European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 17, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse June 2007 stars and stripes Mideast edition Page 31 As soon As the Golf whining begins the area Between the club House and the Golf shop at Oakmont country club was meant to be a place where players can meet drop off maybe Swap a tale or the people who run the open tried their Best to do every thing to make players Happy just like they do their Best to make them squirm everywhere its a genteel under Neath tall Trees with an adjoining dining area for girlfriends and personal just a few Steps away theres a parking lot loaded with lexus gs450s to ease the drive life is Good for the privileged few who get Rich playing volunteers part crowds for bring them food and water and pretty much Cater to their every Tim Dahlberg they cant possibly have anything to complain on it was about All they its danger it really Phil Mick Elson Mickelson want talking about the drive across the Allegheny or the flight Home in his private the Oakmont rough was his big though the Slick greens also gave him fits on this he want Happy about liquid fertilize or new machines that suck the grass up so the Ball sits Down in the Mickelson wont have to worry anymore because he didst make the but lefty want As the first wave of casualties arrived off the 18th the Patio area was filled with furtive embarrassed expressions and players who looked like they wanted to rip the numbers off the scoreboards held aloft by the Standard some gathered outside to com though they didst stay there were other places they would rather other things they would rather be ready to Start drinking one said to another after signing his maybe you haunt but this is the you the tournament they hold every june with tricked up tiny ribbons of fairways and linoleum the one everyone loves most to and the one everyone would love most to the one that caused such an outcry years ago that a Golf association official was forced to defend it by saying the organizations goal want to Embarrass the Best golfers in the world but to identify was there any reason you thought it be this Way apparently judging from the dazed expression on the faces of players who got a break on thurs Day Only to find Oakmont playing at its snarling Best in the second the Sun was the wind was and greens were so excruciatingly fast that balls Seldom had a Chance to set tie anywhere near the just walking through the Park ing lot is Bubba Watson the Field averaged nearly 77 strokes on a par70 the top four players in the world were a combined 28 Over enter for a Chance to win a Harley Davidson 2008 Dyna Low rider now through june 24th at new Assai pick up a Harley or other at your on base Exchange new car sales ask about a special finance rate from Harley Davidson financial services during this exclusive Exchange new car sales june rebates on cuts and vans up to on 2008s up to on Stock 2007s Chris Phil Mickelson failed to make the Cut Friday after the second no players it want really their blame the people in the blazers who run the Urga and believe it is their Mission in life to make a course so hard that even the Best players using the latest in grooved technology and Golf balls that dance on command come off it mumbling expletives under their amateurs running a profession Al Guys who cant break 80 on a Good Day deciding How to set up a course for a game there unfamiliar this happen at the Bob Hope sometimes its hard to accept you hit great shots and make to Henry Par was just a concept on this and Birdie a Remote when two time Champion Lee Janzen rolled a 55footer through two across three ledges and through the clowns Mouth for one on the ninth it was a rare feelgood moment on a Day when embarrassment loomed on every there Are times you feel if theres a Hole next to the Bunker and you can crawl in it would be Janzen there Arent Many places to hide at the Trees that used to line the fair ways have been Cut and the course lays open to both players and the rough int going to get any Shorter Over the next two and the greens Arent going to get any the player who finally scratches his Way to win the coveted major will have to Deal with both Over the next 36 Tiger Woods understands that better than most because Hes won two of these but even he was shaking his head with a wry Grin on his practically begging the Urga to at least water the greens they plan to do that but insist that things Are just the Way they want even Par is leading the and that just Fine with the Guys in somebody did shoot a right so what that 35 others break 80 leave it to an englishman playing another coun try National championship to be among the rare few to theres no Point bitching and moaning that it is a difficult Golf course because it is a Tough Golf Ian Poulter it is not supposed to be Tim Dahlberg is a National sports Colum nist for the associated write to him at
