Shelby On the links at Pebble Beach
U.S. Open observations: Buff Tiger Woods, frustrated Phil Mickelson and a ballin a tree
Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach Golf Links on Thursday
The sixth hole at Pebble reaches out into the water.Rocky Mountain Golf
They're all dreaming of taking home this baby.Photo by Dan Pickering
No cell phones or cameras allowed inside the club or on the course without presscredentials.Photo by Dan Pickering
Of all the golfers in round one of the U.S. Open, Tiger Woods walked away with — not the lowest score — but surely the highest marks for best-dressed man on the links.
Channeling a GQ model, Woods wore a nicely-fitted Nike charcoal gray sweater and matching gray slacks with a tailor-made fit and Brioni-quality fabric. Even women who weren't of Woods' celebrated sleazy taste had to swoon over the buff golfer and his sartorial splendor. The white cap was a nice touch, matching his immaculate white shoes.
Maybe the robust cheers and applause that followed Woods around the Pebble Beach Golf Links were for his fashion prowess if not his recent personal history and golfing expertise. No, probably not. The crowd here seems to love the guy, except for one malcontent who shouted a big whopping "Boo" when Woods strode onto the putting green for practice.
Tiger was just one of the entertaining attractions on the first day of the tournament. We found ourselves in Phil Mickelson's line of fire at number 3 when his errant hit landed the ball behind the stands overlooking the 17th tee box. "Not a great birthday present," someone in the stands shouted to Mickelson, who turned 40 the day before the tournament began. Mickelson, by the way, was wearing head-to-toe bad-guy black even though he has turned out to be the USGA good guy.
We were at the 18th hole when Hugo Leon landed a shot in the tree overhanging the green. Out came the binoculars as Leon and his caddy tried to confirm that that was in fact his ball stuck in the branches overhead. No such luck. He had to go back and take the shot over.
We were in the crush at the first tee when Woods and Ernie Els began their round. Teetering on tiptoes, heads swaying back and forth to catch a glimpse of Woods' cap if not his swing, the crowd resembled a battalion of bobble-heads. And then like lemmings to the sea, they surged en masse to follow Woods down the fairway. Friends were trapped in a 30-minute standstill in the midst of the Tiger frenzy.
Well, you can't really call it a frenzy. Everyone is so civilized here. No one fussed, for example, when the tariff for two hot dogs, two beers and chips came to $31. No one complained when one of the hundreds of people in Celebrity scooter chairs plowed through the crowd almost landing in the fairway. And everyone falls silent when those yellow paddles are raised in the air.
I'm thinking of recommending those instruments of silence to gala chairs to help with the loads of unruly diners who just can't be quiet long enough for a speaker presentation.
And who is here from Houston? Loads, many with second homes, where they escape the brutal heat and humidity of our wicked summers. Among them are Jane Howze and John Mann, Jen and Dan Pickering, Anny Whyte and Steve Adger, Michelle and Frank Hevrdejs, Tony Abyad, Patty and Bill Porter, Julia and Russell Frankel and Joe Pogge. We spotted John Moores entertaining guests on his lawn overlooking the 18th fairway. Moores' party looked quite the thing with a uniformed chef in foot-high toque and uniformed staff serving a well-heeled group. Ah, the good life.
