Tiger Fires 66, Talks About Getting His Game Back
by Ryan Ballengee on Jun 19, 2010 10:05 PM EDT
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Tiger Woods' third round of 66 in the US Open at Pebble Beach has him in position to win his fifteenth major championship. Woods began his round poorly, playing poorly on the opening seven holes - considered the easiest stretch of holes on the golf course. He made bogey on two after a poor drive. After a 370 yard drive at the downhill par 4 third, Woods was left without an angle and made bogey.
Woods' round began to turn around with a birdie at the par 4 fourth whose tees were moved up for the third round to entice players to go for the green. It led to a run of birdies on four, five, and six that got Woods into red figures for the round.
After a bogey on eight, Woods went out in even and further from the lead than when he started.
It was on the back nine that Woods made his move. An unlikely birdie on 11 against a tough pin resumed his momentum. A birdie at the susceptible 13th got him closer.
The final stretch of holes, though, were what made Woods a contender for his fourth Open title. After a birdie on the short downhill sixteenth, Woods hit his tee shot on the iconic and devilish seventeenth to about fourteen feet above the hole.
Woods said of the putt that he was simply trying to leave himself without a difficult second putt.
"I told myself to not mess up the momentum, the great round that I had going," Woods said.
He didn't. He curled in a putt with six feet of break to get back to even par. It was evident from his stride to eighteen that he would challenge the par 5 finisher in two. After a tee shot that left him near a tree that could scuttle those efforts, Woods said he arrived at his ball happy.
"I thought I had a shot at it, and I was hoping Stevie would give me a good number. When he said 260, he did."
Woods went for it, curling his ball onto the green within twenty feet of the hole. Tiger said he psyched himself out of making the eagle that would have been deafening to the competition behind him. Nonetheless, Woods is clearly happy that his game is back.
"In all of the Opens that I've won, I've had a stretch of nine holes - not just front or back nine, but nine holes - where I made my move," Woods said.
He will have to duplicate the feat, but play 18 solid holes tomorrow to steal the US Open, his fifteenth major, and his first in which he did not have a share of the Saturday night lead.
Video: How Tiger's Third Round 66 Was Defined
by Ryan Ballengee on Jun 19, 2010 9:45 PM EDT
in Pro Golf
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Ryan Ballengee reports from Pebble Beach where Tiger Woods' amazing third round comeback was shaped at the 3rd, 4th, and 17th holes.
A Video Tour of Pebble Beach's 7th Hole
by Ryan Ballengee on Jun 19, 2010 9:30 PM EDT
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After the crowds had left the seventh hole at Pebble for the day, we took a look at the most iconic hole in American golf.
Pebble Beach's 19th Hole Is Just as Great as the Other 18
by Ryan Ballengee on Jun 19, 2010 6:26 PM EDT
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US Open week - just like any major - is typically a big party week for the sport. Fans, insiders, sponsors, and players all get in on the festivities. Pebble Beach is no different, with the Monterey peninsula playing host to thousands of avid golf fans. After (and during) a long day of great golf action, many fans just want to let loose. For those that have the right connections, Pebble Beach boasts a tremendous 19th hole experience.
As a guest of Lexus at the Inn at Spanish Bay this week, we're fortunate enough to get to take in some of those settings. The Lexus tent is a part of the USGA's Partner Village and lines the iconic 18th fairway of the course. Several times each day, Lexus-sponsored golfers have made their way into the tent for Q&A along with autograph sessions. The setting is spectacular for a golf fan who is looking to take in one of the most remarkable holes in the world.
Likewise, guests of any of the Pebble Beach Company properties can get into their bars and restaurants, which are packed following play each day. Last night, we ventured into the Tap Room and Roy's Restaurant above Pebble's 18th green. The pub was packed with fans, including a cameo by Annika Sorenstam. I had an opportunity to connect with her and her husband Mike, both on a busy schedule this week.
We also spent some time with the folks that run the Fleury winery in Napa Valley. They helicoptered in earlier in the afternoon from the Valley, which sounded pretty awesome in and of itself. Their group joined ours for some drinks and to talk a little golf and grapes. In the midst of that sea of people, we saw legendary Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, ESPN's Scott Van Pelt (who I chatted with for about 10 seconds before he had to do a TV obligation; he thanked me for alerting him to the Haney-Woods breakup while he was on-air), and other exciting and interesting folks.
And that's to say nothing of the incredible views, which pretty much speak for themselves.
Despite being in the lap of luxury on property, we're heading to In N Out Burger tonight.
Debating the 14th: Unfair or the Quintessential Open Hole?
by Ryan Ballengee on Jun 19, 2010 4:38 PM EDT
in Pro Golf
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Having been around here for three days now, there has been a lot of talk about the 14th hole - particularly its diabolical green. The hole measure 580 yards, which makes it a three shot hole into the prevailing wind. The tricky part is the green, which is guarded on the left by a very deep bunker.
In each of the last two days, including today, Mike Davis has opted to put the pin just behind that bunker. Davis had also created a collection and chipping area behind and to the left of the green. Missed shots that are too aggressive on the left will either be bunkered or in the chipping area. In the chipping area, the player has no option to loft the chip shot for fear of hitting the tree. A misjudged shot will lead to a player falling off the green back in front of the bunker. With the pin hidden by the bunker, it is next to impossible to chip back at the pin. The lone option is to chip to the top right tier and hope to two-putt.
Zach Johnson made a nine there yesterday, which drew quite a bit of attention to it. Tom Watson was asked in the Lexus tent about 14 and he said the hole is playing fairly - competitors are aware of the dangers there and should play accordingly.
A fan came up to me and talked about 14 as well, calling it unfair. My position is every US Open has a hole like this - the one that can border on unfair. This year, it is a par 5. Davis and the USGA clearly seek to test the short game mettle of the field by keeping the pin where it is. Just because it is a par 5 does not imply that it is a birdie hole. Five is a great score there.
That said, do you think that the 14th is fair or a little too dangerous for the national championship?
Early Observations: Saturday Will See A Lot of Movement
by Ryan Ballengee on Jun 19, 2010 4:27 PM EDT
in Pro Golf
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Katie and I just got in from walking the entire course in two hours. In the span, we saw a lot players making red numbers. Davis Love III is lighting up the course, along with Kenny Perry and Brandt Snedeker. Tom Watson looked to be doing well also.
Overall, the weather could not be better today. The marine layer burned off very early this morning, but the course has not gotten much more treacherous despite the sun making the course more dry. Despite the flags being red, the course is pretty well split between pins that are green lights, yellows, and reds. Almost all of the danger pins are precariously close to deep bunkers.
The pin on 14 is devilish - again, of course - on the top left tier. Good luck to the leaders when the pressure is on there. Though the 17th has been the most difficult hole this week, the pin today is on the lower right. Now it brings back bunkers even more into play, which is no reprieve from the first two days.
As the sun remains out and is expected to do so all day, the mystery will be how the conditions respond. Will the leaders have the same opportunities to score as the dewsweepers?
Phil Mickelson's Open Friday is Similar to His Masters Sunday
by Ryan Ballengee on Jun 18, 2010 7:52 PM EDT
in Pro Golf
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As I'm sure that you've realized by this point in the proceedings today, Phil Mickelson has made his move into contention to win his first US Open. Going out in 31 on the front - and susceptible - nine, Mickelson then birdied the 11th hole to get into a tie for second place. He is two strokes behind clubhouse leader Graeme McDowell.
Mickelson made three consecutive birdies on two, three, and four. He went red on six and eight before a bogey at nine. That nine hole stretch resembles the nine holes that Mickelson turned in to close out the Masters, which gave him his third green jacket.
That Sunday, Mickelson came home in four birdies against no bogeys. On today's opening nine, it appeared that Mickelson had the same kind of ball striking and putting. It wasn't that Mickelson was perfect, but that he was in complete control.
Yesterday, Mickelson said that he was having trouble off of the tee. The tee shot at 17 gave that away. But the result on the front nine today was that Mickelson put himself in position to make birdies. With how aggressive Mickelson is and his awareness of this course, he is certain to make more birdies.
Maybe he can find the elusive eagle.
A Quick Review of Bayonet & Black Golf Courses
by Ryan Ballengee on Jun 18, 2010 7:42 PM EDT
in Playing Golf
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This morning, I was able to go play Bayonet Golf Course. It's one of the more highly acclaimed courses in the area that both (a) not a private club and (b) not owned by the Pebble Beach Company. The course is about 20 minutes from Pebble property and underwent a redesign that was completed a couple of years ago.
I got to the course around 9:30am and it was about 54 degrees out, with a heavy marine layer still present. The course was packed for Open week, which led to a long round - but forgiveable given the circumstances. I was paired with Jerry Mills - husband of Golf Channel original Jennifer Mills - and a couple of guys from the area. Those two guys played the course for dirt cheap - $20 all told. Why? Because the courses are technically located on a military base, so the agreement was to give a discount to all active military. Great deal for the guys.
The course could not have been in better shape. Being the only course on the Peninsula that boasts bentgrass, it was like I was playing at home. At least in terms of grass. The design of the course really does fit well with the flowing hills of the seaside topography. Elevation changes are natural, not forced. The bunkering is pretty prominent around the greens, but is more strategic tee to green. The fairways bunkers have a variety of shapes. And the bunker edges are not cut in such a way that they appear completely unnatural.
The standout feature of Bayonet and the Black are the greens. There are at least three distinct tiers or levels to most greens. In some cases, it feels forced. In others, it is brilliant but diabolical. For the casual vacation player, it is almost impossible to putt well from distance though the greens roll very true. Inside of ten feet, I was great. Outside of 25, I was in trouble. That's the mark of a great, challenging course, though.
Overall, I had a great round despite the Open-related slowness. It was refreshing to play a course in such great shape, with a variety of holes that matched the topography and the beauty of the Monterey peninsula.
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