Just down the interstate from Callaway Golf’s Carlsbad, Calif. headquarters, play is underway at the 2008 U.S. Open Championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course. This is only the second time in the 108-year history of the U.S. Open that the tournament has been held at a public facility, and at 7,643 yards, the par-71 Torrey Pines South Course is sure to make its mark as the longest yet in U.S. Open history.
Callaway Golf Staff Pro Phil Mickelson, a hometown favorite who lives just 15 minutes from Torrey Pines, grew up with this scenic public course as his playground alongside the Pacific Ocean. On Thursday, he opened with an even 71. Fans were lined as many as 20-deep around the first tee box for Lefty’s opening shot, and the gallery extended six-deep all the way down the ropes on the 448-yard par-4. Despite the distance of the course, Mickelson decided against playing a driver Thursday, part of a calculated plan to tame Torrey.
“My game plan was that I only want to hit it a certain distance; I don't really want to hit it past 300 yards on most of the par-4s because it starts running into the rough,” said Mickelson, who likely knows the course as well or better than any player among the field. “And I felt like with the fairways being firm like they were today, all I needed was 3-wood on the holes. Now if it rains or gets softer, I'll certainly pull driver out. But my game plan for months was, if it's firm fairways like I expected, 3-wood was all I needed.”
When questioned about his no-driver decision, Mickelson – often the target of zealous queries over his equipment choices and shot selection – was resolute and replied with a smile: “You guys haven't hit our new Callaway FT Fairway Woods, have you?” he said. “They go a long way.”
Fellow Callaway Golf Staff Professional Ernie Els was at 2-under-par through 16 holes, just one shot behind the clubhosue leader.
Fellow Callaway Golf Staff Pro and another fan favorite, Rocco Mediate, was tied for second among early finishers at 2-under-par 69 after the first round. Mediate said he thought the course was tough, but fair, and he was happy with his results for the first day.
“I'm ecstatic,” Mediate said. “It's day one. Anywhere around par for three or four days is going to be fine. Believe me, I don't know what the winning score is going to be, but when it all comes to the end it will be around par.”
Although the course setup has changed, Torrey Pines is not entirely unfamiliar to Tour players. It’s the location for the Buick Invitational each year, and lines off the tees and fairway width remain similar. This week, the rough is only about 1½ inches for the first two yards outside the fairway, but it gets longer – as long as four inches – and the farther offline the tee shot, the stiffer the penalty for the recovery shot. Late Wednesday, greens were about 13 on the Stimpmeter.
Check back with us for more on the 2008 U.S. Open in coming days, and keep track of your favorite Callaway Golf staff pros here in the Tour section of CallawayGolf.com. |