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US Open blog- A special day

Monday, 7 July 2008
Paul O'Hagan
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The only problem with this year's US Open is that it is on the West Coast which probably means many of you were asleep when the incredible scenes took place here at Torrey Pines. It has been one of the most unbelievable two hours of golf I have ever seen.

We all know Tiger is good, but time and time again he steps things up another notch when it doesn't seem possible. I don't think I am exaggerating when I say I have just witnessed one of the best nine holes in US Open history, and from a man who struggled to walk to the media tent after his round.

I hadn't seen holes 11, 12 and 13 before today because they are so far away from the media tent. I thought it would be wrong not to see the whole course before I left and so followed Lee Westwood and Miguel-Angel Jimenez out there. I had an opportunity to take an inside the ropes armband but instead decided to see how easy it was for a spectator to walk this part of Torrey Pines.

When I arrived at 11 I found one of the best vantage points on the golf course. There is a hill where about 200 spectators can see both the 11th and 13th greens. With the 13th tee forward today many players were able to reach in two. If they are a foot or two short the ball rolls back down the fairway. I decided to hang around this great spot until the Tiger show arrived – what a fantastic decision it would turn out to be.

After Tiger made a solid par at 11 I turned to see Westwood make a great birdie at 13 - the Englishman is striking it great. I then squeezed into the front row and waited patiently for Tiger to arrive. As Davis Love lined up his birdie putt we could see hundreds of fans scurrying up the right hand side of the fairway towards Tiger's ball. After a free drop we saw the ball shoot to the back of the green. As Tiger stalked the 70-foot putt I could just imagine him thinking “it would be really neat to hole this.” And hole it he did. I think on one of the camera angles you can just about see me jumping around with hundreds of other fans, it was an amazing moment to witness but when you consider he went on to produce two more of those moments it is simply mind-boggling. Most players will be lucky to produce one moment like that during their major career but an injured Tiger Woods managed three of them in seven holes.

I would love to see Lee Westwood win tomorrow but if Tiger manages it this may be his most impressive victory to date. What a man, and what a day. I, for one, can't wait for tomorrow.