Woods, Mickelson Pairing Draws Large Crowd For U.S. Open Round One
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Woods-Mickelson Pairing Draws Large
Crowds During First Round Of U.S. Open |
The majority of the 42,000 fans in attendance Thursday for round one of the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines Golf Course either followed the grouping of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott the "whole way or checked in on them from time to time," according to Bill Dwyre of the L.A. TIMES. The fans were "sometimes standing 10 and 12 deep hoping for just a glimpse" of the players, and their "biggest frustration seemed to be the hordes of media, with armbands that allowed them inside the ropes, sometimes blocking the view" (L.A. TIMES, 6/13). The GLOBE & MAIL's Lorne Rubenstein writes the "vast numbers of spectators who followed the marquee threesome ... were loud, but, as Mickelson said later, respectful." The fans "didn't interfere with the play, although it couldn't have been much fun to try to move around the course." The USGA put Woods' and Mickelson's names "on top of the leaderboards on the course throughout their round, although they were nowhere near posting the lowest scores" (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/13). ESPN's Tom Rinaldi said of the pairing, "It was the group that threatened to take over this championship, as well as this entire golf course." ESPN's Karl Ravech: “The crowds were massive and they will be even bigger today” (“U.S. Open Extra,” ESPN, 6/13). Golfer Lee Westwood: "I want to thank the USGA for putting them together, because it was a lovely, nice, peaceful day out there." Mickelson: "It was pretty interesting to tee off at [8:06am PT] and have this many people out here." Woods: "Overall it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I think that there have been more people before (watching his group), but I haven't seen this many people inside the ropes before" (USA TODAY, 6/13). Mickelson: "Everybody out here was so respectful. There (weren't) any derogatory remarks. Everybody was uplifting, pulling for any one of the three of us. Everybody was really cool. I was really proud to be from here" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/13). GOLF.com's Alan Bastable wrote most fans seemed "prepared for the obstacle course of watching this group in action, with some jumping onto the top of flat-bed E-Z-GO carts for a better look, others toting periscopes and one intrepid teenager taking it all in from halfway up a Torrey pine" (GOLF.com, 6/12). In San Diego, Tod Leonard writes, "I thought the sniping [Thursday] for the Tiger and Phil Show was kept to a commendable minimum. Not only did we hear but maybe one ridiculous 'Get in the hole!' but most of the crowd seemed to get the whole purpose of the media throng" (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 6/13).
CIRCUS ACT: In N.Y., George Willis reports volunteer marshals "tried to quiet the crowds by raising their hands as if they were Moses parting the Red Sea," but they were "largely ignored." Willis: "Once the players moved to the next tee it was like trying to herd cats" (N.Y. POST, 6/13). In Las Vegas, Ed Graney writes under the header, "Zany Gallery Knows No Bounds." Graney: "It's crazy. People just want to be part of something bigger than a major happening itself, to say they were there in case the remarkable occurs." Texas A&M Univ. golfer Lauren Johnson, who was in attendance, said, "This is worthless to watch. It's not real fun" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 6/13). SI's Gary Van Sickle wrote the U.S. Open's "big showdown turned into one big letdown" (GOLF.com, 6/12).
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