By IANS,
San Diego (California) : Few tournaments, if any, start the first round with a marquee grouping that has the top three golfers in the world. In a startling first the US Open decided to open the event by clubbing Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Adam Scott together. And the results were stupendous.
The scores may have been somewhat modest with World No.2 and local lad Mickelson shooting an even-par 71, top-ranked Woods carding 72 and Scott shooting 73, but the galleries were overflowing. They were sometimes as big as 20-deep and the media posse numbered more than 100.
The US Open for the first times has the top 12-ranked players grouped in order for the first two rounds.
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Scott’s caddie and spectators clash
The unruly side of US Open reared its head. On the second day, Adam Scott’s caddie was involved in a clash with two spectators, who were arrested during the second round. Scott’s caddie Tony Navarro went outside the ropes on the final hole of the day to confront the two spectators who were apparently unruly. A police spokesman said a scuffle followed and the two spectators were charged with being “drunk in public.”
The incident happened next to the ninth fairway, a few minutes after another Australian golfer, Stuart Appleby, was apparently distracted by the same spectators on the adjacent 18th tee.
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Ladies Major winner in galleries
Considering the marquee group teed off at 8 a.m on first day, there was a huge crowd. Among the fans following the top three golf stars was the latest ladies major winner, the 19-year-old Yani Tseng of Taiwan, who last Sunday triumphed at the Ladies Professional Golf Association Championship.
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Torrey Pines is Tiger’s favourite course
Torrey Pines, may be where Mickelson grew up and he still lives in San Diego, but Woods has had amazing success here. This is where he has won six Professional Golfers Association Tour titles.