Round One Of The 2017 U.S. Senior Open

We’re almost through the first round of the 2017 U.S. Senior Open at the Salem Country Club in Peabody, MA, and the course is proving to be fairly difficult for players to navigate. As of now four players are tied for a share of the lead at -5, but there are still several groups who have yet to finish. In a field of 156 golfers, only 43 have been able to break under par so far. Some notable names who are among those under par are: Fred Couples, Miguel Angel Jimenez, and Bernhard Langer, who won the tournament in 2010. Langer finished second at the tournament in 2012, while Couples and Jimenez finished as runners-up in 2010 and 2016 respectively.

Among the leaders is 2013 U.S. Senior Open champion, Kenny Perry. Kenny only had one bogey for the day on the par three 15^th. He followed up his bogey hole with two birdies on 16 and 17, ending his round on a high note. After he finished Kenny spoke about the difficulty of the course as well as the importance of this tournament to him.

Perry stated that one of the most difficult aspect of the course is the challenge that the greens present. He compared the difficulty of playing the greens at Salem to those at Augusta National. Each green has varying speeds, unlike other courses on the tour. Kenny described the greens like they were the top of a helmet where the ball will roll away from the hole in any direction. Expect to see many players leave putts short this weekend to avoid hitting the ball past the hole and watching it roll another 10 feet downhill.

When asked how important winning the U.S. Senior Open was to him, Perry said, “It’s everything to me”. He brought up his days on the PGA Tour, remembering his shortcomings at the U.S. Open on that tour, as well as at other tournaments. He went on to describe how nice it feels to be able to compete in and win tournaments on the PGA Tour Champions while having his past shortcomings in mind.

Weather permitting, this tournament should provide a great deal of excitement for everyone involved. Some of the biggest names in golf history are right here in New England, don’t miss out on the action this weekend. Be sure to check back with us for recaps after each round, and follow us on Twitter for breaking news.