US Women's Open: About Interlachen

This 63rd US Women's Open will be the longest layout to host the event ever. Interlachen will play to 6789 yards; 40 yards longer than the previous longest (Cherry Hills - 2005). BUT, it will play to a par 73 - allowing for additional scoring opportunities, and realistically making this course not the longest examination ever.

I found this interesting about the fairways and rough:

COURSE LAYOUT – The fairways will range in width from approximately 24 to 33 yards. On either side of the fairways, a 6-foot wide swath of intermediate rough running the length of each hole will be set to 1½ inches. Then, there will be an 11-foot band of first cut of primary rough (height to be determined) and a second cut of deepest rough left and right of the landing areas (height to be determined). The greens will be set to run at 11½ feet on the Stimpmeter for the duration of the championship.

Generous fairways by Open standards, and a running trend in the Davis era. Also, the graduated rough will be here. Note, though, that the course will play 2.5 to 3 feet less on the Stimpmeter than for the US Open at Torrey Pines.

Also, beware that there is no 18 hole playoff format for the Women's Open. It is a three hole aggregate playoff like the PGA Championship. That format was instituted in 2007. Annika was the last woman to win the playoff in the 18 hole format, though. She beat Pat Hurst in 2006.

As for TV coverage, the first two days are on ESPN - Thursday from 12-4p EDT, Friday from 3-7p EDT. NBC takes over on the weekend from 3-6p EDT each day.

You can find all of this information at USWomensOpen.com. Take a look at it and tell me if you find it to be pandering a little too much to the fact that this is a women's event.