By Doug McAllister
Okay...so it's only the end of day one of the 2010 U.S Open. But, still, one has to stop and consider what has changed in ten years for Tiger and the rest of the field at Pebble Beach.
If you are like me, the 2000 U.S. Open was a monumental disappointment. I remember, for the first time in years, being totally bored with one of Golf's greatest events. I actually went out in the middle of the third round and mowed my lawn—stepping back in periodically to see if things had "improved." It just wasn't any fun to watch the field scrap for second place. It was also uncanny to hear comments from all over the golfing world, wondering whether Pebble Beach had become just another easy golf course and whether its days of hosting majors were over.
This year seems different. Sure, we have Tiger-Gate in all of its sordid hues. We have a Tiger who is somewhat toothless, given the hand that he has been dealt—perhaps, more accurately, the hand that he has dealt himself—over the past seven months. But, more to the point, I think the USGA has learned a few important lessons since Tiger last came to play Pebble. The course seems to be set in perfect U.S. Open difficulty and, as a result, on a gorgeous day with nearly perfect golfing conditions, the leaders were only able to manage -2 on the storied track.
Okay...so -2 is pretty darn sweet for a course the likes of Pebble Beach. But the course seems bent on redeeming itself at this year's Open. Watching the play, things seemed more like old times. Pros struggling to save par. Pros struggling to save bogey! Really good stuff. And, yes, I think Golf was very well served by Tiger only managing a +3!
Moreover, the USGA is sufficiently confident in Pebble Beach to have already extended an invite for the 2019 U.S. Open. Cool Stuff!
How can you not love Pebble Beach? It's a venue for the ages and I say that with the closest I've ever come to actually playing the place being TA Sports Tiger Woods Golf 2005 for Game Cube! My best round there? -22!
Tune in tomorrow. I'll be reporting in on Round 2. I'll be reporting on...you guessed it...who was able to hit 'em long and straight!
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