While covering the 2005 U.S. Open for Travel Golf Magazine, I kept an open mind all week as the world debate raged on whether $375 is too much for a round of golf at Pinehurst No. 2, or whether $240 is too much for Nos. 4, 7, and 8. I listened to the good points raised on either side – and there are plenty to go around. Even I struggled with the analysis...
As we walked in the gate, everyone received a brass pin with the outlined image of Payne in his now famous victory pose. Look for them on the broadcast. One other note. Pardon me while I dislocate my own shoulder patting myself on the back, but in the last year I have been to Pebble, Pinehurst, Bandon and Pacific Dunes, Sawgrass and Bethpage. I also played, among...
Retief Goosen has shared or held the lead after the third round three times previously and walked away with two majors. He led the 2001 and 2004 US Open after three rounds and won both. He was tied with Eldrick T. Woods after three rounds of the 2002 Masters, but lost to Woods. In other notes, Vijay Singh failed to card a birdie in a PGA tour round of golf for the...
The caddies are concerned about the devilish pin placements for Sunday. “They are evil” one remarked. “Most are four or five paces from the fringe. They are not the most accessible.” When asked if players, when faced with difficult chips might play to a point five or six feet from the hole he replied “That’s the game plan. You saw...
Lee Westwood agreed with Phil Mickelson’s Friday observations after his +3 73 left him six back of leader retief Goosen. “You have to be very defensive out there, you can’t charge your putts. It’s very difficult. If you miss the green, sometimes you have to treat the hole as a dogleg and play four or five feet away from the hole and hope to...
Trip expert Jen maples and her architect dad, Dan, a third generation of Pinehurst area designers. His dad did No. 5 and his grandfather shaped No 2. among others.
Jay and fourth generation architect Brad maples. The apple is close to the tree, luckily for golf.
Surprise, Jay. Yo, Yo, Yo…rollin in the architect’s mad wheels.
Jay and Payne. We miss you.
Meet Zenos Frudakis, one of America’s premier visual artists. Golfers everywhere marvel at his bronze masterpieces – Payne Stewart, Dinah Shore, Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, and many more, some of which grace the clubhouse at Augusta National. But this Philadelphia native and son of a Cretan immigrant has devised bronze statues of baseball players...
JF: I’m here with Adam Scott who is +1 and only three of the pace. Adam, you’re right in the thick of things, what aspects of your game plan have worked so far and what do you want to improve? Adam: Well I want to hit more fairways off the tee. It starts there. I have got to be in play to have a chance to even get close to these hole locations. JF: What...
The tenth at Monterey Peninsula CC Shore Course
The 15th at Monterey Peninsula Country Club (Shore Country Club)
I caught up with Olin Browne and Shigeki Maruyama out in the parking lot post round and they shared their thoughts on the setup at Pinehurst. JF: Olin, did you have more trouble with the rough today or the pronounced swales and chipping areas around the green? OB: Today I drove it poorly. Jay you know what the big problem is when you’re in the rough here? You...
I caught up with Ian Poulter and his caddie Mike Donagh pre-round. “For a great course outside London try Woburn Sands. It’s my home course and I play it all the time” Ian noted with a smile. Ian looked good in his pink and purple outfit today. Mike, who began caddying for Ian two and a half years ago when “we had some drinks together and he...