Watson could receive special U.S. Open exemption

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Expect an announcement Monday on whether Tom Watson or any of the other half-dozen men under consideration will be receiving a special exemption into the 100th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach Golf Links.

The Executive Committee of the U.S. Golf Association met Wednesday to vote on special exemptions with the 60-year-old Watson, who won the 1982 Open at Pebble Beach, expected to receive strong consideration, not only because of his ties to Pebble and to California (he is a Stanford University product), but also because of his strong play of late -- particularly that run last year at the British Open at Turnberry, Scotland.

Who knows if Watson might have heard some news on the eve of this year's Masters, because he sure looked fired up on the way to an opening 5-under-par 67, tying his career low at Augusta National GC. Nick Price was the last player, in 2005, to receive a special exemption into the Open.

-- Dave Shedloski