WESTCHESTER NOTEBOOK
A week after the glass-fast greens of the U.S. Open, putting will require some adjustment at the Barclays Classic that begins today at Westchester CC in Harrison.
“You actually can be aggressive and try to make some. I think that is the biggest adjustment,” Peter Jacobsen said. “At the U.S. Open and Augusta, you are really hitting a lot of lag putts. I don’t think you’ll have as much strategy on the greens as at Pinehurst.”
Adjusting to faster greens, estimated at 13 at Pinehurst, then going back to the 11-11 ½ target at Westchester, could play havoc on speed and touch.
Jonathan Kaye, who won here in 2003, doesn’t figure he gets any edge from not playing at Pinehurst, and not having to adjust twice.
“This is a U.S. Open-type course,” Kaye said. “I don’t think there’ll be much difference.
“It might be a little slower, but I think there’s a lot more slope than at Pinehurst.”
The 34-year-old Kaye, who describes himself as an “avid indoorsman,” won at Westchester in a playoff over John Rollins in 2003. He won the FBR last year, but was hampered by a back ailment.
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While Ryan Moore is making his pro debut here, Spencer Levin is also in the field, having left the amateur ranks at the U.S. Open last week. Levin missed the Pinehurst cut by two strokes at 73-77-150. He finished as low amateur, T13 at the 2004 U.S. Open at Shinnecock, the best by an amateur since 1971, notching his first career ace on the 17th in that first round.
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Padraig Harrington, who finished second to Sergio Garcia in a playoff here last year, also missed the cut at Pinehurst at 151.
“I’ve missed two cuts in a row. I don’t think I’ve missed two cuts in a row since I turned pro. It’s new territory for me,” Harrington said.
So he used the unwanted free weekend to soak.
“I went to the pool. I actually did,” Harrington said. “I practiced. I went to the pool all day Saturday until 4 o’clock. Three hours practice afterwards. The following day I got up and did 1 ½ hours’ practice, flew up to Westchester and watched golf all afternoon in my hotel. [Monday] I went to New York City and caught the Yankees game.”
