TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

The Really Big Deal

ADVERTISEMENT

By MICK ELLIOTT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 12, 2008

By the slim chance you have not heard, the big deal about U.S. Open first- and second-round play today and Friday is the pairings.

In an effort to make sure all the top players compete in similar weather and wind conditions, the USGA has paired the world's top 12 players - 1 through 12 - in four threesomes.

That means Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott will go off together at 11:06 a.m..

"I like it," Woods said. "I like the way, 1 through 12 the way they did that. I think it's exciting for the fans, exciting for the players. We all are looking forward to it. I haven't heard one negative thing about it yet.

"Everyone I've talked to just being at home and practicing is really looking forward to seeing all those guys grouped together. Because we really don't. We're usually spread out. You don't get pairings like that until maybe Saturday or Sunday."

REMEMBER WHEN

Until the arrival of this week's U.S. Open, the most famous golf moment at Torrey Pines likely came from the 1987 Andy Williams Open.

That's when Craig Stadler hit a tee shot on the 14th hole that nestled next to a Leyland Cypress tree. Stadler's only shot was to take a swing while down on his knees, so he put down a towel to protect a pair of turquoise pants from getting wet and dirty.

Notified by a host of TV viewers calling in, PGA Tour officials decided Stadler had broken rule 13-3, which prohibits "building a stance." Stadler was subsequently disqualified because he did not assess the two-stroke penalty before signing his scorecard.

DEFENDING THE CROWN

Since 1991, only Tiger Woods and Retief Goosen have finished better than 40th while trying to defend their U.S. Open crowns. Goosen finished tied for 11th in 2005 after holding a three-stroke lead after 54 holes. Woods finished 12th in 2001 after winning in 2000. He tied for 20th in 2003 after winning in 2002.

SUCKER BET

Tiger Woods (six) and Phil Mickelson (three) have combined for nine victories on Torrey Pines at the Buick Invitational. Considering that fact, if Jim Furyk were a betting man, would he pick Tiger/Phil or the field?

"Well, I'm in the field, I'll take the field, how's that?" he said. "I don't know. I'm a math guy so I'd have to really sit down and think about the odds on that one and maybe even consult Phil on the odds on that one and come up with an answer. If I was sitting at home on the couch hurt, I don't know, but I'm in the field so I'll take the field."

TIME TO PONY UP

You know those times when you mean to say one thing but what's really on your mind comes out?

Take Sergio Garcia.

He was asked about Tiger Woods. Considering the world No. 1 has not played in nine weeks and is coming off knee surgery, is it easy to discount Woods as the week's favorite.

"Not at all," Garcia said. "It's like Big Brown, with a crack he was still the favorite."

You do know where Big Brown finished? "We'll see. He's still a top 10."

Up In Smoke

Last year, Argentinian Angel Cabrera won the U.S. Open by outplaying Tiger Woods down the stretch while chain-smoking every step.

His explanation was the week's best quote: "Some players have psychologists. I smoke."

Not anymore. Cabrera quit not long after his victory and has not smoked since.

"I'm feeling much better now that I don't smoke," he said. "But my life goes on whether I smoke or not, so I don't really care much about it.

"Everything is still the same, just without the smoking."

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT