Arron Oberholser reflects on Pinehurst as a player, now a broadcaster

What it’s like to broadcast now instead of play Pinehurst: “And this is my second broadcast, actually here,” Arron Oberholser shared with WCNC Charlotte’s Ashley Stroehlein. “I did it in 2014 when they had the US Open back here for the first time after the changes. It’s very different being on this side of the ropes versus that side of the ropes, for sure. The funny thing is, the butterflies are still there. Even when you’re doing television, and you’re doing a broadcast, you want to get things right, you want to make sure that you represent the players the right way, you represent the golf course in the championship the right way. But as a player, it was it was pretty spectacular getting to play this golf course. And I wish I would have been able to play it in 2014 with the changes they made because it’s a ton of fun, and it’s very visually different now,”

What should players be preparing for: “They’re gonna get accustomed to lines. Basically, what they’re trying to do is they’re trying to find lines, they’re trying to make sure that they get the right angles into these greens because this is, unlike a lot of traditional US Open golf courses, this is a second shot golf course. So the the fairways are fairly wide, and they give you plenty of room to drive the ball in those fairways. But it’s up to you if you want to choose whether or not to drive it in the proper side of those fairways, so that you can attack certain hole locations. So if you drive it on the wrong side of certain fairways, there are certain hole locations that aren’t going to be available to you unless you come up with something spectacular, really. So if you if you choose the right angle to approach from, and you’re able to pull that tee shot off, you’re you could have the ability to attack a hole location and get on the board early with a birdie.”

Who stands out to him as players: “Wow. Well, I think the two guys you got to look at right away that are far and away the two best players right now that are playing or the PGA champion Xander Schauffele and, obviously Scottie Scheffler, who’s won five times up to this point. Those two guys, I think, are heads and shoulders above everybody else, even though maybe the betting people might not see it that way, the way they’re setting the odds. I would put Xander, you know, right behind Scottie kind of as, not quite a co-favorite because Scottie is that much better, but Xander is going to have something to say about it. Well, I think by the end of the week, for sure. As far as dark horses, I haven’t thought a lot about my Dark Horse picks this week. Keegan Bradley played here well here in 2014. I like Keegan on this golf course. He’s also playing really good golf. You know, I like Cam Smith off the LIV tour. I think this is a great golf course for Cam. His short game and his iron play is going to shine around here. So, I look for Cam Smith, if he’s playing well, I look for him to play well. Unless Scottie goes and runs away with it, this is this could be a really tightly contested and a lot of fun US Open to watch for sure.”

Where is Tiger Woods in his career: He’s in a different phase in his life now. I think he’d admit that. He comes out, and he says he wants to win, but there’s nothing, as an analyst, if I look at it objectively, as an analyst, there’s nothing that I can say that, that from a number standpoint that point to the fact that he could win this week. So for him to come out, he’ll compete, for sure, and he’ll he will never give up on a shot because he’s never given up on a shot in his life. But for him to do something special this week, it’s gonna take a Herculean effort, I think, for him to even have a chance to win for sure. I’m hoping he makes the weekend. That’s what I’m hoping for. And he can really thrill these fans on on Saturday and Sunday.

Where is Wyndham Clark this season: He was one of the guys that I didn’t mention as a favorite. And, unfortunately, I can’t just because of the where he’s at in his game right now. He’s just not playing as well as he needs to be playing right now. He has had a rough couple of weeks. Control, just understanding control. Listen, all those guys who are in that top 10 in the world there always this close from from breaking out, and it’s one little thing that Wyndham probably needs to click on. And then he’s got it. He clicked on it last year, understood it and was able to ride it. He just needs to find that one little thing then it’s usually something very small, and all of a sudden, okay, I’ve got it and then he can go off and run with it. It’s just finding that thing is the hardest part.

well we are here ahead of the US Open Aaron you get a chance to be out here working this covering this but you also have played this course you had a top 10 finish in the US open at Pinehurst back in 2005 so take me through that moment what it was like then being a player and what it’s like now being a part of the broadcast team and this is my second broadcast actually here I did it in 2014 um when they had the US Open back here for the first time after the changes it it’s it’s very different being on this side of the ropes versus that side of the ropes for sure um the funny thing is the butterflies are still there even when you’re doing in television and you’re doing a broadcast and you want to get things right you want to make sure that you represent the players the right way you represent the golf course and the championship the right way but uh as a player it was it was pretty spectacular getting to play this golf course and I I wish I would have been able to play it uh in 2014 with the changes they made because it’s a ton of fun and and it’s very visually different now uh uh guys going through practice rounds today what are they trying to get accustomed to what are they seeing when they get out here for those practice rounds uh they’re going to get accustomed to lines uh basically what they’re trying to do is they’re trying to find lines they’re trying to make sure that they get the right angles into these greens cuz this is unlike a lot of traditional US Open golf courses this is a second Shot Golf Course so the the fairways are fairly wide and they give you plenty of room to drive the ball in those Fairways but it’s up to you if you want to choose whether or not to drive it in the proper side of those Fairways so that you can attack certain hole locations so if you drive it on the wrong side of certain Fairways there are certain hole locations that aren’t going to be available to you unless you come up with something spectacular really so if you if you choose the right angle to to approach from and you’re able to pull that t-shot off you’re you’re you could have the ability to attack a whole location and get on the board early with a birdie and when you look at the field for this US Open what are some of the standout guys to you and who are maybe some of the underdogs or dark horses that you think could pull this off this week wow well I think the two guys you got to look at right away that are Far and Away the two best players right now that are playing are the PGA Champions Andrew shle and obviously Scotty sheffler who’s won five times up to this point those two guys I think are heads and shoulders above everybody else even though maybe the the the the betting people might not see it that way the way they’re setting the odds I would put Xander you know right behind Scotty kind of as as as not quite a co-favorite because Scotty’s that much better but Xander’s going to have something to say about it I think by the end of the week for sure as far as uh Dark Horses I haven’t thought a lot about my Dark Horse picks this week Keegan Bradley played well here in 2014 I like Keegan on this golf course he’s also playing uh really good golf um uh you know I like cam Smith uh off the live tour I think this is a great Golf Course for cam it it’s going to his short game and his iron play is going to shine around here so I I look for cam Smith if he’s playing well I look for him to play well uh we this is you know if unless Scotty goes and runs away with it this is this could be a really tight tightly contested and uh and lot of fun US Open to watch for sure a lot of folks here in North Carolina and that will be traveling here for the US Open excited to get a chance to see tyer Woods play obviously a big Gallery just for practice on M Monday you know what do you make of of where he’s at it’s nice to see the moments of him and Charlie out here together going through things but just just the opportunity to have tiger come here and compete again he he’s in a different phase in his life now I think he’d admit that I I don’t know I you know he comes out and he says he wants to win but there’s nothing as an analyst if I look at it objectively as an analyst there’s nothing that I can say that that from a number standpoint that point to the fact that he could win this week so for him to come out he’ll compete for sure and he’ll he will never give up on a shot cuz he’s never given up on a shot in his life but for him to do something special this week it’s going to take a Herculean effort I think for him to to to even have a chance to win for sure I’m hoping he makes the weekend that’s what I’m hoping for and he can really thrill these F fans on on Saturday and Sunday yeah absolutely and then just looking at uh the reigning US Open champ obviously a different course last year but wendam Clark where do you think he’s at this season and and what does he kind of need to do to maybe get back in the game a rough few weeks he was one he was one of the guys that I didn’t mention as a favorite and and unfortunately I can’t just because of the where he’s at in his game right now he’s just not playing as well as he needs to be playing right now he has had a rough couple of weeks uh control just understanding control listen all those guys who are in that top 10 in the world they’re always this close from from breaking out and it’s one little thing that Windam probably needs to to click on and and then he’s got it he clicked on it last year understood it and was able to ride it he just needs to find that one little thing then it’s usually something very small and all of a sudden okay I’ve got it and then he can go off and run with it it’s just finding that thing is the hardest part and I want to ask for folks who are coming out obviously a lot of golf fans will be here but maybe some first- timers tuning in her coverage on NBC what can they expect from this week what are some things you would say hey this is going to be exciting and this is what you should look out for you know as from a golf perspective you’re going to love the walk around Pinehurst if you’ve never been here before the walk around Pinehurst is extremely special it’s Unique it’s it’s there’s nothing else like it in the United States from a golf perspective uh it’s it’s truly one-of-a-kind venue and I think that they’re going to enjoy the visuals it’s visually stunning from tea to the green and I think that uh the walk it’s it’s a wonderful walk I just walked the back nine just now and and loved it and it reminded me a little bit of playing here in ‘ 05 the greens were very similar but I think that uh what they’re going to they’re going to see a lot of Carnage around the greens I can promise you that cuz these are the about the most unique next to Oakmont about probably the most unique US Open greens you’re going to find and so if they’re into watching players potentially pay ping pong back and forth you might see that a few times from the best players in the world this week because that’s how difficult these greens really are yeah well Aaron we appreciate your time thanks for your Insight and Analysis we look forward to watching you do the coverage of the US Open this week thanks for having me thank you