Cigar Weekly

SAN DIEGO -- The U.S. Golf Association takes pride in presenting a rigorous examination in the U.S. Open, but this one might have easy questions.

That's because the Torrey Pines setup has multiple choices. There will be more than one tee on some holes, depending on the hole location on the greens. The listed distance is 7,643 yards, but Jim Hyler, vice president of the USGA, said Wednesday that the course would not play to that length in any round.

"Torrey Pines is a very straightforward course," he said. "There are only two holes with doglegs, and there are no blind shots."

The kikuya grass, which dominates the fairways and is part of the rough, has been a big issue with players, but Hyler thinks it will help them keep their tee shots under control. "It's very sticky," he said. "The fairways will play wider than their actual yardage."

Hyler said the changes at Torrey Pines have been developed under Mike Davis, who sets up the courses for the championships.

"It's in response to Mike being willing to try some things," he said. "We want the Open to be fair."

They want to be fair, but they also recognize the significance of excitement. The par-5 18th, listed at 573 yards, could be set up to entice players to go for the green in two, hoping for a birdie or eagle. The last time an Open was won by one shot with a birdie on the last hole was in 1926, when Bobby Jones birdied the final hole at Scioto in Columbus, Ohio, to beat Joe Turnesa.

Torrey Pines is smoke-free, but the USGA will allow anyone inside the ropes -- players, caddies, officials -- to smoke. Anyone outside the ropes can't in golf's first sort-of smoke-free major.

Look here: The threesome of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott -- playing with a broken pinkie on his right hand -- should attract the most attention today and Friday, but there are other intriguing pairings that probably will tee up worthwhile action.

*The Masters threesome of Trevor Immelman, Zach Johnson and Mike Weir, the last three players to slip on the green jacket who aren't named Woods or Mickelson (4:03p.m. ET on No.1).

*The Bombers threesome of J.B. Holmes, who leads the Tour in driving distance at 312 yards, Bubba Watson, who is second at 308, and Brett Wetterich, who is fifth at 304, will launch some eye-opening shots (4:47p.m. on No.1).

*And the all-England threesome of Ian Poulter, Paul Casey and Luke Donald features three talented players with Ryder Cup heroics on their resumes in search of their first major title (4:14p.m. on No.10).