# US Open (other than you-know-who) **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 18, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169 "2009-06-18T13:58:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/81 "2009-06-22T01:21:14Z")
Well, isn’t this interesting now. I think Barnes and Glover are toast. One of them (I think Barnes) is in the spinach on the second hole. Conditions should finally be tough tomorrow, and Tiger and Phil are lurking. I think Tiger would have to get to at least -4 to have a shot, but he only has 11 holes left. Still, he’s one of only two guys in the top ten who is under par for the day. I’d think that this is Lefty’s best chance to win another major, though I’ll be rooting for David Duval. P.S. Johnny Miller said something cryptic about Duval during the telecast. He said something like Duval lost his motivation after winning the British, but that was only one of many problems he suffered. I know he had some physical issues, but the implication I got from Miller was that there were personal issues as well. Any idea what those were, if they existed? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/82 "2009-06-22T01:55:01Z")
Duval says when he was on top, it was a “is that all there is” feeling. He had a series of nagging injuries from wrists to vertigo. Now he lives in Colorado, the hot bed of pro golfers. The game just was not his "everything’. Still he has a sweet ,effortless swing. His putting is still good.So just one more day. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/83 "2009-06-22T02:20:11Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Duval says when he was on top, it was a “is that all there is” feeling. He had a series of nagging injuries from wrists to vertigo. Now he lives in Colorado, the hot bed of pro golfers. The game just was not his "everything’. Still he has a sweet ,effortless swing. His putting is still good.So just one more day. Hey, Colorado is home to Hale Irwin (3 US Opens), Steve Jones (1), Craig Stadler (1Masters) and his son Kevin (up and comer). John Daly lived here for a while, too. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/84 "2009-06-22T02:28:25Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > With a Rules official at his side, Barnes was checking his ball to see if it was embedded. It was not. You would not pick your ball up to check if it was embedded. :rolleyes: There are two possibilities: 1. He needed to identify his ball, and this required removing it from its lie, in which case, upon identifying it, he would be allowed to replace it as close to the original lie as possible, or 2. They are playing with a local rule allowing the lift, clean and place of embedded balls. This prevents you from having to hit a ball buried in the ground. I didn’t see which it is that happened. If there is a local rule about embedded balls, yes, you would get to clean and place. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/85 "2009-06-22T02:29:42Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > I think it was on 11. Barnes was in the deep rough. he took about 50 practice swings cutting down weeds on every swing. perhaps it was camera angle, but he looked like he was hacking at weeds that would inhibit his follow through. That is illegal. He would not have been taking the practice swings anywhere near to where his ball lay. For the very reason you suggested. If the camera angle was from directly behind, the foreshortening effect of the lens might have made it look otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![notfrommensa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f14d63/32.png) [@notfrommensa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/notfrommensa)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/86 "2009-06-22T03:04:49Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > You would not pick your ball up to check if it was embedded. :rolleyes: > > There are two possibilities: > > 1. He needed to identify his ball, and this required removing it from its lie, in which case, upon identifying it, he would be allowed to replace it as close to the original lie as possible, or > > 2. They are playing with a local rule allowing the lift, clean and place of embedded balls. This prevents you from having to hit a ball buried in the ground. > > I didn’t see which it is that happened. If there is a local rule about embedded balls, yes, you would get to clean and place. Believe it or not, I think the USOpen was played with the local embedded ball rule because the ground was sooooo wet. He was picking the ball up to see if there was a crater from ball impact. Frankly it looked fishy to me because i don’t think there would be any way a ball could impact the ground through gnarly rough. They determined that the ball was not embedded and he replaced it without cleaning it. I don’t think he was identfying the ball. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/87 "2009-06-22T04:06:37Z")
Well, I find that hard to believe, but I suppose it is possible. But unless they actually talked to someone after the fact, I wouldn’t rely upon anything the announcing crew said about the subject, and that includes the often helpful presence of someone from the USGA, who would just be guessing about it. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/88 "2009-06-22T13:31:15Z")
> [@notfrommensa](#): > > He was picking the ball up to see if there was a crater from ball impact. Frankly it looked fishy to me because i don’t think there would be any way a ball could impact the ground through gnarly rough. They determined that the ball was not embedded and he replaced it without cleaning it. > > I don’t think he was identfying the ball. That is very clearly the way they announced it. He called a rules official over right away, and did everything under the official’s supervision. I think they said he lifted it and then they examined whether it broke the surface of the ground or something - which seemed to be their definition of embedded. It was really odd. We’ll see if Barnes can hold it together. IMO Glover has a better chance of hanging tough. As phenomenal as Tiger is, you’d hope one of these 2 guys could hold up a 9-stroke advantage! Both those guys - heck, everyone in the field - have shown the ability to be ultra-hot and ultra-cold for stretches this week. And everyone knows my prejudice. If not Glover, I’m hoping Mick, Mahan, or someone else plays a stroke better than el Tigre. Any word on conditions out there? I’m doing my best to keep up with just the leaderboard up here at work. Course sure looked like hell on the tube. Amazing to see the players have to wade thru mud from green to tee. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/89 "2009-06-22T13:34:04Z")
Where is the best leaderboard on-line? Te one at [usopen.com](http://usopen.com) sucks I can’t figure out how to get it to show individual players’ scorecards to track their progress hole-by-hole. LG just gave one up, and Barnes escaped after duck-hooking his drive into the trash on #2. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/90 "2009-06-22T13:51:57Z")
Since I’m talking to myself here - 😉 - I thought I’d coment that Fisher - whom I’d never heard of before - looked awfully solid the last 2 days. He might well be my choice for dark horse, should Glover/Barnes pull major fades. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/91 "2009-06-22T13:54:57Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > He would not have been taking the practice swings anywhere near to where his ball lay. For the very reason you suggested. If the camera angle was from directly behind, the foreshortening effect of the lens might have made it look otherwise. The US Open site has a [post](http://www.usopen.com/en_US/news/rulings/2009-06-21/200906211245614400531.html) on just this ruling. Nothing specific on the embedded ball rule - tho it may be buried (heh) in the post on rounds 1-2 rulings. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/92 "2009-06-22T14:07:11Z")
Duval triples a par 3, and Lefty takes an unplayable, and Tiger bogeys to make the turn even. If ever pars were a golfer’s friend … Son-of-a-gun should hit irons off every tee, and aim for the center of every green. Of course, when you are an aggressive player, it is easy to get sloppy if you try to play too safe … ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/93 "2009-06-22T15:34:37Z")
Mickelson looking increasingly like the probable winner. Tiger has blown his chance; after 14 I’d have thought he was finally putting it together, but when he misses putts like the one at 17, you know he’s just not focused properly. Glover and Barnes are playing that old time game, choke me, choke me! ---
**Author:** ![drm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e57/32.png) [@drm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drm)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/94 "2009-06-22T15:39:54Z")
whoa…nice shot Mick. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/95 "2009-06-22T15:42:59Z")
I think Phil finally decided he actually wants to win. Now, we’ll see how he manages to blow it. 😛 **Dinsdale** can be happy now; the winner ain’t gonna be Tiger. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/96 "2009-06-22T16:06:44Z")
Barnes is plus 7 today. He is trying to stave off embarrassment. Phil is looking like he wants it. Barnes just now missed an eagle putt badly. I see Mike Weir utility clubs all over the pro shop next week. ---
**Author:** ![Lochdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/edb3f5/32.png) [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/97 "2009-06-22T16:10:03Z")
Following it online is a pain in the arse! I feel bad for Barnes but would like to see Mickelson win it. Any blog or real time updates online? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/98 "2009-06-22T16:12:38Z")
Wind is picking up. The tee shots are finding rough a lot more. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/99 "2009-06-22T16:13:20Z")
I’m still pulling for Weir, though his chances are fading pretty fast. It’ll be pretty impressive if Phil can finish this off. ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169/100 "2009-06-22T16:15:25Z")
Phil missed a 4 footer and left it 4 feet past. Glover leads by 1 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-open-other-than-you-know-who/500169.md?page=6)