REGION: U.S. Open week tees off at Torrey Pines

Players, fans descend on the course; tournament begins Thursday

By JAY PARIS - Staff Writer | Monday, June 9, 2008 9:16 PM PDT ∞

A USGA flag flies over the bleachers around the eighteenth green at Torrey Pines on Monday. (Photo by Bill Wechter - Staff Photographer)

LA JOLLA ---- The U.S. Open is open for business.

Click here for more U.S. Open coverage.

The first wave of sports enthusiasts made their way to Torrey Pines Golf Course on Monday as the 108th U.S. Open week got under way.

Players were out trying to acquaint themselves to this scenic seaside course in practice rounds. Others tuned up at the putting green, seeking just the right touch. More clogged the driving range, trying to entice balls to slice through the cloudy skies.

Fans lined the ropes, getting autographs and extending well-wishes to the world' s top golfers in the first of three practice rounds. The spectators were also enjoying the ocean views many of these 18 holes offer.

"It's beautiful out here,'' said Robert Manzo of Long Beach. "Unfortunately, we can't come out here Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. But this was very cool."

Manzo, 38, could have been talking about the weather. Monday wasn't one of those picturesque San Diego days. Instead, a persistent marine layer won out over a sun that seldom peeked through the clouds.

"It's cold,'' said Lesa of Pinehurst, N.C., who declined to give her last name. "It was 100 degrees back home. I need to call back there and say, 'Mama, send us some different clothes because we packed wrong.' "

Her children had little trouble dealing with the weather. Sporting oversized golf balls, autograph-seeking Megan, 8, and Tanner, 6, didn't miss a player heading from the range to the putting green, flashing smiles and pens the pros couldn't ignore.

"Let me take a picture of y'all,'' Lesa said, as her kids got cozy with Stewart Cink.

Cink arrived in the late afternoon and didn't tackle the course. Instead, he spent Monday practicing various shots.

"I just got here, and I'm trying to get my legs under me,'' Cink said.

One had to be quick to catch Tiger Woods.

The event's prohibitive favorite ---- even though he has been recovering from knee surgery and hasn't played in a tournament since mid-April ---- Woods got on the course around 7 a.m. He played a handful of holes, then exited the grounds surrounded by a number of San Diego policemen.

"I would have liked to see him, but I didn't want to get here that early,'' Manzo said.

Manzo and his buddy, Mission Viejo resident Jess Carbonel, took turns taking each other's photo in front of the massive U.S. Open scoreboard. It was blank on Monday, but that will change Thursday, when the first round tees off and 156 players aim for the prestigious title.

Manzo and Carbonel saw one of those players while enjoying breakfast at IHOP in Del Mar before arriving at the course.

"We saw Jim Furyk with his dad," Manzo said. Furyk finished second at last year's U.S. Open in Pennsylvania.

"I was going to go over and say hi to him, but we decided to let him enjoy his Rooty Tooty Fresh 'N Fruity."

For Manzo and Carbonel, a day at Torrey Pines was as sweet as the IHOP syrup.

"I've never been to a major (tournament) before, so this is great and it's fun,'' Manzo said. "The course reminds me of Pebble Beach."

The course reminds golfer Pat Perez of fond memories.

As a youngster, the Torrey Pines High graduate used to come out early ---- real early ---- to secure a precious starting time.

"We'd get here about 1, 2 in the morning, and you've got to get a number from the guy," Perez said. "Then you got your number and then you could go to sleep and set your alarm for 5:30. Then everyone would form a line across the top balcony up there. And it was one after another (going) off, to tee off at 6:30. And then I'd go to work after that.

"I loved it. I wouldn't do it now, but it was fun at the time."

There are loads of good times expected at Torrey Pines through Sunday.

"I wish I could stay here all week,'' Manzo said, "but I'll be watching on TV."

Contact staff writer Jay Paris at jparis8@aol.com.