If Pinehurst was the US Open for the aficionado, is Chambers Bay, complete with it's more obvious, upfront renaissance architecture (if I can call it that), the moment when the golfing masses at least begin to understand the notion of firm and fast strategic golf? Many of us warned that Pinehurst, although a very good start, was nothing more than a start. Nothing was ever going to change overnight. But Chambers Bay, just maybe, is a visually bold enough course to progress public perception. Maybe, just maybe?
Yes, the sprinklers might have to hit the greens hard overnight and, yes, the conservatives will no doubt continue to be resistant to anything they didn't grow up to believe represented elitism. Actually, I imagine the latest guy to jump into the GOP clown car is beginning to wear his fingers out with all that tweeting but, by and large, at least on this side of the pond, I'm hearing a very positive response to this event, both from the public and the TV broadcast. Sky are stumbling a bit to find people to explain the course but they are doing what they can to get with the programme, so to speak.
Over to the collective.