PEBBLE BEACH -- When the USGA announced the U.S. Open would return to Pebble Beach in 2019 for the 100th anniversary of the course, and it would go to Erin Hills in Wisconsin for 2017, it raised the question of a golf course that was not selected.
What about Torrey Pines?
The public course in San Diego staged one of the most memorable U.S. Opens of the decade when Tiger Woods, on a shredded knee, birdied the 72nd hole in regulation to force a playoff, then beat Rocco Mediate in 19 holes.
"It's still in the conversation," USGA executive director David Fay said in an interview last week.
Whether Torrey Pines belongs in the same tier as Pebble Beach, Oakmont and Pinehurst No. 2 is up for debate. Even though its championship featured an unforgettable duel, so did Valhalla for the 2000 PGA Championship.
Even so, the course has what it takes -- plenty of room, plenty of interest.
"Every time we announce an Open site or sites, people look at that as, 'My God, what about these other worthy candidates who weren't picked? Does that mean they're gone forever, out of favor?' That's not the case at all," Fay said. "Torrey Pines and the city of San Diego remain interested, and we remain interested."
The question is when. Although 2018 is the only vacant year the rest of the decade, it's hard to imagine the U.S. Open being played in California in consecutive years. The next seven U.S. Opens will be played in Maryland (Congressional), San Francisco (Olympic Club), Pennsylvania (Merion), North Carolina (Pinehurst), Washington state (Chambers Bay), Pennsylvania (Oakmont) and Wisconsin (Erin Hills).
Erin Hills completes what Fay refers to as all five subsets of public golf -- resorts (Pebble, Pinehurst), state-owned (Bethpage Black), county-owned (Chambers Bay), municipal golf (Torrey Pines) and private ownership of a fee course (Erin Hills).
Even though the USGA is going to more courses the public can play, Fay said it would not ignore private country clubs that have so much U.S. Open history, such as Oakmont and Shinnecock Hills.
Where does that leave new country clubs?
"That probably will be harder," Fay said. "First of all, there are fewer country clubs designed to host big events. It will be difficult. But just as you say that, you never know. It will happen down the road."
