STEVENS POINT (Wisconsin) – It’s been 39 years since Jerry Kelly walked SentryWorld’s manicured fairways.
His memory of the course was not very clear.
“It has been re-done pretty much everything.” I thought I remembered one of the par-fives. The Flower Hole was number 7. “I think 7 was the number back then,” Kelly said.
The Madison golfer visited the grounds on Thursday to get his first glimpse of the venue where this week’s U.S. Senior Open Championship will be held. He was essentially cramming in preparation for a big test which could have multiple answers to the same questions.
He said in a telephone interview after a long practice session on Thursday that he had played “at least 27 or 36 holes.” “Hit 3 drivers off of a bunch tees. You can use the 3-wood or driver to get out of bunkers and hit short. You can decide if it’s better to hit something close or if it is more comfortable to stay back. Million putts – from the center of the greens to the corners, uphills and downhills. Short-side bunker shots.”
What did Kelly learn from the course that he played in 1984, at the WIAA State Tournament when he shot an impressive 77-82 to finish 10th and seven shots behind Steve Stricker – another golfing legend of the state?
Kelly commented, “It’s as classic a Wisconsin wooded parkland golf course that you can find.” The golf course is not a tricked-up golf course. Set-up is the only thing that could be considered tricked up, and this is entirely USGA’s fault. “This golf course is amazing.”
Kelly’s comments on the course, his state of play heading into the major championship, and his predictions for the winning score are below:
SentryWorld: On the thick of it
It’s uniform and very thick. Even if they top the morning rounds, with the wet lawn it will be difficult. Some guys may be able advance the ball 150 or 170 yards, but no one is going to risk it when they are going over water and onto greens. It’s going be a lot more punching out of the rough, and hitting wedge shots into greens. This is a thick and deep bog. It’s Wisconsin. Here, we know how to grow tough.
“A number of guys sent me pictures. In some places, it was as high as their shins. It was up to their shins in some spots. The guys did a great job. It’s still thick and deep. It’s really gnarly at the moment. There are so many strands to deal with that it is definitely stopping the group here. It’s crazy.”
How to stay patient during a major event
It’s going be an awesome championship, and it will be like the U.S. Open. I will have to put on my patience hat. I don’t wear it all the time. Hats are always losing. They are left in hotels. I leave them in hotels. They are all over. This golf course is not a sideways thing to me. It was all I could talk to because I was alone. The only person I could talk to was the golf course. “You’re awesome. It’s fun to do.”
(Copyright USGA/Fred Vuich) The fifth hole at Sentry World Golf Course, Stevens Point, Wis., on Monday, July 25th, 2022. (Copyright USGA/Fred Vuich)
The keys to winning
“No. You must first get the ball on the fairway. That’s a no-no. 1. You cannot play from this rough onto these greens. It is not possible. You can’t go near any of these greens, if your ball is in the rough. No. If you get your ball on the fairway, there are a few greens with slopes. You have to be very careful what you hit into these greens and may not be able fly anything back to the pin. It may fall short. It may seem like ‘Oh what is he doing?’ It’s terrible. But if you land it five feet farther, it will bounce forward and go in the water. I did it on 12. “Ball-striking will be important, but fairway will be the most crucial because these greens are difficult.”
After a 72 in the first round, I finished 11th at last week’s American Family Insurance Championship held at University Ridge.
“I did it to myself at University Ridge. I thought, “Man, this place is hard.” I said, “You shoot 2, 3, you’re golfing here.” Next thing I knew, Justin Leonard had shot a 10-under on the first day. The front side has no scoreboards, so I did not realize that the guys were playing low until the turn. I believe I turned at 1-over or even, I don’t remember, and then I was like, “I’m in.” I told myself to shoot low, because it would be difficult. They just attacked as they always do, and I was blown away on the first round. Now I had to play catch-up and it wasn’t good. This is one of the rare times I think about my score. “Oh, it won’t be as low, so I can make sure I do the right things and do all these stuff.’ Where normally I attack the golf course.”
This week’s winning score
You’ll have to shoot low in order to win. There’s no doubt about it. Do I see 20-unders? I don’t. It’s going be too many bogeys. This golf course is already troublesome enough. It’s not like there are any problems at (University Ridge). There’s trouble here, and when you’re in the rough it’s a big penalty. Mother Nature never made me put a number to anything. It’s going to be hard hitting the fairways if the wind blows. Distance control is difficult if the wind blows. The slopes are so steep that balls can end up in the water at many different locations. There’s difficulty with both, whether it softens or firms up. If it is cold and blowing, I would say good luck because this course is long. I’m not a good long-hitter, but I did hit many long clubs today. It’s the U.S. Open. When we sign up for these tournaments, we know what to expect. This is exactly what we are looking for because it will separate the field quite significantly. It’s going be a spectacular finish.”
