with his pacing in the first round of the 124th edition of the US Open. His approach to the first few holes and the time frame he has taken to complete them are shocking.

The X handle of Flushing It has just dropped a post about how it took Woods an absolute 44 minutes to complete his 2nd hole since the time he teed off for the first round. With that, they also explored the potential of a larger concern at Pinehurst altogether. They stated, “Tiger Woods teed off 44 minutes ago and his group has just completed only their 2nd hole of the day. Slow play could be a big issue at Pinehurst.”

With an elevated level of difficulty on the greens of Pinehurst, many are suspecting a low-scoring major. With its turtleback and more links-style setup, Pinehurst possesses a lot more difficulty for smooth play. The slow pacing of the game from early on is only a sign of how distinguishingly strenuous the journey is going to be moving forward.

On the very first hole, two closely mown mounds were witnessed just below the ledge. The tricky trajectory of the shot certainly calls for ample time for better judgment on the golfer’s part. And Tiger Woods, along with his team, has understood what to prioritize at the US Open this year, even if time is at stake for scoring a shot.

Bob Harig pointed out the shocking news of how Woods scored 1-under par in the first two holes, but it took 42 minutes. In the discussion of the post, he again informed Woods that he had been waiting at the 15th tee for a while. While another fan observed that he had waited well over 5 minutes for the second shot of the 10th hole along with two other golfers. The slow play controversy came into being at the 2023 Masters at the hands of Patrick Cantlay.

When the golf community was hit with the news, they were extremely shocked at the performance so far on the greens of Pinehurst No. 2 Golf Course.

The golf community is stunned by Tiger Woods’s pace

One of the fans wrote, “Brutal pacing. It’s a US Open and I was prepared for it but damn it’s slow. Imagine if it was windy.” He expressed his expectations that the US Open would prepare him for a difficult result; however, the pacing thus portrayed so early on in the tournament is still unthinkable and way slower. He also questioned how much worse could have been the outcome if it had been windy after all at Pinehurst.

Another fan wrote, “Think the pace could benefit Tiger’s leg?” Tiger Woods has been going through insufferable leg issues for more than a decade now. Right before the Masters, many questioned how his ankle’s zero mobility was a matter of concern. Shockingly, he walked all four days at Augusta. At the PGA Championship too, he did not limp the two days he played. The fan speculated that a slow pace might give the golfer an upper hand and conclude with a different result than was seen during the Masters (finished last), and the PGA Championship (missed cut).

Yet another fan was shocked and commented, “42 to play 2 holes?!” It is almost unbelievable for the golf community to believe that it took so long for someone as experienced as Woods to play two holes. Having won 15 major titles, and 82 Tour events, Woods has had his share of playing on difficult courses.

Someone else wrote, “Tougher the course, slower the play. Golf is faster when making Birdies and not always fighting off Bogeys or worse!!” They recognized that the difficulty level golfers have been met with at Pinehurst has already produced several triples and doubles in just a short time. Making birdies is indeed faster on the course, and eagles too!

One other fan wrote, “Gezzus. That’s embarrassing. Maybe it’s time for a shotgun start.” They were extremely disappointed with the play and the pace, so much so that they suggested a different approach that should have been undertaken. The shotgun start lets all the golfers tee up at the same time but from different holes just like in LIV Golf.

The 2024 US Open is here, and the goat is competing in it! Tiger Woods was given a special exemption by the USGA, which allowed him to compete in the 124th edition of the third major. Golf enthusiasts got glimpses of the dynamic duo of Tiger Woods and his son, Charlie Woods, as they prepared together at Pinehurst No. 2 before the tournament officially started. Woods Jr. is instrumental in his father’s practice, but he is not carrying his bag this major. It’s Lance Bennett who is caddying for the 15x major champion.

Lance Bennett first assumed the role of Woods’s caddie at the 2024 Genesis Invitational. Recently, a video of them scouting the greens was shared by NUCLR Golf on their X handle. It showed Bennet was taking notes on Woods’s shots at Pinehurst No. 2. “We’ve had the same type of feeling in how we look at the golf course and how we read putts; they’re very similar. I think it’s great—we’re going to be a great team and really looking forward to the challenge,” Woods said of Bennett.

Bennett works full-time for Belgian golfer Adrien Dumont de Chassart. He is well known for his partnerships with notable golfers like Matt Kuchar, as he caddied for him during Kuchar’s win at the 2012 PLAYERS Championship. Bennett brings a wealth of experience to the table. Moreover, he has also worked with Sungjae Im and 2024 Charles Schwab Challenge winner Davis Riley. The looper has also spent time on the LPGA Tour with Juli Inkster, Paula Creamer, and Lorena Ochoa.

Tiger Woods and his son Charlie practicing together emphasizes the deep connection they share. They have been working on various aspects of the game, from bump-and-run shots to intricate putting drills. “I just want to see the balls rolling. Charlie reminds me every now and again, which is great. We have a great relationship and rapport like that, and it’s a wonderful experience for both of us,” Woods shared, highlighting the special bond they have built through golf.

At the PNC Championship in December 2023, the 48-year-old brought his daughter, Samantha Woods, to be his caddie. So why was the 15-year-old not given a chance to caddie for Woods?

Despite Charlie’s impressive credentials, including a +3 handicap and victories on the junior circuit, caddying for his father at a challenging course like Pinehurst is less than ideal. Tiger Woods’s return to major competition after a month will require the expertise and experience that Woods Jr. cannot provide at such a young age, particularly in reading greens and strategizing on tough courses.

While Charlie isn’t carrying the bag, he is playing another crucial role as an unofficial coach for his father. Woods emphasized this during the Masters saying, “I trust him with my swing and my game. He’s seen it more than anybody else in the world. He’s seen me hit more golf balls than anyone.”

Woods praised that his son’s involvement is not just sentimental; he brings fresh insights and reminders that help him focus. “He gave me a couple little side bits today, which was great, because I get so entrenched in hitting certain putts to certain pins, I tend to forget some of the things I’m working on,” said Woods at the pre-tournament presser at Pinehurst No. 2.

As Tiger Woods eyes the 16th major, he is supported by a team that includes both seasoned professionals and his talented son. Will he defy the odds and become a 16x major champion? It remains to be seen!

Earl Woods has been a central character in the Tiger Woods lore. But the 15-time major champion believes his mother, Kultida, doesn’t get the recognition she deserves. While receiving the Bob Jones Award, the United States Golf Association’s most prestigious accolade, at Pinehurst, the three-time U.S. Open winner revealed that during eight of nine consecutive USGA titles, his mother wasn’t present. However, at the 1996 US Amateur’s Open, Kultida was at the Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club.

Woods already created history by netting three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateur’s Open. And, at Pumpkin Ridge, then 20-year-old was standing at the cusp of a historic six-peat. “There she was in a Stanford sweatshirt; imagine if I had lost? But who did I hug first after I won, right, Mommy? It was you,” the 15-time major champion said.

For all the influence Kultida had on Woods, what gets overlooked is the killer instinct and ruthless mentality Woods had. Woods once jokingly said, “He [Earl Woods] never had to spank me growing up as a kid. Because Mom beat the hell out of my ass. I’ve still got the handprints.”

Humor aside, Kultida was as invested in the young golf prodigy as was her husband. From outside the ropes, from outside the media spotlight. In 2010, after Woods’s personal troubles took center stage, Kultida told Doug Ferguson of AP, “Some of media, especially tabloid, hurt my son bad. He didn’t do anything illegal. He didn’t kill anybody. But he try to improve himself.”

The 82-time PGA Tour winner said from Pinehurst, “My mom doesn’t get enough credit. It was Dad and I on the road, but my mom has been there my entire life, has always been there through thick and thin.” After honoring the previous recipient the 48-year-old added, “She [Kultida Woods] allowed me to get here, to do these things, to chase my dreams, with support and love. I didn’t do this alone, I had the greatest rock that any child could possibly have. Thank you, Mommy.”

It was reminiscent of Woods’s Hall of Fame speech, where the veteran golfer revealed that his parents had to take a second mortgage to fund his dream of becoming an ace golfer. Woods said, nothing would’ve been possible “Without the sacrifices of mom, who took me to all the tournaments. And dad, who’s not here, but who instilled in me this work ethic to fight for what I believe in, chase after my dreams.

While she supported her son’s pursuit of greatness, Kultida Woods also had some curious contributions to the Woods lore. The famous Nike red polos that landed Woods 15 majors including all three U.S. Open titles, was her mother’s idea. Woods, who now is associated with a clothing line with the same name, revealed how he had a disagreement with his mother about the ‘power color’ but later fell in line.

Tiger Woods revealed the Kultida connection to Sun Day Red

Make no mistake, like you and me and everyone else in their teenage years, Tiger Woods was also a rebellious kid. So, when his mothers suggested he should wear red – because Woods was Capricorn, and red was his power color – the teenager swatted aside the suggestion as nonsense.

Tiger Woods said on NBC’s Today Show last month, “It’s a nice little tie to mom. In some of the junior golf events in So Cal, I would wear red, and I won. Then, in spite, I wore blue at other tournaments – I didn’t win. So I then switched to red, and I had a lot more success wearing red.”

In his first U.S. Open appearance since missing the cut in 2020 at Winged Foot, Tiger Woods believes he has the strength and ability to do it. Not making the cut, but winning his 16th major. Another trait Woods learned from his mother. The nine-time USGA champion will tee off at 7.29 AM ET on Thursday with Matt Fitzpatrick and Will Zalatoris.