GOLF COMMENTARY: We got next: Torrey's U.S. Open is golf's next big thing

Begin the countdown; Torrey's U.S. Open is golf next big thing

By MARC FIGUEROA - Staff Writer | Wednesday, April 16, 2008 1:46 AM PDT ∞

Trevor Immelman's impressive Masters victory means different things to different people.

To some, it means that Gary Player isn't the only South African with a green jacket. To others, it means that Tiger Woods isn't some superhero from the Land of Swoosh.

But to San Diego golf fans, Sunday's conclusion only means one thing: The U.S. Open at Torrey Pines is the golf world's next big thing.

After more than seven years of planning, we're now less than 60 days from San Diego's first major championship.

"We're on deck now, and all eyes point to us," said U.S. Open manager Mike Antolini, who has been onsite at Torrey Pines since July 2006. "It doesn't take much for people who come here to really see that something special is happening. There's a city being built at Torrey Pines."

Golfers who frequent the seaside track can see U.S. Open preparation developing before their eyes.

Half of the North Course has been shut down since last month to make way for construction of corporate and merchandise tents, media facilities and restroom stations. Golfers are now only playing holes 10-17 and No. 9.

The entire North Course will close May 12 and is not scheduled to completely reopen until Sept. 1. The South Course, meanwhile, is scheduled to close May 21.

"At this stage right now, where people can come here and really see the Open and the facilities going up right in front of them, it really gives you a sense that it's here, and that's generating a lot of excitement," Antolini said. "And even more so than years past because of the public access. People are playing the course and seeing stuff go up (around them)."

Antolini, working his fourth U.S. Open, said there are about 25 U.S. Golf Association staff members onsite, a number that will grow to more than 60 by the time tournament week begins June 9.

A major focus for his team right now is corralling the 6,000 volunteers supporting the event.

Considering the Buick Invitational uses only about 1,400 volunteers, training Open volunteers is a massive undertaking. There are 25 committees that require volunteer assistance, and Antolini said training will start at the beginning of May.

Inside the ropes on the South Course, the focus is now about getting the course into playing shape and up to USGA standards. USGA agronomist Pat Gross, who is based in Los Angeles, has been visiting the course every few weeks to meet with the city of San Diego's golf operations manager, Mark Woodward, and his team.

"We're dialing in the turf and working on everything so it peaks in June," Woodward said. "We're grinding hard on that right now."

While the greens won't ramp up to U.S. Open conditions until the event grows closer, the rough is actually more penal now than it will be in June. The reason is that the USGA wants the rough to grow in as thick as possible, so Woodward's crew is holding off on cutting the grass down.

The result? Plenty of lost balls.

"First of all, your ball is hard to find, and second, it's hard just to get it out of there," Woodward said. "They're hacking it around trying to get it out of the rough. That's the biggest difference right now."

Tom Wilson, co-general manager of the U.S. Open Host Committee, said this grow-in process has led to lengthy delays for many South Course golfers since "you're looking for your ball forever." But 5 1/2-hour rounds are a small price to pay considering the magnitude of the event that lies ahead.

"The golf course is, no doubt, in the best shape it's ever been," Wilson said. "And it will be ready for the U.S. Open."

And ready or not, golf's Super Bowl is knocking on San Diego's door.

"It's amazing that all of a sudden it is here," Wilson said. "All these years we've been working on it, we finally get to see it come to fruition. The excitement is terrific."

Marc Figueroa covers golf for the North County Times. He can be reached at marc@marcfig.com. The Golf Gallery appears every Wednesday.

First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.