A year ago, Rory McIlroy shattered the U.S. Open scoring record with a 16-under par week at Congressional. Don't expect anybody to threaten that record this year. Not at the Olympic Club in San Francisco, CA.
The site of the 2012 U.S. Open is likely to yield high scores and frustrated golfers. Bubba Watson was quoted Tuesday saying he doesn't like the course because he's worried he might shoot an 80. And Watson just won the Masters.
SB Nation's Brian Floyd put together an Olympic Club tutorial and calls the course "brutal."
Brutal. Impossible. Bordering on unfair. These and any number of similar phrases could be used to describe Olympic Club, site of the 2012 U.S. Open. And they wouldn't be wrong: The course, set up to the USGA's typical unforgiving standards for the second major of the year, is the "toughest test in golf" for a reason.
But it's hard to get a feel for just how difficult the course is until seeing it in person. Flyovers, videos and still shots simply don't do it justice. The undulations -- both on fairways and greens -- are extreme. The course layout is somewhat unconventional, likely to throw players off. And the small details -- the way greens funnel down into less-than-straightforward chipping areas and fairways that punish the wrong shot selection -- are, in a word, devilish.
READ THE REST OF FLOYD'S PIECE FOR BULLET POINTS ABOUT EACH OF THE COURSE'S TOUGHEST HOLES.
For all your news and updates in the run up to the 2012 U.S. Open at the Olympic Club, stay tuned to this StoryStream or visit SB Nation's dedicated golf hub. Be sure to head over to USOpen.com for even more coverage from the event.