Short-hitting Luke Donald to use driver just 5 times at Merion
Equipment PGA Tour U.S. Open

Short-hitting Luke Donald to use driver just 5 times at Merion

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You know how I know this U.S. Open is really short?

Luke Donald, who ranks tied for 155th on the PGA Tour in driving distance, said Tuesday at Merion Golf Club that he'll need the driver just five times to get around the East course site of the 2013 U.S. Open.

The East course will play a smidge under 7,000 yards this week, making it the first U.S. Open venue to play under that total since Shinnecock Hills in 2004.

There are five par 4s that will play under 400 yards for the week, but there are also a pair over 500 yards, including the 521-yard finisher, designed to force players into reliving the iconic shot Ben Hogan hit with a 1-iron to secure a spot in a playoff that he later won for the 1950 U.S. Open.

Though nearly one-third of the course is comprised of short par 4s, Merion's long par 3s are some of the toughest in the world. Nos. 3, 9 and 17 all measure over 235 yards on the card and will likely be where a lot of damage is done.

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Ryan Ballengee

Ryan Ballengee is founder and editor of Golf News Net. He has been writing and broadcasting about golf for nearly 20 years. Ballengee lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his family. He is a scratch golfer...sometimes.

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