The patches are natural to Poa Annua greens and are called Poa Birthmarks. Oakmont also has them. I think they have a very pleasant au natural look, especially up close.
Going to be tough for Tiger to back up his 66 with another round under par. The USGA is going to give new meaning to Sunday pin placements.
The harder the pin placement, the better for tiger. Tiger thrives on difficulty. I think 3-under will be the winning score. I think DJ and MacDowell will come back to the pack. Should be a great Sunday on the Monterey Peninsula.
I don't know why people are aspousing that the media have been all over Tiger. That's simply not the case. Definitely not the sports media.
Tiger has never won a major coming from behind and it certainly won't happen today. Simply can't have 2 great rounds back to back on this course. I suspect Tiger fights it today and grinds it out for a par 71. That means the kid just needs to shoot 75 to beat him. I do think Phil has a good chance at shooting a round of 68. Yesterday was nothing short of a disaster and he still held up with a 73. That would put him at -2 and possibly in position to get into some sort of playoff if Johnson falters. I love Johnson's chances. He's fearless and that is a good thing. He can't think about being timid now. Just keep doing what you're doing. Making putts will be a different story today. Won't be easy standing over a 6 footer. Ernie Els? I think his horrid putting rears it's ugly head today and he shoots 74. McDowell will be in red figures after the 18th hole.
Tiger shot 65-69-71-67 in the 2000 US Open at Pebble Beach and won by 15 strokes. I know it is a different Tiger playing today (except for the back 9 yesterday) but even when he is not at his best don't count him out. It wouldn't surprise me a bit if he would win it. He can certainly put 2 good rounds back to back on any course. We'll see although it will be running into my bed time.
