Can Olin Browne and Rocco Mediate – certainly quality players and PGA Tour winners – hang in there?
I think one of them might just do it. The problem is that I can’t decide which one. Both are very good ball-strikers. Neither is among the longest drivers on the tour, but they are tough customers mentally. 2. Is Retief Goosen the coolest customer among the Big 5? Quite a statement by Goosen in Round 1. His 68 was very comfortable. Goosen admitted that he was a bit miffed by a small showing for his news conference earlier in the week. The defending champion is looking to make it three U.S. Opens since 2001. I’ve got a strong hunch he’ll be there on the back nine come Sunday. And a win will end all talk of The Big 4. 3. Is Pinehurst the perfect U.S. Open venue? It appears it might be the easiest to set up fairly. Nine players under par after Round ,1 compared to 20-plus back in 1999 – and nobody’s complaining. We still have three rounds to play, but thus far we’re seeing a golf course that demands everything. And a pair of first-day 67s is just enough to keep everyone thinking they have
