US Open-The Random Thoughts

We live near Pebble Beach and I went out for 6 hours on Tuesday with a couple of buddies. I love getting close to the swings and that pro attitude..Chicken Caesar Wraps were the best! Out on Pebble with friends is always time well spent..Fast Forward:

Have been a Gmac fan since he  attended the University of Alabama and  won the Haskins Award in 2002 for the best collegiate golfer in the United States. I like the way he handles himself a lot.. he stayed within himself and did what he needed to do...no small feat when you are being out hit by 30-40 yards off the tee... I've tried it.. Fail.

DJ?..nobody flatlines the US Open... he has this passive/aggressive thing going on and his play on 2 was really bad... Bobby (his caddie) needed to stop him .. but that's easy to say in hindsight..think they should have had a revised plan for Sunday ..head it said a million times.. playing safe is the best choice most all of the time. "You don't need to ride in on a white horse to the applause of millions to grab the trophy".

Then there is Tiger. This week proved to me (again) how much the game really needs him. His 2nd shot 3 wood he carved out over Stillwater cove onto the 18th on Saturday was one of those Tiger shots... when Phil tried it, he found a watery grave.. Tiger delivered and he delivered a putt on 16 on Sat on his way to a back nine 31 that was exciting (especially for NBC). I have not liked the emotional displays but this time I was jacked up.  We say there is no resemblance between golf as most know it and Tournament Golf. I know that. Tiger knows it. He is very good at simulating the pressure, but you have to get out there when it counts. He's obviously not ready to win yet, but I think he will be at St Andrews for the Open Championship. Then there is the Stevie question. I have said before I think he needs a new caddie to go along with his new life.. When you try to overcome what he is you only need to change one thing.... and that's everything... that's one of the oldest tricks in the book...

My biggest disappointment for the week was Ernie.. He had a couple of "moments".. 2-3 footer for Birdie, back nine on Sunday.. he lips out... Champions make those.. He's such a good guy. I want to see him win another major. I do not like the revolving caddie situation. It is obvious who should be on Ernie's bag. After three that's all that matters. Right? .. maybe not the experts say his stock is up along with Westwood (my early pick)  and Phil.  Missing is action and expected to do better are both Geoff Ogilvy and Lucas Glover who may have a couple of top tens this year but likely has read a lot of books (on weekends).

All in all the course and Gmac get my vote...again.

So..Think You'd Hold Up Against the Us Open Set-Up at Pebble?

First you might want to check out the article written in May about the process the USGA goes through to "design" the course...

and then some commentary from Bubba Watson and Chris Wilson on Twitter about the Golf Digest Challenge: 

@bubbawatson so what would a player like you shoot if a 3 shoots 102?

@TheRealCWilson 77

@bubbawatson thats legit funny, play well next week

Gets it all in perspective very quickly...saw a bunch of guys who have no trouble shooting 65 on their home courses get a taste of what tournament Golf at the highest level is all about as they failed to qualify for our National Championship... 

The Pebble caddies have been telling me that you will need a wedge to get out of the rough and the spots that were playable last time around will not be this time...if there is wind the new tee on 13 will make the hole one of the toughest par 4's on tour not to mention how 14 will play. The fairway on 6 has been repositioned so

I'll be out there starting Tuesday of next week.. the guy with the Boston Red Sox hat on prowling around at the southern end of the course... holes 10,11,12,13... Marlboro Country...

Are You Kiddin' Me? Rocco Mediate

Are You Kidding Me? is the story of Rocco Mediate's  battle with Tiger at the US Open in San Diego at Torrey Pines in 2008.... But not for me... For me the story is about drive and courage...about stickin' with it when things aren't going so well.... of course that happens in every round of golf... the trick is to get over it in one hole with perhaps two poor decisions and two bad shots at most... to win on tour there is very little margin for error... a bad round and the train just goes blowing by you.

In the product description on Amazon a reviewer states that this is a story about five life changing days.... Like the overnight success it took years... all most folks see is the five days... but the story is about a decent High School player who caught fire through a series of circumstances and made himself into a great player... a player who, though he hits the ball only reasonably long, is as smart and savy as anyone on tour.... and never stops talkin'.

What makes Rocco cool to me is this... like Fred Funk's wife who walks around Pebble barefoot, Rocco's main squeeze does the same thing.. I like the Peace Sign Belt Buckle and the beer he shared at 10 in the morning as he put on a clinic out there on one of those days that has made Pebble one of Golf's great destinations.... too bad the place isn't better run but that's a story for another post... one day at Pebble in a Pro-Am called the Callaway Invitational which is a low key, ~$80,000 to the winner, end of season event, Rocco has his girlfriend walking with his group... holding his cigar when he hits and sharing sips of beer that was only a 1/3 finished by the time it was warm... Or the time he showed for the ATT and walked down to the caddie bench before heading to the range to practice just to say hello to a couple of old friends...On the range he made bets on Ball games and chattered non-stop as he peppered every flag on the range.. talking in his own backswing ...excited to be alive on a beautiful day at Spyglass in Pebble Beach... He makes everyday great... A true hero of the spirit.. The game could use more Roccos... Oh and BTW he plays those darn easy to hit type clubs.. X-22 Cally's the last time I noticed.. why make the game more difficult than it is? Dunno my friend...Dunno...but Rocco's is my kinda hero... a decent guy with the good word for everyone... Great read BTW.

Author's note... I have never been a JF fan.. Loved  Bruce Edwards and what he did for the art of being a caddie... Tried "Caddy for Life" and was overwhelmed by the superlatives and overblown/over-the-top language... there is a little of that here... Golf is just a game... a glorious game, but play it long enough and though when you wake up you still want to get out there, some days you can wait... This is a little better than the life and death stuff... Any good?... there is a big difference between casual, competitive and tournament golf... but it ain't religion... Good job JF.. Great Story.

favorite Course I've Played and caddied on? Favorite Hole..Easy....