SF Examiner: Watson sentimental, satisfied at Open

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

Surely today will be the last dance for Tom Watson, his final round in a U.S. Open, the tournament that to him is the most important of any, this time being played on the course that to him is the most important of them all.

“If this is my last U.S. Open,” said Watson, “it couldn’t have happened at a better place, Pebble Beach. I’m somewhat sentimental about this place. There’s a lot to this place for me. It means a great deal to play the U.S. Open, but especially at Pebble Beach.”

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

SF Examiner: Leaderboard all over the map at a truly open Open

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

PEBBLE BEACH – We should have known it would be like this. Should have foreseen another U.S. Open at Pebble Beach would produce everything from eagles to quadruple-bogeys, would give us a leader board of the famous and the anxious, would be, well, very Open.

Halfway through this 110^th Open, this fifth at Pebble, Graeme McDowell is leading, Ernie Els and Phil Mickelson are lurking, and 60-year-old Tom Watson is playing. You can’t ask for much more.

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Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

RealClearSports: Different Tiger? By Nine Strokes

By Art Spander
For RealClearSports.com

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- He said it was different, and it certainly was. Ten years different. Nine strokes different. "Now what are we to get from Tiger Woods?'' different.

Tiger owned Pebble Beach, figuratively speaking, 10 years ago. Tiger owned the U.S. Open, starting with a 65 and ending up a cumulative 12-under par. Tiger owned golf.

Read the full story here.

© RealClearSports 2010

SF Examiner: Favorite Mickelson suffers through poor first day

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

PEBBLE BEACH — Sorry about that, Phil. But that’s often what happens when you reach 40. Your putting falls apart.

Ben Hogan was a basket case on the greens when he crossed the magic number. Sam Snead even tried hitting a ball like he was playing croquet, not golf.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company

SF Examiner: U.S. Open will return to Pebble Beach in 2019

By Art Spander
Special to The Examiner

PEBBLE BEACH — It was a long time coming. “East Coast bias?” mused U.S. Golf Association official Mike Davis.

But once more it won’t be a long time before the U.S. Open returns to Pebble Beach.

Read the full story here.

Copyright 2010 SF Newspaper Company