Satisfied that the game's leading players will have an intriguing, competitive challenge at Pinehurst No 2, USGA officials turned their attention to security yesterday in the build-up to the 99th US Open, starting tomorrow. And it emerged that Colin Montgomerie will be among those players singled out for special protection from potential crowd-abuse.
This stems from last year's staging at the Olympic Club, San Francisco, where the big Scot was subjected to repeated barracking from spectators. "We're very concerned about the level of security, especially for Colin who has been most kind in his comments about the US Open," said Michael Davis, director of championship relations for the USGA.
Davis went on to reveal that two state policemen were assigned to Montgomerie at the Olympic Club and that by the end of the tournament, this had been increased to a total of six officers plus two plainclothes men. Their number will be significantly higher this week.
The USGA official added: "We try ahead of time to identify marquee names (leading players) who will need assistance, and Colin is one of them. We have also decided that in the event of any rain delay this week, spectators will be limited to two cups of beer."
It can be taken that David Duval and the player he ousted as world number one, Tiger Woods, will also be high on the USGA's protection list. But the pair had other matters on their mind after practice yesterday.
Their attention was focused very clearly on crowned greens which are being rated as the most difficult anywhere. Tom Watson described it as rejection architecture. In more gentle language it involves approach shots which will explore every conceivable nook and cranny around elevated greens, before settling on a spot where gravity no longer exerts its influence.
The usual heavy fringes are absent from around the putting surfaces, but they are replaced by treacherous slopes where the grain of the wiry, Bermuda grass is against the player. It means that little seven-iron bump and run shots don't work. Instead, players are relying on a sharp rap of the putter or on fairway-wood chip shots.
Nor will there be any comfort from the prospect of more rain showers, following on some sporadic outbreaks yesterday. State-of-the-art greens are equipped with an irrigation system which can be reversed so as to suck the soil dry.
"Goofy golf," was the dismissive reaction of American Scott Hoch. "Imaginative golf," countered compatriot Jim Furyk. Duval suggested: "Balls are going to start rolling and not stop for a while: it's going to be fun to watch."
Such was the intensive questioning by American scribes that one would have imagined Duval had suffered a life-threatening accident last weekend. In fact it was no more serious than second-degree burns to the right thumb and forefinger, sustained while picking up a kettle of boiling water to make a cup of coffee.
With both digits taped, he worked for six hours yesterday, including a practice round which started at 6.40 am. "I'm fine and I'm very eager to play," he said. And how did he plan to approach this week's challenge? "Well, from playing in six US Opens, I know that hitting in on the fairway and knocking in on the green doesn't work," he replied with a wry grin.
But it was clear that he had no intention of getting into an in-depth discussion about strategy. "I don't analyse things too much," he said by way of emphasis. "I tend to play what's out there in front of me." As it happened, it has done just this with considerable success this season, earning $2,861,350 from 12 tournaments which contained four victories.
And, of course, in the natural way of things, the rich get richer. So it is that Duval will play a one-million-dollar challenge against Woods in southern California in early August. It will be a made-for-television, 18-hole match to be screened on a Sunday afternoon.
