Why Watching the U.S. Open Feels So Good for the Average Golfer
For most of the golf season, watching the pros can feel like watching another species play a different game. Week after week, tournament leaders finish at 18-under, 20-under, or even better. Drives are straight and long. Approach shots are laser-precise. Putts fall with ease. For the average golfer—struggling to break 90 on a good day—it’s impressive, but not relatable.
Then comes the U.S. Open.
Every June, the U.S. Open delivers a rare and satisfying sight: the world’s best golfers grinding through tough conditions, making bogeys, scrambling from thick rough, and looking frustrated. It’s the one major where par is a good score—sometimes even great. Unlike the birdie-fests we see elsewhere, the U.S. Open brings the game back to Earth.
This year was no exception. Players walked off the course with expressions we know all too well: confusion, disappointment, and occasional flashes of anger. Tee shots barely missing the fairway found deep, penal rough. Greens rolled like glass. Every hole seemed to present a new opportunity for trouble. The final leaderboard showed more black numbers than red—proof that even the best aren't immune to the game's cruelty.
And that’s why it’s such a joy to watch.
There’s something deeply validating about seeing tour pros face the same kind of struggles we do—missed short putts, impossible lies, and rounds that fall apart despite best efforts. It reminds us that golf, at its core, is a hard game for everyone. While we’ll never hit 330-yard drives or shoot 63, we can relate to that feeling of trying to survive the course.
The U.S. Open is a refreshing change from the weekly highlight reel of perfection. It connects us to the game in a more personal, human way. We’re not watching superheroes—we’re watching fellow golfers deal with adversity, doubt, and frustration. And sometimes, they snap a wedge or mutter under their breath, just like the rest of us.
So, while we enjoy watching birdies and flawless rounds the rest of the year, there’s something uniquely satisfying about the U.S. Open. It’s the one time the pros play a game that looks a little more like ours. And in a sport that can feel intimidating, that kind of connection is worth celebrating.
And for me, it wasn’t fully appreciated until the last month when pro tournaments post the U.S. Open took place... and the scores dropped again. Made me earn for a “ticked off” pro, frustrated just like most of us…
