World Ranking Pairing Reaction

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I was at Torrey Pines all day and so it was fun to read your reactions to the Tiger-Phil pairing news and that now-so-obvious &%$#@ pairing.

On site, volunteers were allowed to tackle the Merchandise Pavilion, so while I was also making my contribution for the good of the game ($250 thank you), I quizzed some of the shoppers who offered a mix of opinions similar to the variety displayed by some of the writers.

Personally, I'm torn between loving the excitement it adds while cringing at the logistical nightmare that will unfold on a course where nearly half the holes do not allow for fans to line both fairway sides (3, 4, 6, 7, 13, 14, 16, 17 for those counting at home) .

But enough about me, here's a sampling of early media reaction:

Cameron Morfit loved the USGA's decision to pair Tiger and Phil while wondering why the world ranking pairing system isn't used all of the time.

His golf.com colleague Farrell Evans thinks it's a bad idea because it re-enforces "the idea that they are the only two truly marketable players in the game. Let them earn the right to play together in the final round on Sunday. Let them scuffle and hack their way through the deep rough to play together."

Steve Elling wishes fans attending the Open good luck if they were actually hoping to see Tiger and Phil hitting shots.

Thomas Bonk raises a point that Geoff Ogilvy made today, and Geoff should know since he was played with Tiger and Phil at Medinah: "chances are that Lee Janzen, Steve Flesch and Rich Beem aren't going to be quite so jolly. They're the group behind Woods, virtually guaranteeing them less than a serene day at the golf course."

Bonk also gets NBC's reaction:

"It's great for TV and for the viewers," NBC spokesman Brian Walker said. "We'd be showing as much of their round as possible, so in some ways, it makes it easier to cover."

Ed Sherman gives it a big thumb's up but wonders how it will affect Lefty.

And Doug Ferguson, who broke the story and sounded skeptical in his initial reporting, still sounds a bit conflicted:

Applaud the USGA for trying what no one else — the PGA Tour, especially — has dared, even if there might be so many spectators that half of them won't be able to see anything at all.

And the USGA decided to go along with a gimmick that takes place Friday at Torrey Pines, when three celebrities and one lucky (or unlucky) amateur will play the course in U.S. Open conditions to see if they can break 100.

The last thing it needs is more accusations of trying to become more than it was meant to be — a circus, not a championship.

Even so, it's worth a shot.