It’s
Wednesday evening and the wait is almost over.
In less than 12 hours the US Open at Chambers Bay will begin. The talking heads can finally start talking
about what IS happening rather than what may or may not happen or might or
might not happen or whether it really does rain in Spain or in Seattle lately
for that matter. And if the rain really
falls on the plain. Yes, it is almost
that bad.
I am not sure what about Chambers Bay has been
the most controversial. It’s age? Eight years.
That it is a links course? Which
it is but kind of isn’t. That the pros
love it? Yes and no. That the pros hate it? Yes and no.
How will Tiger play? Heaven only
knows. Will Phil finally get that last
major? Heaven knows that as well. That
there isn’t enough room for spectators?
Yes from the perspective of someone who has seen six other opens. No maybe if you don’t know any better. And most important – who is going to hold the
trophy Sunday evening around 8 local time.
I do not pretend to know any of the answers. We will all know them by Sunday evening. Let the fun begin. I am so excited to see what happens.
We have had
multiple assignments over the years – Merchandise, Disabled Access, 19th
Hole Marshal, Advance Team Marshal. This
year we are Hole Marshals and assigned to a specific hole. #3.
The way it works is the local clubs are invited to marshal a hole and
the volunteers come from the club membership.
Then other volunteers have the rest of the assignments. Our club, Meridian Valley, drew #3. I truly do not know how they choose which
club gets what hole but we are happy with our par 3. Do look for me Thursday, Friday and Sunday
mornings J Anyway, it is a
different experience for us and we are enjoying it thoroughly. It is so much fun to work with other members
and friends.
We did not
work today which meant we got up a half hour later. We were still on site at 7 am. The sun gets up really early at this time of
year up here in the PNW. And we get up
with it much of the time. Let’s not talk
about winter when it doesn’t get light until 8 am. Today was the last day to take photos and get
autographs on the course and we took advantage of it. Hopefully the photos will be ready for prime
time tomorrow.
There were
not as many players out on the course today.
And if they were they dropped off early.
We hoped to see Rickie Fowler only to find he dropped after three or
four holes. Many players were at the
enormous practice area that included not only the driving range but a second
putting green and an area where players were hitting pretty much any club they
chose. Very different. We watched Dustin Johnson just bomb it and
chat it up with Butch Harmon. That guy
is everywhere! You would think he
coaches everyone. Oh, maybe he does.
One of the
oddities of Chambers Bay is the driving range is not walkable to 1 or 10 tee so
all players must be shuttled. I wonder
how they feel about that…they are all warmed up and then get in a shuttle. Granted it is a minute or so ride but not
their usual routine.
The Rory
watch…he was out bright and early this morning with a truly Tiger-esque
following. He appears very relaxed and
upbeat and expects to play well. It is
always exciting when he is in the mix.
Can you imagine if Tiger, Phil, Rory and Jordan all brought their ‘A’
games and fought it out on Sunday? Okay
only in dreams.
Yesterday at
Phil’s press conference he said, unlike his usual pre-Open Wednesday where he
plays another nearby course, he would be on-site practicing. He would not play. He said he would practice putting. Then he
would practice chipping and putting.
This morning he spent over an hour putting on 16 green alone. I think he got there really early and spent
time practicing on the greens themselves not at the practice green. Smart man!
Last. Each
year I purchase a pin flag. They are
always red with the name of the course and 18 on it. A couple of years ago the light dawned and I
decide to try to get the champion of that year to sign the flag. I have Graeme McDowell for Pebble and Angel
Cabrera for Oakmont so far. Rory has
passed me by twice and well, Tiger would be the coup. Lucas Glover would be a cinch but that flag
has disappeared for reasons I cannot fathom.
Anyway, I waited for Webb Simpson today.
Just one shot. As he started to
pass by I casually asked him to sign the Olympic flag. Amazingly he came right over. He had a red pen in his hand which wouldn’t
have done much on a dark flag. He said “red
isn’t going to work well.” He reached
over to the kid standing next to me who had a blue pen and pretty much grabbed
it from him. He signed my flag – and the
flag of the kid whose pen he snatched. Pretty
fun.
Today I
remember my sister Pam whose birthday would have been today. She left us way too early and we miss her
each and every day.
Have to go…early
morning. Enjoy the day!
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