Second Round Course Setup And Conditions Update

Davis putts on the 18th Friday morning. Click to enlarge.I watched the back nine setup team of Mike Davis and Tom O'Toole prepare a few Congressional holes for today's second round and picked up a few things worth adding on top of my Golf World Daily item about why the putting surfaces look the way they do.

--Most of the greens are noticeably better looking today. Davis says the overnight rains and accompanying lightning delivered a nice nitrogen punch that has given the beleaguered surfaces some more color and life.

--The greens are faster. Davis attributes this to the normal increase that comes with daily U.S. Open preparation practices. He estimates several greens are over 14 feet on the Stimp and that the early afternoon will have most greens around 13 to 13.5

--The 17th green is not getting any better either agronomically or architecturally. Davis still intends to use his planned for Sunday hole location and while it'll look awful on television, the ball should roll okay.

--The 12th hole figures to throw players for a loop today. As warned about in our GolfDigest.com hole by hole setup tour, Davis has moved the tee up about 60 yards to accompany a tight left hole location. The change gives players the option of a 230 yard layup or the chance to hit a risky draw around the corner to setup a flip wedge approach.

--The course received 1/4 of an inch overnight, which combined with yesterday's rain means .4 inches in the last 24 hours with more storms forecast for this afternoon.