U.S. Open 2024: The reason why players are struggling on the 10th hole

PINEHURST, N.C. — Par 5s are usually a birdie fest for tour pros because they’re the most ‘gettable’ holes on the golf course. But that might not be the case this week at Pinehurst No. 2.

During the first round of the U.S. Open, the par-5 10th hole had a scoring average of 4.94, and that’s 34 percent higher than the PGA Tour average.

While it’s the longest hole on the course at 619 yards, it wasn’t the distance that tripped players up. It was the green. Players had a hard time holding the famous turtleback green, as shots that deviated more than a couple yards right of the hole funnelled into the collection area behind the green, leaving them with a sticky, into-the-grain lie that made it challenging to get the ball up the severe slope. Many players, like Will Zalatoris and Matteo Manaserro, fell victim to the dreaded double chip and watched with disappointment as their ball came rolling back to their feet.

Players that missed the green left didn’t get off easy either as they were subjected to tricky lies from the native area or greenside bunker and had to land these 20-30 yard finesse shots onto a small plateau about 15 feet in diameter, or risk rolling off the green.

Throughout the round, players seemed to figure out that leaving their shots short was the ideal miss as it allowed them to land shots into the grain and gave them plenty of green to work with.

Although the par 5 is still playing under par, it could end up being a determining hole as the weekend rolls around as players that are able to make birdie or better will gain at least a stroke, maybe more, on the field.

MORE GOLF DIGEST U.S. OPEN COVERAGE
U.S. Open 101: Answering all your frequently asked questions
How to watch the 2024 U.S. Open
Power Rankings: Every player in the U.S. Open field, ranked
The 13 best bets to win at Pinehurst
Tee times for Rounds 1 and 2
‘A New Day’: USGA president Fred Perpall brings dynamic personality and drive to golf
Video: Every hole at Pinehurst No. 2
Is the USGA going to set up Pinehurst extra hard because of recent low scores in majors?
Tiger is playing Pinehurst on a special exemption. Here’s what it is and why he got it
What would you shoot at the U.S. Open? Our new tool will tell you
U.S. Open anchor sites are about far more than golf
The U.S. Open champion who died in a jail cell
The USGA is about to play its 1,000th championship. The best 9 stats from the first 999