SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – Lorena Ochoa enjoyed the day off due to bad weather Friday. “I slept in. I watched a movie, we played some cards at home. That was the idea, just to be away from golf and not think too much.” Ochoa needed the rest. She won a playoff last week and was busy in Mexico the week before. She barely missed an opening eagle chip to start her third round, but carded a 3-under 32 to move one off the pace. She was plenty confident heading into the afternoon round: “Hopefully my name means something on the ...

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – Ji-yai Shin doesn’t have the look of a would-be U.S. Open champion. In fact, I want to pick her up and take her home with me. She’s adorable. Compared to most of the other South Koreans, she struggles with English. When you ask questions, she confers with her caddie then gives a brief, polite answer. “How do you plan to prepare between rounds today?” I asked. Confers with caddie…"I’m hungry…I want to eat.” smiles. But don’t let her bashfulness fool you. As an 18-year-old rookie in 2006, she destroyed the field in the KLPGA. She won ...

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – All this “South Korean dominance” talk has all been very premature at the U.S. Women’s Open. They’re fading fast. Currently, only one South Korean is within three shots of the lead. The rest are falling to 1-over and higher. That said, most of them are sitting at or above the cut line. The story? How about a 1-2 South American punch? Brazil’s Angela Park (who has Korean parents) and Paraguay’s Julieta Granada are rolling. Who knew south of the equator was such a powerhouse - and this, coming on the heels of Angel Cabrera’s U.S. Open ...

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – Michelle Wie has withdrawn from another event - this time the U.S. Women’s Open at Pine Needles. She said she started feeling pain after a drive on the 17th (her 8th). When she teed off on her 10th hole, she decided enough was enough. “It was enough to bring tears to my eyes,” said Wie. “Which is hard to do.” Wie used the phrase “work in progress” numerous times, referring to the healing process of her wrist. She faced missing the cut for the first time in 15 majors at 17-over with nine holes to play ...

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – If you thought Michelle Wie had played herself out of discussion at the U.S. Women’s Open, well that’s just naive. Beginning yesterday, there was a buzz at Pine Needles amid fans and reporters, taking bets on who will finish higher between Wie and 12-year-old Alexis Thompson. That isn’t the first time this “rivalry” has been brought up. On ESPN’s Pardon the Interruption this week, Wie and Thompson were a “Toss up” question, to which co-host Tony Kornheiser said Thompson had “no chance” of beating Wie. Currently, Thompson is in the clubhouse at 16-over. Wie is on ...

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – I can’t take it anymore! I’m trapped in this media center at Pine Needles, staring at a stagnant leaderboard. I hear nothing but the clicking of keys and the rumble of thunder above me. “What is everyone writing?” I ponder. “There’s been no action for like two hours…” No worries, upon closer look they’re all on YouTube. Have you seen that hamster video??? But the good news is that in the future, rain delays at golf tournaments will be a thing of the past. By the year 2034, around the time Sam Alexis Woods is shooting ...

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – Play has been suspended for the second time today due to lightning in the area at the U.S. Women’s Open. Play is expected to resume sometime later this afternoon…Bummer that ESPN isn’t covering the event in the morning - when play has been uninterrupted both days. While there’s a break in the action…can someone explain to me why spectators, the dorkiest golf writers and even swing coaches walk around the course and range with golf shoes on? It’s kind of pathetic - like the 40-year-old guy who brings a mitt to a big league game. The ...

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – Saw a cute moment walking by the first tee this morning at the Women’s U.S. Open… 12-year-old Alexis Thompson’s group was teeing off the first at Pine Needles. She went last. As her other two playing partners Angela Jerman and Amy Yang were announced, she clapped for them along with the crowd - with a big cheesy smile. Of course, Jerman and Yang didn’t clap for each other or for Thompson when she stepped up - being the tough, focused pro veterans they are and all.. Thompson blasted a drive right out there with the big girls ...

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – Day one of the U.S. Women’s Open was shortened by afternoon thundershowers in the area Thursday. A rain delay from 2:47 thru 6:23 p.m. meant most of the afternoon rounds didn’t finish. Among those was defending champion Annika Sorenstam, Even par after 13 holes. She is tied with twelve others including Morgan Pressel and Lorena Ochoa who both finished their rounds this morning. Of the eleven players currently under par, five are from South Korea, including Jee Young Lee at 2-under. Leader Angela Park is 3-under and is from Brazil. Among those who struggled today are ...

(SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.) – 8:06 a.m. - It’s too early to be making these kinds of decisions. On the 10th tee of Pine Needles, you’ve got hall-of-famer Karrie Webb and major winner Morgan Pressel… Teeing off at the same time on the first, marketing queens Michelle Wie and Natalie Gulblis - both winless. I went off with Gulbis & Wie (and Christina Kim). I’m not saying I’m proud of it. I felt like I’d just passed up on a critically-acclaimed indy flick to go see Spiderman 3 for the second time. I wasn’t the only one. The gallery ...

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. – Lorena Ochoa just dunked it from a fairway bunker on the 14th for eagle at Pine Needles this morning in the U.S. Women’s Open first round. This could be the week for the world No. 1’s first major breakthrough. Like any U.S. Open, there are some high scores out there, but red numbers can be found. Ochoa, at 2-under and still on the course, is one back of Angela Park. How about Amateur Mina Harigae? She went 41-31 to finish 1-over for the day… Michelle Wie is duffing it all over the course (+8). More on ...

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. - After taking my first lap around Pine Needles this afternoon, I’ve decided I would rather play here versus men’s venue Oakmont Country Club. Now don’t get me wrong. I didn’t say Pine Needles is “harder” - and I will brag to colleagues I’ve played Oakmont - not Pine Needles. But there are many appealing qualities that make me like it over Oakmont. First off, there are trees - and ponds. Barren Oakmont chopped almost all of its trees down and the many waterless ditches that weave through the course look like the course has a severe ...

From the “But it was a brand new Pro-V 1″ files… Bruce Burger was trying to retrieve his ball in a pond at Lake Venice Golf Club in Florida Monday when a one-eyed alligator jumped out, grabbed his arm and pulled him in. Burger freed himself by beating the alligator with his other arm until he was released. He suffered a thigh strain. You think that’s hazardous? Just ask Phil Mickelson about U.S. Open rough…If the USGA really wants to cross the line, they should bring the Open down to the swamp. Full gator attack details here.

Probably my favorite course during a recent trip to Michigan was Tullymore Golf Club. You may have heard of it, its getting plenty of love from Golf Digest, sitting at the 14th best public course in America. It has a pretty low profile compared to some of the other heavyweights at the top. It’s in pretty obscure territory: too far south to be called a “Northern Michigan” course. It’s about 20 minutes from Big Rapids in Central Michigan - less than an hour away from Grand Rapids. The course reminded me of my favorite (so far) course in the Myrtle ...

One night in a smoky sports bar, some friends and I decided that anything you could do while eating a hot dog or smoking wasn’t a sport. Sports are about athleticism, coordination and health - none of which are promoted by chewing or smoking tobacco, which leads to serious diseases like black spots all over your skin - and nuisances like making your non-smoking buddy wait outside a restaurant with you as you huff down a pack before heading inside. It should not be allowed on any professional athletic surface. I’m not talking about your weekend round, of course. ...

Ogilvy sounded off in frustration after his round today at Oakmont. He needs to stop reading Chris Baldwin. “I know I don’t need to practice out of fairway bunkers anymore. It doesn’t matter if you’re good or not out of them. We should just add one shot and drop it out in the fairway and go.” “It’s not that you get penalized for hitting a bad shot because you need to get penalized for hitting a bad shot. It’s the complete lack of chance for recovery, which is no fun. It’s fine if you get penalized, but if you miss ...

(OAKMONT, PA) – NBC’s Bob Costas is a nervous man right now. Right now, it looks like two possibilities: Tiger Woods - whom Costas no doubt wants in the booth with him tonight with the trophy. Then there is Angel Cabrera. Costas has to be nervous that this guy might actually pull it off. Everyone at Desportes says Cabrera is a joy and a real personality. Only problem is he doesn’t speak much English. I’ve never seen Costas interview through a translator before, but if he can muster some emotion out of this one…it’ll be well worth it. And how ...

OAKMONT, Pa. - This triple bogey start by Aaron Baddeley, worse than Sergio’s last stand vs. Tiger at Hoylake last year, is the best thing that could have happened to him. Actually the best thing would have been Tiger making triple…but see where I’m going with this… Baddeley’s got his head on straight again and has to know it can’t get any worse. The butterflies are gone. He can relax a little. The good news? He’s just one back of Tiger - who still looks like he won’t be hitting putts. I was hanging out on the range while the leaders ...

OAKMONT, Pa. - There’s an unusually high amount of humidity at Oakmont this morning. That’s not a metaphor or anything. Seriously, I think we’ve got storms coming this afternoon…and I don’t mean storms of birdies. We could be rained out, at least for an hour or two…Hopefully this doesn’t push things back to Monday - which would be a buzz kill for everyone. Yesterday, I mentioned to the veteran tech guy sitting next to me in the media room, “Only one more day…". He said, “you idiot, you’ve jinxed us all!” Think the media wants to be stuck ...

OAKMONT, Pa. - Looking back on all the players I’ve spoken with this week, either one-on-one or in a reporter mob (usually around Rory Sabbatini, Zach Johnson or Ian Poulter), one thing has been evidently clear: Those who came in with the mindset that the tournament was about them, and not the “dangerous” or “unfair” U.S.G.A. and Oakmont are doing well. Those who were sniping at the course from the beginning of the week aren’t contenders. I had a minute with 54-hole leader Aaron Baddeley as he was on the practice green Wednesday before his tournament began. This is the ...

OAKMONT, Pa. - All aboard the Bubba Wagon! Bubba Watson is in the driver’s seat, but many are expecting his inexperience to show this weekend. I don’t think so. He’ll be near the top Sunday. Sound crazy? After Ernie Els’ round today, he told me the fan favorite and long-baller has as good of a shot at Oakmont as any. Sounds crazy? “The course is short enough for him where he can hit a lot of irons off the tee,” he said. “It’s not like Winged Foot where you have to hit driver every time. It’s almost link-sy that way. ...

OAKMONT, Pa. - A few U.S. Open thoughts before bedtime. Of all the players ahead of Tiger Woods on the leaderboard heading into the weekend, only David Toms has won a major… Can whoever led the charge to cut the trees down at Oakmont run for public office in Pittsburgh? I can’t see any road signs because they’re all blocked by branches… Do you think the British players even think winning the U.S. Open is a big deal with such a crummy exchange rate? What’s $1.2 million in pounds these days… I don’t know how I feel about Mickelson’s attitude this week. On ...

OAKMONT, Pa. - If you’ve been watching enough U.S. Open coverage, by now you know the Oakmont Country Club membership is proud of it’s difficult golf course. They even say it’s harder on a daily basis than it is at the Open and the USGA actually makes it easier for the coddled pros. After his round today, Jim Furyk seemed a bit irritated everyone is comparing the world’s best 156 golfers to a bunch of weekend member hacks. “Saying that the greens are made slower for the U.S. Open…that’s overplayed,” said a skeptical Furyk. “99% of the members out here ...

OAKMONT, Pa. - This leaderboard at the U.S. Open as events unfold Friday morning looks like it’s Tiger’s for the taking. Amongst other crazy ideas, I’m looking for Woods to be leading the tournament by day’s end with a 70 or 71 in the afternoon. Red numbers will be long gone. Scores are high so far. Singh and Furyk are 4-over today. Mickelson carried over his strong finish into two birdies in the first six holes. Then the struggles began. Now he’s all over the place: 8-over and still on the course. He’s right on the cut line now, but ...

OAKMONT, Pa. - Phil Mickelson has been candid - borderline delirious - with comments he’s made about Oakmont and the tournament setup this week – possibly returning the favor for the wrist he hurt in the ridiculously high rough here a few weeks back - rough he says has been cut in half now, after six other player injuries this week. Mickelson isn’t getting the chance for a therapeutic cleanse of frustration on the driving range like everyone else. He seems to be doing it with his mouth this week. He called the high rough early in the week ...

OAKMONT, Pa. - Bummed out you can’t get live updates on the U.S. Open? The media covering the event don’t have it much better. Everyone is whining about a bad WiFi connection in the tent. Basically, here’s whats going on in the P.M. rounds if you can’t watch the tube: If Phil Mickelson’s wrist makes it out of this 18 holes in one piece, surely his head won’t. He can’t hit a fairway, but he’s scrambling like a mad man just to be 4-over after eleven. It’s sad to watch, considering we all wanted him near the top on Sunday. ...

OAKMONT, Pa. - Morning tee times are finishing up around noon and scores are lower than expected at this year’s U.S. Open. A half-inch of rain last night and overcast skies have also prevented the course from firming up too fast. Morning players have gotten the break so far, none more so than Nick Dougherty, who leads at 2-under in the clubhouse. “It’s playing as easy as it could be,” said Dougherty. “The storm softened it up nicely. The morning players are certainly getting the better half of it.” Bubba Watson took advantage of an early tee time and soft conditions ...

OAKMONT, Pa. - After Oakmont this week, the next three U.S. Opens will be staged on public venues: Torrey Pines, Pebble Beach and Bethpage Black. The U.S.G.A. also announced this week the 2014 Open will be held at Pinehurst No. 2 - public as well. It’s a good move, considering it’s the US “Open". I like the idea of hosting America’s tournament on a course anyone can call up for a tee time. That’s how the British Open is. The Scottish venues are clubs, but anyone can make a few phone calls and get a tee time, whether it’s St. ...

Blogger’s note: since posted, the report from the USGA is a half-inch of rain. Officials expect slower greens at least Thursday and maybe later in the week. OAKMONT, Pa. - There may be no prettier sight than all the rain pouring down right now at Oakmont, sight of the U.S. Open. It’s been an overall consensus that the greens here would be so firm all week, the 5-over par needed by Geoff Olgilvy to win at Winged Foot last year would easily win this tournament. Rory Sabbatini predicted a winner between eight and ten-over par this afternoon. Butch Harmon, soaking ...

OAKMONT, Pa. - Colin Montgomerie has come painfully close in too many majors, including last year’s U.S. Open where he bogeyed the final hole, and the last time it was staged at Oakmont in 1994 where he lost in a playoff. Monty hopes a little local help might put him over the top this week. He decided last week he wanted a local looper and called Oakmont. They gave him 49-year veteran Billy Goddard. “He called last week looking for a caddie that knew the course and keeps his mouth shut,” said Goddard. Goddard says he thinks he’s done that ...

Oakmont, PA – Phil Mickelson teed off for a practice round just before 8 am this morning at the US Open in Oakmont. He only made it nine holes. Afterwards, he spent the morning on the practice green with short game coach Dave Pelz, his caddie Bones, and the PGA Tour’s favorite tattooed muscle man and trainer Jim Weathers. At least Lefty had some long pants on after wearing shorts yesterday. He also traded in a makeshift bandage for a more stable wrist brace. Mickelson says he plans on nine holes again tomorrow. He is also spending very little time ...

OAKMONT, Pa. - “It’s how long???” That was the buzz over the last few months as reports out of Oakmont Country Club detailed the length of the par-3 8th stretching to 288 yards to the center. At the US Open this week, the hole is drawing large crowds in practice rounds. But aside from the length, the 8th isn’t horribly sinister, especially compared to way some other holes have been set up this week. Trevor Immelman proved that this morning as he aced it with a 3-wood. The pin was playing towards the back, stretching the length to almost 300 yards. Not to ...

OAKMONT, Pa. - Extra attention is always paid to how high and thick the rough is at the US Open, especially after it has all but erased Phil Mickelson’s name from being a force this week. High rough is one of the event’s signatures. But this year, players seem to be more nervous about the greens. Oakmont Country Club has always been known for tricky greens. It’s best to miss it 50 feet on the right side than 10 feet on the wrong side of the hole. This year they’re faster and firmer than ever. “These are some of the ...

A few years ago, it was a foregone conclusion the struggling Shanty Creek Resort in Bellaire would close. There is an article on MichiganGolf.com from 2004 that starts nailing the coffin. But having visited Shanty Creek Resorts this week (they’ve added an ’s’ on the end of ‘resort’ to highlight its three separate villages), things look very promising. New ownership and management is pumping in tons of money and new ideas to put the resort back in the conversation of Michigan’s best ski and golf resorts. Shanty’s four golf courses suffered mightily over the last few years, lacking the resources ...

Golfers hear the name “Whistling Straits” and immediately recall the 2004 PGA Championship and the upcoming Senior U.S. Open this July. But the Straits course is only half the fun here. There’s it’s near-equal little brother, the Irish course, which gives mid-handicappers a fighting chance. I was in Kohler all of last week. I didn’t get a chance to blog much because I was spending the majority of my nights soaking in my jacuzzi at the American Club. There’s nary a bad shower head or jet to be found anywhere near Kohler for obvious reasons. I must say, while the ...

Nike bets on teenaged athletes much like we might wager on greyhounds at the dog track. It can be pretty speculative, especially when talent scouts are snooping around inner-city middle-schoolers. But the dividends pay off mightily when you put your chips into prospects like Tiger Woods and now Lebron James. If anyone didn’t see Lebron’s performance Thursday (the same Thursday his Nike sibling Michelle Wie made a mockery of the LPGA, it was one of the most dominant performances in sports in recent memory, as he scored just about every point in the fourth quarter and two OTs to take ...