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Tiger Woods Eyeing U.S. Open Repeat At Bethpage Black

Tiger Woods is going for a repeat double at the 2009 U.S. Open, having not only won last year, but also the last Open held at Bethpage Black in 2002. (John Mummert/USGA)

By David Shefter, USGA

Farmingdale, N.Y. – When Tiger Woods paid his last visit to Bethpage State Park’s Black Course in 2002, he was the world’s No. 1 golfer seeking an eighth major title.

As he approaches his next encounter with Long Island’s most celebrated public venue and the U.S. Open being held there June 18-21, he remains the game’s top player, only now he owns 14 major championships, four off the record held by his childhood idol Jack Nicklaus.

But so much has evolved with Woods in that seven-year span.

Back at the 2002 U.S. Open, a championship he won by three strokes over chief rival and current world No. 2 Phil Mickelson, Woods was a bachelor. His father, Earl, was still alive, and his swing coach was Butch Harmon.

The owner of 66 PGA Tour victories is now married with two children (daughter Sam Alexis turns 2 the day of the first round of the 2009 Open; son Charlie Axel was born this past February), his beloved father has been deceased for three years, he has a new instructor (Hank Haney) and he’s coming off reconstructive knee surgery, a procedure that took place a few days after his stunning 2008 U.S. Open 19-hole playoff triumph at Torrey Pines over Rocco Mediate.

“Life has come a long way,” said Woods via teleconference for U.S. Open media day on May 4. “Elin and I … have come a long way family-wise. I couldn’t be happier than where I am right now. Having the two kids is unbelievable; how much fun we’re having together, except the sleepless nights. That can be a little tough at times.”

But seemingly like everything else in the 33-year-old’s career, Woods seems to be attacking fatherhood with the same aplomb as his competitive golf. In just his third start following the eight-month layoff from knee surgery, he rallied in the final round of the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill, shooting a 3-under-par 67 that included sinking a dramatic 16-foot birdie putt at the 72nd hole to beat Sean O’Hair by one stroke.

It was typical Tiger, waiting for the right moment to provide the dramatic outcome, replete with the emphatic fist-pump for the exclamation point.

Certainly, Woods was disappointed with his Masters finish a few weeks later, where he bogeyed the last two holes and shared sixth place after moving into contention with birdies at 15 and 16. Then last week at the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte, N.C., Woods opened with a 7-under 65, but in an ironic twist of fate, finished two strokes behind the winner O’Hair in fourth.

Woods’ pre-Open schedule likely will include two more PGA Tour events – this week’s Players Championship and The Memorial, held June 4-7 outside of Columbus, Ohio.

But look for the always meticulously prepared Woods to make one cameo at Bethpage not long after the Black Course closes to the public on June 1. While Woods does have some memories of the layout – “it’s just a long course” – he wants to see the minor tweaks that have been made since the '02 Open. Those alterations include several new teeing grounds, new fairway bunkers at nine and 13, and the extension of the green at the par-3 eighth, which serves to bring the pond back into play when there are front hole locations. The green at the par-3 14th has also been enlarged to allow for two hole locations at the back and another in the front-left tongue. (For a complete review of the changes, click here.)

One thing Woods realizes is the course won’t be a pushover, even with graduated rough, a philosophy that wasn’t in existence in 2002. (Graduated rough was introduced at the 2006 U.S. Open at Winged Foot, where Woods missed his only cut in a major as a professional. The championship came just a few weeks after his father’s death.)

Mike Davis, the USGA’s senior director of Rules and Competitions, said the green speeds could be anywhere from 13.5 to 14.5 on the Stimpmeter.

“If [Bethpage Black] was set up the way we played the Open every day, I don’t think anybody would play golf anymore,” said Woods, drawing laughter from reporters about the layout that will measure 7,426 yards for the '09 Open. “It’s brutal the way we play it.

“As an overall golf course, I think it’s just fantastic, and especially since what it used to look like prior to the renovation. It’s quite exquisite.”

The setup should favor Woods and other power hitters. Many of the green complexes are elevated, requiring high, soft shots, something Woods excels at.

And from a physical standpoint, Woods appears to be 100 percent healthy. While he still can’t run the miles he could pre-surgery, he maintains a vigorous workout regimen to keep his body strong.

Some of the most vivid images from the 2008 U.S. Open, the second played on a municipal golf course, were of Woods leaning over in excruciating pain as he ripped towering drive after towering drive. But even on one good knee, Woods’ fortitude and desire to win on a course that has been his second home (he’s won the Buick Invitational at Torrey six times), proved to be enough to overcome all his challengers. That included the pesky Mediate, who gave everyone a thrill ride with his gregarious and fun-loving attitude along with remarkable golf shots.

Arguably, it was one of the great U.S. Open classics, rivaling Payne Stewart’s magical run in 1999, the Tom Watson-Nicklaus duel in 1982, Arnold Palmer’s final-round 65 in 1960 and Johnny Miller’s unfathomable last-day 63 at Oakmont in 1973. Some 20,000 spectators watched the Monday playoff live, and records were established for live Internet streaming for those viewing via the computer in homes and offices around the globe. Television broadcast partners NBC and ESPN enjoyed a ratings bonanza.

Woods had needed to hole a tricky 12-foot birdie putt on 18 to force the playoff, then registered another birdie on the par-5 closing hole on Monday to force sudden death, where he won with a pedestrian two-putt par on the 91st and final hole.

In 2002, Bethpage had similar fanfare. The boisterous New York fans came out in droves to see the first Open conducted at a truly public facility. It didn’t hurt that three of the game’s superstars were all in contention on Sunday, with Woods, Mickelson and Spain’s Sergio Garcia dueling it out. The crowds serenaded Mickelson with chants of “Happy Birthday” and Woods, as usual, heard plenty of roars. Garcia had a love-hate relationship thanks to some controversial comments following Friday’s second round that was played in a steady drizzle.

Despite some early hiccups and a short weather delay, Woods managed to hold them both off. Appropriately, the championship-sealing putt occurred as darkness descended on the Black.

“It was a great atmosphere when we played in 2002,” recalled Woods, a nine-time USGA champion. “The fans were truly into it. If you made a putt, people went crazy. It’s always fun to play in front of people who appreciate shots and are excited that guys are playing well.”

David Shefter is a USGA Digital Media staff writer. E-mail him with questions or comments at dshefter@usga.org.

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