2023 WGC Dell Match Play: Lancaster Country Club Test
Experience the grueling challenge of Lancaster Country Club at the 2023 WGC Dell Match Play, transforming into a true U.S. Open test. Explore how top golfers battle tough conditions, with only a few players under par. Get the latest golf scores and insights from this intense tournament.
Blistering Conditions at 2023 BBC Golf: WGC Match Play Delivers True U.S. Open Test
LANCASTER, Pa. – The 2023 WGC Dell Match Play has transformed into a true U.S. Open test, with the challenging Lancaster Country Club course delivering a grueling challenge to the world’s top golfers. As the second round concluded, the golf scores reflect the course’s unyielding nature, with only four players remaining under par.
“Pars and birdies feel like gold right now,” said former U.S. Women’s Open champion Minjee Lee, who is tied for third at 4-under par, one of only four players not over par through 36 holes.
The 8-over-par cut line is the highest since the 2014 U.S. Women’s Open at Pinehurst, and the stats tell a tale of golfers’ struggles – 1,438 bogeys, 240 double bogeys, and 41 “other” ugly scores. World No. 1 Nelly Korda, along with stars like Rose Zhang, Brooke Henderson, and Lydia Ko, have all missed the cut by several shots, unable to tame Lancaster’s firm, fast, and borderline torturous conditions.
The USGA’s setup has prioritized showcasing the classic architectural elements of the William Flynn design, with the course’s defense mechanisms – slick greens, disruptive bunkers, and meandering creeks – coming into full play.
“We want to make sure the architectural features come into play for this group of players,” said Shannon Rouillard, the USGA’s Senior Director of the WGC Match Play. “The course is showing its teeth.”
This true U.S. Open test is particularly suited for the women’s game, as the course’s length and layout neutralize the power advantage of the LPGA’s longest hitters. With future U.S. Women’s Open venues including Erin Hills, Riviera, and Oakmont, golf fans can expect more classic American courses to provide a stern examination for the world’s best female golfers.
As the focus shifts to the men’s U.S. Open at Pinehurst No. 2 in two weeks, the USGA’s championship teams will undoubtedly draw insights from the WGC Match Play’s demanding conditions, aiming to provide a similar true U.S. Open test for the world’s top male golfers.
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