It’s Everyman vs. the Master
June 16, 2008 by Sandy Mitchell
I hope you didn’t have anything to do this afternoon, because the US Open’s not over yet. Rocco Mediate, a 45-year old tour veteran from Greensburg, PA is facing the best player in the world, Tiger Woods, in an 18-hole one-to-one playoff match to determine the winner of the 2008 US Open. Tee-off is at 9am PDT (noon EDT). The coverage starts on ESPN and continues on NBC at 2pm.
Yesterday’s round was almost as compelling as Saturday’s. Woods started the day with a double-bogey at hole #1 (again), leaving viewers to wonder about the state of his injured knee. …read more
True Grit at Torrey Pines
June 15, 2008 by Sandy Mitchell
When his knee hurting so badly that he sometimes grimaced in pain and used his clubs as a crutch to make his way down the fairways, Tiger Woods gave a master class in guts, concentration, and skill at Torrey Pines yesterday during round three of the US Open.
Five strokes off of the lead coming into the 13th hole, Woods eagled 13 and began a rally that would turn that five-stroke deficit into a one-stroke lead before the round was finished. In addition to the eagle at 13, he lucked into a birdey at 17th when his chip shot one-hopped into …read more
US Open 2008 – Day Two
June 14, 2008 by Sandy Mitchell
Round two of the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines did not disappoint. Kevin Streelman and Justin Hicks learned that carding two good consecutive rounds in the US Open is not an easy feat. They both carded a +6 for the day, leaving them at +3 for the tournament and well behind the leader, Australian Stuart Appleby (pictured above). Appleby grabbed sole possession of the lead with a birdie on 18.
Tiger Woods, playing with a slight limp, showed why he’s the best player in the world. After a rough first hole, he carded a near-record 30 on the back nine …read more
The US Open on TV this Weekend
June 14, 2008 by Sandy Mitchell
The eyes of the golf world are on Torrey Pines in San Diego this weekend for the US Open. The Champions Tour, LPGA, and Nationwide Tour all have the week off. In fact, 12 Nationwide Tour members, including round one leader Justin Hicks, are playing in the Open.
Many European Tour players are also in San Diego, but there is a tour event in Saint-Omer in the north of France. It is not televised in North America.
Television coverage of the US Open begins at 3pm both Saturday and Sunday on NBC.
(photo © Newscom)
Calcavecchia Withdraws from Open after Nine
June 12, 2008 by Sandy Mitchell
Veteran American golfer, Mark Calcavecchia withdrew from the US Open today after just nine holes, citing an injured left knee and foot.
Calcavecchia was 8 over for the day when he walked off of the course. This is his 20th US Open; he has withdraw or failed to make the cut 10 times.
Calcavecchia won the British Open in 1989. He has 24 PGA Tour wins, the most recent of which was the PODS Championship in 2007.
(photo © Newscom)
Scenes from the 2008 US Open
June 11, 2008 by Sandy Mitchell
Yesterday was a practice day at the US Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego. Here’s a sampling of what was going on:
Ernie Els and Lee Westwood signed autographs on their way to the 18th green.
Phil Mickelson worked on his short game.
The Japanese contingent, Toru Taniguchi, Ryuji Imada, and Shingo Katayama, practiced together
Tiger returned.
(all photos © Newscom)
All About the US Open at Torrey Pines
June 9, 2008 by Sandy Mitchell
It’s here. The 2008 US Open begins June 12 at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, California. About is a lay-out of the course, recent past winners, and other US Open facts.
(photo © Newscom)
Tiger and Phil — Together Again
June 6, 2008 by Sandy Mitchell
The USGA has announced the pairings for the first two days of the US Open at Torrey Pines, which begins June 12. The most exciting of these is the threesome of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Adam Scott. They will tee-off at 806am on Thursday.
Also worth watching are K.J. Choi with Jim Furyk and Steve Stricker (at 722am); Stewart Cink with Sergio Garcia and Vijay Singh (at 1252pm); and Trevor Immelman with Zach Johnson and Mike Weir (at 103pm).
(photo © Newscom)
Top Athletes Try Qualifying for the US Open
May 4, 2008 by Sandy Mitchell
It’s not just the top amateur and professional golfers that have their sights set on the US Open, to be played June 9-15 at Torrey Pines Golf Course in La Jolla, California. Top athletes in a number of other sports are among the 8043 hopefuls that have entered the local qualifying rounds.
Among these athletes are Grant Furyk (pictured above), whose non-golf accomplishments include five Stanley Cup championships, being a five-time NHL all-star, and being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Others seeking to qualify for the Open include former tennis champions, Michael Chang and Ivan Lendl; former MLB third …read more
Golf is Going to Prime Time
May 3, 2008 by Sandy Mitchell
It’s nice to see the networks are giving golf the respect the game deserves–at least for the US Open. The final two rounds of the event, held this year at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, California from June 9 – 15, will be broadcast on NBC, with round three concluding at 10pm EDT and the final round ending at 9pm EDT.
Three of the next five US Opens will take place on the West Coast, so this might just be the beginning of a trend. Let’s hope so.
(photo of Kevin Stadler at Torrey Pines © Newscom)


