Open Tuesday Reads

Turns out the mysterious disappearance of GolfDigest.com content was in preparation for a new look. The most recent Golf World "Bunker" is online, and features a John Huggan commentary on slow play (with some classic lines) and Lorne Rubenstein's obituary of Herbert Warren Wind.

Golf World wondered if U.S. Open course setups have affected the championship's image, and John Hawkins provides many fascinating comments from players. Jerry Kelly, yes, Jerry Kelly, is about the only saying anything nice. Jim Furyk is not so forgiving. And Steve Jones sums it up best: "I guess there's a learning process involved, but it's not that hard. This isn't brain surgery." Also at the end is a sidebar on Tom Meeks’s uh, “understudy,” Mike Davis.

Here's the link to Golf Digest's interactive course map, where you can look in on any hole, see stats from 1999, read a description by superintendent Paul Jett and look at George Lucas's yardage book details from '99, with comments from Chuck Cook, Payne Stewart's teacher. And Ron Whitten's "Donald Ross Wouldn't Recognize These Greens" is now posted.

Tom Kensler in the Denver Post writes that the USGA has learned its lesson . "The main lesson I learned at Shinnecock is, when you get the golf course as firm and as fast as we had it on Saturday, and you have a strong wind forecast coming in, you'd better get some water on that golf course and slow it down a little bit," Tom Meeks said. You think?

The USA Today's Tom Spousta puts Michelle Wie's 2nd place finish into perspective by reminding us in the lead that she's still learning to drive . Mike Clayton looks at the Aussies in the field and points out that Nick O'Hern may be the best player in the world that most Americans have never heard of. Art Spander isn't a bit fan of the USGA setup philosophy . And finally on a non-Open note, for those into playable hickories, Louisville Golf is now making some. No prices are listed, so they probably aren't cheap.