Twelve months ago, the conditions on the exposed Shinnecock Hills layout on New York's Long Island, allied to the USGA's decision to roll some greens before play, produced surfaces so slick that putts rolled off them and perfect tee shots were unable to hold.

BBC: Pinehurst's No.2 course also hosted the US Open in 1999

Lets go and play football when the surfaces are great, the training facilities are good and the spectators can come along to a game in a t-shirt.

BBC: Scottish Premier League clubs favour expansion plans

The effect is preternatural--bringing an immediacy to the past that is paradoxically fresher than the present--and is accomplished with careful attention to the texture of materials and the play of light on surfaces, modulated with projected shadow.

FORBES: Palace Coup

Wayne McIlwraith to research the role that track surfaces, particularly dirt and synthetic ones, play in equine injury.

FORBES: Making Racing Safer For Horses, Starting With The Surface

The current series, against an unthreatening Bangladesh attack on friendly batting surfaces, would have been the ideal opportunity to play himself back into form.

WSJ: Farewell to an Underrated Star