Posted on 06/09/2008 11:14:39 AM PDT by Zuben Elgenubi
This was five years ago in the final round of the Buick Invitational.
Brad Faxon, the other member of the threesome who was known that day as "Switzerland" for his neutral role in this affair, stepped behind the fourth green and whispered to reporters, "Is it always like this when Tiger plays, or is it both of them?"
Imagine what it will be like at the U.S. Open.
Woods, Mickelson and Adam Scott -- Nos. 1-2-3 in the world ranking -- will be in the same group the first two rounds of the U.S. Open next week at Torrey Pines. That's a dream group for television, and for fans in the front row and in grandstands.
But it could be a circus for the guys trying to win the second major of the year.
The only time Woods and Mickelson played together early in a major was the PGA Championship two years at Medinah. That was tradition, because the PGA Championship always puts together the three major champions of the year. Mickelson won the Masters, Woods the British Open and they were joined by U.S. Open champion Geoff Ogilvy.
This seems more contrived.
At least everyone knows now -- not like there was ever much doubt -- that the USGA manipulates tee times the first two rounds.
For years, the U.S. Open was famous for grouping the best three players to have never won a major.
This time, the USGA didn't stop with the current Big Three.
It also grouped Nos. 4-5-6 (Ernie Els, Geoff Ogilvy and Justin Rose), Nos. 7-8-9 (Steve Stricker, Jim Furyk and K.J. Choi) and Nos. 10-11-12 (Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia and Stewart Cink).
Mike Davis, the USGA's senior director of rules and competition, has been thinking about tee times since last summer. He could not recall the last time Woods and Mickelson were ever in the same group the first two days of a U.S. Open, much less on the same side of the draw.
"They always put Tiger in the opposite wave as Phil because television wanted it that way," Davis said. "As you know, our traditional pairing is the U.S. Open champion, British Open champion and U.S. Amateur champion. Sometimes that worked out if one of those two guys wins one. Of course, Phil has never won an Open."
Of course.
Davis, though, decided to take it one step further, and he found approval with every step up the USGA ladder.
"This year we got to thinking, 'Isn't it kind of crummy that we've never had the two guys ranked 1 and 2 in the world in the same wave?" Davis said Wednesday night from San Diego. "Weather can affect outcomes in the U.S. Open."
Some believe Woods got the good end of the draw at Pebble Beach in 2000, although it's hard to say luck played a role in his 15-shot victory. His bid for a calendar Grand Slam was derailed in 2002 at Muirfield when he was caught in 40 mph wind at the British Open and shot an 81, his worst score as a pro.
And remember Bethpage Black in 2002, when Garcia was stuck in the rain Friday afternoon and complained that officials would have stopped the tournament had Woods been out there?
"Why not put them in the same wave?" Davis reasoned. "The heck with what TV wants. Let's do what we want for the championship."
That's a little disingenuous.
TV runs everything, and it's not like viewers will suffer by not having Woods and Mickelson on opposite ends of the draw. Coverage the first two days starts at 1:00 p.m. and ends at 10:00 p.m. on the East Coast, a combination of ESPN and NBC Sports.
Applaud the USGA for trying what no one else -- has dared and everyone wants to see, even if there might be so many spectators that half of them won't be able to see anything at all.
But it must be cautious.
The U.S. Open, known as the toughest test in golf, is on the verge of trying too hard to live up to its reputation. It went over the line at Shinnecock Hills in the final round of 2004, when the greens were allowed to get so baked that players could not keep the ball on the seventh green in the final round. The last two winning scores were 5 over par.
And the USGA decided to go along with a gimmick that takes place Friday at Torrey Pines, when three celebrities and one lucky (or unlucky) amateur will play the course in U.S. Open conditions to see if they can break 100.
The last thing it needs is more accusations of trying to become more than it was meant to be -- a circus, not a championship.
Even so, it's worth a shot.
The players won't suffer too much, because these guys are used to an audience. Woods and Mickelson, especially, have been around long enough not to get caught up in the hype. Personalities aside, it's all about posting a score and staying close to the lead.
Just don't be disappointed if this doesn't live up to expectations. Woods, Mickelson and Ogilvy all shot 69 on the first day at Medinah in what looked like an ordinary round of a major.
The real treat will be if they're still together on Sunday afternoon.
Or even just one of them.
Actually I'm not married so other than regular stuff around the house, I'm a kid again doing all the stuff I did when I was a kid.
I found an age 55+ softball league (I'm 57) and made the team and we have a 28 game schedule plus a couple tournaments at the end. We play Monday and Wednesday mornings and practice on Fridays.
The off days I go to a racquetclub to work out and play racquetball. Plus I bought a road bike and have started biking............
Unfortunately I gave up golf about 10 years ago due to the cost and was seriously thinking of taking it up again this summer had I not found the softball league........
As for your question "Who's the Cylon?" Not sure but Sergio is definitely the whiney illegitimate child of Baltar..........LOL!
Thanks,
Tiger’s a bit of an unpredictable in the first event after surgery, so I’m not betting. Mickleson specializes in screwing up sure things, so I NEVER bet on him. Kim might do well; I liked the younger, exuberant Sergio, but now? Not so much.
Guess I don’t have a favorite.
Hey ALL!~!
Predicting a NEW PERSON will win the Open this weekend...someone very surprising to us all.
WHO?? I’ve not a clue, but I think Tiger and Phil won’t be in the final pairing...just a hunch...
I would LOVE it if Tiger wins, but his knee...???
Thanks Zuben, I’ll be watching the videos very soon. Can’t wait.
I like the USGA set up for Thursday and Friday.
Berman is an insuffereable gasbag. His schtick was cute 25 years ago. Now , his blovating will make it impossible to listen to. (Sigh)
My money is on Justin Rose.
Agreed. ESPN’s golf coverage, in general, is pretty awful. I hope that the Golf Channel can get some coverage of the major championships, sort of how the Tennis Channel (which is in way fewer households than the Golf Channel) gets the Grand Slams.
Is+it+Thursday+yet
They really think Phil is on his game and Tiger only had played 9 holes.
Sergio was wearing Sunday Red, the little prince. Betcha Chris Berman doesn't tease Sergio one little bit.
Tell me the background shot of TGC’s set was pretty cool. Now about the main event. As much success ETW has at Torrey, when the USGA gets to play with the course, forget about it. Throw in not playing for 10 weeks and come Friday night the letters MC will be next to his score of +8. I figure the cut to be around +6.
Unless there is some moisture in the air, those greens will easily run 13, maybe more. If Tiger keeps the ball in the fairway, those greens will demand near perfection. Spend the day in the rough and good luck to all.
So wins this thing. Someone who hits it accurate without necessarily being long. My thoughts lean toward Adam Scott, Padrig Harrington, Andres Romero and Steve Stricker. If Stricks could pull it off, what a perfect ending to a great comeback.
I’ll take Padrig to win with a score around -3.
Due to my continued posting problems in open posting please feel free to throw this into the thread if it isn’t too hard. THANKS!
At the USGA interview last night, they asked Tiger what the winning score and cut would be. He offered neither number. Padrig Harrington seemed very confident and your choice for Stricker is a good one. For me, I'll go with Jim Furyk. Has won before and finished second last year. He's got a sore back, I know, but I've got to favor someone.
That background on TGC is quite good and sometimes it appears like it is swaying. I played Torey Pines back in late fall, the Friday before it was shut down to prepare for the Buick Invitational. Great course and it really looks so different when you play it versus watching on TV.
I'm thinking this is going to be a classic Open. Maybe a surprise winner out of nowhere???
Watching now at the library. Those greens are wicked fast as Els and Rose 2 putt from close in.
It seems so surreal to watch the U.S. Open at a course I have played many times.
That had to be a lot of fun to do. So now I know 2 people who have taken the tour of TP.
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