2011 Northern Trust Open: The Intimacy Of Classic Course Spectating

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Fans could listen in on Geoff Ogilvy and Squirrel discussing options (click to enlarge)A glorious day at Riviera and while the gallery was meager compared to the glory days of the 90's, an improvement over last year. Though the surroundings are special and the opportunity to walk a course of Riviera's stature are a treat, I was struck several times at just what a different spectating experience older courses provide compared to a TPC.

Sure, the sight lines are not as great when the gallery swells and amphitheater or grandstand seating is not available, but the ability to get close to players and eavesdrop on conversations when they hit wayward drives is unlike anything else in sport. The PGA Tour noted this in its clever Sunday newspaper wrap, and it's something they need to continue to drive home when possible.

Even with no wind and pristine conditions, Riviera held its own thanks to sneaky fast greens, the vagaries of kikuyu and some thought provoking hole locations. Doug Ferguson reports on the wacky 9-way tie for first, while John Strege filed blog posts on Bubba Watson's WD and Bob Harig reports on Dustin Johnson's 2-stroke lateness penalty. And as noted previously, there was Anthony Kim's truly terrible luck.

A few other images from our last day of sun until Sunday.

The question everyone was asking today was answered by the stunningly cluttered but still pretty to look at ShotLink videoboards. (Click to enlarge)

Lucas Glover kindly asked Lunde, Vegas and Bradley to pause while he played through. They were on No. 7, he was playing the 15th. (click to enlarge)

Phil Mickelson drives at No. 9 (click to enlarge)

Late light at No. 16 as players approach (click to enlarge)

No Pun Intended: Trump Bedminster Considered As U.S. Open Armageddon Option

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Ron Sirak reports that the USGA has looked at Trump Bedminster as an emergency option in case of issues with a host site.

"The subject of 'what if Armageddon happens' has been discussed," USGA director of competitions Mike Davis told GolfDigest.com. "What if all 18 greens are dead; what if there is vandalism beyond repair; what if the weather is so bad the week of the US Open -- flooding -- you can't play; what if 9/11 happened the week of the U.S. Open? We have had this conversation the entire 21 years I have been here."

And certainly when I think of last ditch, desperation, Hail Mary options for the U.S. Open, I think The Donald!

Big (Bad) Break, Anthony Kim At Riviera Edition**

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There was a holdup today when Anthony Kim had to return to the second fairway while Phil Mickelson, Paul Casey and Luke Donald waited for him to hit his second approach following a freak occurrence. Stephanie Wei has all of the details and crime scene photos and I have posted a video detailing what could be one of the goofiest breaks I've ever seen. Not to mention another reason to deplore concrete paths.
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Tour Looking At New York Course Rotation That Will Include Bethpage Black, Maybe Liberty National?

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Doug Ferguson reports on the rumored move of the Barclay's playoff event to Bethpage at some point, which will have it joining a rotation that also includes Ridgewood, Plainfield, and not mentioned in the story but desperately trying to return: Liberty National. (It's undergoing a facelift from architects Cupp and Kite in a bid to return to the rotation.)
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It's Up To Arnie To Restore Pebble Beach's 14th Green

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Jim McCabe tells us how the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach came to be announced and slips in this about the 14th green.

Harper said they will hold tickets at 37,500, the same as 2010, but one thing that won’t be the same come 2019 is Pebble Beach’s diabolical 14th green.

“It will be rebuilt according to USGA specs,” Perocchi said, though he emphasized it’s part of Pebble’s long-range plan to convert all of its greens. The 14th as it currently sits presents an enormous challenge to players, even with wedges in their hands. There’s very little room to land approach shots to an elevated left side, and the right side is very low and hole locations are virtually non-existent.

Perocchi said Arnold Palmer – not only an icon, but part of the group that owns Pebble Beach – will oversee development of a plan for the 14th. Expect an expansion of the upper left side of the green, as well as a softening of the steep slope to the right. No decision has been made as to when the changes will be made, but Perocchi said it probably would be in the next two to four years.

"It's proving even tougher to live up to his own words."

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Doug Ferguson makes the case that while Tiger is definitely not living up to his own words as Saturday marks the one-year anniversary of his infamous Ponte Vedra speech, there is some perspective required on the fine and spit saga.

Actually, it does get slightly lower when it comes to expectorations.

Imagine being in the group behind Sergio Garcia when he bent over and dropped a loogie into the cup after missing a short putt on the 13th hole at Doral in 2007.

Video of Woods spitting already was going viral on the internet Monday when the European Tour said he will be fined an undisclosed sum for breaching the tour code of conduct.
This was not his first fine.

This was not the first time he's spit.