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I was fortunate to walk along side Tiger, Phil, Lee Westwood, Ernie, Geoff Ogilvy, Justin Rose, and Adam Scott the first two days this week. I'm working for ESPN getting players yardages and club selections into each hole of this 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines. The crowd with Tiger, Phil, and Adam was huge and deafening which made it extra hard to get around but also very exciting. Over 50 photographers, writers, security, marshalls, and various media also inside the ropes was crazy. Just the sound of camera shutters with Tiger's every move is distractingly loud and goes without notice with every other group. I have been working part time for various networks at PGA Tour events since 1996, but this was my first time working a US Open and more importantly this time we were at my home course, the amazingly beautiful Torrey Pines. This experience couldn't have been more special and I am so proud to be a San Diego native. I was there when Tiger won at Pebble in 2000, and also there at St. Andrews for his 1st British Open victory, but the crowds this week seemed more loud than ever. Just after players tee off, my job is to walk off their remaining yardage to the hole and provide that information to my walking on-air reporter/live announcer. This week that person was Jane Crafter who I had not met before but she was very cool and great to work with. If I had a dollar for everyone in the gallery who called me "Dottie" this week I'd be able to buy a trip to Hawaii. I don't think the comparison is very flattering and to say the least I am motivated to lose weight now more than ever. My birthday is this Wedesday June 18th, so the "lose 10 pounds by my birthday" goal is still within reach. Anyhow, once I have the correct yardage, I then wait for the players to reach their ball and stand next to them while preparing for their next shot. I get to overhear all discussions with their caddie and watch as they remove their next club from the bag. The caddie will also give me a hand signal to confirm and then I pass on the knowlege with a signal to the announcer who's standing 50 yards ahead near the ropes. It's quite an aquired skill all done without a word, and like a sponge I'm soaking in every detail of knowlege and information for my own phenominal US Open experience. Witnessing the best of the best up close and personal has spoiled me though. It's hard to attend a PGA Tour event watching from outside the ropes with the gallery after being inside the ropes so many times. Hearing the jokes, player conversations, caddie gossip, and watching the course management decisions and playing styles of the greatest players in the world is as they say, "Priceless". But this week, inside the ropes was also very dangerous. On Thursday's round while standing near the ropes under tree's , Adam Scott's errant Tee shots came within 5 yards of hitting me on three different holes. During Friday's round on Hole #1, Phil Mickelson's drive hit my fellow spotter (also named Phil) smack in the forehead while we were standing near the left side ropes chatting. We heard "FORE" and while I ducked he apparently turned to look towards the incoming shot. The sound echoed so loudly I first thought it must have hit the tree behind us, but I looked back at Phil and saw blood instantly dripping down his right cheek as he stood there stunned. He seemed to be in shock and we made him drop to his knees and called out for help from the gallery. We put a napkin press on his deep cut as blood was heavily pouring out. Then, a doctor from the gallery came to help so I left to go get my yardages before Phil got there. When Mickelson arrived he quickly apologized to Phil and handed him an autographed glove for the inconvenience. I had located Mickelson's ball in the deep rough 15 yards behind us and accessed his yardage, then ran over to Tiger's ball location near the right cart path on the other side of the fairway and away we went leaving my bloody colleague behind. Just that fast, our entourage continued down the fairway like business as usual and I was so caught up in the moment I didn't even see Tiger's great shot off the cart path which led to his birdie run on his back side 30. I was sick to my stomache the entire day at the thought of how close that ball came to hitting Phil's temple and what would have happend to me if I had not ducked. Word soon came through our headsets that Phil had received 7 stitches and was back at the compound doing well. I saw him at the end of the day and couldn't believe he didn't have a huge lump. Just some stitches, a signed glove, a bit of embarassment, and one incredible story to tell his family back home in New Zealand. If that ball had hit me, I'd have asked Phil for $10k to cover my head damage...screw an autographed glove! This week I also asked several PGA Tour players how they felt the USGA's infamous Open set up compared to the normal condition of the course during the Buick Invitational at Torrey Pines. Their answers were quite extreme: Jason Gore... "it's the Buick on Steroids" Daniel Chopra...."the fairways are just as open and it's playing easy" Lee Westwood... "that's BS" (after I told him on Wednesday that all the putts break to the ocean at Torrey). I don't know, but I'd like to think my input has helped a bit. I met Lee and Darren Clarke 3 years ago at the AT&T with Chubby their agent who told me this week that they have rented a home in Del Mar and brought their own chef. Life on the road isn't so bad after all! So, we'll see who fairs the best come Sunday and I'm sticking with my pre-tournament prediction of Mr. Woods (aka the #1 player in the world). Why? Because he's the greatest putter and his record at Torrey Pines speaks volumes. Some Observations: Phil decision to take out his Driver and play with 5 wedges didn't seem very bright to me. He wasn't able to reach the par 5 13th in two and with his fabulous flop skills, why did he need 52, 56, 60, and 64 wedges? I can't imagine the kind of "home town boy" pressure he must have been under, but his course management choices were questionable to me. I didn't witness the incident with Adam Scott's caddie Tony Navarra and an unruly fan, but I've known Tony for years and he's a great guy who's well respected and won't take any cr&%$p from anyone. Ernie Els played wonderful golf. His shot choices were impressive and he is so much larger in person than he comes across on TV. He is big, tall, his back is thick and strong, and his feet are huge too. THE BIG EASY says it all! Justin Rose seemed to make poor shot choices with high approach shots to back pin locations rather than low running one's as Ernie did. He seemed baffled by the wind and kept trying to hit the same shot....which wasn't working. His putting was off for sure...same as it was for him at the Bob Hope Classic in 2007. Camillo is HOT, but Darren Clarke is still the HOTTEST to me! Swedish players definitely dress the best! Tiger is intimidatingly amazing and his confident gate is beautiful! He and Adam Scott were out driving each other all day but Tiger's poke at 18 with just a 7 iron to the green was most impressive. Stevie Williams isn't as mean and scarey as I assumed. He cooperated nicely with giving me club selections and made my job much easier. Phil Mickelson looks much thinner yet a few push ups and sit ups each morning couldn't hurt. There are 4 cuts of grass at Torrey. 30 yd wide fairways and 2nd cut are fine, the 3rd cut is super thick but not that tall, the 4th cut is WAY offline and penal. More than 8" deep, this salad is only good with a slice of bread and some rasberry vinagerette dressing. Most PGA players iron games are so SHARP they tend to Pin hunt and play more agressively than I would. Often times they short side themselves and get into bunker or rough trouble, but the risk is worth taking to them since their confident short games will usually save par. It's all about Birdies on the PGA Tour so attacking the flag is typical. Sergio spent hours with his dad on the practice putting green on Wednesday. Lee Westwood and Dean Wilson spent extra time on the putting green also. A US Open without FREDDIE is just plain weird! Elin Wood's wedding ring is gigantic (of course), I had the pleasure of examining it while she stood next to me behind a tree at the 10th green. She said "I'm trying to hide from Tiger cause I don't want to distract him". I gotta think that maybe she shouldn't wear her BOULDER if she wants to be incognito but I'll bet Eldrick wouldn't allow her to step outside without it. Great to see Mark O'Meara and Brad Bryant in the field but I don't see how shorter hitters can possibly do well this week. Sergio and VJ refused to use my Pink Pro's Fore Charity.com Tee's I offered them at the Par 3 11th Tee during their Wednesday practice round together. Both hit bad shots! Real Men aren't afraid of PINK-- Thanks Jason Gore, David Toms, Jesper, Daniel Chopra, and Adam Scott for being secure with a Pink Tee in your pocket! Real Men wear PINK!
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