See if you can recall all the games and events you've been to over the course of your life. As a sports fan, you may have been to Wembley Stadium, seen basketball or hockey in Boston, and even taken a trip to such well known stadia as Notre Dame Stadium or Madison Square Garden. But, no matter the number of games youve sat through, no matter how exciting any of the contests may have turned out, regardless of how many championships for which you may have been present, not once were you able to identify with what the athletes were experiencing. You couldn't. You're not paid to compete and have never put on a uniform to play on any of the same playing fields or arenas as the teams you support. However, when it comes to the U.S. Open, you're afforded the uncommon opportunity to watch the world's best tangle with each other on the same course that you've played with your buddies for years. It's golf live, in your own backyard.
In a fitting match of golf's most challenging tournament and the toughest public course known to its faithful, the Open makes its way back to the Black Course at Bethpage for the second time in eight years. In 2002, the Black Course became the first completely municipal course to hold the championship and was, aptly, won by fan favorite, Tiger Woods. What was likely more of a pleasure to the faithful, however, was seeing the best in the world try to negotiate the same problems they, themselves, experience on a weekly basis. The only difference, maybe, being that Colin Montgomerie and Steve Stricker didn't have to spend the night in their backseats to get early start times. Take away the tents, cameras and media, though, and you have golf live, in person.
Still of the opinion there's not a ton of interest? Ask one of the weekend hackers sneaking the feed onto his desktop at his job; trying to hide the screen from his boss while watching the game's best players with the same tee times that the average golfer gets from a track that takes no reservations. "Poulter's gonna have a hard time looking into the sun on this shot. Happens to me every time" is a statement you won't hear from anyone while he's watching golf live from Muirfield. But, at Bethpage, there are many thinking the same thing. Especially during the first two days, as those who can't break free from the job download links to get a glimpse of the first two rounds.
Enjoy the Open this year as it's a little sweeter than usual. You'll never hit a jump shot at Madison Square Garden, run the bases at Dodger Stadium or find the end zone in the Super Bowl. But you might have occasion to turn to your kids after Villegas makes bird on Sunday and say, "I birdied that hole, too." That's golf live in your own backyard.
