"This field is not really ready for Oakmont."

Candid remarks from Arnold Palmer Wednesday at Oakmont:

I've been talking to some of the guys that have been out there and I've talked to some of the former champions that have been out there on the golf course. And they tell me that this field -- and this is just an observation, that this field is not really ready for Oakmont. I say "the field" and I'm generalizing. I think probably what they were telling me is that they haven't really learned yet how to play Oakmont. And they may do that in the next couple days.

And an update on the new museum at Far Hills...for Arnold: 

RAND JERRIS: I want to ask you if you could share some thoughts with us about a project that's important to me and I hope important to you as well, which is the Arnold Palmer Center For Golf History which we're building in Far Hills, and it will be open about a year from now.

ARNOLD PALMER: I think some of you know, maybe you don't know that the U.S. Open has started construction on the Arnold Palmer Museum For Golf History and Memorabilia. It will be opening in June of '08?

RAND JERRIS: Yes, sir.

Comments

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It's easy to say now, but I think the field is adequately prepared to play Oakmont. Not trying to take a swipe at Arnold, but even in relatively mild conditions, the course is brutally difficult, and there are a number players handling things just fine.

I was delighted to hear the comments of Dow Finsterwald at his "honoring" ceremony at the Memorial 2 weeks ago. He said [paraphrasing] "everybody keeps talking about the equipment being so good--which it is--but the _players_, these players, they are GOOD."

What is old or antique or whatever will always hold some special appeal, and will to some always seem better than what is new. But there is absoutely no doubt in my mind that today's golfers are the best the world has ever seen. Not just Tiger, but all of them.

Did they "invent" themselves and their tremendous games? Of course not. They were shown what to do by the experts of prior generations, as is true in all sports and in many human endeavors. But, you still gotta go do it--practice, learn, and play. And today's players have done so at a level above anything that's come before them.