ERIN, Wis. — The 138 bunkers that will be in play at this year’s United States Open have nothing remotely routine about them.
Not their sand — a mixture of ingredients expressly conceived and manufactured for Erin Hills golf club, the site of the championship. Not their shapes, because they do not conform to anything studied in geometry class. Not their contours, because they tilt and cant without a discernible pattern.
And the bunkers have certainly not imbued this year’s field with a sense of confidence.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen an entire golf course with bunkers like this in my life,” said Rory McIlroy, who is ranked No.