Pebble Beach Setup Keys
/There is no shortage of stuff to talk about at Pebble Beach, but here the ones you'll want to keep the closest eye on.
Read MoreWhen you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
There Goes A Return Visit To Torrey Pines Anytime Soon
/That for me is the buried lede in the 2017 Erin Hills and 2019 Pebble Beach U.S. Open announcements. You have to figure 2018 will be somewhere in New York, meaning Tiger and Phil will likely not play another Open in their hometown until at least they are 45 (Tiger) and 51 (Phil).
Read MorePebble Beach Then And Now: #13
/That's Chandler Egan teeing off No. 13 in 1929, and the modern view below. The green was by MacKenzie, circa 1926. Egan labeled the new fairway bunker "sandy badlands."
"Woods was feeling so comfortable he let loose with a few quips Tuesday, although the obsequious press corps laughter that used to accompany his humor has largely dissipated."
/If my spellbinding Tweets didn't capture the mood of the Tiger Woods pre-U.S. Open press conference, Christine Brennan's piece in today's USA Today should do the job.
Woods was feeling so comfortable he let loose with a few quips Tuesday, although the obsequious press corps laughter that used to accompany his humor has largely dissipated.
You've heard the one about the tee shot he hit on the gorgeous 18th hole 10 years ago, the shot that went into the Pacific?
"I hit it halfway to Japan, yeah," he said.
When asked to choose the sites of the four majors he would love to play in a season, he said, "I'd probably pick St. Andrews all four times."
Tiger was getting into a days-of-yore groove relatively early in the news conference when, out of nowhere, a journalist dared ask a newsworthy and legitimate question.
"On the basis that all our professional lives are affected by our personal lives, can you tell us if you've got any resolution one way or the other with Elin yet?"
"That's none of your business," snapped the man who once willingly posted family pictures on his web-site to sell an image that ultimately was a lie, clearly suppressing every ounce of his new kinder, gentler, Buddhist nature.
The Next Slow Play Side Effect?
/Tiger talked today about quitting after 14 because the pace was too slow (and he joked that he couldn't wait to come see the hired weepers and assorted other inkslingers).
Read MoreIt Never Rains In California: Your Future Open Venue Weather Roundup
/This post is for all of the USGA Committee folks and staffers who don't have time this week to study the USA Today weather page.
Looks like we're not missing a thing in DC this week, and the same goes for Pinehurst. Hot and weather warning central!
So why couldn't we have had this with Bethpage last year?
There's acceptable weather in Pennsylvania for their two upcoming Opens at Merion and Oakmont, but alas, you can't air those Opens in prime time.
They would have sold a lot of rain jackets and sweaters at Chambers Bay in 2015, but the weekend is at least promising.
Needless to say, San Diego and San Francisco are the only two without any thunderstorms in the forecast.
Pebble Beach Then And Now: #4
/Another Chandler Egan green surrounded by dunes (above) and the modern version (below).
Interviews, Interviews
/Monte Burke of Forbes.com asked me some questions about the blog and this week's U.S. Open, as did Daniel Riley at GQ.com.
Twitter Feed Issues
/For some reason my Tweets aren't appearing today, so here's a feed courtesy of Twitter. Because I know you're just dying to read my play by play of Tiger's press conference.
Shock: 2017 U.S. Open Goes To Erin Hills
/If this week's weather forecast is any indication, it looks like the Weather Warning signs will get plenty of action there.
Pebble Beach Then And Now: #17 Side View
/Do I need to say anything?
"On a lot of these holes, you can hit a shot and be in the rough 5 feet from the green and you'll be lucky to be putting after your next shot."
/Complaining! Now it's a U.S. Open!
That's Henrik Stenson, as quoted by Doug Ferguson.
Pebble Beach Then And Now: #17 Tee View
/Chandler Egan, who I profiled in last week's Golf World, oversaw the creation of the imitation dunes green on top. The modern version is below.
"I just figured I would grab somebody to carry my bag like my brother does."
/Just one of those great little U.S. Open stories that you don't get anywhere else. Thanks to reader Rob for catching this act of coolness by qualifier Russell Henley.
