by Jeff Skinner
Tuesday at my U.S. Open was a very busy day. I started off with a Geoff Shackelford meet. We chatted about the USGA’s architecture forum that took place later in the day.
I introduced myself to Dr. Rand Jerris, a senior member of the USGA’ s leadership team and I think he may have been shocked that I knew who he was and that he was the man at the USGA Museum.
I spent plenty of time in the interview tent where I listened to Bubba Watson’s homeboy ramblings, Jason Day’s wishes to be number one, Matt Kuchar’s demand that past Open Champions be invited back to their winning site and Phil Mickelson’s magical way of handling press conferences. No one get his message across better than Phil and he does it all with his tongue stuck very firmly in his cheek.
I also listened to Bill Coore and Ben Crenshaw’s press conference and later they joined Mike Davis and others in a USGA Architecture Forum which gave us all the chance to hear the passion Coore and Crenshaw have for this course and this game.
The highlight of my day was certainly meeting and chatting with Ben Crenshaw. He was kind and considerate and the enthusiasm in his voice when he spoke of playing Brookline and knowing at that moment that he would become a golf course designer was actually touching. He’s a special man.
With all that has been happening here in the media center I haven’t seen much of the course except for the practice range and the final hole. That will change tomorrow when I forgo all the reporting to catch some real action on the course.
Today it’s an Adam Scott press conference and then 18 holes of golf…for me! After all, a man needs his golf.
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