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DEL.ICIO.USTiger steals ink; Bubba grabs glory
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Furman Bisher
Oakmont, Pa. — Call the cops! Oakmont has stolen Tiger Woods’ game.
You know how it is when Tiger is in any tournament. All things revolve around him. The first round of the U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club, Tiger was one among 16 players who checked in at 1 over the par 70. A nice young Englishman, 25-year-old Nick Dougherty from Liverpool, took the lead with a 68. But whose picture was on the front page of the paper dropped at my door? Tiger Woods.
There was a small print of what we used to call a half-column cut of Dougherty on the inside, so since there’s no one else to tell you about Nick, I’ll fill you in briefly: He is tall and slender, is playing his sixth season on the European Tour, and has won one time, the Singapore Masters, which has a pretty impressive ring in our environs.
Nick didn’t have a very good day Friday, but another Brit stepped up to fill the void, Paul Casey, who has made a few headlines in the United States. Came over here to school at Arizona State, then went back to tell the homefolks all the things he didn’t like about Americans. He has won eight times on the EuroTour, plus another, the WGC-World Cup in 2004, shared with Luke Donald. Then he stuck it to Our Side again when he delivered a hole-in-one in the Ryder Cup matches the USA lost so ingloriously in Ireland.
Casey went out early Friday, 7:33 in fact, in the company of Stewart Cink, and when the day was done, put a round of 66 on the board. Now, memories are hard to shake off around here, so this week there has been a lot of talk about the round of 63 that Johnny Miller posted and won the Open here in 1973, especially since Miller is around doing his own memories on television.
Some able historians right away said Casey’s 66 was stronger than Miller’s 63. Both played on the same course, and yet not. Rain had softened the course the night before Miller’s final round. Arnold Palmer said he might have turned the juice on Johnny, but his putter failed him, and it wound up that Miller only had to beat the less-than-renowed John Schlee home. Besides, par then was 284. Par today is 280. A different world and a different course, but what does that matter. It’s only Friday.
Meanwhile, somewhere out on this cruel acreage, Tiger Woods was still slashing away, in the new furrowed hazards, the “Church Pew” bunkers, just trying to gain some ground on all those ahead of him. Casey was one of them, but his 66 still left him 3-over par, but only six guys were ahead of him. It hasn’t been easy to hold a lead on this daunting course, whose main intention is to intimidate. If you want a definition of “tough,” Oakmont is it. It was built to be tough, and the members like it that way. Twenty is a good handicap around here.
One of those hovering around the lead was Bubba Watson, the left-handed swinger who played at the University of Georgia, then headed for bigger game. Bubba comes from that hotbed of golf in the Florida Panhandle, Milton High School, which has produced Boo Weekley and Heath Slocum. The improbability of Bubba Watson contending at a U.S. Open is almost too much to digest, everywhere but in Bagdad — the Florida one — his hometown.
Sadly, Bubba made five bogeys and finished the day in second place at 1-over par. Oops, word just in. Woods bogeyed No. 7 — his 16th hole — and his name came off the leaderboard. I tell you, it’s tough out there on the hostile grasses of Oakmont.
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By Cry Baby
June 16, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this
Mickelson just lost my support when he became a crybaby after his round on Friday. He claimed the course was “dangerous”. Maybe for a guy with a hurt wrist but he knew that before he ever teed off on Thursday. Fact is, Mickelson didn’t play well and made many questionable decisions on the course. I think his frustration came from the reality of the Open he threw away last year. Knowing how hard these tournaments are, Phil now knows how good his position going into 18 with a lead was. He may never get back there again and that was the real root of his frustration.
By Leroy Rogers
June 16, 2007 4:33 PM | Link to this
I never thought I would live to see anyone dominate the game of golf, as has Tiger. However, I wish he would show some appreciaton to all the galleries who follow him. I liked being a member of Arnie’s Army in the Masters or other tourneys Arnie played in Atlanta in his later years. I don’t think I would get caught up in the “mob” who follows Tiger…life is too short. And while we are talking Tiger…no golfer has ever played under such pressure. Jack just went out and did his thing but Tiger gets the big money as a college drop out and has performed as has no other. Before I shut up…two comments: the last controversial club vs. the USGA was the IRC 11, now with the “broom handle” putter…the yips are not possible ala the great Slammin’ Sammy Sneed. Now that I have that complaint off my mind…one last question. How in the hell does a golf ball “chase” as in: a dog chases a rabbit?! I cannot believe all who are using it now and it just doesn’t fit! All have our favorite analysts, and mine happens to be Johnny Miller. Sorry to get carried away…gotta see if Tiger has caught up yet. And yes, I picked him to win on this same page earlier in the week. He is just the greatest ever to play the game, I think.
By shane
June 16, 2007 5:26 PM | Link to this
you know why tiger steals the ink? look whose 1 off the lead in the third round now (probably will be leading by end of day)
people get p** he always gets the spotlight, but we are lucky to get to see they greatest player to ever play the game (probably still be true in 100 years) play
By darrell
June 16, 2007 8:55 PM | Link to this
Furman has always been a Tiger hater. After Tiger 3rd round of his first Masters win, Furman called the other golfers cowards if they didn’t make a run to beat the kid. I wish I could re-read that fine piece of journalism.