May 7, 2009
U.S. OPEN PREVIEW (page 6 – flip side)
Golf Digest goes behind the scenes to bring you some of the most intriguing stories leading up to the 2009 U.S. Open. Highlights from this special section include:
The Black Course — The 18th hole of Bethpage Black is picturesque, but not terribly tough. In fact, the USGA even considered using the neighboring Red Course for a finishing hole. Senior editor Ron Whitten takes a look at the 18th hole and talks to the USGA’s Senior Director of Rules & Competition, Mike Davis, about the proposed changes.
No Need to Fear! — While the consensus among tour players is that the foursome who’ll be playing in the Golf Digest U.S. Open Challenge have no chance of breaking 100 at Bethpage Black, Mike Davis says he doesn’t envision the course to be any harder for them than Torrey Pines was last year. Be sure to tune into NBC beginning at noon EST on Sunday, June 21 to see how Michael Jordan, Justin Timberlake, Ben Roethlisberger and our contest winner fare.
What Could Have Been — On Feb. 2, 1949, Ben Hogan was involved in a brutal car crash outside of Van Horn, Tex. Sixty years later, senior writer Jaime Diaz examines how the accident altered the career of one of golf’s most iconic figures.
Next Stop: 200 Majors — This year’s U.S. Open will be the 199th major championship that Golf Digest writer–at–large Dan Jenkins has covered and the 200th that he has attended. Inside he looks back at some of the most classic moments, from Billy Casper’s U.S. Open win at Winged Foot in 1959 to the Masters in 1997 that changed golf forever.
The excerpts come from Dan’s latest book, Jenkins at the Majors: Sixty Years of the World’s Best Golf Writing, from Hogan to Tiger. Click here to see and hear Dan discuss six decades of majors.
R–O–C–C–O! — A year after his near miss at the U.S. Open, Rocco Mediate reflects on what it was like going head-to-head with Tiger. Says the 46 year–old journeyman, “People forget, Rocky lost the first fight. Then he came back and won the championship. Maybe there’s a sequel out there for me, too.”
THE GAME’S BEST OFF–COURSE ATTRACTIONS (page 124)
People that live and breathe golf are constantly looking for ways to learn more about the game and experience it in as many ways as possible. Luckily there are hundreds, if not thousands, of places around the country and the world that are dedicated to the game. From Jack’s Museum to Arnie’s restaurant, this month Golf Digest reveals 20 places every golf nut must visit during his or her lifetime.
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