A funny thing happened at the 119th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach: Fox Sports got to cover a golf tournament and not a controversy. In its fifth opportunity as the host network of America’s national golf championship, the folks at Fox finally got to settle into a state of normalcy. There were no “broccoli” greens, such as the ones that overshadowed the network’s shaky debut in 2015 at Chambers Bay. There was no unresolved ruling to cast an ominous sense of uncertainty over the back-nine proceedings, such as in 2016 at Oakmont. There was no general grumbling about another rookie venue not being “U.S. Open worthy,” such as in 2017 at Erin Hills. There was no out-of-control golf course causing embarrassment, such as in 2018 at Shinnecock Hills.
