European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 14, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                              June 2007 stars and stripes Mideast edition Page 25 crazy 8 Drivers needed for Par 3 by Nancy Armour tie associated press golfers would do Well to Stock up before reaching 8 tit this weeks grab some a few a maybe an Energy better hire a 8 at Oakmont country club is a 288yard Par 3 that not a it the longest Par 3 in major championship and its going to give the open Field quite a its probably our Best Chance of making a Short Par Sergio Garcia said draw ing hitting Woods into a Par 3 is never theres nothing you can really do about you just play try to hopefully make a the Golf association has Long taken Pride in making its open courses the toughest of the the fairways Are traditionally the greens Are Quick and the thicker the the John Daly was so exasperated by the setup at Pinehurst in 1999 that he vowed hed never play a open and Hes won a British we have a philosophy that Vve really want to test said Marty a Urga spokes youve got to really think your Way around the Golf thinking is one pulling out Driver on a Par 3 is its a bit longer than i would picture As an Ideal Par defend ing Champ Geoff Ogilvy in not a big fan of Drivers and 3woods into the Par 3 with no if it blows into the no one is going to get there in the Urga didst turn 8 into a Par 3vi just to be the Hole was 252 Yards Back when Oakmont hosted its first open in and the Dis Tance didst change the six times the major when the Amateur was played at Oak Mont in players really attacked the we started watching players in the Amateur routinely hit a few of us Shook our Heads and this Doest need to be done for the worry the eighth Fairway is shown during practice for the 107th open at the Oakmont country club in at 288 8 is the longest par3 in major championship requiring Many players to hit a Driver or 3wood to reach the we thought thin distance would really tint 1 even Drivers Back i the players if wifi have a few that just cannot Jet it he it Mike Davis us Gas senior director of rules and Competition said Mike the us Gas senior director of rules and Competition who sets up the open so the tee Box was pushed Wavay the previous longest Par 3 was the 262yard 17 at inter Kichen at the 1930 according to Rand Jer Ris of the Oakmont 8 is now so Long that spectators who dont know the course could easily mistake it for a Par the shortest Par 4 on the course in Only 25 Yards a second group of marshals had to be added to the Hole because the ones around the Green  see those on the tee signalling when balls were we thought this distance would really put even Drivers Back in the players Davis if we have a few players that just cannot get it so be during monday and tuesdays practice Only the longest hitters hit Irons off the most used their 3woods or and a few even pulled out balls were Landing any where from 10 to 30 Yards Short of the when Trevor Ummelman reached off the the crowd roared not the typical response for a tee shot on a you dont know what to Call its probably a Par so the Urga is going to round up or Phil Mickelson we know what Way that is going to though its length makes it the Urga did have some the tee is slightly and the Fairway is straight and not very the Green is one of the largest on the and its fairly there a Bunker off the left front of the Ive hit 3wood there from the Back Tiger Woods even into the i can still reach the front Edge with a the original tee Box is still in so the Hole can be Short ened to 252 Yards if the wind and weather Calls for but dont count on the weather the rest of the week is for sunny and few players even bothered teeing off from the Shorter distance during practice if you make youre not really losing a lot of theres not going to be Many 2s Garcia hopefully you make your 3 and run to the next get out of there As quickly As this lefty needs to Fly right by Doug Ferguson the associated press Phil Smiekel soil warns to play the open without he apparently will have to Settle for just he played Only nine holes tues Day at Oakmont country the first time he had played Golf since he withdrew May 31 after 11 holes of the memorial with an inflamed left i should be Able to have it be manageable As Long As i dont aggravate Mickelson or hit it in the talk about a Miracle Mickelson inability to keep the Ball in the Short grass is the reason he comes to this major with As much inflammation in his psyche As his left a year ago at winged he was one Par away from an elusive open title until hitting off a corporate against a tree and into a making double bogey on the 18th Hole to finish one shot behind Geoff having already tied the open record for most Sec on place finishes Elson showed up at Oakmont two weeks ago for his Marathon prac Tice where he Sticks tiny flags on the putting surface arid slowly works his Way around the Green Chipping out of the rough from every conceivable he believes that How he injured his his Best Hope this week might be staying out of the thick i think its important to drive the Ball very Well and that going to be the biggest Challenge for he but this should not be a Long Tenn problem if i dont aggravate the and info Stu int the Best week for Given my driving its not a Good week for anyone not at full reputed to be the toughest Golf course in the Oakmont of fers a Complete the course is not the even if it has the longest Par 5 667 Yards and Long est Par 3 288 Yards in major championship the greens Are so fast that the open staff slows them Down to keep it its probably the most difficult championship that we face All because youre tested from and youre tested on the two time Champion Tiger Woods if youre missing one facet of your More than Likely youre not going to win the you have to have everything that presumably Means All body parts working at full Capaci and while the pain is in Mickel sons the key might be his Hes a Power said Ernie another two time open Champion who has played with a bad Back and is just now recovering from surgery to repair knee you go at it you have to just somehow try and put the pain in the Back of your head if you i dont know How severe it when youre under the you get com you want to hit it the Way you always youve just got try to and not think about this might be the most rust Mickelson has brought to a major certainly this he prefers to play the week be fore a major but pulled out last week on the pea tour to give his wrist More time to rarer still is not playing a full 18 holes on any of the practice Days Lead ing up to the i could have played bulp1 dont want to push Mickerson he tried to play last tuesday and so he called his Doc tors for a cortisone shot to help ease the on his Way to he took a de tour to Las vegas to work with swing coach Butch he still  but with ice and Mickelson believes its getting bet he hit balls for the first time monday upon his arrival at Oak but Only took one swing with the Driver and didst take any full shots off the using a tee to hit Middle he Only pulled out the Driver a Cou ple of times Over nine holes tues ibs5 Rescue soldiers trapped in a vehicle remove virtually any sealed Structure or device open sealed Security doors quickly Rescue vehicle trapped along Roadside ditch upright overturned vehicle emergency Tow distressed vehicles gs07f5505r combat Rescue device claw visit or email for tactical vehicle accessory information 912 Pittsburgh Road a phone fax 10i