When the players arrive for the 64th U.S.
Women’s Open at Saucon Valley Country Club’s Old Course in Bethlehem, Pa., July 9-12 they will be greeted by the longest course in the Open’s history. Officially, it is not the longest — last year’s at Interlachen in Minnesota and earlier this decade at Cherry Hills in Colorado were longer in yards — but Interlachen played to a par 73 and the altitude of Cherry Hills made it play shorter. But the par-71, 6,740-yard Old Course is all meat. The 156-player field will encounter narrow fairways ranging from 25-35 yards wide, a graduated rough and fast greens set to run at 12 to 12 1/2 on the Stimpmeter. “Why come to Saucon Valley” said the USGA’s set-up man Mike Davis, its senior director of rules and competitions. “Because it’s a wonderful place to have a competition. It’s a great test of golf with excellent support from the members. “We want this to be the toughest that they’ll see all year long,” he said. “It’s always been a trademark of a USGA championship and this will be no different. Ideally, we want to test every single aspect of their game. “Challenging, yet fair.” Rolling terrain and tough greens surrounded by mature trees will make for some interesting shots.
The defending champions is Inbee Park.