US Open-After The Dust Has Settled
It was a great US Open at Pebble Beach for 3 days. If I’m honest and objective then Sunday was probably great as well, but it sure didn’t feel that way. Is the Open so hard these days that it always seems like the winner backs in instead of grabbing it by the throat. It did last year and I feel the same this year.
It’s not that Graeme McDowell is not a great champion and didn’t clearly beat the field. I was very impressed with his win. He has played very well the last few years and he knew how to take on a links course, something a lot of American tour players aren’t as familiar with.
He was the most consistent ball striker, chipper and putter and never made a bone-headed move like some of the others. My only issue is I wish he and Dustin Johnson had shaken hands on the 18th green before all the hoopla started. They both are responsible for making sure that happens, so they both messed up on that one.
I love Notah Begay’s commentary. He’s honest, knowledgeable and forthright. I hope they continue to use him. He really provides a unique ’up close and personal’ viewpoint.
Tiger is a spoiled kid. Just review his comments after he walked off the 18th on Sunday. Everything he said -which was very little - was about him. There were no thank you’s to the USGA or Pebble Beach, no atta-boys for McDowell and no real insight into his own meltdown.
Tiger is driven to win more than anyone else on Tour. I’m sure he’s won tournaments just because he wanted it more. On the other hand, grace under fire is an attribute that every complete individual has, though not every great golfer. For a counterpoint see Phil’s remarks. He was composed, courteous, thankful and could view the entire event in perspective, not just from his own loss.
If you watched a lot of the coverage of the Open, then you might have heard Peter Ueberroth of Salt Lake City Olympics fame and one of the owners, make a plea for making Pebble America’s Course. I don’t know exactly what that means, but I have serious reservations about naming any course that costs over $400 a round as America’s Course.
This country’s greatest gift to the game of golf has been to make it an ‘everybody’s game, not just for the rich as it was in the British Isles well into the 20th century. I love Pebble Beach. Half of the enjoyment of watching the Open was enjoying the scenery and spectacular holes. But, being a beautiful course and being public is not enough to be anointed America’s course.
I have no idea what the Pebble Beach Company’s finances are. I’m sure it takes a boat load of money to maintain Pebble and the rest of the courses. Still, there has to be a way for the average Joe and Jane to play ‘America’s Course’. Until that happens, it won’t get my vote.
Now it’s time to get out and play some golf, preferably tee off before 7 AM to beat the heat, and get ready for the British Open at St. Andrews in July. I just hope that the old girl bares her teeth with some wind. It’s a great year for the majors and it would be only fitting for it to play like the Scot’s planned it.
Related posts:
- Tiger Keeps US Open Alive
- Tiger’s Absence Brings Fresh Breeze To British Open
- The U.S. Open Is The Peoples’ Championship
- US Open, There’s Drama Lurking
- US Open, Fair or Unfortunate?
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Comments
Totally agree. Seems likes a very refreshing personality. He was my favorite from the beginning (after he was leading, of course!)
Doug
It IS expensive but you have to play it at least once in your lifetime, correct?! I mean $500 – you’re going to spend it somewhere, right? might as well spend it on one of the great golf experiences of a lifetime.
Thanks for stopping by Nicole!
I too, agree that it’s nice that Pebble Beach is public, however the price to play a round is quite expensive. But then again, maybe that’s the price it costs to maintain such a scenic course.