Golfers, fans alike disappointed in 'very poor' U.S. Open atmosphere at LACC

The atmosphere at Los Angeles Country Club (LACC) for the 2023 U.S. Open this weekend has left a lot to be desired.

While it’s one thing for fans to complain, it’s another for those competing to speak out, and yet, that’s exactly what defending U.S. Open champion Matt Fitzpatrick did after his third round Saturday.

“Very poor… It’s disappointing on the [United States Golf Association] USGA side,” Fitzpatrick said, per Dan Rapaport of Barstool Sports. “They want a great tournament—from what I’ve heard a lot of members bought tickets and that’s why there’s so many less people. Hopefully it’s not the same for other U.S. Opens going forward.”

Contributing to the lack of an atmosphere is the amount of tickets — or lack thereof — distributed for golf’s third major of the season. Ahead of the final round Friday, Rapaport shared the perplexing numbers of fans in attendance this weekend at LACC.

“Details on LACC tickets,” Rapaport tweeted. “23,000 for sale to the general public—but 14,000 of those were for hospitality. Those are very expensive. Only 9,000 GA warriors. These are the people that bring the energy, the atmosphere. And that’s just a shockingly low number. The corporate Open.”

Matt Fitzpatrick sounds off on layout of U.S. Open at LACC

In addition to the less than stellar atmosphere, Fitzpatrick had plenty to say about the layout of the course. Once again, Fitzpatrick was blunt in his assessment.

“Yeah, I just think the golf course is interesting, to be polite, I think,” Fitzpatrick said, via Golf Digest. “There’s just too many holes for me where you’ve got blind tee shots and then you’ve got fairways that don’t hold the ball. There’s too much slope. I think the greens certainly play better when they’re firmer. I definitely think that’s the case. They’re rolling really, really well.

“Some of the tee shots are just—I think they’re a little bit unfair. You hit a good tee shot and end up in the rough by a foot and then you’re hacking it out. Meanwhile someone has hit it miles offline the other way and they’ve got a shot. Yeah, not my cup of tea.”

Final round of U.S. Open commences with battle atop leaderboard

Sitting at 10-under par, co-leaders Wyndham Clark and Rickie Fowler will tee off at 5:30 p.m. ET — 70 minutes earlier than they hit their first tee shots Saturday. Clark, 29, is going for just his second professional victory and first major. Prior to this year’s U.S. Open, Clark’s best finish in a major came in the 2021 PGA Championship, a 75th place finish. He now finds himself 18 holes away from a career-defining moment and a record $3.6 million payout. Clark knows, however, he is the underdog standing next to one of the most popular players on the PGA Tour in Fowler, who is also looking for major championship No. 1.

“Everyone’s pulling for Rickie,” Clark said. “I’m the underdog.”