2009 U.S. Open Round 1, Day 2

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Here's where to observe, opine, and oscillate on what appears to be a day where golf will be played.

A few more reads: Jeff Neuman on 47-year-old Mike Miles, Bamberger on the ticket issue and a decision the USGA "will come to regret," Lupica on the same topic, and Stephanie Gaskell reports on the rainfall amounts. A chart with her story (not online) shows that June is a bit more wet than some have led us to believe. The average June rainfall is nearly 5 inches (at 7.32 now) and in 2003 they had 10.27 inches of rain.

Oh and here's my Twitter feed.

Round .5 Clippings, 2009 U.S. Open

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The rainout gave me a little more time to do some clippings. And there's actually a lot of fun stuff posted.

John Hawkins goes out in the rain to see just how miserable conditions were. And who says writers never leave the tent? On a serious note, in the video you'll get to see just how water logged the property is. And I can attest. They didn't just pick the worst spots. It's like this everywhere. Poor Bethpage deserves better!

Also on the video front, Jeff Rude talks to Tom Lehman in hopes of hearing how he hit the same person twice on the same hole, Bethpage's fifth.

Gary Van Sickle wisely points out that this week's problems should be a sign of trouble for the 2014 USGA plan at Pinehurst to contest back-to-back Opens.

I've already believe I was called out on Twitter for my latest GolfDigest.com entry of the day about Bethpage's lack of subsurface green drainage. That's comical since I'm not a fan of the USGA Green construction (largely for artistic and economic reasons). However, the question will be asked after this week: can Bethpage host another Open without converting to the better-draining green spec? I'd hate to see it happen, but when you want to host U.S. Open's and it tends to rain when you do so, they really come in handy.

Michael Walker points out the USGA's no refund policy and how it's not going over well. I heard local sports talk shows were chatting about it and less than civil tones, and the discourse likely won't improve when they hear the Yankees are giving all ticketholders to Wednesday's rainout a free ticket.

Alan Bastable talks to some of the disgruntled fans. Everyone was frustrated except those fortunate enough to have access to the corporate tents.

Perhaps in homage of Dan Jenkins, Jim McCabe tries to lighten the mood with a worst case scenario game story.

Golfweek features photos from the lovely day one.

Dave Fanucci on the USGA's weather policy and how they monitor inclement weather.

Dave Shedloski with some of the anecdotal evidence from Jeff Brehaut and others that Bethpage was playing long in almost unimaginable ways.

Jaime Diaz notes that the AmEx Experience is popular not only for the shelter it provides, but the cool amenities like the indoor bleachers setup in front of a huge screen and the interactive swing analysis. I'll get pictures before I leave, it's pretty swell.

And Jack McCallum, legendary SI NBA writer, is camped out in an RV near the course to experience the People's Open in the People's Town Car.

Johnny: “This thing is Johnny Miller, it’s totally Johnny Miller"

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I received a few strange looks on the train this morning when I laughed out loud at this Johnny Miller remark in Richard Sandomir's NY Times story about Johnny's special notebook:

He used to carry a surveyor’s tool to assess how putts would break, but last year he downloaded the Break Meter application to his iPhone. He demonstrated his toy in an NBC trailer, showing the angle and slope of a table and the linoleum floor.

“This thing is Johnny Miller, it’s totally Johnny Miller,” he said cheerfully as the iPhone registered its findings. “I don’t really need it, but it verifies things for me.”

And I let out a groan after this one:

Miller confessed to one weakness: “I don’t sit on the range all day and talk to players. My thing is to be more of an expert on the holes, to know what to watch out for, what not to hit, how the putts break and to know every bunker.”

He also knows that Nick Faldo, the lead golf analyst at CBS and the Golf Channel, has something he will never have: a knighthood, which was announced last week.

“Is CBS going to call him Sir Nick now?” Miller asked. “Jim Nantz might.”

Would he like to be Sir Johnny? “As long as it doesn’t take three divorces to get it,” Miller said, referring to his friend Faldo’s marital history. He smiled and said, “I guess that wasn’t a cool thing to say.”

2009 U.S. Open Round 1

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I filed this primer for GolfDigest.com on what to look for now that the telecast has started.

Post your comments as the round commences. Or, for as long as it commences.

I'll be Tweeting when I'm not in the press center. Here's some form of the feed, though it seems a bit slow. You can always go to my Twitter page.

 

2009 U.S. Open: A Few Final Preview Clippings

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Thomas Bonk on Phil Mickelson's early morning press conference.

Ryan Herrington sums up the USGA press conference highlights.

Dave Perkins talks to players on the range who are staying away from the course. And the weather was perfect today. Shows you how simple the greens are, I suppose.

Mark Soltau with the best quotes of the day.

Lorne Rubenstein says don't count out the short hitters and considering how soft the greens are, he may be right.

David Shefter tells us all about the weather precautions and the unlucky folks who have to deal with it.

Wendy Uzelac preps us for Squeegee use and how the rules dictate various situations. Listen for the deep-baritoned frogs in the 8th hole pond. They may be the only ones happy Thursday (click to enlarge)

Tom Dunne explains what WaterHOGs are and how they are used to soak up the moisture. They were mentioned in today's USGA press conference

Ken Belson in a New York Times story tells us just how dead the corporate villages were early in the week.

Jason Sobel ranks the field. My wrists hurt just thinking about how much typing he did.

And finally, Lawrence Donegan loves that the USGA is playing a public course. He takes a while to make the point but it's worth it:

In a crowded sporting landscape, the Open Championship is the one of the few weeks during the year that the nation focuses almost entirely on golf. This is true now and it will be true in four years time, when people will turn their attention to Muirfield and see what? That's right, a golf club embodying every stereotype that has proved so damaging to the sport.

This, to put it at its mildest, is disappointing. Others would prefer to see it as a serious misjudgement; a needless provocation; or even a crime against the sport. I know I do.

Jenkins Tribute

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The USGA hosted a salute to Dan Jenkins on the eve of his 200th major. Well attended, festive and fun (uh, were SI guys barred?), they handed out his latest book and DJ bobbleheads courtesy of Golf Digest.

Jerry Tarde saluted Dan and only slipped in twice that we were in the presence of a future Hall of Famer. Of course, what they're waiting for, no one knows!

David Fay thanked Dan for his service and shrewdly pointed out that this is Dan's 201st major, if you count the 1942 Hale America Open. You may recall Dan has lobbied for that 1942 playing of the Open to count, not because his boy Hogan won but because it was the rebranded U.S. Open in a war year.

Dan finally took the microphone atop the interview room podium, and proceeded to take us through his round in tour drone fashion. "Hit in the left rough on one." Press room joke. Had to be there.

My favorite was a Dave Marr story. Dave was asked what were the top three things Bruce Crampton did wrong. "He was born. He came to America. He stayed in America."

Butch Going Pink

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I'm sure if you told Butch Harmon ten years ago that he would be discussing his pink belt with Phil Mickelson on the eve of the U.S. Open, he'd have told you to go jump in front of a train.

And yet that was the scene Wednesday at Bethpage where he's outfitted in pink in tribute to Amy Mickelson. Here's Phil's press conference, where I posted a few Tweets.

"I've seen lots of rules written down on the first tees but I've never seen warnings."

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The 17th hole during Tuesday's practice round (click on image to enlarge)Just a few clippings heading into Wednesday at Bethpage.

Mark Soltau has a nice overview of player comments from Tuesday. Rocco's press conference makes for a pretty fun read.

Bob Harig on the fans and how they may play a role at Bethpage, reminding us of Sergio's battles last time the Open was played here.

Steve Elling talks to folks about the 18-hole playoff concept and you might be surprised by Kenny Perry's answer.

David Shefter interviews Matt Nagy about his amazing journey to Bethpage. You won't believe what had to happen for him to get there. Thanks to reader Rob for catching this.

Mark Lamport-Stokes hears what Geoff Ogilvy has to say about the long slog that is Bethpage.

"This is probably the only golf course with a warning at the first tee," former champion Ogilvy told reporters at Bethpage State Park on Tuesday. "I've seen lots of rules written down on the first tees but I've never seen warnings."

Bill Pennington reports that fans are treating Ogilvy like a defending champ due to his win at Winged Foot.

And just a reminder, I'm filing updates on Twitter and will post live from the USGA press conference as well as the media center toast to Dan Jenkins on the eve of his 200th major.

Letter From Saugerties, 2009 U.S. Open Questions

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Former USGA Executive Director Frank Hannigan dropped this letter in my email box on the eve of the USGA's annual press conference.:

 Dear Geoff:

We are on the verge of what should be a primary golf-media happening - the annual press conference of the USGA on the eve of the US Open Championship,.

Unfortunately, the affair seldom lives up to its potential. Most of those bearing questions think that Tiger Woods invented golf in 1997. On the answering end, the USGA president is not a threat to Barack Obama when it comes to being informative and amusing.

Alas, I will not be present for purposes of incitement. But I herewith offer, without request for compensation, a series of potential questions to lend a spark to the occasion:

Q. Mr Vernon, Bethpage is a wonderful site, but are you not concerned that the USGA has alienated its other New York area Open clubs - Shinnecock Hills, Baltusrol and Winged Foot?

Q. You pay a rental fee for Open courses. How much have you paid the State of New York to use Bethpage?

(follow-up). Since both you and New York are public entities, how you can you refuse to divulge financial dealings?

Q. You have praised the USGA for taking the Open to public courses. Can you name public courses that have been built anywhere as a consequence?

Q. The USGA spent $25 million to revise its Museum in Far Hills, New Jersey and then began to charge admission. What has been the paid attendance this year?

Q. Next year you will change the rules to bar U grooves on the Tour and in the majors. Will the average scores rise accordingly?

Q. There seems a good chance golf will be voted into the Olympics next week. Will the patronage jobs go to the PGA Tour, the USGA or the R&A?

(follow-up) Mr. Vernon, who won the gold medals in tennis in the last Olympics?

Q There has been a dramatic turnover among the USGA staff in the last few years - firings and resignations.
Why is that and does it bother you?

Q. A few years ago the USGA began to lease a corporate jet. Did you fly here commercial or did you use that jet?

Q. Golf Digest magazine reports that the salary of your executive director is $725,000. Are you kidding?

Frank Hannigan

Overheard On The LIRR, Day One

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I'm a novice Long Island Railroad passenger. How else to explain my expectation that a printed schedule of the U.S. Open trains would not actually be accurate? I see 6:48 train. I figure there will be one.

Thankfully the 7:03 on the schedule arrived and when the logo clad gallery saw the track number flash on the screen, a mad dash ensued. You'd think a free Adams putter was offered the way the loudly-dressed mass of Bethpage spectators, club reps, volunteers and in my case, lowly blogger, ran to get on a train with plenty of seats.

Conversation was muted as one would hope in the morning hours. Or at least, I hoped after yesterday listening to the stereotypical debate over Pacino's best film in full Saturday Night Fever accents. The only thing missing were leisure suits and jabs at Gerald Ford.

Tried to pass off my New York Post to the gentleman seated next to me. Judging by the look on his face, you'd think I was handing him a pipe bomb.

In the Post I read Mark Canizzaro's depressing account about just how soggy the course is, with warnings of low scores possible. Brace yourselves people. 10-under could win.

The LIRR is catering to the U.S. Open fans with special announcements and reminders about catching the buses. And there was this call for etiquette from the conductor: "Keep your cell phone conversations brief, keep your feet off the seats."

"The intriguing thing about all this is that there have not been any low scores accompanying the high praise for Davis’s setups."

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Larry Dorman on Mike Davis's role in transforming the Open.

Geoff Ogilvy shot five over par to win at Winged Foot in 2006. Angel Cabrera shot five over par to win at Oakmont the next year. And Tiger Woods and Rocco Mediate each shot one under to tie last year. They then each shot even-par 71 in an 18-hole Monday playoff, won by Woods with a par on the first hole of sudden death.

“A lot of that had to do with the weather we got,” Davis said. “Oakmont and Winged Foot were dry and we had breeze. Had it been soft and there hadn’t been breeze, I really think you would have seen under par win both those. So much of it truly has to do with what Mother Nature gives you.”

True. But there are many pieces to the setup puzzle, something the final arbiter on the length of the rough, the speed of the greens, the width of the fairways and the positions of the holes knows well. The temptation that accompanies a decent lie in the rough may, on the whole, be hard to resist.”