"This is a worldwide event that they'll be talking about in the pubs of England."

Marisa Lagos in the San Francisco Chronicle addresses privitization rumors for the San Francisco city courses while Tod Leonard in the San Diego Union Tribune does the same thing for San Diego's crown jewel, Torrey Pines.

At Torrey it's the same old story, with Lodge owner Bill Evans seen as the likely operator, even though he flat out denies it and doesn't play golf or apparently, even like it. Especially because he's (claiming) that the U.S. Open won't be a cash cow.

However, Evans does have strong opinions about the matter. 

“There is a responsibility to run the golf courses in the most profitable manner we can,” Evans said. “Golf is such an island among Park and Rec. It doesn't benefit the overall general citizens of San Diego. A large percentage of the owners of the golf course will never play golf.

As for the U.S. Open, Evans said he is “sick of hearing that it benefits me more than anybody else.”

Evans would not comment about the possibility of striking a similar deal with the USGA for future U.S. Opens here.

“This benefits all citizens. This is a worldwide event that they'll be talking about in the pubs of England. Maybe those people will want to visit. Maybe they'll move a business to San Diego. Not everything people do is motivated by greed.”

No, just most things! 

Golf Digest Announces Contest Winner, Sparing Us Of Having To Look At That Annoying Photo Of The Finalists

John Atkinson will be the lucky soul who gets to play Torrey Pines for free with Tony Romo, Matt Lauer and Justin Timberlake.

In the write up on Atkinson's winning of the online vote, I noticed this line about the setup.

They'll play from the same tees, which can stretch the course to more than 7,600 yards, to similar hole locations that players will face in the final round of the U.S. Open.

I guess this means that players would be wise to get a scouting report on the event?

Somehow I doubt Mike Davis will tip his hand by using the final round locations for this exhibition. 

Phil Says Torrey Is The Hardest Course In The World; Vows To Use Newfound Heighth To Tackle It

Andrew Both reports:

"Even if it's soft I don't think anything close to even-par will win," Mickelson told reporters after firing a four-under 68 in the Wachovia Championship first round on Thursday.

"I think it's the hardest course in the world, 7,600 yards at sea level."

The 37-year-old Mickelson said the rough was particularly brutal, even by usual U.S. Open standards.

He played the course with two friends, both scratch-handicap amateurs.

"They are two very good amateurs and they shot about 85," said triple major winner Mickelson. "They had a better-ball score of 80."

2008 U.S. Open Entries And Exemptions

After Monty's little Masters invite tirade (and, sadly the not totally unreasonable point he was making) something about reading the news of only 58 U.S. Open exemptions reads so beautifully. Throw in the lack of special exemptions and it gets even better.

Here is the list of exempt players, preceded by the highlights from the qualifying entry pool, courtesy of the USGA's Craig Smith: 

U.S. OPEN ENTRIES CLOSE; 58 GOLFERS CURRENTLY FULLY EXEMPT
 
Far Hills, N.J. (April 25) – The United States Golf Association has accepted 8,390 entries for the 2008 U.S. Open, to be played June 12-15 at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego, Calif., including those from the 58 golfers who are currently fully exempt into the field
 
Ninety-two percent of the total entries were received online, including 1,192 in the final two days applications were accepted (April 22-23). The USGA received 102 entries online in the final hour. The last entry to arrive was from Keith Stone, a 39-year-old amateur from Chelmsford, Mass., who beat the 5 p.m. (EDT) deadline by 56 seconds. The first entry received was from Joseph Tumpach, a 31-year-old professional from Naperville, Ill.
 
The youngest golfer to enter was 12-year-old Rico Hoey of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. The oldest applicant was 79-year-old Harris Moore Jr., a professional from Los Angeles, Calif. Overall, the USGA received entries from golfers in all 50 states and 68 foreign countries.
 
Among the foreign applicants were professionals Dawuda Mahama, 40, of Ghana; Lawan Mallam, 28, of Nigeria; and Alejandro Villavicencio, 28, of Guatemala. To be eligible, a player must have no higher than a 1.4 Handicap Index®, or be a professional.
 
Eight past champions are already fully exempt from having to qualify for the upcoming Championship. They are: Angel Cabrera (2007); Michael Campbell (2005); Ernie Els (1994, 1997); Jim Furyk (2003); Retief Goosen (2001, 2004); Lee Janzen (1993, 1998); Geoff Ogilvy (2006); and Tiger Woods (2000, 2002). An Open champion receives a full exemption into the field for the next 10 years.
 
The number of fully exempt golfers will increase with the inclusion of the top 50 players from the World Golf Rankings, the top 10 money leaders on the 2008 PGA Tour and the top two money leaders on the 2008 European PGA Tour as of May 26. The winner of the Players Championship (May 8-11) also receives an exemption.
 
Local qualifying at 111 sites will begin May 5. Sectional qualifying at 13 sites will be conducted on June 2, including one in England. A 14th sectional qualifier will be played May 26 in Japan. It is the fourth consecutive year that the USGA has offered these two international sectional qualifiers. 

The Open is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA. Other championships include the U.S. Women’s Open, the U.S. Senior Open and 10 amateur competitions.
 
A list of the 58 golfers who are already fully exempt into the U.S. Open follows.
 
April 24, 2008
 
THE 58 PLAYERS WHO ARE ALREADY FULLY EXEMPT FOR THE 2008 U.S. OPEN
 
Robert Allenby                         9,10
Stephen Ames                        8
Woody Austin                          9,10
Aaron Baddeley                       8,9,10
Brad Bryant                             7
Jonathan Byrd                         10
Angel Cabrera                         1,8,11
Mark Calcavecchia                 9,10
Michael Campbell                   1
Paul Casey                             8,11
K.J. Choi                                 9,10,13
Daniel Chopra                         13
Stewart Cink                           9,10
Tim Clark                                9,10
Ben Curtis                               4
Luke Donald                            9
Nick Dougherty                       8,11
Ernie Els                                 9,10,11
Niclas Fasth                            8,11
Steve Flesch                           9,13
Jim Furyk                                1,8,9,10
Sergio Garcia                          9,10,11
Retief Goosen                         1,11
Todd Hamilton                         4
Soren Hansen                         11
Padraig Harrington                  4,9,10,11
Charles Howell III                    9,10
Trevor Immelman                   3
Lee Janzen                             1,8
Zach Johnson                         3,9,10
Shingo Katayama                   15
Jerry Kelly                               8
Hunter Mahan                          8,9,10
Shaun Micheel                        5
Phil Mickelson                         3,5,9,10,13
Colin Montgomerie                  11
Geoff Ogilvy                            1,9,10
John Rollins                            9,10
Andres Romero                      11
Justin Rose                             8,9,10,11
Rory Sabbatini                        9,10
Adam Scott                             9,10
Vijay Singh                              5,9,10
Heath Slocum                         9,10
Brandt Snedeker                     9,10
Henrik Stenson                       11
Richard Sterne                        11
Steve Stricker                         8,9,10
Toro Taniguchi                        15
*Michael Thompson                2
David Toms                            8
Scott Verplank                         8,9,10
Camilo Villegas                       10
Bubba Watson                        8
Boo Weekley                           9,10
Lee Westwood                        11
Brett Wetterich                        9,10
Tiger Woods                           1,3,4,5,8, 9,10,13
*=amateur
 
^{Key to Player Exemptions –
 
1)         Winners of the U.S. Open Championship for the last 10 years.
2)         Winner and runner-up of the 2007 U.S. Amateur Championship.
3)         Winners of the Masters Tournament for the last five years.
4)         Winners of the British Open Championship for the last five years.
5)         Winners of the PGA of America Championship for the last five years.
6)         Winner of the 2008 Players Championship.
7)         Winner of the 2007 U.S. Senior Open Championship.
8)         From the 2007 U.S. Open Championship, the 15 lowest scorers and anyone tying for 15th place.
9)         From the 2007 final official PGA Tour money list, the top 30 money leaders.
10)       Those 30 players qualifying for the 2007 season-ending Tour Championship.
11)       From the 2007 final official PGA European Tour, the top 15 money leaders.
12)       From the 2008 official PGA Tour money list, the top 10 money leaders through May 26.
13)       Any multiple winners of PGA Tour co-sponsored events whose victories are considered official from April 25, 2007, through June 1, 2008.
14)       From the 2008 PGA European Tour, the top two money leaders through May 26.
15)       From the 2007 final Japan Golf Tour money list, the top two leaders provided they are within the top 75 point leaders of the World Rankings at that time.
16)       From the 2007 final PGA Tour of Australasia money list, the top two leaders provided they are within the top 75 point leaders of the World Rankings at that time.
17)       From the World Rankings list, the top 50 point leaders as of May 26, 2008
18)       Special exemptions selected by the USGA.}

Tweaking Torrey

Thomas Bonk details some of the pre-U.S. Open changes to Torrey Pines and they may surprise you. Or, you may not care.

No. 4, 488-yard par four: The hole that runs along the ocean, the fairways have been widened out to the right, up near the green.

No. 5, 453-yard par four: The fairway has been widened in the drive zone, which should bring bunkers into play.

No. 13, 614-yard par five: If the shortest teeing area is used at 5390 yards, the fairway to the left, up against the canyon, is widened.

No. 18, 573-yard par five: A risk-reward hole, the fairway is widened out near the pond and wraps left around the pond.

Of course, the USGA did narrow a couple of fairways, the 612-yard 9th where three yards were taken off the left of the fairway in the third shot area and the 435-yard 14th where the fairway was narrowed up beyond the drive zone.

The Open is still seven weeks away, and that's plenty of time to start getting ready for the chatter about the brutal, 614-yard par five - if it's played from the farthest tee, which would require a 250-yard carry over a canyon.

Kikuya, Kikuyu, Whatever

David Shefter posts a Q&A with the USGA's Pat Gross about the state of Torrey Pines and the influence of its "kikuya" grass, perhaps a new version of the kikuyu that I thought was covering much of the course.

“When do you say to the West Coast, ‘The tournament must end at 4 o’clock your time.'"

Doug Ferguson talks to David Fay about the U.S. Open finishing at 7 p.m. Pacific. Now, I'm a conoisseur of David's spin and do love his baseball metaphors. Which, I must say, would come in handy right about now:

“When do you say to the West Coast, ‘The tournament must end at 4 o’clock your time,’” USGA executive director David Fay said.

And that means what, exactly? Finishing at 4 p.m we are deprived of having dinner at a normal hour? Flying out of San Diego on Sunday night? Perish the thought!

“I know it puts Europe at a disadvantage. We tend to look east, where it’s just as easy to look to the west. If K.J. Choi (of South Korea) is leading, the time might be better for Asia.”

Always thinking of Asia. That's why he gets the big bucks! Thank God it wasn't something flimsy like wanting to finish in prime time to grab another Nielsen point.

Ferguson also notes:

The last time a major was held on the West Coast was Pebble Beach for the 2000 U.S. Open, and the final round was scheduled to end at 5 p.m. PDT.

"Late and ludicrous"

As I noted earlier today on the Live Blog (and no one believed me!), the U.S. Open will be finishing at 7 p.m. this year. From an unbylined Independent diary:

Any golf fans who have enjoyed watching the Masters unfold these last few days may be interested to hear the timings of the next major, the US Open in San Diego. In its determination to gain the highest television ratings possible in New York the USGA have opted for the ludicrous finishing time of 7pm. That means it will be 3am in Britain when the winner eventually taps in at Torrey Pines. And the golfing authorities wonder why fewer people are taking up the game.

Cast Your Vote...If You Don't Mind Signing Your Life Away

GolfDigest.com has posted the final five candidates for the amateur golfer spot in the pre-U.S. Open reality show.

I would vote, but I'm not really interested in sharing that much information, all so that I can cast a ballot for someone I don't know.

That said, I'm officially endorsing Santa Monica policeman Matt Rice, who gets my thumb's up despite listing Lost Canyons as his home course instead of Rustic Canyon (which, I might note Officer, is much more affordable on a cop salary). Naturally, I want to be on the record endorsing him should I ever be pulled over by Officer Rice here in my hometown.

Danny Gans In Mourning: Real Celebs Tabbed For Pre-U.S. Open Reality Show

Larry Dorman scores the exclusive for the New York Times.

Looks like I may have to cut down on my Today Show viewing if past NBC synergistic plugfests are any indication.

Oh and Joe Dey is officially spinning in his grave. Just wish he was there on the first tee to greet JT. And no, I'm not talking about Sweet Baby James. That's right, Mr. Wardrobe Malfunction. Maybe he'll pull Mike Davis's earpiece out?

Lobbyists, Get Your U.S. Open Passes

I'm not really sure why it's relevant other than as an entertaing look into mooching, backstabbing, hornswoggling ways of politicians in San Diego dealing with U.S. Open tickets. The Union Tribune's Matthew T. Hall breaks down the mess.

"It doesn't make a hill of beans to me one way or the other which way they do it; you still play the same golf course."

Jack Nicklaus answered questions for a conference call plugging the upcoming Wendy's Senior Skins and was asked about the change of par at U.S. Open venues.

Q.  As we go back to Torrey Pines this year for the U.S. Open, it will go as a par 71.  If a course like Torrey or Pebble Beach has been at 72 since it opened, why does it need to be anything less than that just because the U.S. Open's in town?  Any thoughts on that?

JACK NICKLAUS:  The USGA seems to do that with every golf course.  I don't know why they do it.  They seem to do it.  And I don't know if it makes it 18 under par, you get 10 under par with the same golf course if you make it a par 70.  I suppose it takes 10 under, so it looks better and sounds better.

Frankly it doesn't make a hill of beans to me one way or the other which way they do it; you still play the same golf course.  They've made changes at Torrey Pines, and I don't really know what they've done, and I don't really remember the golf course that well.  But the thing that would be different for the guys is that Torrey Pines will more than likely not have any rain after probably March or maybe even February.  And the golf course will have a chance to get fast and hard.

The rough will be probably pretty high.  My guess is the ball will run off.  There's a lot of pitch in those fairways.  Run off the fairways pretty easily.  It will certainly be a different golf course than they played a week ago. I haven't seen it at all since they made changes in the golf course.