US Open Diaries

So while the rest of the world is working Dad and I took the week off and are at the U.S. Open. All together now, SUCKAAAAZ!!!

We were on hand for Tiger's unconscious 30 on the back nine. Following Tiger in contention at a major...nothing better. It was a pretty pro-Phil, Tiger-neutral crowd. The best way I could describe the buzz is stunned, which quickly gave way to can-you-believe-this?! celebration.

San Diego is kind of like Diet Austin with better weather and an ocean view. It's like someone dropped a city right in the middle of a national park. I've seen so many trees that I've never seen before. What the eff is that? is a constant question. It feels like humans shouldn't live here.

Torrey Pines is just amazing. It's perched right on the cliffs North of San Diego with ravines and canyons cutting in and out and (thanks to Rees Jones' 21st Century redesign) coming into play. Good for incredible vistas and hazards, not very good spectator course. The frequent bottlenecks that the USGA has created by moving the gallery ropes WAY too far back haven't helped either. Nonetheless it's a thrill being out here. The undulation and elevation changes are radically different from anything you'll see in Houston.

There's nature all around. I saw two crows fighting a hawk and the hawk did an awesome BARREL ROLL and tried to rake the crows with its talons. Then about 10 ground squirrels surrounded a couple of rabbits in a turf war for...turf.

I have never seen narrower fairways or higher rough. But on of the most effective hazards is the unpredictable Pacific weather conditions. Dad and I sat in the grandstand on the par 3 11th from 9:00 to 2:30. Right as the morning group finished it got noticeably colder and a wind picked up right into the golfer's face. It had played hard for the morning round, but it was diabolical for the afternoon. We saw pros hit it 10 yards short of the green.

Boo for Mark Calcavecchia. Houstonian and former Sam Houston State golfer Robert Gwin was alternate, waiting for someone to withdraw. Calcavecchia decided to take up a tee time, but only saw fit to play nine holes. He withdrew, citing injury. The fans in the 11th grandstand didn't buy it. They said Calc was just pissed he was playing bad. He was carelessly rapping putts looking to get it over with. He was 8-over when he withdrew.

"It was classless," an anonymous fan said.

My perspective is, if you're hurt enough where you can't play nine holes you probably know it before you tee off. Sean O'Hair knew that his back wasn't up to snuff and gave his spot to someone else deserving. It's another thing if you hurt yourself during the round and withdraw before the second. I think Calc should've had more respect for the championship than he did. I would've much rather seen a young pro like Robert have a chance.

Enjoy work.