Ramblings from the Easy Chair: U.S. Open Day 1

By columnist G. Rennie

Through 8 holes of play, the most stylish shot played by Tiger Woods was his high left hook and release on his second shot from the rough right of #8 fairway. His iron sailed gracefully in a high arc landing well behind Tiger. Meanwhile, I think Tiger feels he’s behind the eight ball as his play is totally erratic and a good shot is not just the exception, it’s a surprise. 

There was much speculation on how the new Fox Golf broadcast team would handle its inaugural run at our national championship. Well, they haven’t stepped on their Johnson, so to speak, at least not yet, but they haven’t distinguished themselves at all. This team has been adequately amiable and that just isn’t enough in today’s golf broadcast game. Especially so when the golf broadcast teams of NBC, CBS and ABC/ ESPN all have brought colorful , controversial and unconventional personalities to our golf viewing experience.

The highlight of the commentary day came from Tom Weiskopf (a refugee from the now defunct ABC team) a major champion with a low key, slow on the draw reserved approach, who described the uphill but drivable par 4 twelfth hole as “an old fashion pinball game with sideboards left and right”.

Dr. Howard! Dr. Fine! Dr. Howard! Somebody should have called a doctor, or maybe The Three Stooges, to bring some relief to the Woods, Fowler, Oosthuizen trio who were a walking train wreck on the hilly, sandy but generally benign layout at Chamber’s Bay. The boys at Fox were helpful in noting that this group was combined 26 over par through 15 holes, with El Tigre high man at +10. It’s a good thing the soil at Chamber’s Bay is all sand, as the blood spilt by this premier but totally hapless group will seep below the surface. The championship fortunes of Rickie, Louis and Tiger are sunk, as are my chances to win the Link Life Golf pool this week.

Rickie was one of my favorites and Louis my Dark Horse!

I can pick’em about as well as these boys played. Go Phil!

Editor’s note: Oosthuizen shot 77, Tiger Woods shot 80 and Rickie Fowler shot 81, a combined 28 over par. Ouch.