Thoughts From Players on Being at Merion Golf Club

In the few days that precede the play of the 2013 U.S. Open Championship at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, the tournament players meet with the press for question and answer sessions.

Here are a few from Monday's interviews regarding Merion and the Philadelphia area. The text is provided by the United States Golf Association.

Talk about your feeling of coming out here and the history surrounding the course; Ben Hogan on 18, Bobby Jones, the wicker baskets, everything that Merion stands for?

Adam Scott:  It's a big part of golfing history, and everyone knows that's a big reason why the USGA has come back here, probably rightly so. I think at the moment it's just all very disappointing with the weather.  But hopefully we can get a bit lucky and it can dry out and we can get a really good test over the weekend.

But it's nice to come to these places that have played such a big part in golf's history because we don't get to do it that much.  We're also moving to a lot of new places that have become part of golf's history, too.  But to come back ‑‑ when I was here three weeks ago, I bought the Hogan poster in the pro shop.  I'll buy it here, because then at least it's from the place where he hit the 1‑iron.  It's fun stuff like that.

You guys are being shuttled from the West Course to the East Course, the driving range is over on the west.  You're starting on 1 or 11, so you're either playing 8 holes or 10 holes and making the turn.  Can you discuss the nuances that you typically don't have to deal with on other Majors?

Adam Scott:  Well, the range is a little further away than we're used to.  I'm sure they've got that all planned and hopefully it works like clockwork.

But we've got some practice teeing off the 9th tee last year, we're teeing off the 11th this year.  It's quirky kind of stuff but these golf courses weren't built to host an infrastructure like The Open now demands.  We'll see how it goes.

How are you enjoying Philadelphia's weather so far?

Adam Scott:  So far it's been great (laughter).

I've seen the inside of the clubhouse a lot and restaurants.  I haven't been able to get out much.  I've been here since Friday and I've been studying the course by the yardage book so far, not so much playing, unfortunately.

Can you just talk about how the course played yesterday?  You had a good bit of rain on Friday and Saturday.  And what do you expect if it does remain soft?  Is the scoring going to be easier?  How will it play differently than the way they'd like it?

Ernie Els:  Yesterday it was beautiful.  It was just starting to dry out.  The greens were getting a little bit firmer.  The surfaces are just unbelievable.  The fairways were still quite wet.  I guess they couldn't get the rollers on the fairways.  But the fairways are also getting a little bit firmer.  But they're still soft.  After the rain this morning, it's going to be very sloppy now.  You're not going to see a firm U.S. Open this year, I'm sorry.  I don't care if they get helicopters flying over the fairways, it's not going to dry up.