Does Pebble truly occupy such a prestigious position in the States?
ELLING: Until Els uttered those words, I’m not sure I had ever considered the States had a counterpart to St. Andrews, where the game was all but invented. The Pinehurst area tried to assume that lofty perch a few years ago, back when the World Golf Hall of Fame was located there, but the attendance was virtually nil and it relocated. When Pebble is at its beatific best, as it was over the weekend with those panoramic shots of the crashing Pacific, it represents the best that America has to offer, a wondrous mix of golf intertwined with the seashore. The 18th hole at Pebble, as it was pointed out in the broadcast on Sunday, might be the most iconic hole in the world. So maybe Els — who finished second at the U.S. Open at Pebble in 2000, by the way — is right. MICHAUX: I can certainly see his point based on public perceptions. In terms of public-access facilities (albeit very rich public access), Pebble Beach is hands down the American venue that the world most identifies with. Those
