More Wednesday Reads

Tod Leonard in the S.D. Union Tribune has the story of qualifier John Mallinger, who sounds like one of the qualifers worth rooting for. Dave Hackenburg in the Toledo Blade remembers Mike Strantz, and also says Inverness isn't looking good for another Open. Hackenburg also doesn't fall into line with most of the inkslingers who are writing that the "USGA has learned its lesson from last year," an odd thing to write since the tournament has event started. Hackenburg takes the Mickelson angle that every green is like #7 at Shinnecock, and it could get ugly again.

Peter McCleery, Golf World's excellent television analyst (along with Stu Schneider who provides those entertaining weekly notes), joins GolfObserver and previews NBC's coverage. Lots of fun tidbits here, as well as the television times, which are mysterious buried on USOpen.com. Also on GolfObserver, Frank Hannigan checks in with a litte of this and that. Writing about Michelle Wie's private jet option from the Women's British to the U.S. Women's Amateur, Hannigan says, "In the event, I think the pilots of the Nike-owned or leased private jets ought to be looking up the nearest runway to Royal Birkdale capable of handling jets."

He also says that the international qualifiers were a huge failure. "The overseas players took the places of many excellent golfers who were trying to make it into the Open at qualifying sites here. The losers were big-time tour players of the likes of Jeff Sluman and Jose Maria Olazabal."

Lynn DeBruin has a nice retrospective of Tom Meeks, with his usual quotes that mistakes come with the job. Funny, but you don't hear about the many course setup blunders by Kerry Haigh, David Eger and PJ Boatwright. In a non-Open article, Jim Achenbach of Golfweek writes about a course that is the solution to the technology issue. It's got lots of rough and trees. Sounds real fun. Nothing like reading about the game turning inward on itself, and having writers tell you it's a wonderful thing because it allows you to keep consuming. Mike Steinberger in the Financial Times looks at the USGA setup approach and warning, I'm quoted .